› added 4 years ago

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TIL That for thousands of years the The Bajau people of Southeast Asia have engaged in breath-hold diving, causing them to evolve large spleens. The larger reservoir of oxygenated red blood cells has helped them to become some of the world’s best free divers.

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R5071 TIL that bugs called Eyelash mites live on our eyelashes, feeding on dead skin and oil and acting as a cleaner for our bodies
pYLb TIL that gunnery sergeant R. Lee Ermey was originally meant to be the technical supervisor for Full Metal Jacket. He pretended to be gunnery sergeant Hartman while interviewing extras and had the interviews filmed. When Stanley Kubrick saw the video he gave Ermey the part.
XPDP TIL that the comments section of online news sites were found to have a higher quality of discussion when the commenters had to use their facebook account rather than an anonymous name.
xWeo TIL even the US President doesn’t necessarily have access to all Top Secret information unless there is a demonstrated “need-to-know.”
4Xl0o TIL Canada has an older 'continually running' monarchy than the UK, having been initially established in the 16th Century. While being under British Rule, French Rule, and ultimately an independent monarchy, there has not been a time since Canada has not had a monarch.