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TIL Unlike the Norse, Anglo-Saxons believed that Odin (Woden) was a mortal common ancestor, and English kings continued to claim to be descendants of Odin up to the 12th century.

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lN8V TIL that scientists created a completely enclosed, artificial environment called Biosphere 2 and made one mistake that caused all the trees to fall down before maturation: there was no wind so trees failed to develop stress wood, which is necessary for them to stand.
1a6AP Because Brussels sprouts are bitter, and kids generally don’t like bitter tastes. It’s not their fault. Researchers say that an aversion to bitter and sour (generally a heightened gag reflex) is a survival instinct since most toxins taste that way too. On the other hand, sweetness typically indicates that something is safe to eat, so children are born with a preference for sweets.
dDjKB TIL that Adrian Carton de Wiart fought in 6 wars, including WW1 & WW2. He survived two plane crashes and being shot several times. He also tunnelled out of a POW camp, tore off his own fingers when amputation was declined, and described his WW1 experience with "Frankly, I had enjoyed the war."
kOZZE TIL of the Karen people, an "ethnolinguistic group" of millions, living in Myanmar, Thailand, and other Asian countries. They speak diverse Karen languages and some have been at war with the Burmese government for nearly 70 years.
vRvR TIL Australia has a tree so toxic that just touching its leaves can kill a person, or even a horse