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Learning something new triggers a dopamine hit. That’s right: taking in brand-new information brings the same sensation as going for a run, trading juicy stories with a good friend, or biting into a scrumptious piece of crispy, golden fried chicken. 

They don’t even need to be useful or add value to your life. But once you know them, you can no longer unknow them. Some good examples come from the Today I Learned subreddit. 

You don’t need to dig deep to know what this community is all about, but most of their posts would make you want to go down a rabbit hole. Here are a few for you to enjoy today.

#1

Country singer Dolly Parton in a red dress, illustrating interesting new facts TIL that in the 1990s, Dolly Parton made $10 million in royalties from Whitney Houston’s cover of her song “I Will Always Love You.” She then invested the money into an office complex in a majority-Black neighborhood in Nashville, Tennessee. She later described it as “the house that Whitney built.”

altrightobserver , 60 Minutes Australia Report

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    #2

    Black and white portrait of an older man in a hat, learning new facts TIL a geologist was ridiculed for decades for claiming the Pacific Northwest was carved by a catastrophic Ice Age flood. NASA satellite images proved him right in the 1970s. He finally received geology's highest honor at 96 and said "All my enemies have passed away, so I have no one to gloat over."

    FinancialGarage245 , Dr. Julian Goldsmith Report

    Marno C.
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Take a bottle of champagne to their graves and toast himself?

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    #3

    Classic black and white portrait of actress Angela Lansbury smiling, illustrating new facts about her life
    TIL actress Angela Lansbury moved her entire family from California to Ireland because her daughter was starting to get involved with Charles Manson.

    the_dj_zig , Unknown author Report

    As mentioned in the intro, learning something new, whether it’s a new skill or just brand-new information, makes us feel good. One reason is that it makes us feel like our brains are working faster and better. 

    Learning something new encourages myelin growth, for one. Myelin is the protective layer around the brain’s nerve fibers that helps electrical signals travel faster and more efficiently.

    #4

    Japan Airlines plane taking off against a blue sky, demonstrating new facts about aviation TIL in 2009 when Japan Airlines CEO Haruka Nishimatsu was forced to cut his employees' salaries, he also cut his own to $90K. He also took the city bus to go to work, ate in the company cafeteria, & bought his suits at a discount store. He even knocked down his office walls so anyone could walk in.

    tyrion2024 , Iban Lopez Luna Report

    Multa Nocte (she/her 8647)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sad that it is so rare when a person at this level has such integrity that we get blown away.

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    #5

    Classic oil portrait of a queen in a gold-detailed gown with new facts TIL that during the difficult birth of his son, Napoleon was asked if wife or child should be prioritized. He ordered the empress to be saved but both survived. Napoleon was traumatized by watching his wife's pain saying “I had rather never have any more children than see her suffer so much again"

    Designer_Reference_2 , Jean-Baptiste Paulin Guérin (1783–1855) wikidata:Q3372678 After François Gérard Report

    Glix Drap
    Community Member
    Premium
    19 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Any yet he caused havoc all over Europe (at least 3.5M died). What a humanitarian.

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    #6

    Engraving of ancient Greek philosopher Parmenides, representing new facts TIL that in 37 BC, the Roman polymath Marcus Terentius Varro warned his readers to avoid living near swamps because of "minute creatures which cannot be seen by the eyes" and cause disease. Microorganisms would not be observed until the 17th century

    FastBreakPhenom , Andre Thevet Report

    Phantom Phoenix
    Community Member
    Premium
    19 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    TIL that Roman polymath Marcus Terentius Varro was a time traveller who avoided altering the timeline too much by not "inventing" the microscope before its time, and also not discussing "germs" or "microbes" by name, but nonetheless warning about them vaguely.

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    According to experts, dopamine release and myelin are what make us crave novel experiences. This is especially true when we repeatedly learn something new through practice or when it becomes a regular part of our daily lives. 

