› added 1 month ago

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TIL that the water anole lizard can stay underwater for up to 16 minutes by trapping an air bubble on its snout and rebreathing it. With its built-in bubble helmet, it quietly evades predators and hunts like a tiny reptilian scuba diver.

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JYpJ8 TIL that "Solar Sails" were first proposed by Kepler in 1608 “Provide ships or sails adapted to the heavenly breezes, and there will be some who will brave even that void.” Carl Sagan inspired Bill Nye to pursue Solar Sails in the 1980s, and the crowdfunded LightSail 2 is now in orbit around Earth.
9aKp TIL baby hippos will use a crocodile’s spine as a chew toy and won’t be attacked!
R59kj TIL: Indira Gandhi, third Prime Minister of India who ran the country for fifteen years was no relation to the famous Mohandis Gandhi. Her father J.Nehru was the first PM of India, and a political rival of Mohandis. Indira's last name came from her husband, who died before she claimed power.
0gWj TIL The Dutch swear with diseases. Instead of calling a person a ‘cunt,’ one may wish a horrible or deadly disease on you (i.e. cancer, TB, smallpox, etc.)
BrDvK TIL that hippo sweat contains a chemical that has an SPF factor to prevent them from getting sunburned.