› added 1 year ago

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TIL that whales evolved from terrestrial animals, and are most closely related to hippopotamuses

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b600 TIL there was a pre-WWII movement called Technocracy, which held that scientists and engineers should take over the government and economy from politicians and economists. The leader of the movement was known as the Great Engineer.
W7yEo TIL: that the average American, based on averages from all states, will pay an estimated $130,461 over their lifetime in interest fees.
Z86M4 TIL in 2007 Switzerland accidentally invaded .9 miles into Liechtenstein and after their mistake issued an apology to which Lichtenstein’s official response was “no worries these things happen”
v1J9R TIL the province of Alberta, Canada is the only place in the world where there are zero rats. Since the 1950s there has been a war between rats and the Albertan government. There is even a rat sighting hotline.
9wOom TIL that the electricity bills of a Japanese bullet train on a 622km (386 mi) journey can be paid off with the ticket income of 16 paying-travelers on its 1,324 seats, or on average, just one passenger in each carriage.