› added 5 years ago

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TIL about 'Hunger Stones' - hydrological famine memorials and warnings carved and erected throughout Central Europe from the 15th to 19th centuries. Recent lengthy dry spells across Europe revealed some of them near the German border with Czech Republic.

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mxJVp TIL A hockey player name Ivan Tkachenko who died in a tragic plane crash in Russia was anonymously giving money to sick kids, and the last half-million ruble payment was transferred to a young cancer patient minutes before the plane take-off.
mMmo TIL that one theory on why we are ticklish is that it serves as a mechanism for developing combat skills. Most often practiced from parent to child, tickling activates vulnerable areas on the body that develop a defensive reaction while producing laughter that encourages the ‘attacker’ to continue.
kObw4 TIL: A bird native to Asia (Shrike) impales it’s prey before consuming it
e08OD TIL people who read books have a 20% less mortality rate, and live longer lives than those who do not read books.
x6V1w TIL about archeological Tells. Neolithic human settlement sites that grew into large (some over 100 feet tall) hills due to the people there discarding remains into the ground below, building on top of discarded buildings, and the collection of sediment/materials from everyday living.