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TIL: When roosters open their beaks fully, their external auditory canals completely closed off. Basically, roosters have built in earplugs. This helps prevent them from damaging their hearing when they crow.

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jNmYM TIL when brainstorming the time travel plot for Star Trek: First Contact, they considered sending the crew back to the Renaissance, befriending Leonardo da Vinci, and having sword fights alongside phaser fights. The idea was scrapped for being too campy and Patrick Stewart refused to wear tights.
KOZm9 TIL According to secret service agents, Ronald Reagan carried a pistol in his briefcase when he was president, "just in case you guys can’t do the job, I can help out". Reagan acquired a pocket sized pistol after college in the 1930s "and kept it lovingly the rest of his life”.
69bAW TIL that Thomas Derrick was one of 24 sailors sentenced to death after sacking a city, but the Earl of Essex spared him on the condition that he execute his comrades. Derrick went on to become a professional executioner, killing over 3,000 men over his career, including the Earl of Essex.
dnYQ TIL a California woman assisted in the rescue of 2,500 people from Hurricane Katrina. She’s also been the safety director for the International Surfing Association, rescued a man from a burning car, trained 1000s of rescuers in at least 14 countries, and competed in jet ski races of up to 300 miles.
lona1 TIL that Hans Zimmer's "Spider Pig", from The Simpsons Movie soundtrack, entered the UK singles chart at #24. The running time for the song is a mere 1:04, making it the second shortest single to ever chart.