› added 10 months ago

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TIL about the existence of H. floresiensis, an extinct species of proto-humans whose adults had heights of around 1m and weights of around 25kg, inhabiting parts of Indonesia.

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v1GKB TIL about Nin-Kasi, the Beer Goddess. One of the oldest known Gods who was worshipped for 550 years from 2900BC. Prophets would get wasted in her honor to trigger states of ecstasy in which they would prophecy.
8aLYK TIL that the Northern Royal Albatross take their first flight after about 8 months of age, and then spend the next 3-5 years at sea, never touching land during that time. Many then return to their headland where they born so they can then breed, having flown over 190,000km per year during that time.
xV9l1 TIL the FBI supplied 48 police agencies with Stingray surveillance hardware that mimics cell phone towers, and had them sign non-disclosure agreements to stop them confirming their use of it or its capabilities to anyone, including courts of law. Cases would be dismissed rather than expose the tech.
R5V67 TIL in 1842, PT Barnum, a.k.a The Great Showman, showed off a "Fiji Mermaid". Barnum insisted it was an authentic skeleton from a mermaid, but on his death bed, admitted what folks saw was the skeleton of a monkey torso and fishtail sewed together made by Japanese sailors in 1822
nWrB7 TIL the history of Jules Brunet , The historic figure who inspired "the last samurai ". In september 1868 this decorated captain who was a painter and a graduate of Saint-Cyr Polythecnique school decided to unofficially stay in Japan and Fight with the Shogun Forces against the Meiji Empire .