› added 10 years ago

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TIL that vampire bats will die if they can’t find blood for two nights in a row. Luckily, generous well-fed bats will often regurgitate blood to share with others, in exchange for grooming. This has been noted by many naturalists as an example of reciprocal altruism in nature.

16l17 TIL about Johnnie Dodge, an American-born British Army Officer who participated in the Great Escape, got sent to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, escaped again, survived being sent back to the camp, and lived through the fire bombing of Dresden.
Lk4am TIL A theater's air composition varies depending on what kind of scene is playing. A study showed that the strongest collective chemical response was for suspense and comedy sequences. Understanding the change in the air's chemistry in theaters can help us develop cancer detection techniques.
QJGxE TIL that "blue raspberry" is simply artificial raspberry flavoring, and its widespread use of being colored blue is credited to the ICEE brand who wanted their signature flavors (the other being red cherry) to match their logo.
rXl0 TIL mail-order marriages are less likely to end in divorce than marriages overall in the United States
Wkylo TIL Lays marketed a low calorie "WOW" brand of chips that made consumers crap their pants. The main ingredient, Olestra, is a fat substitute which allows for frying without calories being added. The problem is your body can't absorb it. Consumers suffered from cramping, diarrhea, and anal leakage.