› added 3 years ago

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TIL of the New Mexico whiptail lizard, an all-female species that originated from hybridization. It reproduces without males through parthenogenesis and manages to escape extinction because of a constant stock of new hybrids. They even have female to female courtship to stimulate ovulation!

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9w01p TIL that Leni Riefenstahl had an affair with American Olympic decathlate Glenn Morris during the filming of "Olympia," Riefenstahl's documentary about the 1936 Berlin games
gbQL TIL smoking crack while pregnant has far less of an effect on the outcome of offspring born full-term, than being born in poverty does.
RBnl TIL to pay for his film Clerks, Kevin Smith sold most of his comic book collection, maxed out several credit cards, used some of the funds for his college education, spent insurance money awarded for a car he lost in a flood, and worked in the convenience store used in the film.
JngV TIL In 1939, Władysław Szpilman, known from “The Pianist”, was in the middle of performing a Chopin piece when German fire on Polish Radio’s studio forced him to stop playing. This was Poland’s last live music broadcast until 1945, when he opened the first broadcast by picking up where he left off.
yQjYw TIL about Special Forces intel officer COL James N. Rowe who was a POW in the Vietnam War. Rowe spent 62 months in captivity, battled numerous diseases, solved engineering problems to disguise he was an intel officer, and escaped via helicopter by over-powering the guards.