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TIL that Mark Spitz jokingly told the 1972 Russian Olympic men’s swim team that mustaches increased speed in the water. The next year, every Russian sported one.

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v1gBx TIL Reasoning Is Sharper in a Foreign Language
OGbk1 TIL that the British English version of the word Sedan is Saloon
v1Z1x TIL Time magazine had been naming a "Man of the Year" since 1927, but broke with tradition in 1982 to name the computer the "Machine of the Year". Ironically, the writer of the story wrote it on a typewriter, since Time's newsroom would not get computers for another year.
1aYp8 Today I learned about an Electric Eel named Miguel Wattson. Whenever he discharges a large enough jolt, a tweet will be automatically sent out to his own Twitter account @EelectricMiguel. He also powers the Christmas lights at the exhibit.
degB TIL, Pakistan names its nuclear missiles after Muslim leaders famous for killing Hindus. For example, one missile is named “Ghazni” in honor of a ruler who purposefully targeted Hindu Temples, like the sack of Somnath Temple. 50,000 were killed with thousands of captured Hindus forced to convert.