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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1301
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TIL Siblings can get completely different results (e.g., one 30% Irish and another 50% Irish) from DNA ancestry tests, even though they share the same parents, due to genetic recombination. (www.thetech.org)
submitted 1 month ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Bronzescaffolding on 2025-01-26 10:56:05.
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TIL the Tinigua language in central Colombia has just 1 native speaker left. His name is Sixto Muñoz and he is thought to have been born in the late 1920s. Despite having 5 children, he did not te... (en.wikipedia.org)
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/1000LiveEels on 2025-01-26 04:51:01.

Original Title: TIL the Tinigua language in central Colombia has just 1 native speaker left. His name is Sixto Muñoz and he is thought to have been born in the late 1920s. Despite having 5 children, he did not teach Tinigua to any of them.

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TIL in the African country of Equatorial Guinea, they are building a new city called Ciudad de la Paz to replace the current capital, Malabo, because the new capital is on the mainland of the coun... (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 1 month ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Turk137 on 2025-01-25 23:41:01.

Original Title: TIL in the African country of Equatorial Guinea, they are building a new city called Ciudad de la Paz to replace the current capital, Malabo, because the new capital is on the mainland of the country making access to the capital easier since the current capital is on an island far from the mainland.

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TIL in 1970s the USA built and tested hovertrains (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 1 month ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/jacknunn on 2025-01-25 23:34:21.
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TIL A South African Nationalist group called Ossewabrandwag, which included future PM John Vorster, strongly objected to South Africa's participation in WWII. They planned an uprising that was onl... (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 1 month ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/UndyingCorn on 2025-01-25 22:10:40.

Original Title: TIL A South African Nationalist group called Ossewabrandwag, which included future PM John Vorster, strongly objected to South Africa's participation in WWII. They planned an uprising that was only abandoned for lack of weapons and conducted multiple acts of sabotage during the war.

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Today I learned that the creator of Annoying Orange is transgender (youtu.be)
submitted 1 month ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/TheInfinit1 on 2025-01-26 09:47:25.
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TIL In 1981, Ted Block stated that a system’s internal mechanism is important to intelligence. He theorized a computer coded with all possible sentences, enabling it to pass the Turing test withou... (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 1 month ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/electroctopus on 2025-01-26 09:34:53.

Original Title: TIL In 1981, Ted Block stated that a system’s internal mechanism is important to intelligence. He theorized a computer coded with all possible sentences, enabling it to pass the Turing test without true intelligence. This shows some structures fail to generate intelligence, despite mimicking it.

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TIL philosopher Joseph Levine’s 1983 paper introduced the “explanatory gap” noting while “Pain is the firing of C fibers” is physiologically valid, it doesn’t make us understand how pain feels. Sh... (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 1 month ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/electroctopus on 2025-01-26 08:43:31.

Original Title: TIL philosopher Joseph Levine’s 1983 paper introduced the “explanatory gap” noting while “Pain is the firing of C fibers” is physiologically valid, it doesn’t make us understand how pain feels. Showing the challenge physicalists face in connecting physical properties to subjective experiences.

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TIL The Pyrenean ibex remains the only animal to have ever been brought back from extinction and also the only one to go extinct twice (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 1 month ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/armaquillo on 2025-01-26 07:18:56.
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TIL that Elton John never performed the Princess Diana version of Candle in the Wind again after her funeral in 1997, despite receiving numerous requests. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 1 month ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/TriviaDuchess on 2025-01-26 04:16:44.
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TIL that “rock, paper, scissors” is a 2,000-year old game that originated in China. It made its way to Japan, where it was spread worldwide in the early 1900s. Past names included “frog, slug, s... (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 1 month ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/GetYerHandOffMyPen15 on 2025-01-26 03:54:48.

Original Title: TIL that “rock, paper, scissors” is a 2,000-year old game that originated in China. It made its way to Japan, where it was spread worldwide in the early 1900s. Past names included “frog, slug, snake” and “fox, village head, hunter.”

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TIL that in Czechia, which drinks the most beer per capita in the world, it is traditional to serve beer with a significant amount of foam. The culmination of this is the "mlìko" pour, consisting ... (www.atlasobscura.com)
submitted 1 month ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/NateNate60 on 2025-01-26 02:47:01.

Original Title: TIL that in Czechia, which drinks the most beer per capita in the world, it is traditional to serve beer with a significant amount of foam. The culmination of this is the "mlìko" pour, consisting of entirely of foam. It is described as sweet, creamy, and "like drinking a cloud".

