› added 8 months ago

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TIL that female cicadas have metal ovipositors so that they can drill the tree bark to lay eggs. The only animal with an organ that is mostly made out of transition metals.

Read more nature.com

via reddit.com

X0nmj TIL there is a legal precedent for the term “bottom bitch”
d90j TIL some mustard gas effects, once declassified, allowed the chemicals to be utilized to treat cancer. Mustard gas science is the precursor to chemotherapy.
e0gXg TIL that in 1978, and architecture student discovered the Citigroup Center in NYC was susceptible to strong winds due to it being on stilts. Renovations to address the issue were done during a newspaper strike at night while employees were at home. This work was largely unkown unknown until 1995!
5xgk TIL a ‘Nutella Tax’ was proposed by France partly because Palm oil’s production has led to displacing and killing endangered Orangutans
mxoYy TIL: Atheletes have a resting heart rate of 40 bpm whereas others have it at around 70 bpm. Because they have stronger heart muscles.