› added 9 years ago

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TIL that women with high levels of toxoplasmosis antibodies were significantly more likely to have baby boys than baby girls. In most populations, the birth rate is around 51% boys, but women infected by this cat parasite had up to a 72% chance of a boy.

oRJaL TIL hundreds of mummified seals have been found as far as 41 miles inland in Antarctica. One tested specimen had been sitting out in the open for 1,500 years. Researchers theorize that 1-2 seals annually get lost during white-out events and accidentally travel inland, where they eventually die.
GY8P5 TIL that among all the equipment that cavers (spelunkers) need are also containers for securely transporting urine. On longer trips, containers for securely transporting feces out of the cave are carried as well. They must not leave behind that can disturb ecosystem in caves.
X0ZLE TIL Before earning a living as a writer, Octavia E. Butler once worked as a potato chip inspector.
LkZaZ TIL the unfortunately named "Ayds" dieter's chocolate considered a name change when the AIDS crisis hit. Executives resisted with one saying "The product has been around for 45 years. Let the disease change its name." - The name was later changed to "Diet Ayds" before being pulled from the market.
gMr4X TIL the Chancellor of UC Davis was fired after giving her family jobs with unusual pay hikes. She was later rehired at UC Davis at nearly the same pay rate, with her new job requiring that she teach only ONE class per quarter!