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TIL of The Essex, an American ship which was attacked by a sperm whale in 1820. The 20-man crew set out in the surviving life boats for several months, resorting to drawing lots to decide who would be sacrificed and consumed. 8 men survived. The story was the inspiration for the novel 'Moby Dick'.

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xVoek TIL about a 21-year old Georgia woman who took a 2 hour college exam while in labor in the hospital. Once finished she delivered a healthy baby.
wL76W TIL the origin of "What's your 5 year plan" (ironically) It is The question often asked during interviews at large corporations. Thanks Stalin!
oRvA7 TIL peppermint isn't a single species of mint but rather a hybrid of two different species of mint (spearmint and watermint)
J5L4 TIL that lungs are not hollow like a balloon. They are solid and spongy.
WkZ0o TIL that, in 2009, the National Academy of Sciences found only DNA analysis could rigorously and consistently match evidence to a single person/source with high confidence. Other methods, especially pattern matching (fingerprints, handwriting, bite marks, footprints, hair, fibers, etc.), could not.