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Ever had that feeling of being overwhelmed by the very digital world we currently live in? Information zooming past you faster than a supersonic jet, gadgets updating quicker than you can say "iPhone 23," and jobs transforming like a chameleon on a rainbow? Well, you're not alone. A lot of this stuff can escalate to overwhelming levels, especially when you're using technology to unearth interesting or, more specifically, educational information. I mean, come on, you open Google and the amount of data on just one topic can quickly snowball into a digital avalanche just by skimming through the first page (we don't talk about page 2 of Google, that's another topic entirely).

So, what if you want to learn something new? You know, bite-sized chunks of intriguing info, tidbits of knowledge to store in your brain and impress your friends during a sleepover when the topic of discussion becomes something random. Well, look no further than the Today I Learned forum on Reddit as it collects all of that into one large space. And today we are here to share with you, Pandas, some of the most interesting and recent facts that have emerged from there.

#1

“Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL there was a briefly popular social movement in the early 1930s called the "Technocracy Movement." Technocrats proposed replacing politicians and businessmen with scientists and engineers who had the expertise to manage the economy.

ZenithTSF , Social Security Administration Report

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QuirkyKittyGirl
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why didn't this BRILLIANT idea take hold? The fat cats wouldn't have made a profit from it, plus, a lot of businesses would have been OUT of business.

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    #2

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL that In 2018, A hacker broke into people’s routers (100,000 of them) and patched their vulnerabilities up so that they couldn’t be abused by other hackers.

    smoke-season , facts Report

    #3

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL that Walmart tried and failed to establish itself in Germany in the early 2000s. One of the speculated reasons for its failure is that Germans found certain team-building activities and the forced greeting and smiling at customers unnerving.

    ylenias , TaurusEmerald Report

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    Rizzo
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I read that the practice, that the staffs packs the customers bags isn't wanted by german customers either.

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    Bored Panda reached out to Pooja Agarwal, a cognitive scientist and assistant professor of psychology, to discuss the cognitive implications of navigating digital information. Agarwal is also the author of the book "Powerful Teaching: Unleash the Science of Learning," which delves into effective teaching strategies grounded in cognitive science.

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    When asked about using platforms like Reddit's "Today I Learned" for bite-sized learning, Agarwal stated, "From a cognitive science perspective, platforms like 'Today I Learned' on Reddit can actually be quite beneficial for learning. They align well with established cognitive learning theories, particularly those emphasizing the importance of active recall and spacing, both elements central to my book 'Powerful Teaching'."

    #4

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL the earliest known name for a pet was Nedjem, a cat owned by Puimre high priest of Amun in the 15th Century BC. Nedjem translates to 'the sweet one', meaning the very first named pet was a Sweetie.

    ZizZizZiz , 2nd Chance for Strays Report

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    Lucille 2
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Naming my next cat Nedjem 😙 Ned for short

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    #5

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL that STAR WARS released a Christmas music album in 1980 and the producers wanted a better lead singer for the track "R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas" so they asked the 17 year old kid who was sweeping floors at the studio, and he nailed it. His name was Jon Bon Jovi.

    Anadyne , 949whom Report

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    #6

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL of Ida & Isidor Straus, a couple aboard the Titanic the night it sank. Isidor had a chance to join his wife on a life boat, but stayed behind to give his place away to a child. Ida, refusing to leave her husband behind, too left the life boat. They died together arm in arm when the ship sank.

    Unfair_Programmer_42 , wikimedia Report

    The scientist also shared her insights on the immense volume of online information, stating, "The volume of information available online can be both a blessing and a curse... quick and accessible knowledge from platforms like Reddit can be so effective. They provide the opportunity for micro-learning moments that can, cumulatively, contribute to significant cognitive development. Yet, it's crucial to remember that the quality and depth of our interaction with that information matter. We need to actively engage with it and make connections to our existing knowledge if we feel the need to do so in certain cases."

    #7

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL That Historians Believe Cats Domesticated Themselves

    PlopCopTopPopMopStop , kieutruongphoto Report

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    Penny Hernandez
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And they are only semi-domesticated, as anyone with a cat will attest to.

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    #8

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL orcas cultural fads. In the 1980s one such fad was wearing dead salmon as hats. It spread to three separate Pacific pods before suddenly going out of style.

