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Knowledge is power. And we’re aiming to have our power levels go over 9,000! One of the best infotainment features on Bored Panda is our biweekly article about the ‘Today I Learned’ online community that values education above everything else and puts the fun in learning. You know you’re on the right path when it’s not just your audience, but also you who’s expanding your mind as you work.

Go on, have a scroll down and check out the newest TIL posts. Don’t forget to upvote the ones that you found enlightening. Got an opinion that you think everyone should hear or a fun fact that you just can’t wait to share with all the other Pandas? Write us a comment below.

When you’re done absorbing all the new factoids in this list and if you’re still aiming for your PhD in cool trivia, then you should definitely check out Bored Panda’s latest posts about the TIL community right here, over here, as well as here.

#1

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that a cow escaped from a Polish farm and was spotted months later living with a herd of wild bison.

TBTabby Report

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Serial pacifist
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We choose our destiny. Thelma decided she is a bison and we should all accept her choices.

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#2

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Juice Company Dumped 12,000 Tonnes Of Orange Peels On Virtually Lifeless Soil, 16 Years Later, It Turned Into A Lush Forest

BKKxwampnuts , boredpanda Report

#3

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that even though Edward Bannister won 1st prize for painting at the 1876 Philadelphia centennial international exhibition, after discovering Bannister's identity, the judge wanted to rescind his award because he was black. However this wasn't possible due to protests from the other competitors.

LogicBomb69 Report

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Serial pacifist
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The judge's name should be known also. There should be some kind of a wall of shame (or walls) for these people too.

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The ‘Today I Learned’ community over on Reddit continues to grow daily. At the time of writing, it’s at over 25.4 million members, but if you’re betting smart, you know that this number will keep on climbing and climbing.

The community’s got over 12.5 years of experience documenting and sharing cool bits of information that you probably didn’t learn at school. While some of these facts will be useful no matter what stage of life you’re in, others are more niche and might only pop up in trivia competition lightning rounds.

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#4

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that when the Notre Dame Cathedral was on fire the some 200,000 bees that live in the roof were thought to be dead, but in fact they were still alive after the fire.

ilikecheems1 , gettyimages Report

#5

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that the Mississippi river was once five miles wide and whales swam up it from the gulf of Mexico. The remains of these whales have been found in Michigan

InAFloodplai Report

#6

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that all beaches in Mexico are property of the federal government. There are no privately owned beaches in the whole country, all of them are open to public use

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Suzanne Haigh
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We do need some private beaches and seas, not for the wealthy but for nature to be left in peace.

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Ale Díaz
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sadly, this is not totally true, hotels and parks have blocked the access to the beaches, and tthe goverment allow this, so you have to find a "public access" in order to go to the beach. Some hotels even put some barriers in the beach, so only their guest can use it.

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Patricia Pina
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's why in my country, all hotels in those situations are obliged to allow pedestrian access to anyone going to the beach. Not only the beach but the access are considered public domain.

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respulero
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was in Riviera Maya. The beaches are public, but not the acceses to them. People were not allowed to some beaches if they were not clients of an hotel complex

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Aunt Messy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are no private beaches in Hawaii, either. NO ONE can stop people from using any beach at any time.

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F. H.
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Germany, all private land that is not connected to buildings (a shed won't do it, there are special criteria) or used for certain agricultural functions has to be open to pulic access. In Bavaria there's even a law requiring open access to lakes and other landmarks even if they are surrounded by fenced-off property.

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BigFish Artwire
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All the people in this comment section didn't know that in different countries, continents are taught differently. Some teach there are five continents, some teach they are seven. In one of the systems, America is one out of five continents. In that same system, Mexico is in Americans and Mexicans are Americans as much as French are Europeans. Even the symbol of the Olympics, the five rings, depicts the five inhabited continents: Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania/Australia. It does not say "North America and South America". The continents are divided geographically and politically, not by language. So to say that "in English America refer to the USA" is just wrong. It is a conventionalism of that country adopted by others as well, but it's not justified by geography or polítics. Go and Google "7 continents" and you might learn that the education you receive in the USA is not the only one in the planet

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moeless
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And foreigners cannot actually own any land, only lease it. The US could learn from them.

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Mary Haynes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

all ocean beaches in the US are public and not owned by anyone up to the high tide mark.

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Robert Persson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same in Canada. The only private beaches in Canada are on freshwater lakes.

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OCDRobot
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's how it is in Oregon too. The whole coast is owned by the public.