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    #7


    TIL Grad student David Radies was doing random sampling for a lichen diversity study in British Columbia when he saw logging tape tied around a red cedar at least two thousand years old. He discovered an ancient forest that was about to be logged, which was then saved as Ancient Forest park

    ubcstaffer123 Report

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    #8

    Illustration of Sherlock Holmes inspecting a bicycle, a detail showcasing new facts TIL that "fair play" in detective fiction means authors must give readers a fair chance to solve the mystery. Central to 1920s "clue-puzzles" by writers like Agatha Christie, the rule dictates that all vital clues must be visible, decodable, and never withheld until the final reveal.

    ralphbernardo , Sidney Paget Report

    Wonky Donkey
    Community Member
    20 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Agatha Christie caused a bit of controversy with The M****r of Roger Ackroyd because it was felt that she broke the "rules" of detective fiction. I won't give it away but if you've read it, you know what I'm talking about.

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    #9

    TIL that the famous 'London Fog' of Victorian novels wasn't natural weather. It was toxic industrial pea-soup smog created by burning soft bituminous coal. In December 1952, the Great Smog of London became so thick that movie theaters closed because the screen wasn't visible from the fourth row.

    Jesus_H_Christ_AMA Report

    Spencers slave no more
    Community Member
    23 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We learned that in the early 1970s in primary school in the UK.

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    That is why experts also encourage curiosity. According to UCLA psychology professor Alan Castel, it happens when we least expect it: during moments of boredom. 

    “Boredom can lead to self-reflection as well as ‘incubation,' where an idea may be percolating despite one not actively thinking about problem-solving (i.e., when you need some time to sleep on it before the 'aha' moment),” Castel wrote. v

    #10

    An ancient fresco of a religious figure holding a book, reflecting historical new facts TIL a hermit monk wrote a furious letter to the Church for not electing a pope fast enough, so they responded by making him pope. He refused and attempted to flee into the woods. The only noteworthy thing he did as pope was changing rules so popes could resign, and being the first pope to resign.

    geosunsetmoth , Niccolò di Tommaso Report

    Multa Nocte (she/her 8647)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 day ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    From the original article: "That really didn't work up that well for Celestine V. The next pope had him imprisoned in Castle of Fumone where he was attended by 2 monks of his order. The new pope was worried that one of his opposing factions (Philip IV of France) would use him as a puppet and have him act as antipope. Celestine V died after 10 months at the age of 81."

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    #11

    Shaquille O'Neal speaking at an event, presenting interesting new facts TIL NBA star Shaquille O’Neal, a fan of visiting zoos, claims gorillas would always go wild seeing him behind glass. Animal expert Ron Magill confirmed this, saying male gorillas were often intimidated by O’Neal’s size and presence.

    Giff95 , Zalgiris Kaunas Report

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    #12

    TIL There are "hunger stones" in rivers in central Europe. These stones were carved during droughts to mark the water level as a warning to future generations that they will have to endure famine-related hardships if the water sinks to this level again.

    Initial_Specialist69 Report

    GalPalAl
    Community Member
    16 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    More people should be made aware of this so they know where to look

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    Castel also points out that curiosity has a dark side. An intriguing yet suspicious link may urge you to click, even when you know of the potential consequences at the back of your mind. 

    “Thus, there is a good balance between intense curiosity and just showing some interest, and this may help one age well,” Castel notes.

    #13

    TIL the first same sex marriage license in the US was issued in 1975 because there was no law against it at the time and the clerk of court could issue licenses at her discretion. The same clerk denied a man who wanted to marry his horse as the horse was underage

    standbyyourmantis Report

    Cloud Ryn
    Community Member
    1 day ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So he's the reason we don't have ceantars now ,for shame ,s

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    #14


    TIL that scientists reintroduced the Whooping Crane to an extinct migration route by guiding them through the air with an ultralight airplane they imprinted on. The pilot had to wear a crane costume to keep them from bonding with humans.

    CalzonePie Report

    #15

    Happy woman stretching in bed on fluffy pillows, learning new facts TIL Sleep triggers a "wash cycle" in the brain. Studies show that during sleep, the space between brain cells widens over 60%, allowing cerebrospinal fluid to flush out waste like beta-amyloid. Because of this, pulling an all-nighter stops this waste from clearing, causing brain fog.

    whoiswhoJH , drobotdean Report

    BarkingSquirell
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    More proof of the vital importance of getting sufficient sleep.

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    Many people believe a person’s real demise happens when they stop learning. One of the easiest ways to keep curiosity alive is to always ask why. As Castel points out, that simple question engages relational processing, which urges us to compare abstract thoughts or link things together to find an answer. 