    Milt_Torfelson , thestranger Report

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    #9

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL that while filming The Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger went into a LA restaurant in battle-damaged Terminator makeup. He asked for a table in character and since no one knew who the Terminator was yet, the host and everyone in the restaurant started freaking out, screaming, and quickly left

    SappyGilmore , elperiodico Report

    Discussing the impact of the high-paced digital environment on cognitive function and information retention, Pooja mentioned that, "The high-paced digital environment is a double-edged sword when it comes to cognitive function and information retention... In my book 'Powerful Teaching,' me and my co-author emphasize strategies like retrieval practice and interleaving, which encourage deeper processing and enhance retention." She shared with Bored Panda before also adding to her statement that, "these strategies can also be effectively applied in online environments."

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    #10

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL octopus have nine brains – one mini-brain in each arm and another in the center of their bodies. Each arm can independently taste, touch and perform basic movements, but all arms can work together when prompted by the central brain.

    fiureddit , Ashley Christiano Report

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    Na Schi
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Octopuses are amazing creatures. They also have a great concept of bodily awareness: when being trapped in a box with an escape hole they immediately will start to explore the hole's size with their arms. When the arm/s deem the hole to be big enough they start to squeeze them trough it. If they deem the hole to be too small they don't even try to escape. Edit: I should add that the octopuses' estimations were always right.

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    #11

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL that in 2002, Chumbawamba accepted $100k from General Motors for the rights to use one of their songs in a Pontiac commercial. The band then donated it to a corporate watchdog group that used the money to launch an information campaign against GM.

    archarbor , telegraph Report

    #12

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL about John Smeaton, a former baggage handler at Glasgow Airport. He helped thwart the 2007 Glasgow Airport attack by kicking one of the attackers in the groin. He was awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal for his actions.

    WouldbeWanderer , thescottishsun Report

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    Tobias Reaper
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    this failed to mention that the dude punched the terrorist while he was on fire

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    #13

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL that playing Tetris after a traumatic event can help prevent post-traumatic stress symptoms.

    Blade_982 , Brandenads Report

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    Passerby
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Huh, I wonder why. Is it specific to Tetris, or does any game work?

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    Addressing the concept of learning something new every day, she emphasized the role of active engagement and 'spacing,' stating, "Learning something new every day is indeed beneficial from a cognitive perspective, provided it involves active engagement and is not simply passive absorption... Spacing out learning over time can greatly enhance long-term retention."

    #14

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL In 2013 a couple walking their dog in California found 8 coffee cans containing over 1,427 gold coins worth over $10 million. The original source of the hoard is still unknown.

    Jd20001 , Kagin's Inc Report

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    TonyTee
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I actually remember this from 2013, crazy s**t huh?

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    #15

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL of the 1850 shipwreck of the Jenny Lind on a South Pacific coral reef. 28 people survived for 37 days on a tiny patch of sand because a passenger created a water distillation system from salvaged cookware capable of making 25 gallons a day of freshwater.

    triviafrenzy , LittleT889 Report

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    Florence O'Grady
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Does anyone know which kitchen parts he used and how they go together? It would be good information to know?

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    #16

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL that the choir in the title sequence of Mr Bean is singing ‘Ecce homo qui est faba’, which translates to ‘Behold the man who is a bean.’ in Latin.

    W1ngedSentinel , classicfm Report

    The assistant professor also provided advice to you Pandas, on navigating online forums for learning, suggesting, "To navigate online forums effectively for learning, individuals need to be proactive... They should engage in active learning strategies... engage with the information over time, returning to it after a while with a fresh mindset. We should be critical consumers of information, cross-checking facts from reliable sources to minimize misinformation that we often tend to overlook, especially with the rise of social media when books also became available online or as articles."

    #17

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL In Scotland, two students went to an art exhibition and left a pineapple on a table to see if it would become art. When they returned four days later, the pineapple was still there and had been covered with a glass display case

    nerdy_subha , LloydJack16 Report

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    #18

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL that 'Nothing' was a Shakespearean nickname for the Vulva... 'Much ado about Nothing' could just as easily have been called 'A lot of fuss about Fannies'

    ArcTan_Pete , Shakespeare Memes Report

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    nini
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So, when my bf tells me he's thinking about 'nothing'...?

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    #19

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL in the original German ending of the fairy tale Snow White, the evil queen is forced to put on red-hot iron shoes and dance until she drops dead.

