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TIL murderers in medieval Ireland were given to the deceased’s family as slaves if they failed to pay a hefty fine to buy their freedom. The family could then legally kill the murderer themselves.

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VDrZ TIL shyness is an evolutionary adaptation; whereas the braver animals may find more mates and eat more food, the shyer individuals, hiding on the sidelines, might avoid attack.
YEDZ TIL: While the Titanic only had enough life boats to hold 1/3 of passengers, she was actually carrying more lifeboats than were legally required. That’s because lifeboats were intended to ferry survivors from a sinking ship to a rescuing ship—not keep afloat the whole population.
WkgPX TIL the last English knight to be publicly degraded (stripped of knighthood) was Francis Mitchell in 1628. He’d committed extortion. His spurs were broken and thrown out, his belt cut, and his sword broken over his head. He was called "no longer a Knight but Knave" and led to the Tower of London.
1Db8 TIL after the first edit of Star Wars came back as clunky and lackluster, Lucas spliced together a cut of World War II dogfights. The space battle in the final film is a frame for frame re-enactment of this. (1h41s)
6Zw8 TIL Smoking scorpions to get high is a growing problem in south Asia. The high can last from 10 hours to 3 days. The high is said to be so powerful that it outstrips heroin. But the person spends the first six hours in pain while their body adjusts to the toxins, which can possibly lead to death.