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    “Asking why is a great way to better understand the world, what is known and not known, and the rules that may apply in any given situation,” he said.

    Never miss a story that brings joy to the world. Add us on Google

    #16

    Red graphic emblem of a raised fist breaking chains, illustrating new facts on social movements and symbols TIL that most restrooms are free in the USA due to activism efforts in the 70s by the Committee to End Pay Toilets in America. Membership in the Committee cost $0.25, and members received a newsletter, the Free Toilet Paper.

    StretchFrenchTerry , Robbgodshaw Report

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    13 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The argument was based on the fact that there was a charge for stalls but urinals were free - thus discriminating against women.

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    #17

    Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in a dark suit, sharing new facts TIL during the shooting of American Psycho, Christian Bale spoke in an American accent off-set at all times. At the wrap party, when he spoke in his native British accent, many of the crew thought he was speaking that way to prepare for another film. They had thought he was American the entire time.

    Away_Flounder3813 , That Meme Moment Report

    GalPalAl
    Community Member
    16 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I used to not like him and thought he was arrogant many years ago. Then I saw him on tv talking about the work he does which children and family and realized I misunderstood him as a person. He is truly a chameleon and a renaissance man. He can transform himself into any role and inhabit a new person on command. He is talented, generous and a humanitarian. Never underestimate him. Loved

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    #18

    Broadcasting tower with many satellite dishes, introducing new facts about modern telecommunication systems TIL two Bell Labs scientists spent a year trying to get rid of a hiss in their antenna, even evicting nesting pigeons and scrubbing out their droppings. The hiss stayed. It turned out to be cosmic background radiation left over from the Big Bang, and it won them the 1978 Nobel Prize.

    Long__Ground , Branimir Klaric Report

    Most of the facts on this list may be eye-opening, but they are likely far from life-changing. And that’s what makes them fun to learn. The best part about it is that the world is full of obscure stories, strange coincidences, and scientific discoveries, so there is no shortage of brand-new information. 

    Now, let’s turn it over to you, dear readers. Which of these facts surprised you the most?

    #19

    A man sitting in a recording studio next to a mixing console, representing new facts about the music industry TIL that after Christopher Eccleston left his role as the Doctor in Doctor Who, the BBC made a false statement about his reasons for leaving, and subsequently blacklisted him. Eccleston has since said he would not return to the show unless the producers responsible were sacked.

    Sebastianlim , Doctor Who Report

    Marno C.
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I really enjoyed his portrayal and would have liked to have seen more. He was badly treated and deserved better. I am pleased when I spit him in a movie or TV show.

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    #20

    A blonde businesswoman working on a laptop at her desk, showcasing new facts about professional life
    TIL in Norway everyone's income, net wealth and tax paid are published online and anyone can search them. But you have to log in, the person you look up can see your name in their search history within the hour, and you're limited to 500 look-ups a month

    eleanorharland , Timur Weber Report

    #21


    TIL Tigers look orange to humans because we are trichromats, but they appear green to deer and wild boars because they are dichromats

    Emperor_Ken Report

    #22

    TIL Pope Leo XIV still plays Wordle and Words With Friends with his brother during their daily phone calls, a routine they kept from before his election

    Kyzzz Report

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    #23

    TIL when Heath Ledger passed away during filming of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Terry Gilliam rewrote the plot so that his character transforms passing through a mirror, allowing actors Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law to take over and donate their salaries to Ledger’s daughter.

    Acrobatic-Post9811 Report

    Spencers slave no more
    Community Member
    23 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Combine Monty Python with Hollywood and wonderful things can happen. Terry Gilliam did both.

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    #24

    Vintage style illustration of a garden snail, discovery of new facts TIL In 1846, a dead snail was glued to an index card at the British Museum. 4 years later they discovered it was actually still alive. The museum gave the snail a bath and it lived the remaining 2 years in a jar eating cabbage.

    OperationSuch5054 , Annie Newton Waterhouse Report

    #25

    TIL that Peter Cullen based his voice for Optimus Prime on his older brother, Larry, a Marine who served in Vietnam. Before Peter's audition, Larry gave him the advice: "Peter, don't be a Hollywood hero, be a real hero. Real heroes don't yell and act tough; they are strong enough to be gentle."

