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TIL that since many female insects mate just once in their lives, insect populations can be controlled by releasing swarms of sterile males into the wild; the females mate with them, never have babies, and die. The method has eradicated populations of dangerous insects in several regions.

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oRy8L TIL that the 18th century Badminton Cabinet is the most expensive piece of furniture ever sold at $36.7 million (2004). It is a Florentine ebony chest, inlaid with hard and semiprecious stones commissioned in 1726 by Henry Somerset, 3rd Duke of Beaufort, at the age of 19
vjYB TIL a 500lb bluefin tuna fish sold in Japan for 1.8 million dollars.
D1W9r TIL The creator of Clarissa Explains It All had a strict rule about not allowing the color purple on set, requiring parts of the set to be repainted. When asked about this rule, he revealed that it was completely arbitrary, only existing to make him seem more assertive as someone new in the business
Ao6o TIL The Chinese government “encouraged” the country’s tallest female basketball player to marry the country’s tallest man. Their child was Yao Ming.
WgNL TIL that PT Barnum, frustrated with how long people lingered in his museum’s exhibits, posted large signs throughout that said “This Way to the Egress”. He knew most of the visitors would follow them, not knowing that “Egress” meant “exit”. They couldn’t re-enter without paying the entry fee again.