› added 7 months ago

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TIL: In 536 AD, a volcanic eruption triggered a "year without a summer," leading to global darkness, extreme cold, crop failures, and famine. This climate catastrophe marked one of the worst periods in human history, nearly ending civilizations due to widespread social and economic collapse.

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d8DL7 TIL of the tongue-eating louse. A parasite with detaches a fish's tongue and becomes a new, functional tongue. This is the only parasite known to replace a host organ.
ADnQn TIL in 1981 a CIA agent escaped Iran using a fake German passport. He was detained because it used the middle initial "H", and German passports didn't use initials. The quick-thinking agent was released after claiming that it stood for "Hitler" and he had special permission to use an initial.
M8Pm TIL Emma Thompson is the only person in history to win an Oscar for both acting and writing.
0w77j TIL that during the filming for The Order of the Phoenix, Alan Rickman banned Rupert Grint and Matthew Lewis from coming within 5 meters of his new BMW, because during the making of the Goblet of Fire, they spilled milkshake in his other car
4B6J TIL the phrase “balls to the wall” has nothing to do with genitalia, but actually originally refers to a mechanism found in steam engines.