› added 11 years ago

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TIL That Nicolas Cage did in fact deny that he is a time travelling vampire

ADNWa The human brain looks like a big, pinkish-gray, wrinkly walnut. There are so many folds in it that, if it could be unfolded, it could be a small tablecloth. Pinkish-gray might not match your decor, but it would be about the right size! This "tablecloth" is made up of the cerebral cortex and is the wrinkly outside layer of your brain. All those folds are responsible for abstract thought, language, and memory. Scientists believe the wrinkles exist as a way to increase the surface area of the cortex, allowing for increased brainpower in a smaller space. In this week’s Today I Learned, neuroscientist and National Geographic Emerging Explorer Steve Ramirez shares some of his smarts on how your cortex is different from your pet hamster’s.
Pn9O TIL that James Woods reported and identified 2 of the 9/11 terrorists a month before the event when they performed a practice run.
Ooobg TIL Bracken Cave (Texas) has the largest bat colony on Earth. The bats are a great benefit to cotton farmers in the region.
rRwAo TIL that the plagues of the Middle Ages have made around 10% of Europeans resistant to HIV. These individuals carry a genetic mutation (known as CCR5-Ä32) that prevents the virus from entering the cells of the immune system. The plagues of the Middle Ages played a part in creating these mutations.
pkeQ TIL that the word CURFEW comes from “cover fire” and dates back to the Middle Ages, when people were required to cover their fires by a certain time of night.