› added 9 years ago

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TIL of “shifting baseline syndrome”, where large declines in ecosystems or species are masked as each subsequent generation redefines what they consider a ‘normal’ environment.

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NXYLP TIL that mature oak trees can reach heights of around 148 feet and can live up to 1,000 years. Oak trees have existed for 65 million years, and a single oak tree can produce around 10 million acorns during its lifespan. Out of these acorns, only 1 in 10,000 grow into an oak tree.
Lka4Q TIL The animatronic Gremlins in the 1984 movie were originally going to be played by monkeys, but that plan was abandoned after the test monkey panicked when wearing a Gremlin head.
9nNp TIL that Under Armour, an American company, uses a non-American spelling of “armour” (with a “u”) not because it has ties to somewhere like the UK or Canada but because the founder was “trying to get a cool toll-free phone number.”
N7751 TIL that GE chose to put the Fukushima reactor closer to the sea, knew of inherent design flaws for decades, and may be liable for damages in court.
KY8WQ TIL that Vince Clarke, one of the Depeche Mode founders, left the band because he didn't like fame. He then launched two more bands that ultimately also became famous - Yaz and Erasure.