› added 6 years ago

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TIL Spartacus led his escape from his ludus/slavery by gathering about 70 slaves who seized kitchen utensils to fight their way free. They then seized several wagons of gladiatorial weapons and armor. They defeated legions that chased after them and eventually swelled their numbers to about 70,000.

X45j TIL there is a species of wasp that subdues a cockroach with two precise stings, takes it to its burrow by pulling on its antennae like a leash, blocks the entrance with pebbles, and then lays an egg inside the cockroaches’ body so that the baby wasp can feed on the zombie cockroach for days.
epp85 TIL In 1860s, thousands of octagonal houses started popping up in the United States. Orson Fowler’s book that popularized this layout claimed it was a more efficient use of space, energy, and cost than the square structures. It is estimated that around 2,000 octagon homes remain.
8aldV TIL the US Army does not keep any record of "confirmed kills". Servicemen routinely report successful hits to their superiors and personally keep track.
VMJAB TIL Beverly Hills High School had oil wells right on campus that closed in 2017, but had previously generated royalties of up to $300k a year for the school
vPY0B TIL that the guitar riff in Destinys Child’s “Bootylicious” was lifted from Stevie Nicks song “Edge Of Seventeen” which was in turn lifted by Waddy Wachtel from the song “Bring On The Night” and so ultimately was originally composed by Andrew Summers of The Police