› added 5 years ago

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TIL the star Antares is so named because it is the anti-Ares. Because of its similarity in color to Mars, ancient astronomers had to distinguish between Mars and "not-Mars"

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jPgE TIL in east Africa albinos are persecuted because they are believed to have magical powers. They are frequently kidnapped and sold for cash to witch doctors who use them as ingredients in magical potions.
9r4M TIL that Winter Olympics athletes are chronically underpaid and unless they have endorsements, the amounts they earn are paltry compared to athletes in disciplines such as bowling.
p8p8e TIL In 2015, Neil Moore, a prisoner serving time for a $2.7 million fraud conviction, walked out the front gate of a high security prison by forging his own release papers.
QKQp TIL in their 45 years playing, the San Diego Padres are the only team in Major League Baseball to have never pitched a no-hitter.
6ERL8 TIL that The Sateré-Mawé tribe of Brazil have a ritual where they subject themselves to the sting of over 120 bullet ants, which have a sting 30 times more painful than that of a wasp.