› added 10 years ago

104

TIL the word cereal comes from the the Roman goddess Ceres, and her association with edible grains.

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kJ6M5 TIL that "The NorthWest Company," one of the major players in the historical North American fur trade, is still in operation today as a series of retail stores that primarily serve Indigenous customers across Canada, Alaska, the Carribbean, and the Pacific.
OvBY TIL Lightning serves an important role in the nitrogen cycle by oxidizing diatomic nitrogen in the air into nitrates which are deposited by rain and can fertilize the growth of plants and other organisms.
9wpQr TIL that humans have the highest daytime visual acuity of any mammal, and among the highest of any animal (some birds of prey have much better). However, we have relatively poor night vision.
yV0dw TIL that if you find this bug crawling on you, you should never swat it, as it's basically a small balloon filled with acid and you will forever rue the day. (It's found in East Africa)
j6pKN TIL how glitter is made