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TIL breaking the ice origin When ships were primary trade, they often got stuck in ice in the winter. Trade ships coming into port were frequently met by small ships sent out by the receiving nation to break the ice&clear way. The gesture demonstrated welcome&understanding between the 2 countries

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j6pEp TIL of the "Tiffany Problem", where a historical or realistic fact is deemed anachronistic or unrealistic due to modern associations. Named after the name Tiffany, which is often considered a modern name but has medieval origins.
KK89 TIL of Hans Island, a tiny uninhabited Arctic island claimed by both Canada & Denmark. Traditionally, Canadian expeditions leave behind a bottle of whiskey for the Danes, while Danish sailors leave Aquavit.
QJ709 TIL Human Evolution solves the same problem in different ways. Native Early peoples adapted to high altitudes differently: In the Andes, their hearts got stronger, in Tibet their blood carries oxygen more efficiently.
E55w TIL after a hijacked Ethiopian Air jet crashed in the ocean, an estimated 60-80 people who survived the initial water-crash ignored the captains pleas to not inflate the life vests inside the plane. They all drowned when rushing water pinned their inflated vests against the fuselage’s ceiling.
MjX0 TIL every Passover, one Arab-Israeli man buys all of Israel’s grain products, or ‘chametz,’ worth over $150 million for only $4,800. Afterwards he gives it back.