    Skeleton_Pilots , Landsbókasafn Íslands Report

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    irissii (she/them)
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    and in the original ending of red riding hood, the wolf has a rock put in him to replace the people he ate and he goes to the river to drink, falls in, and drowns!

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    #20

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL that Austrian actress Eva von Berne was presumed to be dead for 70+ years because a PR consultant at MGM accidentally reported her death in 1930. 96-year-old von Berne said in 2006: "It was fortunate that the world thought that I died. So I did not have to deal with autograph hunters."

    ylenias , imdb Report

    #21

    TIL of Chaser, a border collie whose tested memory was the highest of any non-human animal. She could identify and retrieve 1022 different toys based on name and category.

    dragonoid296 Report

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    Auntriarch
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Border collie, not surprised. How many border collies does it take to change a light bulb? One, and then it will check that your wiring is up to spec

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    #22

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL that International Shooting Union barred women from shooting with men in 1993, after Zhang Shan won the gold medal in Skeet Shooting in 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

    Fan387 , Tasnim News Agency Report

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    User# 6
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That is one of the dumbest things I ever heard. Talk about fragile masculinity.

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    #23

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the USS West Virginia battleship was salvaged six months later. During the salvage operation, a calendar was discovered in an airtight room indicating three sailors survived for another 16 days after the event.

    customlord , U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships Report

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    TonyTee
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Must’ve been torturous for them. It’s mind blowing when you think about the sets of eyes out there that have seen things in this world we wouldn’t even see in our worst nightmares.

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    #24

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL about Empires of the Deep, an $130 million mermaid movie from 2011 that's never been released

    JeffRyan1 , mubi Report

    #25

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL that in the 17th century, when coffee had made its way to Europe, some people reacted to it with suspicion or fear, calling it the “bitter invention of Satan.” In 1615, the clergy in Venice asked Pope Clement VIII to intervene. He found the drink so satisfying that he gave it papal approval.

    LadyWarrior73 , chinoproduct Report

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    #26

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL that all clownfish are born as males. One female lives with a group of males but only mates with one of them. When she dies her mate will become female. This change is irreversible.

    Tall_Cow2299 , Nick Hobgood Report

    #27

    TIL that every employee at the Hanford Engineer Works in Richland, WA donated one day's worth of their pay to purchase a B-17 bomber, as their contribution to the WW2 effort. The plane was christened 'Day's Pay' and flew over 60 missions in Germany

    Geeledouche52 Report

    #28

    TIL that a set of triplets found each other coincidentally after being separated at adoption for a pyschological experiment, when a college student mistook one of the triplets for his unknown brother. Once the two reunited, the unusual story made the paper catching the attention of the third brother

    KiNikki7 Report

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    Penny Hernandez
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why did people think using children as experimental subjects is OK?

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    #29

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL that there is a German man named Marc Wubbenhorst who must drink 20 liters of water every day in order to not die from dehydration. He suffers an extreme case of diabetes insipidus.

    JurassicPark9265 , tlc uk Report

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    Lunaofthenest (She/they)
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This poor guy. All kidding aside, does he even get to have a life outside of monitoring his water intake & the subsequent trips to the restroom that must follow? I wonder how they discovered his condition, initially?

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    #30

    TIL the world's oldest terrarium / sealed bottle ecosystem has been thriving since 1960. The 10-gallon bottle is like a mini Earth. It has only been opened once in 53 years to add a bit more water (in 1972). Otherwise it has been sealed without fresh water or air.

    logicalconflict Report

    #31

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL in 2013, Italian surgeons split new residents into two laparoscopic surgery training groups. They found that the group that was ordered to play the Nintendo Wii for 1 hour a day/5days a week performed better on test surgeries than their non-gaming counterparts.

    Radient-Rabbit , Greyson Orlando Report

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    WindySwede
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "sorry i'm working" - continues fencing with the wii controller..

