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TIL that humans are the only mammals with a very distinct and visible iris and pupil in contrast with the rest of the eye (sclera) which is white, probably because we evolved as more cooperative animals so following another person's gaze became important in communications.

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awaob TIL the Roman Catholic Church hired castrati, young boy vocalists who were castrated to prevent puberty allowing them to sing soprano, mezzo-soprano, or contralto well into their 40s. The practice started in the mid-1500s, reached its height in 1730, and ended in 1903. The last castrati died in 1922
BgdNk TIL of the Canadian commander Charles De Salaberry who defeated the American invasion of Montreal. Salaberry deployed marching buglers to play in all different directions, meaning his American opponents didn’t know how many men he had or what direction they were coming from.
KO1nR TIL that Cherophobia is fear of being happy. It is the belief that when one becomes happy,something bad will happen.
Brb4r TIL Bhutan (2010) and Turkmenistan (2016) are the only countries in the world where the production and sale of tobacco products is illegal.
9y1G TIL that the phrase “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” isn’t a line from Shakespeare. It’s a paraphrase from a play by William Congreve, the full line is, “Heavan has no rage like love to hatred turned, Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.”