› added 5 years ago

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TIL that soviets had nuclear tractors, aka Project Gamma Kolos, in an attempt to mutate wheat seeds before sowing them

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Q7yL TIL Indonesia realized dead Manta Rays are worth $500 whereas Manta Ray tourism brought in $1,000,000 over the life of a single Ray. Indonesia is now the largest Manta sanctuary.
VMQQ4 TIL that unpaid moderators were able to successfully sue AOL for $15mil, legally they were considered employees
NX70b TIL Bohemian waxwing can eat huge numbers of berries, more than double its own weight. Their large liver helps convert sugar to energy. They can metabolise ethanol produced from the fermentation of those sugary fruits more efficiently than humans, but may still become intoxicated, sometimes fatally
XEoB6 TIL John Hathorne was the only judge in the Salem Witch Trials never to apologize for his actions. His great-great grandson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, added a W to his last name to distance himself from him.
oBlKK TIL Joaquin Phoenix began calling himself "Leaf" as a child, having been inspired by spending time outdoors raking leaves and desiring to have a nature-related name like his siblings. This became the name he used as a child actor, until he changed it back to Joaquin at age 15.