› added 1 year ago

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TIL that archaeologists routinely find edible honey in ancient Egyptian tombs - the stuff never spoils, due to extremely low water-content, very low pH, and hydrogen peroxide (made by an enzyme in the bees' stomachs). How Cool!

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a8V4y TIL that the Boy Scouts of America was founded in 1910, and was actually based on a similar Boy Scout movement that had began in England just a couple of years prior.
dDk0Q TIL that only 144 people live in Ellesmere, the 10th largest island in the world
8eQj4 TIL Aristotle's History of Animals contains several facts that were deemed fantasy until the 19th century. Such observations include octopuses having a sperm tentacle and dogfish growing inside their mother's body. The book also has obvious errors like assuming flies have four legs.
E1abW TIL that the Soviet Union loved Bollywood films. The values of Indian society and the USSR were very similar and the socialist country enjoyed the common rags to riches narrative. In fact, the highest grossing film of the Soviet Era was a 1982 Bollywood film called Disco Dancer.
BR0e TIL the NORAD “Tracking Santa” is run entirely by volunteers and does not use any taxpayer money. It is paid for by various sponsors and donations.