› added 11 years ago

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TIL two Christian monks smuggled silkworms out of China in bamboo canes. Those silkworms were used to give the Byzantine Empire a trade monopoly in Europe, which became the foundation of their economy for the next 650 years.

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rNY0W TIL second runway of Narita Airport was supposed to pass through Takao Shito’s land, but because of the legal problems, it now basically encircles it. Farming takes place amidst the roar of takeoff and the impacts of aircraft landings.
GY5VG TIL in 2009, three New Zealand blue ducks - two males and a female - were kept in a breeding program in England. However, the program was derailed (despite the efforts of the breeders and even the female duck) when the two male ducks hooked up with each other instead of with the female.
gM1DD TIL that the first Indian restaurant in the UK predates the first fish and chip joint by at least 49 years
vZrR TIL There is a deleted scene that explains why the Terminator has an Austrian accent.
v1868 TIL that in 1991, the Russian news broadcaster Vremya had to shut down after a large number of the staff were discovered to be KGB agents.