› added 7 months ago

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TIL about Orchidelirium: when people in the 1800s went absolutely bananas over orchids, sparking crazy plant heists and ruined fortunes

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via reddit.com

GYD8Q TIL Velociraptors had feathers and were only around 20 inches tall - roughly the size of a turkey but with a longer body.
oBeQL TIL that the two of the US pilots who were able to take off during the attack on Pearl Harbor and down 7 enemy aircraft in the process were denied the Medal of Honor because their commanding officer said they had "taken off without orders".
9wWom TIL about Margaret Hamilton, famous for her role as the Wicked Witch of the West, was a former kindergarten teacher who used her celebrity status to advocate for children, animals, and public education throughout her life. She was known for her kindness and ability to connect with children.
ADyvB TIL American muffins are actually individual "quickbreads" or oil cakes (like zucchini bread), making them essentially cupcakes. English muffins are griddled flatbreads, which is why they are chemically and nutritionally more similar to pita or pizza than to American muffins.
b905E TIL that fugu (pufferfish) isn't inherently poisonous but instead picks up its tetrodotoxin from bacteria. There are now fugu that are grown isolated from these bacteria and are therefore non-poisonous