› added 10 years ago

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TIL Kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, and kohlrabi were all selectively bred from the mustard plant.

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D1rEV TIL that Southern live oak was a secret weapon of the USS Constitution, one of America's first naval vessels, that was nicknamed "Old Ironsides" after so many cannonballs bounced off her hull because live oak wood is a super dense wood.
4kXvw TIL that cats are not nocturnal or diurnal, they are crepuscular: a circadian rhythm where they are most active during dusk/dawn (low-light hours)
1G8r TIL that obese people now cost more money than smokers in American healthcare.
vPRLj TIL of the Chinese submarine Ming III, which was found drifting by fishermen in 2003 after all the crew asphyxiated from the diesel engine using all the oxygen. The dead sailors were all at their posts, implying they died quickly without knowing there was a problem.
W7MRY TIL the US military had plans for the invasion of mainland Japan named Operation Downfall. It was estimated that there would be 500k-4m US casualties and 5-10m Japanese casualties.