    Practical-1 Report

    Spencers slave no more
    Community Member
    23 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The US needs more Larrys. Optimus Prime wouldn't go amiss either.

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    #26

    TIL Germany charges a 25 cent deposit on every single-use drink bottle and can, and gets 98% of them back, the highest return rate of any deposit scheme in the world

    eleanorharland Report

    Fred
    Community Member
    23 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why does the UK keep delaying? So many bottles and cans are just thrown down in the streets and on green spaces.

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    #27

    TIL wild animals in the African savanna are twice as likely to flee from the sound of calm human conversations than from the growls of lions, with 95% of observed species recognizing humans as the ultimate "super-predator".

    PresentSurvey9464 Report

    GalPalAl
    Community Member
    16 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because animals are smarter than we are and they know things that we don't acknowledge.

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    #28


    TIL Neil Armstrong became involved in a legal dispute against his former barber he had for 20 years, Mark Sizemore. Sizemore sold Armstrong's hair to a collector for $3,000 without consent. Armstrong threatened legal actions unless the barber retrieved the hair or donated the proceeds to a charity.

    Zealousideal-Cup3529 Report

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    #29


    TIL in 1973, a 2-man submarine laying cables became entangled and trapped 1,575 feet deep in the Atlantic. An international rescue effort brought the men to the surface after more than three days, with only minutes of air remaining. It remains the deepest successful underwater rescue in history.

    carboncopy95437 Report

    GalPalAl
    Community Member
    16 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hopefully the last. Another good reason to understand that AI can't solve every issue in the world before k*****g us all

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    #30

    TIL a broke, unemployed German shoemaker bought a used army captain's uniform in 1906, used it to commandeer a squad of real soldiers off the street, marched them to a town hall, arrested the mayor, and walked off with the entire municipal treasury before anyone realized he wasn't actually a captain

    cape2k Report

    Fred
    Community Member
    23 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    His name was Wilhelm Voigt. A film was made with the title Der Hauptmann von Köpenick.

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    #31

    Batman figure standing under ceiling lights, revealing new facts
    TIL about the "Batman effect": In an experiment, a woman appearing pregnant boarded a train. In some trials, another experimenter dressed as Batman also entered. Passengers were far more likely to offer the woman their seat when Batman was present—67.2% compared with 37.7%.

    Giff95 , Serge Kutuzov Report

    Giles McArdell
    Community Member
    17 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some shops in the UK use cardboard cutout police officers to deter theft - they are very obviously fake but nevertheless have some psychological effect that significantly reduces pilfering.

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    #32

    Close-up of James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano looking thoughtful, presenting new facts about television history TIL NBC offered James Gandolfini $4 million to play the new Dunder Mifflin manager on “The Office” following Steve Carell’s departure. HBO offered Gandolfini $3 million to decline the role and protect his legacy as Tony Soprano. Gandolfini accepted their counteroffer.

    Giff95 , 60 Minutes Report

    Rali Meyer
    Community Member
    18 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    good bargain. 3 million for not working

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    #33


    TIL modern beekeeping rests on a single measurement discovered by a Philadelphia clergyman in 1851: leave bees a gap between about 6 and 9 mm and they will neither build comb in the space nor glue it shut — which is the only reason a beekeeper can lift frames out of a hive instead of destroying it.

    dinosaruman Report

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    #34


    TIL that although potatoes alone do not provide complete nutrition, you can survive for years on a diet of nothing but potatoes and buttermilk.

    JoeWinchester99 Report

    martin734
    Community Member
    Premium
    23 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That is because milk contains almost all of the nutrient groups you need. You could survive just as long eating nothing but broccoli and buttermilk or beans and buttermilk.

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    #35


    TIL Marvel secured permission to use Thomas the Tank Engine in "Ant-Man" after the rights holders approved the presentation, with conditions that Thomas could not run over anyone, be portrayed as evil, or take sides in the battle.

    Giff95 Report

    AtMostAFabulist
    Community Member
    Premium
    8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What about squashing an ant?

    #36

    A referee shows a red card during a soccer match, highlighting new facts about sports rules TIL Argentina was the catalyst behind the invention of soccer's yellow/red card system. In 1966, their captain refused an expulsion, later blaming language barriers. To prevent this kind of situation in the future, the universal color-coded system was developed so all players understand the calls.

    br_ph , Володимир Король Report

    martin734
    Community Member
    Premium
    23 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    An Argentinian footballer cheating? Never!

