› added 2 weeks ago

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TIL the Tree of Ténéré was once considered to be the most remote tree in the world. Located in the middle of the Sahara desert in Niger for over 300 years, it was hundreds of kilometres away from the nearest other tree. Somehow, a drunk truck driver managed to hit it and knock it down in 1973.

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BBBr TIL, that in medieval combat the Mordschalg (literally murder-strike) was a move where the attacker gripped the sword and hit the opponent with the crossguard to devastating effect
Z8PKG TIL that an organism capable of producing oxygen without light was discovered in 2010. Unlike plants, algae and some photosynthetic microbes who all require light, Methylomirabilis oxyfera releases oxygen even in complete darkness.
XErR6 TIL the US Bureau of Land Management only allows 20 people per day to visit The Wave rock formation in Arizona and you have to apply 4 months in advance for a permit.
mbDv TIL that in over 600 committed robberies, famous Australian bushranger Ben Hall was never responsible for one death.
x6OQg TIL the guy at the back of the firetruck actually steers it too