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TIL on November 12, 1833, there was a meteor shower so intense that it was described as meteors "falling like snowflakes". It was so intense that it was thought to be the end of the world, but at the same time it gave birth to the study of meteor astronomy.

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rRJpw TIL of Iris Robinson, an anti-gay Irish politician whose career ended after the exposure of an extramarital affair with the (40 years younger) adult child of a family friend. In response, a Facebook group was set up attempting to get the song "Mrs. Robinson" to No. 1 in the Official UK Singles Chart
0deXM TIL about the “Bionic Chef”, Eduardo Garcia, who was electrocuted by a 2,400V electrified baby black bear while alone in the Montana wilderness, costing him his hand due to the resulting burns and infection
0w7jN TIL the juvenile form of the yellow boxfish is dazzling bright yellow, but this color fades away in adulthood. It is found near ocean reefs. When attacked, this fish releases a neurotoxin from its skin that can be lethal to predators. The fish's box shape inspired Mercedes-Benz's Bionic concept car.
a8O4N TIL of Helias Doundoulakis, the man who patented the suspension system for the Arecibo telescope, was a spy for the United States Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during WW2.
e04xn TIL in the 80s, Munich's Playboy Club issued membership cards that, at a glance, looked very similar to diplomatic passports. As a result, many people escaped East Berlin by simply flashing their membership cards, and were usually waved through by guards.