› added 4 years ago

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TIL in 1856 businessman and aeronautics enthusiast Matías Pérez took flight in a hot air balloon at sunset in Cuba, and was never seen again. This incident originated the Cuban phrase, "Voló como Matías Pérez," (flew away like Matías Pérez) to refer to someone vanishing into thin air.

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KjyR TIL that the smallest living bird is nary larger than a bee and weighs less than a single US penny
R5MOa TIL that CBS offered actress Candice Bergen to work as a journalist after "Murphy Brown". She declined, not wanting to blur between actor and journalist.
R7dj9 TIL: Peppers are spicy because the spiciness is supposed to be a defense mechanism against predators.
Y7pRW TIL in ancient China pillows were made out of different materials such as jade, wood, or bamboo. A jade pillow was thought to make one smarter. Hard pillows were also preferred because of this belief. People then also thought soft pillows stole their energy while they were asleep.
KOMb9 TIL more Americans died per year in the Korean War than the Vietnam War