› added 6 months ago

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TIL that Mantis Shrimp have a second pair of thoracic appendages that are adapted for powerful close-range combat; their claws can accelerate at a rate comparable to that of a .22 caliber bullet when fired.

BgelK TIL of laugh-induced syncope, a rare form of fainting caused by an exaggerated vasovagal response to intense laughter. Nicknamed "Seinfeld syncope" after a 62-year-old patient who had multiple episodes of syncope while laughing and watching Seinfeld on television
0wM6R TIL: Certain ant species commit suicide to protect their territory. As stinging wasn't effective against some predators, they evolved the ability to self-sacrifice to kill one or more enemies. They wrap themselves around an opponent & explodes, releasing sticky corrosive material killing both.
wL4LY TIL that Metallica became the first band to play a concert on all seven continents. They played for 120 scientists and a number of competition winners at Carlini Station in 2013.
k6JE TIL archaeologists excavating a Roman city found remains of close to 100 infants who were smothered and cast into a sewer that ran beneath a brothel. It believed infanticide was a widely used method of limiting family size in ancient Rome
dDZbE TIL after Columbus landed in the Americas in 1492, they discovered Taino people roasting meat over a grill, allowing the flames and smoke to envelop the meat for a certain flavor. Called "barabicu" by the Taino, the technique spread to Europe and the colonies, and is now known as Barbecue.