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    #37


    TIL that there are millions to hundreds of millions of Giant Squid (Architeuthis Dux) living in Earth's Oceans. We know this because of the sheer amount of Giant Squid found in the stomachs of Sperm Whales requires a breeding population to be at least that large to have reproductive sustainability.

    WitELeoparD Report

    Glix Drap
    Community Member
    Premium
    18 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Someone is playing squid games.

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    #38

    TIL of Tobias Geffen, the only non-Coca Cola Employee to view the secret recipe. Coke allowed it in order to get Coke certified as Kosher

    socool111 Report

    David
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That was for the original certification, but technically the OU has the recipe to ensure it remains kosher, but the OU says the list they have from Coke has over 100 extra ingredients, and that way they can say everything on the list is ok. However the Kosher inspector who goes to the plant is sworn to secrecy bc he has to check the list of all incoming ingredients to the plant to make sure everything matches up with his approved list.

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    #39

    TIL We gradually lose bone mass as we age. Fortunately strength training can reverse this. When we lift weights, the stresses on our bones signal our body to remodel the bones to be thicker and stronger.

    dzuyhue Report

    BarkingSquirell
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wish I could find a way to reverse my laziness that gets in the way of strength training.

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    #40

    Actor Cillian Murphy as Oppenheimer, highlighting new facts about the historical movie TIL towards the end of filming "Tenet," Robert Pattinson gifted Christopher Nolan a book of Oppenheimer speeches. According to Nolan, the speeches showed Oppenheimer "wrestling with the implications of what's happened and what he's done." This led to Nolan's decision to make "Oppenheimer" (2023).

    Giff95 , Universal Pictures Report

    Glix Drap
    Community Member
    Premium
    18 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Now I am become Deāth, the destroyer of worlds.

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    #41

    A smiling female cashier at a store counter, highlighting new facts on customer service and retail careers
    TIL that cashier in most of USA are not allowed to sit.

    CMDR_Pumpkin_Muffin , yaroslav-astakhov- Report

    Did I say that out loud?
    Community Member
    23 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fortunately, in the UK, if your job can be done sitting you have a legal right to do so.

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    #42

    TIL that William Shatner offered to wrestle a real Bengal tiger that had been brought onto the set of Star Trek: The Original Series, only to quickly back down once he actually saw the animal up close.

    Maximum-Artist448 Report

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    #43


    TIL that The Lion King was originally called “King of the Jungle”... until the Disney team remembered that lions don’t live in the jungle.

    GossipBottom Report

    Richard Graham
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    WHAT ABOUT.... In the jungle, the mighty jungle The lion sleeps tonight In the jungle, the quiet jungle The lion sleeps tonight (Ho, ho) [Chorus] Wee-hee-hee-hee (A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh) Wee-oh aweem away (A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh) Wee-hee-hee-hee (A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh) Wee-oh aweem away (A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh) [Verse 2] Near the village, the peaceful village The lion sleeps tonight Near the village, the quiet village The lion sleeps tonight (Hey, hey)

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    #44

    TIL that by law, HOAs in Colorado cannot prevent you from establishing a vegetable garden in any part of your yard.

    Hailfog Report

    Jane Doe-Doe
    Community Member
    7 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I will never understand American HOA’s 🤷‍♀️

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    #45

    TIL the world's tallest known living tree, a 380-foot redwood in California called Hyperion, had its exact location closed off entirely in 2022 after visitors trampled its base so badly that ferns stopped growing around it, with trespassers now facing up to $5,000 in fines and six months in jail

    autraya Report

    GalPalAl
    Community Member
    15 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Which is why there are signs to preserve nature and entitled humans do not abide.

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    #46

    A person using a smartphone to make an online payment, showcasing new facts about digital habits
    TIL South Korea has a rising trend of "dopamine sites"—fake shopping apps and food delivery trackers where users can customize orders and track virtual couriers. Designed to give users the satisfaction of spending without buying anything, nothing is ever delivered.

    delano1998 , Getty Images Report

    Cerulean
    Community Member
    21 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is so fascinating - it really speaks to something we only half understand about screens, and about shipping...