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Teresa Sacristan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All beaches and lakes in Spain are public, and it should be like this everywhere! How come only some fortunate ones can enjoy the wonders of nature? That is ridiculous and unfair!

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Mewton’s Third Paw
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just because all beaches aren’t public doesn’t mean none are. How do any of you expect to ever be successful without grasping just basic logic?

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Ceredwyn Ealanta
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We don't tend to have them here either. I think it's more that it's America that has them.

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Florence Hastings
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same in denmark. I still don‘t understand the concept of privately owned beaches.

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moeless
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And foreigners cannot own land, only lease it. US could learn...

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James Game
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the same in Mauritius so when 5 star hotels want a private beach they build one and try to prevent the public visiting them

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Eslamala
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same thing in Chile, and people who claim to own part of a beach/lake/river because they have properties near them are publicly shamed.

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Xander Man
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's like that in Norway. Also, there are laws redtricting people to build anything witihin 400meters off the shoreline. To keep anyone from "owning" the beach

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InfectedVoice
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In England they all belong to the council, so government owned but not technically open to the public, we are all trespassing by going onto any "public" beach, it's some weird outdated law or something.

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Tim Pillinger
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In most of the UK they belong to the queen. Except in Cornwall and Lancashire, where they belong to the Duke. And one of those dukes is called Elizabeth Windsor...

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Karen Clawson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The people that "own" property are just leasing from the government.

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Learning new things is incredibly fun (and don’t roll your eyes and pretend that it’s not). But it doesn’t mean that it’s automatically easy. First of all, a lot depends on our motivation, why we want to learn something.

Whether we’re seeking education to help achieve some grand goal because we absolutely adore the topic, or because we simply want to keep our minds finely honed, having clear motivation helps keep us energized.

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#7

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL British Parliament had an official discussion where they condemned the historical inaccuracies of the film U-571 and the rewriting of history to paint the Americans as heroes in an event they never even took part in. They felt it was unfair on the British sailors that lost their lives.

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Serial pacifist
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, what should the Japanese say about the Last Samurai (Tom Cruise) and best shogun (Keanu), the Africans about the British white 'king of the jungle' (Tarzan), the Chinese about their 'great' white reformer who never was that (Marco Polo), the great white liberator of Arabia (Lawrence)...the list of euro/race/American-(ego)centrism based on false assumptions, myths and Hollywood scenarios goes on. Let's not even get started with the blonde white Jesus. (I am a white European, for the record).

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#8

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Two guys honored their dead friends dying wish by using his ashes as fish bait and caught an enormous 180lb Carp in his memory

WhatsATrouserSnake , insideedition Report

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#9

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL about FBI agent Robert Hanssen. He was tasked to find a mole within the FBI after the FBI's moles in the KGB were caught. Robert Hanssen was the mole and had been working with the KGB since 1979.

phileo56 , en.wikipedia.org Report

“A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge” as Tyrion Lannister said, after all. But it really helps if the information is interesting, relevant, or presented in an enticing way.

However, it’s not just our love of learning that sustains us. Our brains and bodies need fuel, too. And the right fuel helps keep us focused for longer stretches of time and healthy, to boot! Healthline points out that foods like berries can help improve academic performance due to compounds like anthocyanins being present in them. Meanwhile, citrus fruits are very nutritious and promote our brain health.

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#10

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that the Ginkgo Tree is unique, not obviously related to any living plant; a “living fossil,”unchanged in 200 million years.

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#11

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that giant panda is no longer 'endangered' species

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Sum Guy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

and China owns every single panda and only loans them out to other countries

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#12

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL in Rwanda people go to milk bars to socialise and drink milk.

Canadairy , bbc Report

What’s more, if you’re in the middle of a learning binge-fest and craving something sweet, consider going for healthier alternatives like dark chocolate and cocoa products instead of your run-of-the-mill candy bars.

Lots of us are guilty of snacking on way more junk food while studying than we’d ever honestly admit to anyone other than St. Peter, but changing habits doesn’t happen immediately. It’s a step-by-step process and even tiny shifts in our behavior can pay dividends in the long run.

#13

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL of Ian Manuel. A man who spent years in isolation after he was condemned to die in prison for a nonhomicide offense at age 13. He won his freedom in 2016 with the help of the woman he attacked. He is now an activist, motivational speaker, and published author.

Miso_miso Report

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#14

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL the band UB40 is named after Unemployment Benefit, Form 40 - a form issued to people claiming unemployment benefits. The name was suggested by a friend of the band because all the members were unemployed.

