› added 7 years ago

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TIL North Korea built a fake village with empty buildings lit by automatic timers in an effort to lure South Koreans to defect across the border.

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M7Qp8 TIL that although lambskin condoms protect against pregnancy, they are not effective at preventing the transmission of STDs.
Ooaa7 TIL of the "Gates of Hell" in Turkministan. In 1971, a Soviet drilling rig accidently punctured an underground natural gas cavern. To head off a environmental catastrophe, the Soviets set the gas on fire. The crater has been burning continuously for 47 years since.
yVywM TIL the bacterium Desulforudis audaxviator lives in a complete absence of organic compounds, light and oxygen at temperatures of 60 degrees Celsius. It is the only species known to be alone in its ecosystem.
6Em4X TIL that after being severed a starfish not only regenerates a new limb but the limb itself can also regenerate a body.
m5Vp TIL that wheelchair athletes with spinal injuries will sometimes intentionally injure themselves on the lower body (e.g. break a toe), causing their bodies to respond by raising blood pressure and enhaincing their performance. This practice has been banned as cheating.