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    #32

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL of socialite Ida Wood: in 1907 she emptied her 1 million dollar bank account(21 million in today's money), declared she was “tired of everything" and shut herself in a hotel room along with her sisters. She stepped out of the room for the first time 24 years later

    Ainsley-Sorsby , biblio Report

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    #33

    TIL about Grizzly 399. A female bear from the Grand Tetons that bucks the trend of living into her old age and giving birth to triplets instead of twins. She chooses to live in close proximity to humans for their protection and has become a social media celebrity and tourist attraction.

    shaka_sulu Report

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    Dani M
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I looked her up and and I love this bear!!!! she and her cubs are wonderful :)

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    #34

    TIL that there's a species of wasp called the horse guard wasp. It is found in the eastern US and acts as a natural biological control by hanging around horses and killing horse flies. Despite their loud buzzing noises, horses are not disturbed by them.

    ReturntoPleistocene Report

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    JB
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'll take wasps over horseflies every time. Horseflies are relentless

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    #35

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL The Ninja Turtles are a parody of Daredevil (Marvel). Daredevil and the turtles were both created in the same radioactive material accident, and Daredevil fights 'The Hand' while the turtles fight 'The Foot', and Daredevil's sensei is called 'Stick', while the turtles' is called 'Splinter'

    firstpc13 , imdb Report

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    El Dee
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Did you know - in the UK when the cartoon was released on television they were worried that the use of the word 'Ninja' in the title would lead to children becoming violent. So it was retitled 'Teenage Mutant HERO Turtles'

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    #36

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL that when the submarine ARA San Juan disappeared in 2017, initial search crews picked up a banging noise at the search site, like tools hitting metal. After analyzing the audio, it was determined the sound was not from the submarine and was probably from a biological source.

    PabloTheUnicorn , Martin Otero Report

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    Mouse
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Recalled this story when the news was reporting on Titan sub & claiming reports of pounding every 30 minutes. The ocean does not easily give up her secrets

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    #37

    TIL that orcas have a culture that they pass down to their offspring and they also have variations in vocalizations similar to languages and dialects in humans

    MudakMudakov Report

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    Lucille 2
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We have both transient and resident orca frequently in my area and it’s interesting that they have such different languages! Humans aren’t the only ones 😊

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    #38

    TIL that the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York City is so long with such tall towers that the top of the towers are 1 5/8 inches farther apart at their tops than at their bases. This is because the distance between the towers made it necessary to compensate for the earth’s curvature.

    Selimsnek Report

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    #39

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL that they stopped putting missing children on milk cartons because the threat was largely overblown, was mostly ineffective, had no requirements for what missing meant, was emotionally disturbing to families, and was done mostly for the tax credits.

    ProbablyABore , desmoinesregister Report

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    Bernd Herbert
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wonder if this is one of the reasons parents in the US seem to keep their kids on a much tighter leash than here in Europe

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    #40

    TIL Peppers evolved to prefer birds spread their seeds. Capsaicin and pepper colors attract birds. Seeds that pass through the digestive system of a bird germinate at a rate of 370% higher than seeds that pass through mammals who are normally repelled by Capsaicin.

    pdentropy Report

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    Lucille 2
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Birds cannot taste spicy, so eating foods with capsaicin are no big deal for them :)

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    #41

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL: Antilia is one of the most expensive private residences in the world, costing over $1 billion. The billionaire had his entire family live in the 27 story home which requires 600 servants and has 168 car garage, 9 elevators, a theatre, pool, ballroom, and snow room. It was built on an orphanage.

    Flares117 , https://pixabay.com/fr/photos/antilia-b%C3%A2timent-mumbai-inde-4878391/ Report

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    #42

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) In 2001, a New York couple got married on the deck of the Titanic, in a submarine. They faced criticism that their stunt was in "bad taste."

    GarysCrispLettuce , hindustantimes Report

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    QuirkyKittyGirl
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's because it WAS in bad taste. Why not just get married in a cemetery?

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    #43

    TIL that Sigourney Weaver only earned $35,000 for Alien (1979) but got $1,000,000 and a share of the profits for Aliens (1986)

    Make_the_music_stop Report

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    Richard Graham
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fun facts about Sigourney Weaver. Her real name is Susan. She is the daughter of Sylvester "Pat" Weaver, former President of NBC and creator of the "Today Show". Pat's brother (and Sigorney's uncle) was Winstead Sheffied "Doodles" Weaver, popular movie actor, a singer with the Spike Jones City Slickers, and writer for "Mad Magazine". What a family!!!

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    #44

    TIL that Rüppell's griffon vulture has the highest documented altitude of any bird at 36k feet. Unfortunately this information was discovered after a Boeing 747 took the bird into the engine over western Africa.

