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TIL some birds search for prey during wildfires and are even in suspicion on propagating them. “Ornithogenic Fire: Raptors as Propagators of Fire in the Australian Savanna”

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JYxYB TIL that over 200 bird species including the Northern Cardinals, wild turkeys and Baltimore Orioles use a method of pest control called "anting." They take an ant in their beak and wipe their tail feathers in order to deter lice. The ants release formic acid that the birds utilize routinely.
16rDX TIL calories in food are measured by exploding a dehydrated food in an oxygen filled canister surrounded by water. The explosion of the food item gives off energy that heats the surrounding water. The increase in temperature of the water is how we calculate calories.
N7d98 TIL that the tensile strength of plated bamboo cables is as strong as or stronger than a steel cable of the same size. Hemp rope loses 20% of its strength when wet while bamboo cables increase in strength by as much as 20% when wet.
wXA1 TIL that the furnace used by glass blowers to reheat the glass during the blowing process is called a “Glory Hole”.
AN91B TIL in 590 the city of Rome was experiencing such a severe food shortage and refugee crisis, that Pope Gregory had the church operate as a relief organization. This included having goods from church-owned farmland being given away as alms and Gregory himself cooking meals to give to the needy.