› added 11 years ago

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TIL Pirates were among the first groups to institute democratic governance, including election of captains.

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owdr TIL that rats in New York City carry numerous diseases, in a sample of 133 rats, scientists discovered 18 different viruses known to infect humans. In fact, scientists even discovered some viruses that were previously unknown to have existed.
EB0P TIL that the breathing fluid in The Abyss(1989) is real and that the scene with the rat breathing the fluid wasn’t faked, with the rat actually breathing the oxygenated fluid.
GAeyG TIL of the Socorro springsnail. This critically endangered snail only remains in a single New Mexico spring, which is on private property; since the owner has denied access since 1995, the current population and status of the species is unknown.
RZXw TIL the ancient Greeks used the electrogenic properties of electric rays to numb the pain of childbirth and operations.
jZLN TIL raccoon semen is a natural hallucinogen (containing DMT and mescaline)