    TrackerDyl Report

    #45

    TIL - The Onion submitted a 23-page Amicus Curiae brief to the US Supreme Court in 2022 for the case Novak v. City of Parma, Ohio, in support of the protection of parody as free-speech. In the text, The Onion openly parodies the Court and says it is "staffed entirely by total Latin dorks".

    stdubbs Report

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    Owen
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Onion sometimes writes more truth than the actual news.

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    #46

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL game designer Will Wright (creator of The Sims) held the record for the illegal 'Cannonball Run' race to drive across the US in 1980, driving from New York to California in 33 hours 9 minutes

    LotusCobra , nbc Report

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    Downunderdude
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Couldn't help myself...that is an average of 84 mph or 136kmh! Smokin'!

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    #47

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL Paris has more than 44000 restaurants, with an approximate population of 2.14 million residents, that’s 48 people for every restaurant.

    Moto_Rouge , Pierre Blaché Report

    #48

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL that only $2 was budgeted toward safety training for the crew of MV Sewol, the South Korean passenger ferry which sank in 2014 killing 306 people. This was used to pay for a paper certificate.

    rugrats1989 , gcaptain Report

    #49

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL there are 20 mountains over 23,000 ft in the world that have never been climbed.

    Babatikidido1212 , Sultanalipassu Report

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    Dre Mosley
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So those mountains are devoid of all the trash and debris climbers leave behind. Good.

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    #50

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL 200,000 to 600,000 pets were estimated to have been left behind in the evacuations from hurricane Katrina, as people were not allowed to take pets with them and pets were not allowed in sheltering places.

    Moodfoo , buzzfeednews Report

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    TonyTee
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I know I’m nuts, which is why I know I would’ve stayed with my babies, won’t ever be forced into separating from my innocent furry fam ❤️

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    #51

    TIL heart attack symptoms for women may include Nausea, Sweating, Vomiting, Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, abdomen or back because they buildup cholesterol plaque differently than men

    malarky-b Report

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    Penny Hernandez
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And are often failed to be diagnosed as having a heart attack because physicians use men's symptoms as the standard.

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    #52

    TIL: In 1989, musician Jon Bon Jovi secretly left his tour and headed to Las Vegas to marry his high school sweetheart, Dorothea Hurley. They have four children and are still married. One of their sons is engaged to actress Millie Bobby Brown.

    OvidPerl Report

    #53

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) Til of E Henry Knoche, A former star college tennis and basketball athlete, he asked for a job with the CIA with no qualifications other than his trophies, 2 years with the navy during WW2 and speaking Russian and an obscure Chinese dialect. When he retired in 1977 he was acting director of the CIA

    GoodUsernamesTaken2 , Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Report

    #54

    TIL Dolphins call each other by ‘name’ using a unique whistle to identify each other. They only respond to their own names, by sounding a distinct whistle back. Researchers believe dolphins are acting like humans: when they hear their name, they answer.

    Die_Nameless_Bitch Report

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    #55

    TIL about the Ghost Blimp. In 1942, a crew of two men left San Francisco in a Navy blimp to conduct an antisubmarine patrol. Five hours later, the empty blimp drifted back ashore and crashed into a residential neighborhood. No trace of the crew was ever found.

    captureorbit Report

    #56

    TIL the bizantines had to deal with a whale that attacked ships in the Bosporus Strait for 50 years

    labiuai Report

    #57

    TIL of Kevin Budden, who caught a deadly taipan by hand and hitchhiked to town still holding the snake. He lost his grip and was bitten, but bagged the snake and made the driver promise to get it to researchers. Kevin died the next day, but the snake was used to create the first taipan antivenom.

    a2soup Report

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    Tucker Cahooter
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No way would I stop to pick up a hitchhiker holding *any* snake let alone the deadliest one there is...

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    #58

    TIL: The US Navy used Xbox 360 controllers to operate the periscopes on submarines based on feedback from junior officers and sailors; the previous controls for the periscope were clunky and real heavy and cost about $38,000 compared to the Xbox 360 controller’s cost of around $20.

    zztop610 Report

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    Ericthedead
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I’ve been training for operating a periscope on a sub my entire life.

