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TIL that smells can pass through liquid, which is why sharks can detect blood. The speed at which smells travel underwater is boosted by water currents, tides, and various movements, not just diffusion alone.

jNjXj RemoveDebris, a small experimental satellite designed to clean up space debris successfully snared its first piece of extraterrestrial pollution — a solar system premiere. Did you know that more than 7,600 tonnes of so-called "space junk" floats around Earth — the result of nearly 60 years of space exploration — with some moving faster than a speeding bullet at approximately 48,000 kilometres per hour (30,000 miles per hour).
Qd9p TIL that some aboriginal languages have no words for left/right. As a result, instead of ordering a sequence of images showing someone getting older from left to right, like English speakers would, they order them from east to west, regardless of what way they are facing themselves.
djR7 TIL that in 1965, 25% of all black families in the U.S. were headed by women. By 2010, that number reached 72%
X01wj TIL that American rockets are often equipped with a self-destruct system to protect people if the vehicle goes off course. Since 1958, 33 US orbital launch attempts have ended by self-destruction.
xVJQb TIL in 1918 at a Boy Scout medal ceremony, Teddy Roosevelt attempted to make a joke at Theodor Geisel’s expense by exclaiming “What’s this boy doing here?” but it backfired, causing the future Doctor Seuss to develop a lifelong fear of crowds.