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    #47

    Shirley Temple in leopard print top smiling, telling new facts
    TIL when Shirley Temple retired from movies at age 22 in 1950, she discovered that her father had "drastically mismanaged" her money by making bad investments. Out of the $3.2 million she had earned during her career, only $44K remained in her trust account. She said "I wasn't upset; I was shocked."

    tyrion2024 , TODAY Report

    Jan Rosier
    Community Member
    19 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Can't remember the exact year anymore (40 years in shipping...) but at one time the company I worked for handled the containers (2x 40ft High cube containers) with her belongings moving from Europe back to the US, I assume when she retired from the UN

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    #48

    TIL Driving for more than two hours each day can steadily decrease the IQ of middle-aged drivers

    ubcstaffer123 Report

    Cerulean
    Community Member
    21 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wonder if this is fatigue or poisoning

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    #49

    TIL that the Mr Bean movie opened opposite Starship Troopers in 1997, and its surprising success at the US Box Office and Starship Troopers' underperformance was attributed by some to underage kids buying tickets to the former to sneak into the latter

    Francis_J_Eva Report

    BarkingSquirell
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My sis and I did that with Five Minute Warning. Well, she was seven years older so she did it and I followed.

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    #50

    TIL that Rome had a trade deficit with India nearly 2,000 years ago. Roman historians complained about a "drain of Roman gold" because Romans were obsessed with Indian spices and luxury goods, making it one of history's earliest recorded trade-deficit complaints.

    Effective_Bluebird19 Report

    BarkingSquirell
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    To be exact, the nobility were obsessed. Average Romans could not afford these things.

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    #51

    TIL In 1980 the Supreme Court awarded the Sioux nations $122 million for the Black Hills, a settlement the tribes have refused on the grounds that acceptance would extinguish their claim to the land, leaving the award to accrue interest in a federal account now worth over $1 billion.

    Tadhg Report

    Spencers slave no more
    Community Member
    22 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Good on the Sioux Nations for recongnising the "give with one hand, take back more with the other" tactics.

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    #52

    A close-up shot of a Canadian two-dollar coin, showing new facts on currency design and history TIL Canada's $1 coin is commonly called the "loonie" because it has a loon on the reverse. When a $2 coin was introduced, depicting a polar bear, an MP proposed it be called "Nanuq", Inuit for polar bear, but he was ignored because the public instead preferred to call it the "toonie" (2-oonie).

    NateNate60 , Roman Manshin Report

    BarkingSquirell
    Community Member
    9 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I met a person who actually thinks the Canadian dollar's official name is a loonie rather than a nickname.

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    #53

    TIL in 2013 a man survived treading water for 28 hours in the ocean after he became ill, blacked out, & fell overboard. He woke up in the water with the boat he was on already 15 meters ahead of him. He encountered a shark, was stung by jellyfish & attacked by gulls before he was eventually rescued.

    tyrion2024 Report

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    #54

    TIL a peer-reviewed psychology study found that identical twins (on average) ranked their co-twin above their romantic partner in their attachment hierarchy, while fraternal twins ranked the two about equally, and non-twin siblings ranked their romantic partner first.

    SilverPeachBlossom Report

    driedgrapes
    Community Member
    10 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Siblings of the same age probably treat each other differently than older or younger siblings, leading to family relationships that can potentially be closer than you would ever get with an age gap.

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    #55

    TIL that in 2024, William Duffy flew 24 Flat Earthers to Antarctica to observe the Midnight Sun, in which the sun stays above the horizon for the entire day, a phenomenon which would be impossible in a flat earth model. Though some changed their minds, the community still believes it was faked.

    Sebastianlim Report

    #56

    Close up of Japanese astronaut Toyohiro Akiyama, discovering new facts TIL that Japan's first astronaut, Toyohiro Akiyama, hated his time in space because he suffered from severe space sickness and chain-smoked four packs a day on Earth. His fellow cosmonauts later reported, in regards to his nausea, that they "hadn't ever seen a man vomit that much."

    fan_tas_tic , NASA Report

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    #57


    TIL Hurricane Katrina permanently displaced so many people along the Gulf Coast that it is considered by most definitions to be a diaspora. 40% of evacuees were unable to return home, resulting in permanent demographic changes. The New Orleans population has still not recovered to pre-Katrina levels

    WavesAndSaves Report

    Daisydaisy
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have only recently learnt of the appalling mismanagement that happened after Hurricane Katrina - horrifying treatment of black and low-income victims. And a photo of President Bush peering down at the carnage from his luxury aeroplane...

