› added 3 days ago

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TIL That zebras primary reason for having stripes it to deter flies and other insects from landing on and biting them. The stripes cause the insects to miscalculate their landing zone, making it difficult for them to land on the zebra. The stripes evolved over time to adapt to their climate.

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g1aW TIL that the average height of a Dutch man increased by almost 10 inches since 1856
9wPD6 TIL that Hummingbirds have specialized wings that only attach to their bodies from the shoulder joint, allowing them to fly not only forward but also straight up and down, sideways, backward, and to hover in front of flowers.
OoL8a TIL that the most successful pirate in history was a woman named Ching Shih
wo8nM TIL PFC Ralph E. Dias, A US Marine was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic action that occured on November 12, 1969 in Vietnam. Although severely wounded multiple times by enemy fire, he continued to throw grenades at an enemy bunker until it was destroyed and he was mortally wounded.
oRJaL TIL hundreds of mummified seals have been found as far as 41 miles inland in Antarctica. One tested specimen had been sitting out in the open for 1,500 years. Researchers theorize that 1-2 seals annually get lost during white-out events and accidentally travel inland, where they eventually die.