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6501

TIL a philosophy riddle from 1688 was recently solved. If a man born blind can feel the differences between shapes such as spheres and cubes, could he, if given the ability, distinguish those objects by sight alone? In 2003 five people had their sight restored though surgery, and, no they could not.

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gx4W TIL in 2007, a US Marine in Iraq befriended a stray desert dog called Nubs. After someone stabbed the dog with a screwdriver, the marine nursed him back to health, developing such a bond that when the unit left, Nubs picked up the scent and walked 70 miles through Iraqi desert warzone to be with him
1aZ6X TIL that if you blow gently into a baby's face, she takes a big gulp of air and holds her breath for a second. This is called the bradycardic reflex and is useful for swimming lessons, washing babies face in the tub, and a brief quick crying interruption.
GYKn1 TIL about a poem written called "The Chaos" written by Gerard Nolst Trenite that highlights the absurdities and nuances of the English language. New english speakers will likely have trouble reading it, but native readers will probably breeze through it.
wLe81 TIL that it is a tradition in Japan to create rabbits out of snow that is called Yukiusagi, they use berries or red food dye for the eyes and bamboo leaves for the ears
nepL9 TIL of Mauro Prosperi who survived for 9 days alone in the Saharan Desert on a diet of urine and bats after becoming disoriented and travelling nearly 200 miles in the wrong direction during an endurance event. He was found in Algeria despite the race taking part in Morocco