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TIL "Bezoar stones", undigested matter in porcupines, proboscis monkeys, and other animal's intestines, were once prized in Europe and Asia as magical cure-all stones and worn by royalty on rings.

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b9Jg7 TIL Subotai managed to defeat Poland and Hungary in 2 days by forces over 500 kilometers apart. He directed more than 20 campaigns in which he conquered 32 nations and won 65 pitched battles, during which he conquered more territory than any other commander.
ZLNR TIL that for a science fair experiment in 1969, a 14 year old scientist used genes to change chicken feathers from white to partially black, which his teacher said was playing God.
nerM7 TIL While Leon Trotsky was returning to Russia after the Communist Revolution he was arrested and detained in Nova Scotia for a month. His revolutionary speeches were so popular that when he was banned from speaking, 500 prisoners signed a petition. The whole cell block cheered when he was released.
ynx8 TIL before 9/11, the credits of Rambo III dedicated the movie to the ’[..] brave Mujahideen fighters of Afghanistan.’ Now it’s dedicated to the gallant people of Afghanistan.
BgbQK TIL that the Chinese general Zhang Zongchang had the nickname "Old Eighty Six". It's unknown what this meant, but rumours say this either referred to his height or the length of his penis, which reputedly was as tall as a pile of 86 Mexican silver dollars--a common currency of China at the time.