› added 2 years ago

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TIL that whale carcasses sequester a huge amount of carbon in the ocean

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via reddit.com

d7oZ TIL that in 2001, a documentary filmmaker set out to expose the Westboro Baptist Church for their “hate-mongering” beliefs. He instead joined the church, and is now one of the top pastors.
e0LZ6 TIL camel and goat eyes are ovals to better control light input and are horizontal for a 'panoramic view' that blocks light from above and below. Cats and predators are vertical slits for judging distance without moving the head. Cats eyes alone have ~9x more control over light than humans.
yVJow TIL that the instrument in Samba music that makes a sound like rubbing a balloon or a McDonalds straw in a cup is a percussion instrument called a cuica.
mwOy TIL that in 1999 an Iraqi refugee fled to Australia and lived off their welfare system. Years later after he became successful, he walked into the local welfare office and tried to pay back every cent with an $18,000 check.
bB19 TIL that in 1792 criminals saw they could make a good profit by filing shavings from the sides of gold and silver coins and selling the precious metal, which is why coins now have ridges on their sides.