› added 11 years ago

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TIL that the mysterious squiggly things floating in our eyes are called “floaters”. They are shadows cast on our retina by small strands of protein inside our eyes.

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Ra0j TIL that moray eels have a second pair of jaws to help catch their prey - just like the xenomorphs in the alien movies
epnXD TIL Kentucky statesman Henry Clay made the first known import of Hereford cattle into the United States in 1817: 1 cow, 1 bull and 1 heifer. The shipment cost him $500. Cattle descended from those Herefords were dubbed "Seventeens" in reference to the year they were brought to the US.
9YL17 TIL Leonardo Da Vinci invented a self-propelled cart (powered by two coiled springs and a balance wheel, like a watch) that could drive and even steer autonomously.
1aDWW TIL that Robin Williams wanted to play the role of Rubeus Hagrid in the film adaptation of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". However, Williams was turned down due to a "British actors-only" hiring edict.
byyN TIL that IKEA is a non-profit organization dedicated to “furthering the advancement of interior design.” This lets them pay a fraction of taxes they otherwise would. The owners make money by licensing the IKEA trademark to the non-profit side.