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TIL that the inspiration behind Professor Snape in Harry Potter was a chemistry teacher John Nettleship. Nettleship at first was upset about this attribution, but later came to embrace it, even writing a book.

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PYVoe TIL of Norilsk, the world's northernmost city with over 100,000 habitants, where soil polution is so intense corporations could just start mining it instead of the ore deposits. Temperatures there often reach bellow -25°C (-13°F).
ZpAxG TIL about the Big Ape Theory (or Killer Ape Hypothesis The killer ape theory or killer ape hypothesis is the theory that war and interpersonal aggression was the driving force behind human evolution. It was originated by Raymond Dart in the 1950s.
0weoj TIL that sex plays a major role in bonobo society. They have sex to greet each other, calm each other down, conflict resolution and forming social bonds. Female bonobos grind their clitoris with each other about every two hours and the males have been seen grinding each other and giving oral sex.
9YZ7D TIL on April 1st, 1993 a San Diego Radio station reported that the space shuttle Discovery had to make an emergency landing at the local airport at 8:30 am. Over 1000 people headed for the landing site to catch a glimpse, crowding the airport and causing traffic jams. It was an April Fools hoax.
jlya TIL actor John Hurt played polar opposite roles in both 1984 and V for Vendetta, first as Winston, the protagonist being oppressed by Big Brother in 1984, and then as High Chancellor Sutler, the Big Brother-like oppressor in V for Vendetta.