› added 1 year ago

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TIL that the closest landmass to the antipode (the spot on the diametrically opposite side of the globe) of London is literally called the Antipodes Islands - they were previously called the Penantipodes, meaning 'next to the antipodes'.

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via reddit.com

PnPL TIL that Smarties candies (“Rockets” in Canada) were originally made with re-purposed gun powder tablet machines from WWII.
mxMVy TIL that sailships aren't really moved by the wind blowing into the sail and pushing it forward. The curved shape of the sail creates a lift force acting forward, same the aerodynamic lift that makes an aircraft fly. The wind direction can be of almost any angle relative to the ship.
GYZMG TIL Ben, from Ben & Jerry's ice cream, has no sense of smell and gets his "food enjoyment" from texture. This is why the brand puts chunky ingredients in their ice cream.
5YP08 TIL of Hatty, a Labrador retriever who was sworn in as an IL County "Comfort Dog." Her paw was on a law book as an oath was read. Hatty's job is to comfort sexual trauma victims during testimony and interviews; the dog will work 9 - 5 on up to 200 cases per year. She was trained by prison inmates.
N79yM TIL - All human infants, male and female, are born capable of producing breast milk. In fact, due to left over endocrine and hormone influences of the pregnant mother, some infants of both sexes lactate in their first few days of life. This is colloquially called "Witch's Milk."