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TIL that in the Middle Ages, scholars and alchemists were alleged to be assisted by a Brazen Head, an automaton that could answer any question asked of it.

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16844 TIL that anime is actually very old, going back to the beginning of the 20th century, and really is a refraction of Japanese art and culture. One of the oldest known anime films is "Namakura Gatana," released in 1917.
wLnbM TIL in 1979, deaf Nicaraguan schoolchildren invented a new language. The new Sandinista government opened the first school for the deaf, bringing large numbers of deaf children together for the 1st time. Nicaraguan Sign Language is the only language created to have been recorded from its birth.
Yp0mW TIL the final total solar eclipse will be in 600 million years time, as the moon will be around 30,400km further from the Earth while the sun’s diameter will be around 5% larger.
xV1Y1 TIL the Australian Lyrebird can impersonate practically anything he hears to catch the attention of a possible mate, even going as far as making a camera shutter noise or a chainsaw taking a tree down.
W7YkA TIL a news outlet in Cleveland, Ohio reenacted a real court case using puppets and a transcript because their cameras weren't allowed