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TIL Cows were brought to Japan from China in the 2nd century. Until the Meiji Restoration in 1868, they were used only as draught animals, in agriculture, forestry, mining and for transport, also a source of fertilizer. Due to cultural and religious reasons, meat and milk was not consumed.

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E1k60 TIL about the Bombadier Beetle. The beetle stores two chemicals (hydroquinone and hydrogen peroxide) in its abdomen and, when threatened, mixes them and ejects them from their abdomen in a chemical spray (with a popping sound!) that can reach boiling temperatures.
Z8jwD TIL the key to American victory in the Revolutionary War was the 75-ton “Great Chain” that stretched across the Hudson River to prevent the British from moving inland. It was such an obstacle, they paid Benedict Arnold £20,000 for the plans to the Chain’s main defenses, at Fort West Point
XE8mQ TIL that Lady Gaga comes from a wealthy family. Her parents were able to afford expensive private schools and music lessons because her father was a successful internet entrepreneur whose company installed Wi-Fi accessibility in hotel chains.
D1Wg TIL on August 20th, 1191, during the Third Crusade, Richard the Lionhearted’s Christian Army had the Muslim-held city of Acre surrounded. When the besieged could not meet the gold payment for terms of surrender, Richard’s army slaughtered 3000+ bound prisoners in full view of the opposing army.
WkXno TIL about the art piece "Machine with Concrete" by Arthur Ganson. It's a series of gears and screws driven at 200RPM that end in a final gear embedded in concrete. At that speed it will take over 2 trillion years for the final gear to turn once.