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TIL after Leona Helmsley did not pay her contractors that worked on her Connecticut home, she was investigated for tax evasion, and she received a 16 year sentence. During trial her housekeeper te... (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 1 month ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/ProudReaction2204 on 2025-01-26 02:25:46.

Original Title: TIL after Leona Helmsley did not pay her contractors that worked on her Connecticut home, she was investigated for tax evasion, and she received a 16 year sentence. During trial her housekeeper testified that Helmsley said "only the little people pay taxes." She ended up serving 19 months in prison.

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TIL Ruthie Tompson, the last surviving crew or cast member of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), died in 2021, aged 111 years old. (en.wikipedia.org)
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/bendalazzi on 2025-01-26 01:59:28.
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TIL There are 5 treasures hidden in the USA totaling $700k and only 100 books ever created to find them. Sounds fake, but it is 100% real (only need to watch first 15 minutes). (www.youtube.com)
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Berkoooooo on 2025-01-26 01:47:12.
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Today I learned that Joey, the spin-off of the Friends sitcom, was canceled halfway through its second season, and the final eight episodes were never aired in the U.S. by NBC. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 1 month ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/TriviaDuchess on 2025-01-26 01:45:49.
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TIL Some of the survivors of The Donner Party bought and settled on land from an eccentric surgeon who had originally named it Rancho Carne Humana. Human Flesh Ranch. (www.elmolinowinery.com)
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/VelociRache1 on 2025-01-26 01:19:07.
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TIL William Golding was a teacher before writing Lord of the Flies (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 1 month ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/mucubed on 2025-01-26 00:03:18.
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TIL that in March 2024, an Ethiopian bank lost millions after an ATM glitch allowed excess withdrawals but recovered 99% by naming and shaming those who exploited it. (www.bbc.com)
submitted 1 month ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Plus_Anteater_6875 on 2025-01-25 22:37:47.
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TIL A Parisian man lived in an apartment that measured less than 17 square feet (80 square feet under the legal limit) for 15 years. His rent was 330 euros (or $442). (www.npr.org)
submitted 1 month ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Ill_Definition8074 on 2025-01-25 22:09:41.
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TIL Craig Bartlett the Hey Arnold creator was married to The Simpsons creator Matt Groening's sister (Lisa Groening) and co-write a novelisation to Hey Arnold with Matt Groening's other sister Mag... (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 1 month ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/KieranWriter on 2025-01-25 21:51:52.

Original Title: TIL Craig Bartlett the Hey Arnold creator was married to The Simpsons creator Matt Groening's sister (Lisa Groening) and co-write a novelisation to Hey Arnold with Matt Groening's other sister Maggie Groening.

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TIL in October 1974, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, was invaded by 5−7 million blackbirds. They blanketed the town in droppings, creating health hazards and disrupting military operations at nearby Fort ... (www.myjournalcourier.com)
submitted 1 month ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/ralphbernardo on 2025-01-25 18:47:36.

Original Title: TIL in October 1974, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, was invaded by 5−7 million blackbirds. They blanketed the town in droppings, creating health hazards and disrupting military operations at nearby Fort Campbell. The birds left in spring but caused $2.6M in damages (nearly $15M today).

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TIL people diagnosed with ADHD have an 8.4 year lower life expectancy (journals.sagepub.com)
submitted 1 month ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/ProudReaction2204 on 2025-01-25 17:42:40.
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TIL that after the US hydrogen bomb test in 1954 exposed a Japanese fishing vessel to radiation, over one-third of Japan's population signed a petition to ban nuclear tests. This public outcry inf... (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
submitted 1 month ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/not--a--redditor on 2025-01-25 16:56:08.

Original Title: TIL that after the US hydrogen bomb test in 1954 exposed a Japanese fishing vessel to radiation, over one-third of Japan's population signed a petition to ban nuclear tests. This public outcry influenced Japan to establish its Atomic Energy Basic Law in 1955, forbidding military use of nuclear energ

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TIL the microwave oven was invented by accident when chocolate melted in the pocket of an engineer standing near a magnetron vacuum tube in 1946 (spectrum.ieee.org)
submitted 1 month ago by bOt@zerobytes.monster to c/todayilearned@zerobytes.monster
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The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/cranberryfix on 2025-01-25 16:47:49.
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