› added 2 years ago

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TIL about the Piasa Bird: a native american painting that was near Alton, IL and depicted a mythological creature with horns, scales on its body, a very long tail and a man/tiger like face. It most likely originates from the “Underwater Panther” figure.

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Wkpj8 TIL in 2009, a molecular biologist discovered a gene mutation that prevents fruitflies from getting drunk. She dubbed it "Happyhour". The same scientist had earlier identified mutations causing super-sensitivity and increased tolerance to alcohol, calling them "Cheapdate" & "Hangover", respectively.
Kmp9 TIL that goats have rectangular pupils
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0wolp TIL that a fertilizer explosion at an Oppau, Germany plant in 1921 was so powerful that it destroyed all the medieval stained-glass windows of Worms cathedral, 15 km away
MeKPb TIL Alexander Dumas (writer of the Three Muskateers)'s father was the first French black General and was the highest ranking black military officer in history for nearly 200 years.