› added 6 years ago

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TIL wood frogs are the only frogs that live north of the Arctic circle. Their deep-freeze period can extend up to 8 months a year, making them among the longest hibernators of any vertebrate. Wood frogs are able to survive long harsh winters owing to a buildup of glucose and urea in their systems.

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6eMY TIL that in 1978, the engineer of Citicorp Center, one of the 10 tallest buildings in NYC, discovered a fatal flaw in the building’s structure. A massive, secretive plan, was set in motion to correct the flaw before the building toppled over and killed thousands.
wLZyM TIL wearing a blindfold for at least 12 hours can induce visual hallucinations, including complex scenery and frightening entities.
KYWmG TIL that after a drunken fracas on a flight to Sydney in 1968, The Who were forced to leave Australia and subsequently received a telegram from the then Prime Minister to never return. They would not return until 2004.
B4VD TIL that in 1913 the first practical thermal solar ‘power plant’ was built in Egypt, it generated power using polished steel to focus the sunlight. Unfortunatly WW1 broke out and the power plant was abandoned due to conflict in the area and oil became a much more attractive energy source.
pYZDO TIL About a power plant turbine bearing at Holtwood Hydroelectric Power Plant that has been operating maintenance free for over 100 years and rated by the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) to continue operating for another 1300 years without maintenance.