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TIL a monkey discovered in 2010 is known as the Burmese sneezing monkey because it sneezes uncontrollably when it rains [x-post from /r/DamnInteresting].

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VBKGB TIL about the self-propelled barge T-36, which drifted 49 days across the North Pacific Ocean in 1960 after being disabled, with all sailors on board surviving the journey by rationing three days' supply of food. Returning to the Soviet Union, the crew had popularity close to that of cosmonauts.
RkL9 TIL a small amount of alcohol (up to 1.5 oz of 90 proof) has been shown to improve pronunciation of second languages even while decreasing digit and symbol proficiency.
P10RJ TIL that Ted Cruz was born in Alberta.
VBJ7B TIL a Russian attempted suicide bomber died in 2011 after receiving a spam text message that wished her a happy new year, triggering the detonator on her mobile phone.
16rDX TIL calories in food are measured by exploding a dehydrated food in an oxygen filled canister surrounded by water. The explosion of the food item gives off energy that heats the surrounding water. The increase in temperature of the water is how we calculate calories.