› added 11 years ago

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TIL when Washoe, first chimp to use sign language, was told that her caretaker’s baby had died, she signed “CRY”, touching her cheek and drawing her finger down the path a tear would make on a human (Chimpanzees don’t shed tears)

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oDEE TIL Over 2500 left-handed people are killed each year from using products made for right-handed people
dP0Q TIL that quicksand itself is actually harmless; it is less dense than people so sinking entirely into it is impossible. The danger comes from continuing to struggle, which can lead a person to be stuck, and fall victim to tides, weather, dehydration, or even hungry animals.
b96B0 TIL there's a lesser known third Opium War fought in 1967 on Laos
yVrOe TIL George Orwell's had a private marmelade recipe that he included in an essay on British food. The essay was rejected as inappropriate with Britain rationing food - but the editor still made sure to point out his recipes included too much water and sugar, even scribbling "Bad recipe!" on the draft
5VYnQ TIL of Northstar Island, a 20,000 m^2 artificial island used for oil production in the Beaufort Sea