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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276
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TIL That in terms of single car company dominance by country, Uzbekistan takes the top spot. 94% of all new car sales are a single brand - Chevrolet (www.reuters.com)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Stradevar on 2025-03-04 13:50:39.
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TIL child abduction by strangers are known as "stereotypical kidnappings" in the United States, despite being the rarest type of child abduction (www.ojp.gov)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/asdrunkasdrunkcanbe on 2025-03-04 12:51:40.
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TIL that a woman wore a Star Trek uniform while serving on a jury. Barbara Adams wore the uniform (including phaser, tricorder, and commbadge) every day of the court case. She was sent home ... fo... (www.spokesman.com)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/TMWNN on 2025-03-04 12:47:48.

Original Title: TIL that a woman wore a Star Trek uniform while serving on a jury. Barbara Adams wore the uniform (including phaser, tricorder, and commbadge) every day of the court case. She was sent home ... for talking to the press, not because of her clothing.

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TIL that when the small town of Delton, Michigan received a foreign exchange student, the host family thought the Austrian boy had exaggerated his size. Bernhard Raimann a) was 6' 6" tall and b) w... (www.colts.com)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/TMWNN on 2025-03-04 12:35:12.

Original Title: TIL that when the small town of Delton, Michigan received a foreign exchange student, the host family thought the Austrian boy had exaggerated his size. Bernhard Raimann a) was 6' 6" tall and b) wanted to play American football. He dominated local teams, got a college scholarship, and is in the NFL.

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TIL about the Caterpillar Club, an exclusive club for people who jump out of a failing aircraft and survive using a parachute. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Qzaster on 2025-03-04 09:02:49.
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TIL about the Sheitel, a wig worn by Orthodox Jewish women. Because of the belief that Orthodox women need to cover their hair, some exploit a loophole by using a sheitel and essentially wear more... (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/CaravelClerihew on 2025-03-04 06:42:25.

Original Title: TIL about the Sheitel, a wig worn by Orthodox Jewish women. Because of the belief that Orthodox women need to cover their hair, some exploit a loophole by using a sheitel and essentially wear more hair on top of their natural hair.

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TIL about the Widowhood Effect: When a husband or wife dies, the surviving spouse faces a higher risk of dying over the next few months. (academic.oup.com)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Nocturnal_Pages on 2025-03-04 06:09:58.
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TIL that the concept of cognitive dissonance explains why some followers double down when their leader fails - admitting they were wrong is too painful. Psychologist Leon Festinger coined the term... (wearethemutants.com)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/nilsohnee on 2025-03-04 05:56:23.

Original Title: TIL that the concept of cognitive dissonance explains why some followers double down when their leader fails - admitting they were wrong is too painful. Psychologist Leon Festinger coined the term after infiltrating a 1954 UFO cult whose members became more devoted when their prophecy failed

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TIL that in 1989, a man bought a painting for $4 at a flea market and discovered an original copy of the Declaration of Independence hidden behind it. (mymodernmet.com)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Icy-Card2068 on 2025-03-04 02:48:05.
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TIL that Singapore People's Action Party is the longest uninterrupted governing party among modern multiparty parliamentary democracies. It has been governing for 65 years, and it is the second-lo... (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Specialist_Heat_1480 on 2025-03-04 00:11:11.

Original Title: TIL that Singapore People's Action Party is the longest uninterrupted governing party among modern multiparty parliamentary democracies. It has been governing for 65 years, and it is the second-longest governing party in history after Mexico's Institutional Revolutionary Party

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TIL that the Oscar for Best International Feature is awarded to the country that the winning film originates from, not specifically to the director. Italy holds the most wins in the category (14),... (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/lappy482 on 2025-03-03 14:50:26.

Original Title: TIL that the Oscar for Best International Feature is awarded to the country that the winning film originates from, not specifically to the director. Italy holds the most wins in the category (14), whilst France holds the most nominations (41).

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TIL the drug protamine, which is an antidote for heparin, comes from salmon sperm. (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/MaverickanGoose on 2025-03-03 14:49:15.
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TIL that increased body fat may reduce injury severity from gunshot wounds. A study found that obese patients with anterior abdominal gunshot wounds had fewer visceral injuries compared to normal-... (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/PinkPonyMuchachu on 2025-03-03 13:28:38.

