› added 5 years ago

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TIL that baleen whales evolved to use bone conduction as their primary hearing mechanism.

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via reddit.com

REO6 TIL the US allows meat packaging to contain carbon monoxide, used to keep the meat looking fresh. It does not aid in actual preservation of meat. It works so well, though, Congress was shown fresh beef and beef that was 2 years old (preserved with CO). They were indistinguishable.
epVNE TIL Hou Jing, a general during the China's North-South period, seized control of the government of the Liang dynasty by rebelling. After that, in an act of vanity, he gave himself the title of "General of the Universe, Past, Present, and Future, Commander of all Forces in the Six Directions".
nJ77 TIL that American Sign Language has Reddit-level puns. Make like you’re milking a cow. Do this in a sweeping motion across your face. Past-your-eyes milk.
7rVQ7 TIL about Krista & Tatiana Hogan. Conjoined twins with a thalamic bridge allowing them to know each other's thoughts and share senses, yet each retains a distinct sense of self. Biologist Peter Watts has described them as the first natural hivemind of the human species (second source in comments)
Wkx4A TIL Jenna Fischer revealed what she said to Michael at the airport during Steve Carell's farewell episode on The Office. "That was me talking to Steve. I told him all the ways I was going to miss him when he left our show. Those were real tears and a real goodbye. That was a really emotional scene."