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TIL the first 'talking car', the 1982 Datsun 810 Maxima, stored its voice messages ("lights are on", "left door is open", "fuel level is low", etc.) on a 3-inch, shock-resistant, plastic phonograph record.

BgGVk TIL that male bees and wasps contain half the amount of genetic information that female bees/wasps have, as males hatch from unfertilised eggs. Egg laying females can choose whether or not to fertilise an egg from her 'spermatheca' to create male or female offspring.
9YoOD TIL Dr Livingstone ('I presume') was caught and mauled by a lion but felt only a painless dreaminess, later concluding "This peculiar state is probably produced in all animals killed by the carnivora; and if so, is a merciful provision by our benevolent Creator for lessening the pain of death."
rR49o TIL that the Portuguese man of war isn’t actually a jellyfish. It’s called a siphonophore, made up of several specialized organisms of the same species. They each perform different functions and can’t survive alone.
78MZL TIL that only 15-20% soldiers fired their weapons during WWII. Those who would not fire did not run or hide—in many cases they were willing to risk greater danger to rescue comrades, get ammunition, or run messages.
er9b TIL that there is a hidden pattern called the EURion Constellation that is incorporated into over 52 countries’ banknotes, including the US. Printers will refuse to print banknotes if the pattern is detected, and PhotoShop will prevent editing if the pattern is detected.