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Our guilty pleasure is absorbing as much knowledge as we possibly can. We absolutely love learning new things about the world and tip-toeing closer and closer to the truth. Look, we’re true Ravenclaws at heart, and the only way to keep us happy is to keep feeding us interesting tidbits. A few facts a day help keep the blues away. And they help keep our dragon’s library fresh.

One of the best subreddits to keep all of you curious Pandas interested is the r/Damnthatsinteresting online group. A community of over 5.1 million members, ‘Damn, That’s Interesting’ is a celebration of cool facts that grab our attention.

We’ve collected some of their best featured interesting facts, and we hope they’ll spark your curiosity to delve deeper down the rabbit hole, Pandas. Not all facts are pleasant, but that's life for you. Don’t forget to upvote the facts that you enjoyed learning about the most, and be sure to share the best ones with your pals.

Bored Panda reached out to u/LydiaAgain, one of the moderators helping run the r/Damnthatsinteresting subreddit, to get a better understanding of the community. We also got in touch with Alan Castel, Ph.D., a UCLA psychology professor and the author of 'Better with Age: The Psychology of Successful Aging,' to learn more about cognition, staying curious, and mental sharpness.

#1

This Man Spoke With Every Parent In Uvalde, Texas To Build Personalized Caskets For All 19 Children Who Were Killed. His Name Is Trey Ganem

This Man Spoke With Every Parent In Uvalde, Texas To Build Personalized Caskets For All 19 Children Who Were Killed. His Name Is Trey Ganem

jcepiano Report

Redditor u/LydiaAgain, one of the mods managing things behind the scenes at the massively popular r/Damnthatsinteresting, stressed that the content posted by the members needs to make someone stop and go, "Well, damn!" It's supposed to leave a powerful impression. The impact really matters.

"Being merely cute, topical, unusual [isn't the same as] interesting. We look for new, original content if possible," she said.

Bored Panda was curious about the subreddit's rules, and whether the mod has some other guidelines that new members should know about that weren't written in the sidebar. She quipped that one of the main issues is that some members simply don't read what's already written there.

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#2

A True Legend

A True Legend

Swiftfox06 Report

#3

This Legend Right Here

This Legend Right Here

ConsciousPatroller Report

"Our rules are pretty straightforward, the main issue is people do not read the rules in the sidebar. My main advice is to actually read the rules and browse the subreddit before posting. Also, sending modmail about where your post has gone is not helpful as it gets buried in dozens of others, and will not result in approval," she explained.

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Lydia revealed to Bored Panda that she personally spends around 2 to 3 hours each day helping moderate the subreddit. However, the time that other mods spend might be different. "Duties include checking modqueue, looking at modmail, browsing the subreddit to remove posts and comments, and trying to eliminate spam."

Meanwhile, UCLA professor Castel, the author of 'Better with Age: The Psychology of Successful Aging,' was kind enough to answer our questions about sparking our curiosity if we think we already know everything, and what helps us stay mentally sharp as we age.

"Our awareness of our own cognitive ability and knowledge is called metacognition. Often as we get older, we are more aware of what we know, what we don’t know, and also what we are most interested in. I think being selective can be important so that we can focus on remembering and being curious about what interests us," he explained to Bored Panda.

#4

Carefully, He’s A Hero

Carefully, He’s A Hero

CommonSchemeForYou Report

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#5

This Quote From Zelenskiy's Inaugural Address

This Quote From Zelenskiy's Inaugural Address

reddit.com Report

#6

When You Reach 100 Years Old In Barbados, You Get A Stamp In Your Honour

When You Reach 100 Years Old In Barbados, You Get A Stamp In Your Honour

killHACKS Report

"Also, having some sense of awe is also associated with curiosity, happiness, and life satisfaction, while also making us care more about others and the world in general. I think metacognition and awe can make us more curious about the things that are important to us, especially as we get older," he shared some advice that might be useful for those people who feel like there's nothing new to learn about the world or that everything seems dull.

According to Dr. Castel, staying physically and mentally active helps keep our minds sharp. "Research shows that physical exercise such as walking can improve brain function and memory, and being socially connected has wide-spread benefits for the brain," he shared.

