› added 10 years ago

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TIL that the naked mole rat is unable to feel pain, is the only known thermoconforming mammal, is resistant to cancer, and possesses extraordinary longevity for a rodent.

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0wvKp TIL that Boeing was banned from bidding on contracts for US spy satellites after one of their contracts went over budget by at least $4 billion before it was ultimately cancelled and given to Lockheed Martin.
0NRj TIL humans are just about the best endurance runners in the animal kingdom, including horses, and only get better the longer the distance.
ep0r5 TIL about the Shepard Tone. An audio illusion that creates the feeling of consistent, never-ending rising/falling. The illusion is achieved by playing overlapping notes that are one octave apart. In this way, the sensation of rising or descending notes never ends.
dMpZ TIL that a higher percentage of free blacks owned slaves (28%) than free whites (1.4%).
rRORd TIL that Germany opened its Special Forces to women in 2001. Only one woman applied & she failed the requirements. As of 2016, no woman has passed the selection process.