› added 1 year ago

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TIL the first scientific specimen of the world's largest butterfly, the Queen Alexandra's birdwing, was collected "with the aid of a small shotgun"

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b9Wpj TIL the Indian civilization dates to '7500 BC to 6200 BC' according to recent findings, making it as old as Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations.
ZB0Q TIL that Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune turned down playing Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader, because he thought it cheapen the image of the samurai.
OG0l1 TIL about the bonnacon, a mythical medieval beast said to defend itself with explosive bowel movements.
mxmOp TIL that the last Ottoman Sultan spent the first 56 years of his life as a captive in a room known as “The Cage” before ascending to the throne. The purpose of the practice was to confine rival male heirs.
m1Ydp TIL Tom Seaver was named on 425 out of 430 ballots for the Baseball Hall of Fame. 3 were blank as a protest against Pete Rose being ineligible. One was sent by a writer recovering from surgery who did not notice Seaver's name and one never voted for any player in their first year of eligibility.