"Thus, it is likely a combination of things that keep us sharp, such as being physically active, talking to people, reading, being connected, and remaining curious about things that are important."

#7

He Went Naked To Prove A Point

He Went Naked To Prove A Point

Kaos2018 Report

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#8

A Father Designs A Headstone For His Wheelchair-Bound Son Depicting Him "Free Of His Earthly Burdens"

A Father Designs A Headstone For His Wheelchair-Bound Son Depicting Him "Free Of His Earthly Burdens"

ANXNEEMOUSE Report

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#9

In South Korea, The Solar Panels In The Middle Of The Highway Have A Bicycle Path Underneath..cyclists Are Protected From The Sun, Isolated From Traffic, And The Country Can Produce Clean Energy

In South Korea, The Solar Panels In The Middle Of The Highway Have A Bicycle Path Underneath..cyclists Are Protected From The Sun, Isolated From Traffic, And The Country Can Produce Clean Energy

cottagecow Report

The r/Damnthatsinteresting subreddit has been around for a while now. Founded back in late July of 2013, it’ll be celebrating its 9th birthday very soon.

In that time, the sub has amassed a multi-million-member community and carved out a pretty damn large niche for itself on Reddit and the internet at large. If you love their content, then you should definitely join the subreddit. However, before you share any interesting things of your own, there are a few rules to be aware of.

New members should definitely check out the sidebar before posting anything. It’s got all the guidelines they’ll need to make sure that the content they share is relevant and of the highest quality possible. The subreddit cares about keeping standards high, as it’s what’s helped it entrench its position as a popular community in the first place.

One of the main things you should be aware of is that your posts have to fit the r/Damnthatsinteresting theme. “This subreddit is for things that are interesting and cool. Content that is only cute, funny, a meme, or 'mildly interesting' will be removed. Posts should be able to elicit a reaction of ‘Damnthatsinteresting,’” the moderators explain that the pics and videos shared should elicit a powerful reaction from the audience. Anything less than stellar has its place elsewhere on Reddit.

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#10

Father Knows The Best

Father Knows The Best

Master1718 Report

#11

This Homeless Man's Rabbit Was Thrown Over A Bridge By A Passerby And He Immediately Jumped Into The River To Save Her. He Won An Award, Was Given Animal Food And A Job, And The Passerby Was Charged With Animal Cruelty

This Homeless Man's Rabbit Was Thrown Over A Bridge By A Passerby And He Immediately Jumped Into The River To Save Her. He Won An Award, Was Given Animal Food And A Job, And The Passerby Was Charged With Animal Cruelty

BOSSBABY33 Report

#12

Syrian Archaeologist Khaled Al Asaad Who Devoted His Life To The Excavation And Restoration Of Palmyra, A Unesco World Heritage Site. He Was Beheaded By Isis After Refusing To Disclose The Location Of Ancient Artifacts, Despite A Month Of Torture. He Died A Hero Of Heritage Protection

Syrian Archaeologist Khaled Al Asaad Who Devoted His Life To The Excavation And Restoration Of Palmyra, A Unesco World Heritage Site. He Was Beheaded By Isis After Refusing To Disclose The Location Of Ancient Artifacts, Despite A Month Of Torture. He Died A Hero Of Heritage Protection

pharmdoll Report

Meanwhile, you should avoid using clickbait in your titles. Sure, most people enjoy getting attention online. But it should be the content itself that shines, not a sneakily-crafted title that grabs people’s attention only to then disappoint them. The mods have a strict no-clickbait policy and will remove posts that violate this rule.

#13

This Is Jean-Baptiste Kempf, The Creator Of Vlc Media Player. He Refused Tens Of Millions Of Dollars In Order To Keep Vlc Ads-Free. Thanks, Jean!

This Is Jean-Baptiste Kempf, The Creator Of Vlc Media Player. He Refused Tens Of Millions Of Dollars In Order To Keep Vlc Ads-Free. Thanks, Jean!

