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TIL of Stephanie Fae Beauclair, who was the first infant subject of a xenotransplant and received a tiny baboon heart. She survived for 20 days. Surpassing anyone who previously received a non-human heart.

e0kj6 TIL the oldest monument in Paris is over 3,000 years old. The Ottoman ruler of Egypt gave a 75 ft, 250 ton ancient Egyptian obelisk to France in exchange for a mechanical clock in 1833. The obelisk was placed in the center of the Place de la Concorde where it stands today.
Zp5DR TIL in 1964, a country changed names during the Olympics. It entered the Olympics as Northern Rhodesia, a British protectorate, and left as Zambia, becoming fully independent on the day of the closing ceremony. The athletes marched in the ceremony with a new placard featuring the word "Zambia".
GY06E TIL about Trasmoz, a town in Spain that was excommunicated for witchcraft in the 13th century, with Pope Julius II also cursing the village in 1511. Neither the excommunication or curse have been lifted. Every June, during the Feria de Brujeria festival, one person is named as 'Witch of the Year'.
KOog9 TIL Comedian Drew Carey, after getting kicked out from University for being too bad at academics, went on to become a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps.
PY7gO TIL I learned that the first vibrator was invented in the late 1860's by Dr. George Taylor. It was used to cure symptoms of depression and anxiety, symptoms for a female condition that was commonly referred to at the time as "hysteria."