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TIL Steven Bradbury, a speedskater and Australia’s first gold medalist in the Salt Lake Winter Olympics, won his medal by purposely going slower than the other 4 skaters and hoping that one or more of them would crash to secure at least a bronze. All four crashed near the finish line.

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E1EZW TIL there is a species of plant called the phantom orchid which has no photosynthesizing chlorophyll. It instead relies entirely on fungi in its root system for acquiring nutrition and energy
nPMG TIL that Weezer’s music video “Buddy Holly” was included on the install disc for Windows 95 and 20 years later the band was playing regularly at Microsoft retail store openings.
e0rk6 TIL that scientists have discovered the "loneliest whale in the world," who travels alone and cannot communicate with other whales
6Ew67 TIL: Cleopatras' fame as a beautiful seductive master was entirely made by Octavian as a way of explaining how this foreign queen managed to seduce two of Rome's most powerful men, while being described as a beauty, she was best known for her intelligence and charm.
9M0Q TIL that there is a legend that the Ottoman Sultan intended to send £10,000 to Ireland to aid in the Starvation, but was stopped by Queen Victoria who had only sent £2000. Instead he sent £1000 and three ships full of food. A letter of thanks from the Irish is in the Ottoman Archives.