PeasKhichra Report

#14

A Statue In Istanbul To Honor Tombili, A Famous Stray Cat. He Used To Sit In This Position And Watch Passers-By

A Statue In Istanbul To Honor Tombili, A Famous Stray Cat. He Used To Sit In This Position And Watch Passers-By

Crassusempire Report

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#15

That Sounds Very Cool

That Sounds Very Cool

j_curic_5 Report

Even though curiosity isn’t a sin, there should be some limits on what information is available to everyone. At least that’s what scientist Steven Wooding, a member of the Institute of Physics in the UK, thinks. In an earlier interview with Bored Panda, he stressed that there’s a need to protect the wider public in some cases.

#16

Good Guy Einstein

Good Guy Einstein

Academic_Sorbet- Report

#17

Ravens Are Also Called "Wolf Birds"

Ravens Are Also Called "Wolf Birds"

killHACKS Report

#18

Vitaly Skakun Is A Hero After Sacrificing His Life To Blow Up The Henichesky Bridge. The Bridge Was Mined But A Russian Column Was Advancing And There Was No Time To Detonate It Remotely. Skakun Radioed His Unit And Told Them He Would Do It Manually, Saying Goodbye

Vitaly Skakun Is A Hero After Sacrificing His Life To Blow Up The Henichesky Bridge. The Bridge Was Mined But A Russian Column Was Advancing And There Was No Time To Detonate It Remotely. Skakun Radioed His Unit And Told Them He Would Do It Manually, Saying Goodbye

yosef_kh Report

"There have to be some limits to information, for the protection of the general public and those trying to use such information. One area where this is common is in the field of computer security. The fine details of how to do an exploit are withheld to stop low-level hackers from simply following a recipe to cause havoc on the internet. We mustn't make it too easy for bad people to do bad things,” Steven shared with Bored Panda.

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#19

The Kindness Of Strangers

The Kindness Of Strangers

MyNameGifOreilly Report

#20

The Bee Lives Less Than 40 Days, Visits At Least 1000 Flowers & Produces Less Than A Teaspoon Of Honey. For Us, It Is Only A Teaspoon Of Honey, But For The Bee, It Is A Life. Thankyou, Bees!

The Bee Lives Less Than 40 Days, Visits At Least 1000 Flowers & Produces Less Than A Teaspoon Of Honey. For Us, It Is Only A Teaspoon Of Honey, But For The Bee, It Is A Life. Thankyou, Bees!

Realistic-Gap1608 Report

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Jo Davies
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The sole reason I have flowering plants in my garden is for these guys. I have put bee watering stations all over so that they don't drown when drinking and in winter, I put watered down syrup out for them.

Commander Ducky
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's awesome! I definitely want to do some research and figure out more ways I can help my bees! They pollinate my garden so the least I can do is plant some more flowers!

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Auntriarch
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mother has a really boring shrub in her garden that she hates and wanted to dig up, but "the bees love it, I can't!"

Casey Ironmonger
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anyone else noticed that there are less and less bees in the garden over the last few years? And the ones that I DO see ... too many of them are crawling around on the concrete, obviously very sick and dying. When I find them like this, I let them crawl onto my finger so I can place them onto a green plant to alleviate the extra burden of being cooked to death on concrete. Oh yeah, just one other thing: if the BEES die ... we ALL die! Think about it!!

May Day
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have noticed bees getting less common. But this summer there are more of them where I live, hooray! 🐝. You can help them: put water for them on a saucer with little stones or marbles in it so they don't drown. Put a lavender plant outside your home, they love that. Or build a bee hotel out of bamboo sticks. Google "bee hotel".

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Something Jay
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The don't choose to do it. They have to. It's programmed in them.

SelkieBlackfysh
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nature flexing on us again lol. One plain, everyday, average bee does and accomplishes more than even the most gifted of humans. How is that fair. 🤣

Barbara Vandewalle
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live within a 5 mile radius of three different bee hive locations. My flowering plants bloom from May through Sept.

May Day
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bees can tell other bees exactly where the food they have found is located. They perform a dance-like movement which tells the other bees the precise distance they have to fly AND the direction in relation to the angle of the sunlight. Bees are super cool!

