› added 4 years ago

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TIL of Barra Airport in Scotland, the only airport in the world where scheduled flights use a tidal beach as the runway, thus the flight schedule varies with the tides.

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4L46 TIL that Dr Catherine Hamlin and her husband answered an ad in 1958 for an obstetrician and gynaecologist to set up a midwifery school in Ethiopia. She still works there today at the age of 89. Happy International Women’s Day!
5VBdP TIL the term " white elephant gift exchange " comes from a legend about the King of Siam giving rare albino elephants as gifts to those who displeased him. The idea was that the upkeep costs would financially ruin them.
OJWa TIL many Nordic Europeans have an Allele called CCR5 Δ32, which makes them immune to HIV/AIDS
DQpXv TIL Napoleon III was titled "Prince-President" from 1848 to 1852, when he became Emperor
RJW4 TIL the custom of standing for the National Anthem was started by an Irish immigrant in 1893.