› added 4 years ago

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TIL of Radiotrophic Fungus, originally found in Chernobyl, that utilize Melanin to turn Gamma radiation into Chemical Energy. Similar to how plants use Chlorophyll to turn sunlight into Energy.

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Z8VPo TIL That Dutch Ovens "...were so valuable that wills in the 18th and 19th centuries frequently spelled out the desired inheritor."
4X5Lo TIL dogs are perfectly capable of digesting starches despite being descendants of "carnivorous" wolves. Even though they share most of their genetics, modern dogs carry 22 copies of a gene that codes for an enzyme that breaks down starches, while wolves only carry 2 copies of it.
dDxDj TIL a balcony collapsed in Berkey for 21st birthday party led to the deaths of 7 people, from Ireland or of Irish descent, with one dying 6.5 years later from a stroke related to the fall.
lowaB TIL that the B-52's song "Rock Lobster" inspired John Lennon to start making music again in 1980, because it reminded him of his wife Yoko's work.
PY11g TIL cream soda is vanilla flavoured.