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TIL that the Nijō Palace in Kyoto has special floors that squeak when walked upon, a sound that is very similar to the Nightingale birds. So when attackers tried to kill the Shogun, they would give their position away, but would only think that the birds outside are chirping.

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1a9QX TIL that Alan Moore wrote Rorschach in 'Watchmen' to be Batman in the real world but didn't realize that 'smelling' and 'not having a girlfriend' would come off as heroic to comic fans. "Fans come up and say I'm Rorschach. This is my story and I'm thinking, Could you never come near me again?"
7rQwO TIL of cardiac surgeon Michael DeBakey, who developed MASH hospitals and many new surgical techniques, including the first treatment for aortic dissection. In 2005, he suffered an aoertic dissection and his life was saved by the surgery he invented.
Z89Vo TIL that at the time of her death (116 years old), Elizabeth Bolden had 40 grandchildren, 75 great-grandchildren, 150 great-great-grandchildren, 220 great-great-great grandchildren and 75 great-great-great-great-grandchildren
7rDxZ TIL Moths can't fly during earthquakes because of their lack of ear canals, making them unable to steer themselves
NX58J TIL Edward G. Robinson spoke seven languages and used atleast six of them to deliver anti-Nazi speeches from London during the Second World War. Additionally Robinson was the first movie star to entertain the troops in Normandy, crossing the channel less than a month after the invasion.