Luna Crow
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That flower visitation estimate seems low. 25 flowers a day? Have you ever sat and watched them collect? They bee busy!

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#21

Hatuey A Legendary Warrior Of Hispaniola , Who Preferred To Go To Hell Rather Going To Heaven

Hatuey A Legendary Warrior Of Hispaniola , Who Preferred To Go To Hell Rather Going To Heaven

reddit.com Report

"You probably can't stop things from being discovered. If you ban it in one country, another will pursue it to gain a competitive advantage. And if all countries agree on a ban, some curious people will probably continue to work on it," he said that it is very difficult to control the spread of information.

#22

This Amazing Photo Was From A 16 Y/O Girl Who Snuck Her Camera Into A Queen Concert In 1978

This Amazing Photo Was From A 16 Y/O Girl Who Snuck Her Camera Into A Queen Concert In 1978

pietradolce Report

#23

Case Closed

Case Closed

starstufft Report

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#24

Insulin

Insulin

MyNameGifOreilly Report

"In general, I think we should learn about everything about how the world and universe work. It's how that knowledge is applied later on that is debatable," the scientist pointed out that it’s not the information itself, but rather its application, that raises questions about how accessible knowledge should be.

#25

A Strike, But Continues To Do Their Jobs

A Strike, But Continues To Do Their Jobs

networthking Report

#26

Thomas Jefferson’s Sixth Great Grandson Recreates His Photo

Thomas Jefferson’s Sixth Great Grandson Recreates His Photo

brotayto_yt Report

#27

Person Explains Why Astronauts Don't Use Pencils In Space

Person Explains Why Astronauts Don't Use Pencils In Space

Lord-Fizzy Report

According to Steven, humility helps when trying to get closer to the truth. It’s inevitable that we’ll all make some factual mistakes. It’s important to embrace that and move past it.

"Nobody likes to learn they were giving out incorrect information in the past. It hurts, but we have to push through it, accept new facts and work with them. After all, they could lead to the next big breakthrough," he said.

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#28

Douglas Bent Hegdahl

Douglas Bent Hegdahl

RedditorNumber50 Report

#29

Parents In Poland Left Their Baby Strollers In Rail Road Stations For The Ukrainian Moms That Fled Carrying Their Children

Parents In Poland Left Their Baby Strollers In Rail Road Stations For The Ukrainian Moms That Fled Carrying Their Children

reddit.com Report

#30

Daniel Kordan Accidentally Photographed A Meteor While Capturing An Erupting Volcano

Daniel Kordan Accidentally Photographed A Meteor While Capturing An Erupting Volcano

CAP_X Report

"This is constantly happening in science; as new discoveries are made, old discoveries have to be reevaluated," physicist Steven told Bored Panda.

"Try to view the world as a child does. Basically, keep asking 'why?' questions. As you learn the answer to one question, another will arise, and so on. It is a common situation in science that the more we know, the more questions there are. Keep questioning the world around you," he shared how we can keep our curiosity alive.

#31

Astronaut Mark Kelly Once Smuggled A Full Gorilla Suit On Board The International Space Station. He Didn't Tell Anyone About It. One Day, Without Anyone Knowing, He Put It On

Astronaut Mark Kelly Once Smuggled A Full Gorilla Suit On Board The International Space Station. He Didn't Tell Anyone About It. One Day, Without Anyone Knowing, He Put It On

Is_It_Beef Report

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#32

"The Uncensored Library" Is A Huge Minecraft Map Where Anyone Can Read Censored Journalism From Countries Without Freedom Of Press

"The Uncensored Library" Is A Huge Minecraft Map Where Anyone Can Read Censored Journalism From Countries Without Freedom Of Press

frede2702 Report

#33

This Man Took Over 1,000 Children Of Fallen Soldiers To Disneyland Free Of Charge

This Man Took Over 1,000 Children Of Fallen Soldiers To Disneyland Free Of Charge

