Today I Learned (TIL)

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You learn something new every day; what did you learn today? Submit interesting and specific facts about something that you just found out here.

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bOt@zerobytes.monster
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TIL that a huge 20m (66ft) rogue wave hit the bulk carrier, MV Derbyshire with such force that it sent the ship underwater almost instantly, not even giving its crew enough time to save themselves... (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 4 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/zahrul3 on 2025-01-22 09:10:32.

Original Title: TIL that a huge 20m (66ft) rogue wave hit the bulk carrier, MV Derbyshire with such force that it sent the ship underwater almost instantly, not even giving its crew enough time to save themselves, let alone send a distress signal.

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TIL New York City no longer has rooftop helipads due to an accident in 1977 that claimed the lives of five people (gothamist.com)
submitted 4 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Bigdstars187 on 2025-01-22 04:32:07.
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TIL Sleep regularity is a stronger predictor of mortality risk than sleep duration: A prospective cohort study (academic.oup.com)
submitted 4 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/BflatminorOp23 on 2025-01-22 03:33:45.
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TIL about Texarkana, two different towns on the border of Texas and Arkansas with the same name. They operate similar to one, despite two state laws. Their courthouse is also the only one in the U... (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 4 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/MidnightBlazing on 2025-01-22 01:57:56.

Original Title: TIL about Texarkana, two different towns on the border of Texas and Arkansas with the same name. They operate similar to one, despite two state laws. Their courthouse is also the only one in the USA to sit on a state border.

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TIL In the USA, there can be 450 insect parts and nine rodent hairs in every 16 oz. box of spaghetti. (fox59.com)
submitted 4 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Costanza2704 on 2025-01-22 01:39:33.
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TIL: Hox genes, that specify regions of the body plan of an embryo along the head-tail axis of animals, are some of oldest common genes, from flies, fish and mice to humans, indicating an early co... (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 4 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Street-Punk on 2025-01-21 20:30:22.

Original Title: TIL: Hox genes, that specify regions of the body plan of an embryo along the head-tail axis of animals, are some of oldest common genes, from flies, fish and mice to humans, indicating an early common ancestor.

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TIL the British military once had an idea to put live chickens inside nuclear bomb cases with a week's worth of food and water. The bombs were meant to be planted into the ground as mines, so they... (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 4 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/jxdlv on 2025-01-22 02:29:20.

Original Title: TIL the British military once had an idea to put live chickens inside nuclear bomb cases with a week's worth of food and water. The bombs were meant to be planted into the ground as mines, so they had to be kept warm in the winter to keep working.

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TIL about some of the names given to gene mutations bred into fruit flies by scientists. Cheap Date is a gene that increases susceptibility to alcohol, the Van Gogh gene produces swirling of hair ... (www.lubio.ch)
submitted 12 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/EssexGuyUpNorth on 2025-01-21 22:13:33.

Original Title: TIL about some of the names given to gene mutations bred into fruit flies by scientists. Cheap Date is a gene that increases susceptibility to alcohol, the Van Gogh gene produces swirling of hair on the wings and the Swiss Cheese gene produces holes in the brain.

