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TIL on average Mercury, not Mars or Venus, is the closest planet to Earth

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k7LW TIL Eastern Russia has a “Valley of Death” where volanic hydrogen sulfide gasses displace all oxygen for a metre or so above ground level. This kills animals which attracts scavengers who are also killed in an endless chain of death.
MeaZa TIL in 1978, two punk bands, "the cramps" and "the mutants", were booked to play a live show at a mental institution in Napa, California. At onother point, the mutants played at a school for the deaf, with the kids holding balloons in their hand in order to "feel the music"
OoXRg TIL Dr. Bagenholm fell face first into a frozen river while skiing and got stuck. Doctors revived her from being clinically dead which led to the development of therapeutic hypothermia, which has increased survival rates and brain function in many heart surgery, epileptic, and stroke patients.
8e8wL TIL since 2009, the names of planets from the Dune novels have been adopted for the real-world nomenclature of plains and other features on Saturn's moon Titan, like Arrakis Planitia.
ANWpB TIL that, in 1844, while dignitaries were visiting the USS Princeton, a gun exploded, killing the Secretaries of State and Defense. President Tyler was belowdecks. Afterwards, he carries away the fainted daughter of one of the dead dignitaries. He marries her a few months later, making her First Lad