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TIL of 'Revelations of Divine Love', a book of Christian mysticism by Julian of Norwich. Written in 1373, it is the oldest surviving book in the English language written by a woman.

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oBJmA TIL There are penguins that participate in prostitution. They perform sexual acts in exchange for pebbles. However, sometimes they will bait the male into thinking they’ll have sex, but then just run off with the pebble.
wXk8 TIL “Big Ben” isn’t the name of the clock tower, but only a bell inside it. The clocktower is actually called “Elizabeth Tower”.
4jxo TIL the inverted cross is not a satanic symbol.It is the cross of St.Peter. It is believed that he requested this form of crucifixion as he felt he was unworthy to be crucified in the same manner that Jesus died.
nWKd7 TIL of barnacles - marine arthropods which - after a point in their life-cycle - live permanently attached to substrate - this is problematic, since they reproduce sexually - a penis of up to eight times their body length! - resolves this issue, allowing them to mate across vast distances.
DQx7J TIL about the Varangian Guard. It was an elite military unit composed of Vikings and some Anglo-Saxons who were recruited to serve as the personal bodyguards of the Byzantine emperors. The Byzantines exclusively hired foreigners as they lacked any political allegiance.