› added 8 years ago

370

TIL that the Tiger Beetle can run so fast it can go blind, having to stop whilst chasing prey so that their sight can ‘catch up’

Read more sciencedaily.com

via reddit.com

KvRJ TIL that Sigmund Freud’s nephew believed the scientific manipulation of public opinion was necessary to overcome chaos and conflict in society. His subsequent work did much to create the consumerist culture we live in today.
oRve8 TIL In 1997 a number of people from Kentucky developed CJD (aka human mad cow disease). It was discovered that all had consumed squirrel brains.
JYl4B TIL Coca-Cola was created as an alternative to Morphine. It was also the first soft drink consumed in space.
OmOe TIL Oxpeckers, the small birds you see in photos perching on antelopes & wildebeests (Elephants shake them off usually), were once thought to help by eating illness-causing ticks. It was found that the birds open wounds wider and drink the blood of their hosts - they’re parasites themselves.
9PrB TIL that Mattel sued the band Aqua because of the double entendres in the song ‘Barbie Girl’. The judge awarded in favour of Aqua, saying “The parties are advised to chill”