› added 9 years ago

223

TIL City birds have learned to line their nests with cigarette butts in order to ward of parasites, as burnt nicotine works as an insecticide to ward off mites, lice and fleas.

Read more nature.com

via reddit.com

KGA4 TIL the Beatles played a demo copy of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” before its release at full volume from an open apartment window at 6AM. Instead of complaining, the residents opened their windows and listened, aware they were hearing unreleased Beatles music.
D17rD TIL The worlds largest book was lost by the city of Cleveland. It was called The Golden Book of Cleveland; and it was as large as a mattress. It was misplaced in 1936.
yvPa TIL that antibiotics are usually not effective for sore throats and common colds as they are caused by viruses rather than bacteria. Taking antibiotics for such illnesses is considered more harmful than beneficial.
8eN8 TIL The US Marine Corps is currently working on Project Hot Eagle, a program that when finished, may be able to place squads of Marines anywhere on the planet in two hour’s notice, similar to that of the Halo series’ ODSTs.
oRNao TIL On Shrove Tuesday 1229 some University of Paris students got into fight over a bar tab and attacked a tavern. The students had benefit of clergy but the city guard killed some of them. The students responded with strike for two years until the school was given independence from local authority.