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Take a look out your window and you're bound to see a dinosaur or two—or at least the descendant of one. That little blue jay? Dinosaur. The obnoxious early rising crow? Dinosaur. The squirrel running up the tree? Well, that’s still a squirrel. But those feathered friends make your yard a real-life Jurassic Park. Most researchers believe birds are descendants of a group of dinosaurs that included the Tyrannosaurus rex. Fossil research has shown that birds and dinosaurs shared behaviors such as brooding and nest building. According to paleontologist and National Geographic grantee Jack Horner, it also stands to reason that dinosaurs had similar courting behaviors as today’s birds. Because various bird species tap-dance, moonwalk, and boogie to impress potential mates, it makes sense that dinosaurs did the same. Just imagine a giant T. rex with its tiny T. rex arms "twerking" its way into the heart of its intended. In this week’s Today I Learned, Horner explains how dinosaurs might have been the original smooth criminals.Read more about one species of Triceratops, Triceratops horridusAdditional footage provided by Cornell Lab of Ornithology

4XGPw TIL during WWII, 70–85 million people perished, or about 3% of the 1940 world population (est. 2.3 billion). More than half of the total number of casualties are accounted for by the dead of the Republic of China and of the Soviet Union. About 8.23% of Germany's population perished.
oaPY TIL that as long as they are not expressly prohibited, anyone may camp anywhere on all 17.8 million square acres of public land in the State of Wyoming nearly indefinitely [PDF].
7Djx TIL the African nation of Eritrea is so repressive, residents have to get a special permit to have more than 2 guests over for dinner; if they fail to do so, their dinner is considered an illegal gathering and they may be jailed
9LYp TIL Alexander I of Yugoslavia refused to attend public events on Tuesdays after three family members died on that day of the week. After finally being forced to appear on Tuesday, he was promptly assassinated.
mPwP TIL that today is the birthday of the New York subway. The subway system officially opened on Oct 27 1904 making 110 years old. It was the first rapid-transit subway system in America.