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TIL Lincoln repeatedly warned that British recognition of the Confederacy was tantamount to a declaration of war. Knowing a war would cut off vital shipments of American food, wreak havoc on the British merchant fleet, and cause the immediate loss of Canada, Britain was unwilling to risk a conflict

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pYJbZ TIL why insects circle lights at night: They evolved to become masters of flight by relying on the brightest thing they see — the sky — to know which way is up and keep their back toward it. At night, they confuse artificial light for the sky, ending up trapped in a cycle trying to stay orientated.
X00y8 TIL whole milk is only 3.25% milk fat.
EjYW TIL the guilty look dogs have isn’t because they know they did something wrong, rather they think you’re going to be or are mad at them.
0do7v TIL the line where tourists take photos at the Royal Observatory Greenwich marks the historic Prime Meridian. Since 1988 the current standard prime meridian is 102.5m off the original line, hence if you look at your GPS on your phone at the historic line it won't show exactly zero degrees longitude
5YkAD TIL This tower in Yorkshire is the tallest folly in the world. It was erected by John Edward Wainhouse and was originally going to be a mill chimney but was converted into a viewing platform to look over a private garden because of a neighbour's feud.