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    #59

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL about Yang Jingyu: a Chinese resistance leader who fought the Japanese during WWil. Yang was encircled & killed after 5 days of fighting alone in the wild. An autopsy found only bark and grass roots in his stomach. His desecrated body was later given a proper burial due to fear of his ghost.

    Consistent_Zucchini2 , CCTV Report

    #60

    TIL A camel's hump does not hold water. It actually stores fat. The camel uses it as nourishment when food is scarce. If a camel uses the fat inside the hump, the hump will become limp and droop down. With proper food and rest, the hump will return to normal.

    TheQuietKid22 Report

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

    A gourmet cook was the guest on the David Letterman Show. She was talking about exotic foods, and asked Letterman "Have you ever had the hump of a camel?" David replied "No, I have never had the hump of a camel – but when I was younger I was pretty damned good!"

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    #61

    TIL If a fighter pilot ejects using a Martin-Baker ejection seat, the company provides a tie, patch, certificate, tie pin and membership card for the "Ejection Tie Club" plus a subsidised limited edition Bremont watch.

    ZealousidealLuck6303 Report

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    Ericthedead
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Humm.Eject and score a little swag. Bet the country the pilot flys for will not be happy with a bag of swag.

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    #62

    TIL McDonald's closed in Iceland, but the last burger and fries still linger on and are now in a glass encased shrine in a guest house in South Iceland. Twelve plus years later, neither appear to have decayed one bit.

    SingLikeTinaTurner Report

    #63

    TIL that Brighton, one of the sunniest places in the UK, still has considerably fewer sunshine hours (~1,840) than 'Rain City' Seattle in the US (~2170)

    Ryponagar Report

    #64

    TIL that Lucille Ball convinced Merv Griffin to hire Alex Trebek to host the revival of Jeopardy in 1984 when original host Art Fleming, a friend of Trebek’s, declined to return. Trebek holds the Guinness World Records for most episodes of a game show hosted, hosted the show until his death in 2020.

    LadyWarrior73 Report

    #65

    TIL that when Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981, hospital staff cut away his clothing. Finding a laminated card in his suit pocket, they discarded it into his shoe on the floor where it was left unattended. That card was the list of nuclear launch codes.

    a2soup Report

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    Gabby Ghoul
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    To be a bit more accurate, the laminated card contained his message authenticators.

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    #66

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL Daniel Suhr, who was responding to the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, was the first firefighter killed in the attacks. He was hit by a falling body.

    AlbinNboat , UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT Report

    #67

    TIL That more creative people report greater trauma in their childhood.

    finnishflash128 Report

    #68

    TIL the only copies of the Haitian Declaration of Independence are in the UK's National Archives, Kew. And was only found to be there as recent as 2010 by a student from Duke University.

    pugsftw Report

    #69

    TIL Shakespeare's skull is missing from his grave, which mysteriously does not bear his name, but rather a curse: “Good friend, for Jesus’ sake forbear, to dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed be the man that spares these stones, And cursed be he that moves my bones."

    LadyWarrior73 Report

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    #70

    TIL Composer Bart Howard's song "Fly Me to the Moon" made him so wealthy that he was able to ride on it for the rest of his life. Howard curtailed his songwriting efforts and entered semi-retirement, with the occasional concert and cabaret stint

    einstein_bern Report

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    Downunderdude
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Does anyone want to hear my song 'Drive me to the carwash'? Yes? Ok, here goes..a one a two a one two three four...

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    #71

    TIL Of Titanic Thompson, a prolific hustler and golfer of the early 20th century. One of Thompson's tricks was to play righthanded, win, and offer to play double or nothing lefthanded, he was naturally lefthanded. In his time a professional golfer could earn 30,000$ a year, he earned that in a week.

    jamescookenotthatone Report

    #72

    TIL Actor Dermot Mulroney is also an accomplished cellist and has played on many of Michael Giacchino's film soundtracks, including Rogue One, Jurassic World, and Spider-Man: Homecoming

    Shrek_2_Soundtrack Report

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    #73

    TIL that AIDS was initially called GRID - Gay Related Immune Deficiency. It was changed to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome once it was clear that the disease was not confined to the gay community.

    p38-lightning Report

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    Dre Mosley
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Was never a gay disease. It just hit that community first and the hardest in those early days. Read "And the Band Played On." by Randy Shilts.

