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TIL that Magpies are the smallest animal proven to recognize themselves in a mirror. Human Children recognize their own reflection from 15 to 18 months, before then seeing the reflection as a “sociable playmate”

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Brd0y TIL Sergei Prokofiev died the same day as Stalin in 1953. Millions attended Stalin's funeral, but only 40 for Prokofiev's. A musical periodical noted his death on p. 116, with pages 1 to 115 devoted to Stalin. Flowers were so scarce in Moscow that Prokofiev's family used cuttings from house plants.
kOPg5 TIL Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair airlines, has his own taxicab company with just one cab so he can legally use the bus lanes to avoid traffic jams
VB5XB TIL Guinness World Records shifted from book sales to monetizing record-breaking attempts as book revenues declined in the 2000s. They charge up to $500,000 to help corporations and individuals create or break records, turning publicity stunts and partnerships into a lucrative business model.
VBdpk TIL a slightly modified Bugatti Chiron piloted by factory test driver Andy Wallace became the first production car to surpass the 300-mph barrier when it reached a top speed of 304.77 mph (490.48 km/h) during a run on the Ehra-Lessien test track in 2019.
00Yp TIL after a bombing run a damaged bomber was flying home when Luftwaffe pilot, was ordered to shoot it down. He refused as he saw it as dishonourable and flew with it to open sea, to prevent it being shot down. The two pilots met 40 years later and become friends for the rest of their lives.