› added 12 years ago

82

TIL that the Netherlands has a higher percentage of English speakers than several countries where it’s the official language, such as Malta and Canada

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xvE5 TIL in WWII Japan used underwater manned suicide torpedos called Kaiten to destroy American ships. If they were successful, they blew up. If they missed, they sank to the bottom of the ocean.
ANwad TIL the UK exports cheese to France, tea to China and boomerangs to Australia
XdxP TIL Humans did not evolve from either of the living species of chimpanzees. Humans and chimpanzees did, however, evolve from a common ancestor. The two modern species (common chimpanzees and bonobos) are humans’ closest living relatives.
eJYb TIL that Stephen King novels “IT” and “The Shining” are set in the same universe, the character Dick Hallorann that is the head chef of the Overlook hotel in The Shining, very briefly appears as a character in IT.
P5JL TIL there is only one species of cactus that can be found naturally occurring outside the Americas