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TIL from the Battle of Hastings in 1066 the government of England spoke a type of French called Norman, while ordinary people spoke forms of English. Although Norman died out in England several hundred years ago, it continues in legal terms and parliament is still opened by the Queen in Norman.

p8ra8 TIL of the Fresnel lens, a specially crafted type of lens commonly used in lighthouses. Its design allows for a large aperture and short focal length without requiring the lens to be massive and heavy like a traditional convex lens. It also looks like a work of art.
oDwL TIL that the first person to spot a flying saucer, didn’t himself describe its shape as a saucer. But said the objects moved erratically: “like a saucer if you skip it across the water”. And was misinterpreted by the media.
e0y8E TIL that before trees were common, Earth Was Covered by Giant Mushrooms
VB1pB TIL that there is a rare medical condition called Foreign Accent Syndrome, where a person's accent changes as a result of brain damage or injury. This condition has affected people all over the world, causing them to suddenly speak with a different accent than they've never had before.
XEj6Q TIL Dr. Alan Hirsch, author of "What Flavor Is Your Personality?: Discover Who You Are by Looking at What You Eat," discovered that certain food scents trigger sexual arousal in both sexes. The baked scent of cinnamon buns & vanilla aroused men, while Good & Plenty candy-cucumber odor aroused women.