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    #58


    TIL that out of every primate that has been studied, humans get the least amount of sleep.

    krizzalicious49 Report

    Charlie the Cat
    Community Member
    19 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, I would get a lot more sleep if I didn't have to work.

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    #59

    TIL ancient Greeks treated every stranger as a potential god in disguise. Their hospitality code, "xenia," required hosts to bathe and feed guests before even asking their name—because a bad host risked the wrath of Zeus. The Trojan War was framed as punishment for violating it.

    ralphbernardo Report

    Elladine DesIsles
    Community Member
    23 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My great-grandmother's hometown was Xenia, Ohio (though she was born in the even lovelier-sounding Tranquility, OH); I wonder if this is the origin of that toponym? It seems fitting; when I was growing up, holiday meals at the home of my grandparents (her son and DIL) often included guests from the community who hasld no one else to celebrate with. My grandparents were very devout in their Christianity so I very much doubt they were concerned about entertaining deities in disguise, but they were certainly kind and hospitable.

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    #60

    A man recycling plastic bottle at a machine, sharing new facts TIL a drinks vendor in Germany cheated $47,000 from a bottle recycling machine by putting a single bottle into it 177,451 times. He built a wooden tunnel and magnetic sensor to pull the bottle back out every time, listening to the radio while sitting at the machine all day to pass time.

    delano1998 , SHOX ART Report

    Jenna Logan
    Community Member
    23 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I didn't think a bottle return had that much money in it

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    #61

    A young girl with long hair looking at a digital tablet, sharing new facts about online learning TIL that in 2018, a 14-year-old girl named Cindy Redmond had an air horn blasted into her ear by her friend's stepfather after she wouldn't get off her phone. This caused her to develop hyperacusis, a rare hearing disorder which makes any small noise cause her immense pain.

    Sebastianlim , Action Media Productions Report

    Nicely
    Community Member
    22 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ugh looked this up and he didn't face any kind of consequences. What a d**k.

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    #62


    TIL Tron (1982) was considered ineligible for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects because “the Academy thought we cheated by using computers.”

    ConcentratedStress Report

    Luke || Kira (he/she)
    Community Member
    16 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Maybe if "Best CGI effects" and "Best practical effects" were two separate categories, it'd motivate the filmmakers to start using practical effects again

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    #63

    TIL that Mississippi has no open container law, allowing the driver of a motor vehicle to drink and drive as long as they stay sober.

    azzanrev Report

    Geoffrey Scott
    Community Member
    7 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Florida had the same loophole up until the early 80's at least.

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    #64

    TIL that Anne Frank had an older sister, Margot Frank. According to Anne’s own diary, Margot kept a diary of her own, which has never been found and is now considered lost literature.

    Patrickpro_YT Report

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    #65

    TIL the girl who first suggested the name Pluto when it was discovered in 1930 at age 11, lived to see Pluto demoted to a "dwarf planet" in 2006.

    fanau Report

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    #66

    TIL that before receiving the $168 million divorce settlement from Michael Jordan, Juanita Jordan hired a private investigator to follow him for four years and document his infidelity

    Competitive_Swan_130 Report

    #67

    TIL it was severely taboo for US presidents to leave the country while in office, with Theodore Roosevelt's visit to Panama to inspect progress on the canal in 1906 being the first time a sitting president has left the country.

    Cutalana Report

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    13 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It was no so much taboo to leave the country as much as an absence of any reason to do so.

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    #68

    Singer Madonna on stage under bright lights, sharing new facts from her career TIL that Madonna personally changed a scene in Deadpool & Wolverine. Ryan Reynolds and Shawn Levy had to meet with her to get permission to use Like a Prayer, and Madonna gave them a note about the sequence. The filmmakers made the change within 48h, and said it made the scene better.

