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TIL North American beavers have 40 chromosomes, while European beavers have 48. The two species are not genetically compatible. Only one stillborn kit was born of attempted hybridization.

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x65J7 TIL that Canada produced over 800,000 military trucks during WW2, more than Germany, Italy & Japan combined. In 1945 the Canadian Army had 1 vehicle for every 3 soldiers (the US Army had 1 for 7), making it the most mobile army on earth.
l7WOA TIL that Dmitri Mendeleev, who is credited with creating the Periodic Table of Elements was nominated for a Nobel Prize in Chemistry 9 times but never won. His awarding was blocked each time by the 1903 winner, Svante Arrhenius, who held a grudge against Mendeleev for criticizing one of his papers.
E1XLw TIL that not only do chimps self-medicate, but they also medicate / treat the wounds of other chimps in their community - an act previously thought to be unique to humans
LkyWZ TIL Betty Ford upon leaving the White House as the First Lady, she took off her shoes and jumped upon the Cabinet room table. The photographer promised not to release the photo until she passed. He kept his promise and released the photo days after she passed.
10gD TIL The Stroop effect (e.g. the printed word “blue” colored in red) was used to help detect Russian spies during the Cold War.