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TIL the shape of bagels came from Europe centuries ago. One theory is that Jews in 13th century Poland were allowed to boil (but not bake) bread, and the shape distinguished the bread. But that's not the whole story, modern food science proves the shape increases cooking surface area and chewiness.

gkN7 TIL of Roger Sherman, the only man who signed all four of the great state papers of the United States (the Continental Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution)
D16ke TIL fat choy, the black moss traditionally eaten on Lunar New Years day contains a neurotoxin that is linked to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
4XLv6 TIL shortly after George H. W. Bush vomited and fainted at a meeting with the Japanese Prime minister in 1992, a man named James Edward Smith, called CNN posing as the president's physician claiming Bush had died. CNN was within seconds of publishing the story, but stopped the anchor mid sentence.
jNJZM TIL Ferdinand Foch (Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in WWI) said of the Treaty of Versailles : "This is not a peace treaty. This is an armistice for twenty years." World War II started 20 years and 64 days later.
WeMX TIL that at the start of the infamous ‘Ice Bowl’ game, the referee tried to blow his whistle, but it froze to his lips. When he tried to pry the whistle off, he tore the skin off and he started to bleed. Instead of forming a scab, the blood simply froze to his lips.