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TIL whales spouting water out of blowholes is a common error propagated in children's books and movies (the whale would be drowning if it did so). A 2016 scientific survey of children's books featuring whales and cetaceans revealed 74/116 had factual errors, including almost half of the non-fiction.

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6KWZ TIL - Leopold II of Belgium is responsible for an estimated 10 million deaths in Congo. Also, he was so notorious for mutilation that the left hand was removed from his statue.
4XApo TIL about the failed assassination attempt on Andrew Jackson. Following a congressional funeral, the assailant attempted to shoot him, however his pistol misfired. He then pulled out a second loaded pistol, it too misfired. Jackson responded by clubbing the man with his walking cane several times.
OoRA6 TIL that Abe Lincoln won the 1860 election while NOT being on the presidential ballot in 10 Southern states.
R5Pl TIL, the state of South Carolina executed George Stinney Jr., a 14 year old boy, youngest executed in the United States ever, with just a confession that may have been coerced with ice cream.
4Ap6 TIL Jesus wasn’t necessarily a carpenter. The word Tekton (root of technology, technical) was translated to carpenter, but means more generally a skilled maker or builder in various mediums.