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TIL the United States Senate used the same gavel from 1789-1954, until then Vice President, Richard Nixon, broke it during a particularly heated debate on nuclear energy.

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J1doV TIL that large language models (LLMs) work by taking an input text and repeatedly predicting the next token or word. Most notable models include the GPT series.
kOZZE TIL of the Karen people, an "ethnolinguistic group" of millions, living in Myanmar, Thailand, and other Asian countries. They speak diverse Karen languages and some have been at war with the Burmese government for nearly 70 years.
VNA0 TIL that when Hunter S. Thompson died, his ashes where shot out of a cannon on top of a custom built 153-foot tall tower shaped like his Gonzo logo. The funeral was funded by Johnny Depp.
rLn4 TIL the Swiss Guard, known now as the guys in the vibrant clown-like costumes that stand around the Vatican holding halberds, once stood against an army as it sacked Rome. 189 Guard stood against 20,000 invaders at the Vatican long enough for Pope Clement VII to escape the city.
ny5o TIL when a flea is infected by Y.pestis (Black Death/plague), the bacteria build up and form a film that blocks the flea’s esophagus. After it bites a host, the flea cannot eat until it has vomited up this blockage, spreading a concentrated dose of the bacteria to its target.