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TIL that that fluting sound some pigeons make when taking off are made by their wing feathers, and serve as an alarm system to other pigeons.

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kJ4Zg TIL that in 2005 burglars stole $71.6 million from a bank in Fortaleza, Brazil by setting up a fake landscaping company near the bank and digging a 256ft tunnel beneath two city blocks to the bank over 3 months. Neighbors noticed vanloads of soil removed daily but assumed it was business-related.
7OXL TIL that executioners in the Middle Ages extracted fat from bodies and sold it to doctors. They claimed that ointments made from human fat could treat joint and bone ailments. In 2001, scientists discovered that human fat contains stem cells which can be converted into bone and cartilage.
4kaBb TIL that Japanese war criminal Hitoshi Imamura, believing that his sentence of 10 years imprisonment was too light, built a replica prison in his garden where he stayed until his death in 1968
Eg4PW TIL that Norman Lear has produced, written, created or developed over 100 shows, including "All in the Family", "Sanford and Son" and "The Jeffersons". He's now 100 years old, and still actively producing television shows - most recently, a revival of "Good Times".
8ek1V TIL scientists at the Allen Telescope Array always keep champagne in their fridge in case they find signs of extraterrestrial life.