› added 5 years ago

101

TIL A water dropwort is a highly poisonous plant native to temperate climates. If it kills you, it can cause you to smile after you die. This is called a sardonic grin.

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R7OM4 TIL that with relations dating back to the 16th century and being allies in both world wars, Italy and Japan have one of the longest lasting friendships between two nations
DQ9yJ TIL Cynisca/Kyniska was a Spartan princess in ancient Greece who personally trained horses and- approximately at the age of 40- went on to become the first woman to win an Olympic game as a charioteer. Her victory likely had a great impact on the Olympic and led to more women participating.
JE6l TIL that in 1755, Oxford University burned a taxidermied Dodo bird, unaware that it was the last complete specimen in the world.
x7Dw TIL: Voltaire became hugely wealthy by exploiting a flaw in the French lottery.
wXdo TIL the Naval Investigative Service knew the term “Friend of Dorothy” referred to gay men, but misunderstood the history of the phrase and launched an investigation to find this woman named “Dorothy” who they believed was at the centre of a ring of gay military personnel.