BOSSBABY33 Report

#34

Woman Can Smell Parkinson’s Disease

Woman Can Smell Parkinson’s Disease

cosmicleslie Report

#35

When A 6.8 Earthquake Hit Olympia, Washington In 2001, A Shop Owner Found That A Sand-Tracing Pendulum Recorded The Vibrations

When A 6.8 Earthquake Hit Olympia, Washington In 2001, A Shop Owner Found That A Sand-Tracing Pendulum Recorded The Vibrations

JustSomeGuy_Idk Report

#36

Joseph Ducreux And His Self Potraits (1700s)

Joseph Ducreux And His Self Potraits (1700s)

_Xyreo_ Report

#37

Nan Britton

Nan Britton

My_Memes_Will_Cure_U Report

#38

Nutmeg, The World's Oldest Cat, Celebrating His 31st Birthday (141 In Human Years)

Nutmeg, The World's Oldest Cat, Celebrating His 31st Birthday (141 In Human Years)

killHACKS Report

#39

Medal Of Honor Recipient Kyle Carpenter Before And After Facial Reconstruction Surgery

Medal Of Honor Recipient Kyle Carpenter Before And After Facial Reconstruction Surgery

RedditorNumber50 Report

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#40

A Local Fisherman In Costa Rica Nursed A Crocodile Back To Health After It Had Been Shot In The Head, And Released The Reptile Back To Its Home. The Next Day, The Man Discovered “Pocho” Had Followed Him Home And Was Sleeping On The Man’s Porch. For 20 Years Pocho Became Part Of The Man’s Family

A Local Fisherman In Costa Rica Nursed A Crocodile Back To Health After It Had Been Shot In The Head, And Released The Reptile Back To Its Home. The Next Day, The Man Discovered “Pocho” Had Followed Him Home And Was Sleeping On The Man’s Porch. For 20 Years Pocho Became Part Of The Man’s Family

gootyy Report

#41

Lawrence Brooks, America's Oldest Living WWII Vet, 110yo

Lawrence Brooks, America's Oldest Living WWII Vet, 110yo

sthenoo Report

#42

This Is Why Your Wear A Helmet

This Is Why Your Wear A Helmet

borzilov Report

#43

After A Local School District Closed, They Parked Their WiFi Equipped School Buses In Areas Where Students Lack Internet, Acting As Free Hotspots

After A Local School District Closed, They Parked Their WiFi Equipped School Buses In Areas Where Students Lack Internet, Acting As Free Hotspots

thenewyorkgod Report

#44

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy After Kyiv Survived A Full On Assault By Russian Forces Tonight, Announces He Is Right Here In The City And Is Not Going Anywhere

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy After Kyiv Survived A Full On Assault By Russian Forces Tonight, Announces He Is Right Here In The City And Is Not Going Anywhere

Translation: “Good morning to everybody. Ukrainians, there is a lot of fake information online regarding myself calling our troops and volunteers to lay down arms and that our army is currently evacuating. I'm here. We won't lay down our arms. We will be defending our country because our weapons are our truth. Our truth is that it is our land, our country, our children and all this will be protected. That is all. This is what I wanted to say. Glory to Ukraine”

-Zepphyrrez- Report

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#45

What A Great Idea

What A Great Idea

reddit.com Report

#46

A Gallery Owner Was Arrested After Leaving A 10-Foot Heroin Spoon Sculpture Outside Oxycontin Maker Purdue Pharma

A Gallery Owner Was Arrested After Leaving A 10-Foot Heroin Spoon Sculpture Outside Oxycontin Maker Purdue Pharma

AmazingScallion Report

#47

This Guy Sounds Dope

This Guy Sounds Dope

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#48

Meme People: Then And Now

Meme People: Then And Now

hyp_0504 Report

#49

Pirate Bay Response To Legal Threats From Dreamworks

Pirate Bay Response To Legal Threats From Dreamworks

Aaradhyaverma Report

#50

Mcdonalds Is Permanently Closing In Russia Here Is My Friend's Stash

Mcdonalds Is Permanently Closing In Russia Here Is My Friend's Stash

noahstemann Report

Note: this post originally had 102 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.