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TIL There was once a bear so large that it had the potential to stare across at an adult human in the eye on all fours.

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JXKV TIL that in the Brothers Grimm version of Cinderella the ugly stepsisters cut off their toes and heels respectively to fit into the slipper. Each time the Prince is fooled, and requires doves to point out dripping blood. The same birds later peck out the sisters’ eyes during Cinderella’s wedding.
a88JN TIL human egg fertilization isn’t determined by the fastest sperm but rather the egg sending chemicals to attract particular sperm it chooses
BbnK TIL Ellen and William Craft escaped slavery in the American south. Ellen could pass for white so she pretended to be a white male slave owner on a trip with her black slave William. They traveled first class all the way.
16D14 TIL Giant seabirds called albatrosses have specialized salt glands above their beaks that allow them to drink seawater. These glands filter out excess salt, which is then excreted through their nostrils as a concentrated saline solution.
N7rbN TIL Helium was first discovered in 1868 on the SUN. Astronomers at the time noticed a certain wavelength in sunlight which could not be produced by any known element at the time. It was thought that the gas was only present on the sun, thus was named after the Greek god Helios.