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TIL about Merkury Vagin, an 18th century Russian Arctic explorer who was murdered by members of his own expedition after discovering the New Siberian Islands.

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via reddit.com

WlJX TIL That the officer in charge of guarding Abraham Lincoln in Ford’s Theater left his post to go drinking at the same bar where John Wilkes Booth was building up the courage to shoot the President.
L8Vp TIL that Galapagos tortoise were delicious, even tastier than pork and chicken, with their oil tasting like butter. They could even survive for an entire year without food or water, making them a dream come true for sailors who had access to fresh meat throughout their voyages.
JYwNV TIL in one variation of the Milgram experiment, subjects were directed to shock a "cute, fluffy puppy" instead of a human. Only half of the male subjects, and all of the female subjects obeyed the orders.
X00nX TIL: In 1793, Diego Marín Aguilera flapped the wings of his man-powered glider, reached a height of about 5m and flew over 300m before crashing because of a broken metal joint. The inhabitants of the town believed him a lunatic, heretic, or a fraud, and burned his "demonic" flapping-wing creation.
Egg7w TIL that there is a village in China with 367 households but 39 pairs of twins, even chickens are reportedly laying eggs with double yolks.