Original Title: TIL that increased body fat may reduce injury severity from gunshot wounds. A study found that obese patients with anterior abdominal gunshot wounds had fewer visceral injuries compared to normal-weight patients. 

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TIL about James Harrison, the "Man with the Golden Arm," who donated blood over 1,100 times and helped save 2.5 million babies. His rare antibody was used to create Anti-D, a treatment that preven... (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/MrMeritocracy on 2025-03-04 01:10:05.

Original Title: TIL about James Harrison, the "Man with the Golden Arm," who donated blood over 1,100 times and helped save 2.5 million babies. His rare antibody was used to create Anti-D, a treatment that prevents a deadly newborn disease. After receiving a lifesaving transfusion at 14, he spent six decades giving

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TIL about fumi-e (meaning "stepping on a picture"), a representation of Jesus used by the Tokugawa shogunate in 17th century Japan to weed out suspected Christians. Those who hesitated or refused ... (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/unamazing on 2025-03-04 00:01:08.

Original Title: TIL about fumi-e (meaning "stepping on a picture"), a representation of Jesus used by the Tokugawa shogunate in 17th century Japan to weed out suspected Christians. Those who hesitated or refused to step on fumi-e were tortured or killed.

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TIL in 1951, Clint Eastwood was on a military plane when its oxygen, navigation, and communications systems failed. As the fuel ran out, they crashed into the ocean off Point Reyes. Eastwood and t... (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/TriviaDuchess on 2025-03-03 23:48:28.

Original Title: TIL in 1951, Clint Eastwood was on a military plane when its oxygen, navigation, and communications systems failed. As the fuel ran out, they crashed into the ocean off Point Reyes. Eastwood and the pilot survived, rowing through the dark on a life raft to a lighthouse, and were rescued.

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TIL that during WWII, the U.S. referred to uranium from the Shinkolobwe mine in the Belgian Congo as 'gems' and removed the mine from maps to maintain secrecy for the Manhattan Project (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Prestigious_Cake_192 on 2025-03-03 23:06:09.
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TIL John D. Rockefeller's father, William Rockefeller, was a literal con artist. He erroneously claimed to be a "botanic physician" and peddled "miracle" elixirs. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/spudthespacedog on 2025-03-03 23:02:51.
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TIL that, in some places, an illiterate person can sign legal documents by making a simple mark, like an "X" or a personal symbol, as long as a literate witness also signs. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/NoFox1552 on 2025-03-03 21:27:14.
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TIL that Astérix, the first French satellite to reach orbit, was named after the cartoon character of the same name (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/addemup9001 on 2025-03-03 20:57:17.
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TIL that "Love Kills", Freddie Mercury's first song released as a solo artist, was nominated for Worst Original Song at the 1985 Razzie Awards (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/ModenaR on 2025-03-03 20:40:11.
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TIL Space Shuttle Discovery has a unique “teardrop shape” on its windshield tiles due to an unusual and unknown error. (www.jacook.name)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Airwolfhelicopter on 2025-03-03 20:36:27.
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TIL 16th century satirist Pietro Aretino made a living by blackmailing public figures who paid him off to avoid his public criticism. He once tried to extort a priceless work out of Michelangelo b... (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Ainsley-Sorsby on 2025-03-03 18:36:22.

Original Title: TIL 16th century satirist Pietro Aretino made a living by blackmailing public figures who paid him off to avoid his public criticism. He once tried to extort a priceless work out of Michelangelo by telling him that his Last Judgment in the Cistine Chapel was more suited to decorate a brothel

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TIL that Winston Churchill was the 1953 recipient for the Nobel Prize in Literature (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/addemup9001 on 2025-03-03 18:17:15.
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TIL In 2014 Facebook conducted a psychology experiment on 700,000 of its users without their knowledge to gauge if "exposure to emotions led people to change their own posting behaviours". (www.bbc.com)
submitted 2 months ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/marshmallow_metro on 2025-03-03 16:57:29.
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