› added 6 years ago

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TIL: The wings of dragonflies prevent bacterial growth due to their natural structure. The surfaces of their wings are covered in nanopillars making them look like a bed of nails. When bacteria come into contact with these surfaces, their cell membranes get ripped apart immediately.

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Yd5P TIL the wrestler Mick Foley became a fan of Tori Amos in 1993. After meeting her in 2008, he got involved in a group she started to aid abused women. He has volunteered extensively, fielding calls from women in difficult circumstances, and logged over 550 hours on the phone over an 18-month period.
69A4X TIL that in the province of Alberta, if you find a fossil that does not require excavation on Crown Land (public areas) you are the custodian of that fossil. You may keep the fossil in your possession but the fossil is owned by the province and therefore cannot be sold or removed from the province.
pNG TIL that Freddie Mercury is of Indian descent. His parents were from Gujarat (India) and he grew up in Zanzibar and India till his mid-teens.
D1KRv TIL Many people released from prison after wrongful convictions don't get compensation from state governments and are not able to sue them, so an attorney in Oakland started a small nonprofit dedicated to finding them and helping them get back on their feet.
ADN17 TIL that despite US denial for 26 years, eight members of the Alabama Air National Guard volunteered to pose as Cuban rebel pilots during the Bay of Pigs invasion. Of these 8, 4 were killed when promised air cover never arrived, with two of the pilots dying in a firefight after being shot down.