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TIL Earl Hindman (Wilson from TV’s “Home Improvement”) played one of the hijackers in the original Taking of Pelham 123, also mostly in disguise the whole movie. (www.afi.com)
submitted 12 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/hockeyandburritos on 2025-01-21 20:09:26.
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TIL Beef was rarely eaten in ancient China, as cows & bulls were used mostly for transportation. Only nobility could eat beef- but only if the animal died naturally or from old age. (historum.com)
submitted 12 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/valkyria1111 on 2025-01-21 18:51:25.
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TIL that bullet trains in Japan were designed in 1940 & included plans to extend to Beijing and even Singapore. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 12 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Powerful_Stock6011 on 2025-01-21 02:32:18.
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TIL of Amalgam Comics, which was a collaborative publishing imprint shared by DC Comics and Marvel Comics, in which the two comic book publishers merged their characters into new ones. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 12 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Stack_of_HighSociety on 2025-01-21 02:27:06.
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TIL that people report being bored about 10 hours a week at work, according to researchers. (news.nd.edu)
submitted 12 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/ralphbernardo on 2025-01-21 18:35:26.
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TIL there was a French SS division named ‘Charlemagne’ that fought alongside Nazi Germany, ending up among the last Axis defenders in Berlin in 1945. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 12 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/GDW312 on 2025-01-21 18:24:40.
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TIL that Abraham Lincoln’s dog, Fido, was stabbed to death. (sangamoncountyhistory.org)
submitted 12 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/TheReligiousSpaniard on 2025-01-21 17:26:27.
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TIL Washington State leads apple production in the United States, accounting for over half of the nation’s domestically grown apples. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 12 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Plus-Staff on 2025-01-21 17:10:54.
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TIL Michael Jackson is estimated to have donated more than $500 million to charity and the Guinness Book of World Records cited him for holding the world record for the “Most Charities Supported b... (www.latimes.com)
submitted 12 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/wilsonofoz on 2025-01-21 16:33:39.

Original Title: TIL Michael Jackson is estimated to have donated more than $500 million to charity and the Guinness Book of World Records cited him for holding the world record for the “Most Charities Supported by a Pop Star.”

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TIL that in 1917, during World War I, the British Army tried to train seagulls to poop on German U-boat periscopes to obscure their view. They even tested it with fake periscopes on beaches, but t... (www.oldsaltblog.com)
submitted 12 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/thedavejay on 2025-01-21 15:49:25.

Original Title: TIL that in 1917, during World War I, the British Army tried to train seagulls to poop on German U-boat periscopes to obscure their view. They even tested it with fake periscopes on beaches, but the gulls were more interested in stealing sandwiches than sinking submarines.

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TIL Danny Trejo has a clause in his movie contracts that requires his villainous characters to die by the end of the film. He wants children to learn that crime doesn't pay. (toofab.com)
submitted 22 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Level_Cash2225 on 2025-01-21 15:22:08.
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TIL that recording artist Buffy Sainte-Marie lied about being Native American and is actually English and Italian (www.cbc.ca)
submitted 22 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/sandozlucy on 2025-01-21 15:15:49.
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TIL that in Major League Baseball the ball is pitched so fast that the eye cannot track it. However, the brain is able to calculate its trajectory via specialized cells, making it possible for the... (www.2020mag.com)
submitted 22 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/capribex on 2025-01-21 14:58:29.

Original Title: TIL that in Major League Baseball the ball is pitched so fast that the eye cannot track it. However, the brain is able to calculate its trajectory via specialized cells, making it possible for the batter to hit it.

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TIL that Gabe Newell owns a marine research company, and now mostly lives at sea on his boats and submarines. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 22 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/PS_Sullys on 2025-01-21 14:34:55.
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TIL Earthquakes produce light and scientists aren't sure why. (wikipedia.org)
submitted 22 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Iwillpickonelater on 2025-01-21 11:08:39.
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TIL about Speakers' Corner in London, a historic spot where anyone can freely express their opinions, debate, and even rant—no matter how controversial, since the 1800s. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 22 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/haquebeengood on 2025-01-21 08:53:35.
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TIL that a Saudi Arabian man called Khalid bin Mohsen Shaari went from 1,340 (610 kg) pounds in August 2013 to 710 pounds (320 kg) in six months. By November 2017, he was 150 pounds (68 kg) and is... (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 22 hours ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/CreeperRussS on 2025-01-21 07:02:08.

Original Title: TIL that a Saudi Arabian man called Khalid bin Mohsen Shaari went from 1,340 (610 kg) pounds in August 2013 to 710 pounds (320 kg) in six months. By November 2017, he was 150 pounds (68 kg) and is still alive today.

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