› added 1 year ago

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TIL that, after his dog Jacksie was killed by a car, four-year-old C. S. Lewis adopted the same name as a tribute and wouldn't answer to any other. He later accepted Jack, which became the name by which he was known to friends and family for the rest of his life.

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6E8jY TIL The Spanish flu was called the Spanish flu primarily due to the fact that Spain was one of the only European countries with free press at the time the epidemic began. The flu itself likely originated in china and was brought to Europe from Chinese labourers sent to help the allies during the war
OoOnX TIL a loofah sponge is actually a plant, and a side from growing it to use as a sponge, it is edible as well.
R7Jg9 TIL that in 2015, Oxford Dictionaries named the "Face with Tears of Joy" emoji (????) the Word of the Year.
loe8A TIL The Silence of the Lambs is not only one of only three movies in history to sweep the top five Oscars, it was the first film in its genre to ever win Best Picture.
WkrE4 TIL Mercury is actually closer to Earth than Venus and Mars (mostly). And same applies to the sun and all planets in the Solar System.