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    #74

    TIL President Lincoln established the Secret Service on April 14th, 1865. He would be murdered later that same evening

    Salem1690s Report

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    KDS
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It was originally created to catch counterfeiters and they didn’t begin protecting the President until 1901 after McKinley was assassinated.

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    #75

    TIL of the United Kingdom's Locomotives Act 1865, which mandated that motor vehicles abide by a 2 to 4 mph speed limit, be crewed by minimum of three persons, and have man walk at least 55 meters ahead of the vehicle, waving a red flag and sounding a horn.

    BeevyD Report

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    #76

    TIL according to international space law, space is defined as common heritage of humanity, which makes territorial claims in space prohibited. The main purposes of this law are to prevent colonial claims and militarization of space.

    dustofoblivion123 Report

    #77

    Til that an entire species of bird went extinct because of ww2 - Wake Island rail. They were flightless birds specific to one tiny island and the Japanese troops there ate them.

    hillo538 Report

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    Chewie Baron
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    During WW2, a bird that had been extinct from British waters decided to re-introduce itself. The Avocet (a wading bird with an upturned bull - the symbol of the RSPB) was able to safely live and breed on the beaches of eastern Britain as all the beaches had been closed in case of potential invasion. When they were noticed a couple years after the war’s end, they’d already set up a healthy colony and have thrived ever since.

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    #78

    TIL a mentally unstable man in Canada cut down a rare golden spruce tree, sacred to Indigenous people, to protest the logging industry. His trial was on the island where he cut down the tree. Fearing for his safety, he opted to kayak there solo rather than take a plane. He hasn't been seen since.

    CanadianW Report

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    #79

    TIL that Albert I, King of the Belgians (b. 1875, r. 1909-1934) commanded the Belgian Army from the front during WWI, while his wife Elisabeth worked as a frontline nurse and their 12 year old son Leopold enlisted as a private and fought in the ranks

    AnselaJonla Report

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    Mark Mark
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Leopold. Wasn't he the one who colonised the Congo and oversaw all the atrocities there? War obviously didn't do him any good as a person.

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    #80

    TIL that there were 26 families of passengers on the Mayflower that are known to have left descendants; it is estimated that over 30 million people can trace their ancestry back to those 26 families on the Mayflower.

    LadyWarrior73 Report

    #81

    TIL "Fatso the Fat-Arsed Wombat" was an unofficial mascot of the 2000 Summer Olympics. He proved so popular that the Australian Olympic Committee attempted to ban athletes appearing with Fatso to stop him upstaging their official mascots.

    shofmon88 Report

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    #82

    “Today I Learned”: People Share 50 Fascinating Things They Didn’t Learn In School (New Pics) TIL Canada geese eggs are "aborted" by coating the eggs with corn oil for population control. Simply removing or destroying the eggs will just result in the geese laying more eggs

    urban-railing , Famartin Report

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    Hodmi
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Being an egg oiler must be one of the world's most dangerous jobs. Canada geese are some of the most bad tempered, nasty, vicious creatures on the planet.

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    #83

    TIL that in the 1960s, Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead worked for Jimi Hendrix as his roadie and drug supplier for after-show parties. Lemmy later recalled how he got to see Hendrix perform a whole lot - twice a night for about three months.

    waitingforthesun92 Report

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    Taff Thomas
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Lemmy gave Keith Emerson the antique knives Emerson used to hold down keys in his stage show. The provenance if the knives is not known.

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    #84

    TIL about Prince Mikasa who was Japanese Emperor Hirohito's brother and repeatedly criticized the regime's war crimes during and after World War II including proposing that the Emperor resign in 1945 to take responsibility for the war

    Plowbeast Report

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    #85

    TIL During the first dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, one of the outer window panes on the bathysphere cracked. They opted to continue, and successfully reached the bottom.

    Such-Track5369 Report

    #86

    TIL on Fridays, the Swedes love to eat tacos. It's called Taco Fredag or Taco Friday.

    TheMadhopper Report

    #87

    TIL the founders of Outback Steakhouse intentionally decided not to visit Australia, as they were concerned that having too much authenticity would confuse customers

    helpmeredditimbored Report

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    Katie Lutesinger
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Born and raised in Australia and I've never even seen a "bloomin' onion". It does sound tasty, though.

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    #88

    TIL That there is an Enigma message that hasn't been broken yet

    Quique1222 Report

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