    Sea-Ask8703 , MTV and CBS Report

    #69

    A smiling woman sipping from an orange mug, illustrating new facts people learned TIL 77% of people preferred instant coffee over drip in a blind taste test

    d8gfdu89fdgfdu32432 , Engin Akyurt Report

    TheElderNom
    Community Member
    22 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My mom refuses to drink instant coffee " it tastes awful and she can always tell". About that... I've been serving her instant coffee so many times now and she could never tell.

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    #70


    TIL Elizabeth Holmes’ boyfriend founded a blood-testing startup in 2024 with eerily similar claims to Theranos. Holmes reportedly advises him from prison

    MustardSquirt Report

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    #71

    TIL Halle Berry was given a fake script for X-Men: The Last Stand that included a fake plotline which centered on Berry's character Storm in order to trick Berry into signing on for the film. Matthew Vaughan was originally going to direct it, but quit after learning about the fake Halle Berry script

    tyrion2024 Report

    #72

    TIL that Lionel Messi was diagnosed with Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) at age 11 and required daily Human Growth Hormone (HGH) injections until he was 14 just to reach an average height.

    guy_rocco Report

    #73

    TIL that there are so few Imax 70mm screens because many of the parts needed to build them no longer exist, along with the plans being lost. Between Oppenheimer and the Odyssey, Imax attempted to repair or rebuild as many new projectors as they could, and could only increase the number by 11.

    Sebastianlim Report

    Panda McPandaface
    Community Member
    6 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why can't they make new parts? Someone made them in the first place.

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    #74


    TIL that about 1 in 2500 pregnancies cause no pregnancy symptoms or visible baby bump, and the mother only finds out she is pregnant when she starts giving birth.

    PeasantLich Report

    Samboide49
    Community Member
    17 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The numbers sound wrong here. I know mathematics are not an opinion, but if this were true, no one would raise an eyebrow if women started giving birth all over the place 🤔

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    #75


    TIL that Buzz Aldrin reported seeing flashes of light with his eyes closed during Apollo 11, and NASA later determined they were charged particles (radiation) passing directly through his eyeballs and triggering his retina, with no actual light involved

    Long__Ground Report

    Cerulean
    Community Member
    20 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is a fascinating rabbithole to go down. There are two competing explanations. One is that radiation actually ends up producing a wave that creates real photons in the vitreous humour (Cherenkov light). The other is that it shocks the retina into sending a false signal ( phosphenes.) Apparently it may be both.

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    #76

    Close-up of hands eating food at a dinner table, representing new facts about dining etiquette TIL researchers won the 2025 Ig Nobel Chemistry Prize for proposing eating Teflon as a zero calorie food. They cited 1960s DuPont studies where rats fed a 25% Teflon diet lost weight with no signs of toxicity, and patented it as a meal additive, but gave up after the FDA would not approve it.

    Kyzzz , Kampus Production Report

    Deeelite
    Community Member
    15 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well they lost weight - no nutritional value

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    #77

    TIL Kevin Feige almost quit Marvel after Marvel Entertainment head Ike Perlmutter tried to force Robert Downey Jr. out of Civil War due to not wanting to pay him. Disney CEO Bob Iger responded by reshuffling the corporate system so that Fiege would answer directly to him rather than Perlmutter.

    Sebastianlim Report

    Khavrinen
    Community Member
    8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, the rest of those Marvel movies with Robert Downey, Jr. in them didn't make any money at all....

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    #78

    TIL on 11 February 2012, a customer reportedly suffered a heart attack while eating a 'Triple Bypass Burger' at the 'Heart Attack Grill'. These burgers contained 9,983 calories each. According to the now-closed establishments's policy, anyone weighing over 350 pounds was offered unlimited free food.

    haphazard44 Report

    Richard Graham
    Community Member
    23 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'll have two. With a double order of loaded fries. And a diet coke (I'm watching my calories).

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    #79

    TIL that at the famed NYC diner, Katz's Delicatessen, upon entering you are handed a ticket. If you lose the ticket you'll be charged a $50 ticket loss fee on top of the cost of your order.

    UpperphonnyII Report

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    #80


    TIL that Pierce Brosnan was fired from the James Bond series during a 2 minute phone call with the producers.

    stanxv Report

    Ace
    Community Member
    Premium
    20 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He was not fired, his four-film contract had ended, they were talking about extending it, the phone call told him they had decided not to.

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