YourOwnBiggestFan Report

#15

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that England experiences large spikes in power demand during half-time at football games due to widespread use of electric kettles

nitrokitty Report

So if you’re munching on a chocolate croissant with caramel filling and almonds, like I am, while you’re reading this, consider eating only half of it. Or substitute it for a handful of delicious berries, nuts, or an assortment of fruits. That way, your brain and your body can both be happy, you’ll be absorbing new knowledge like a pro, and soon, lots of your friends will be figuring out all the neat things you learned about today.

#16

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that a study from the University of Connecticut found that cholesterol in egg yolks does not raise the LDL cholesterol particles that are associated with the development of cardiovascular disease.

justbecool Report

#17

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL about the rarest blood type. Named SARAS, only 2 families in the world have it and is officially recognised as an entirely new blood group.

the_null_element Report

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#18

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL of a "Kotatsu", A traditional japanese table with attached blanket. You can use it to relax, nap, eat/drink/hangout with friends and even has a built in heater underneath.

ohsowonderful Report

#19

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL the Boeing 787 needs to be rebooted every 51 days to stop rounding errors causing it to crash

xc_osrs Report

#20

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL of the $23 million dollar toilets designed by NASA for deep space missions. With odor control being a serious issue, NASA pays certified sniffers to smell the toilets after they've been used to evaluate odor-control measures. The lead engineer calls them the "unsung heroes of the space program".

WhileFalseRepeat Report

#21

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Auto-Tune, introduced in 1997, which uses a proprietary device to measure and alter pitch in vocal and instrumental music recording and performances was named one of the 50 worst inventions by Time magazine.

CyberSibey Report

#22

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL the UK Women’s Institute invited Colin Darch, a former hostage of Somali pirates, to give a speech on his experiences. However due to a mix up many elder members of the WI attended wearing pirate fancy dress. Darch took it well, ultimately judging a “best pirate costume” competition.

Die_Nameless_Bitch Report

#23

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL curry has a longer history of being served in Britain than fish and chips, with the first Indian restaurant opening in 1809 and fish and chips only served from 1858 at the earliest

the_turn Report

#24

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that sharks smell in "stereo," that is, they can detect the tiny delays in the time it takes for a scent to reach one nostril compared to the other and use it to determine the direction from where the scent is coming. This helps them in tracking their prey.

BeardedScreechOwl Report

#25

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL by using a man in the middle, two brothers hacked the French optical telegraph system to gain advance information on the stock market. When they got caught two years later, they walked away as free men because in 1836 there were no laws against hacking

Brutal_Deluxe_ Report

#26

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that Christopher Lee always wanted to play Gandalf in LOTR and even discussed it with Tolkien himself. Peter Jackson wanted Lee to play Saruman instead, much to Lee's disappointment. Saruman's death scene was a surprise homage to Christopher Lee's, Dracula, with a wooden stake through his chest.

WigboldCrumb Report

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Miriam L
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He read LOTR annually and apparently used to correct Jackson about certain details during filming because of how well he knew the material and his personal connection with Tolkien. Whether or not he was thrilled with every choice made in the films, his performance was a wonderful homage to the works of the author he respected.

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#27

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein, endured many tragedies. Her mother died after giving birth to her, she was in constant debt, her 1st, 2nd, and 3rd children all died, while her husband drowned on his sailing boat. She herself passed away at 53.

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Karin Jansen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Her mother was Mary Wollstonecraft, one of the first feminists who wrote "A Vindication of the Rights of Women" (1792). She was a super interesting woman.

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#28

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that in 1506 Louis II of Hungary was born prematurely and doctors kept him alive by slaying animals and wrapping him in their warm carcasses as a primitive incubator

fem78 Report

#29

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Michael Jackson was terrified of the real-life fan who inspired the song Billie Jean, after she sent him a letter with a weapon and instructions to kill himself. He kept her photograph to memorize her face, “in case she ever turns up someplace.”

Die_Nameless_Bitch Report

#30

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that the French revolution gave us the metric system and almost gave us metric clocks, too. They had 10 hours in the day, 10 days in the week, and an even 30 days each month.

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Miriam L
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When? Historical records of a ten-day week and it's societal impact would be really interesting. I'll admit I'm a little skeptical Edited to add: I looked at the Reddit post and the original article, and decimal time was only legally in effect for about two years, although it remained a popular theory before and afterwards

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