“Today I Learned”: 30 Interesting Things About The World That People Didn’t Know Until Recently (New Pics)

Today I Learned, also known as TIL, is the fifth-biggest subreddit. It unites a whopping 30.9 million members, who all go there with a single goal in mind — to enrich each other's understanding of the world.

Sharing interesting facts about human psychology, animal behavior, food history, and pretty much everything else you can imagine, this online community is full of fascinating trivia that has been successfully evading many of us.

Continue scrolling to check out its recent posts, and for more, fire up our older publications on TIL here, here, and here.

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“Today I Learned”: 30 Interesting Things About The World That People Didn’t Know Until Recently (New Pics) TIL that dogs intentionally try to make humans laugh. They understand that laughter means play, and play is positive.

PetLoverGuy1993 , seventyfourimages Report

Final score:

442points

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Cyber Returns 1 year ago

Like my pup Cleo. She likes to do silly things. Here she is trying to go to bed but not quite making it An-attempt...50a13b.jpg

37points

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“Today I Learned”: 30 Interesting Things About The World That People Didn’t Know Until Recently (New Pics) TIL Jonathan Goldsmith, AKA The Most Interesting Man in the World from the Dos Equis commercials, has been an advocate for landmine victim support, has assisted the effort to prevent and cure cancer in dogs, save the Siberian Tiger, and end child sex trafficking in Cambodia.

meep_launcher , Toglenn Report

Final score:

434points

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Rae Ramirez 1 year ago

So he really is an awesome person??? This made my day

202points

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“Today I Learned”: 30 Interesting Things About The World That People Didn’t Know Until Recently (New Pics) TIL Japan has a 'wind phone'. An unconnected phone booth where grieving relatives go to 'talk' to their lost loved ones. Opened after the 2011 Fukushima earthquake/tsunami, it has seen over 30,000 visitors.

Standard-Assist-5793 , Matthew Komatsu Report

Final score:

428points

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~blobcow 1 year ago

aww thats so thoughtful

92points

blobby_grrl 1 year ago

Hello fellow blobby…😋

2points

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Mark Fuller 1 year ago

I think that's such a beautiful idea.

18points

Ariom Dahl 1 year ago

Yes, Laura Imai Messina wrote a (fiction) book about this, called The Phone Box at the Edge of the World.

13points

Peppy 1 year ago

I really want to visit Japan, it’s such an amazing place

10points

Chintan Shah 1 year ago (edited)

I saw this in a Netflix series "earthstorms" I think so. Very fascinating piece about earthquakes. It made me cry when they talked about this and to see the people who have lost loved ones. Still got a tear thinking about this..

8points

Ambersaurus 1 year ago

There's a great episode of a podcast called This American Life about this phone booth. You can hear the stories of people visiting. It's heartbreaking and beautiful

6points

I'm.Just.A.Girl 1 year ago

This is an amazing addition. I would definitely use it

6points

Thegoodboi 1 year ago

I'd love to visit it to talk to my dad!

4points

2WheelTravlr 1 year ago

After my husband died, I visited cemeteries. Some friends thought it was weird, but it allowed me to grieve in public without looking like a crazy person, plus reading the gravestones showed me hints of lives that were much more difficult than mine ever was or ever will be.

2points

Awkward Lady 1 year ago

The Japanese are so thoughtful, it's a wonderful country to visit!

2points

Matthew Lindeman 1 year ago

That’s a great idea! Unless someone responds…..

2points

The Milk In Your Fridge 1 year ago

petition to have this everywhere in the world

1point

WonkyWeasel 1 year ago

What a wonderful idea, I'd be in there for hours chatting to my grandmother

1point

Cheryl Lohr 1 year ago

Just watching videos of the March 2011 tsunami that hit Japan makes you understand why they might feel the need to talk to someone that died because of that.

1point

LokisLilButterknife 1 year ago

This is both heart-achingly sad and incredibly kind-hearted.

1point

MonicaChicagoGal 1 year ago

That is so wonderful 💖

1point

Jo Davies 1 year ago

That's beautiful!

1point

Andrea Willett 1 year ago

Wow that is truly beautiful

0points

Francis Fischer 1 year ago

Heartbreaking!!

0points

Ozymandias73 1 year ago

Once Upon A Time had something similar in the latter part of season 6.

0points

Aisling O'Grady Hills 1 year ago

There was a podcast about this...I think it was on Love and Radio.

0points

Panda Mona 1 year ago

a beautiful film about it (in german) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRA5UeK59F8&t=352s

0points

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“Today I Learned”: 30 Interesting Things About The World That People Didn’t Know Until Recently (New Pics) TIL The average life span of a pet cat has risen from seven years in the early 1980s to fifteen years as of 2021.

haddock420 , viki2win Report

Final score:

411points

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Anyone-for-tea? 1 year ago

Purrfect! 😻

103points

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“Today I Learned”: 30 Interesting Things About The World That People Didn’t Know Until Recently (New Pics) TIL in 1915 a pharmacist saw his sister make her own mascara with coal and petroleum jelly and thought he could make a better product. His invention was easier to apply and won't burn a woman's eye. He named his new company Maybelline after his sister Maybel and the base material Vaseline.

shaka_sulu , Maybelline Report

Final score:

401points

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Abrufal 1 year ago

What I read was guys sister invents modern mascara guy steals idea and gets rich. It's okay though cause he used her name.......I did 0 research if it turns out his sister got rich also awesome

14points

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“Today I Learned”: 30 Interesting Things About The World That People Didn’t Know Until Recently (New Pics) TIL Environmental activist Julia “Butterfly” Hill lived in a 1500-year-old California redwood tree (known as Luna) 180 feet (55 m) off the ground for 738 days in order to prevent it from being chopped down by Pacific Lumber Company. She successfully saved the tree.

PyrowithJared , Shaun Walker Report

Final score:

391points

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Got hacked lol 1 year ago

not all heroes wear capes

110points

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“Today I Learned”: 30 Interesting Things About The World That People Didn’t Know Until Recently (New Pics) TIL about Third Man Syndrome. An unseen presence reported by mountain climbers and explorers during traumatic survival situations that talks to the victim, gives practical advise and encouragement.

my__name__is , McKay Savage Report

Final score:

325points

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Anyone-for-tea? 1 year ago

I wish there was an everyday version of this!

198points

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TIL that elephant poaching has steadily decreased in certain African countries causing elephant populations to slowly begin rising.

IanMazgelis Report

Final score:

323points

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censorshipsucks 1 year ago

We've also seen shortening of tusks which we believe has to do with short tusks being undesirable to poachers.

128points

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“Today I Learned”: 30 Interesting Things About The World That People Didn’t Know Until Recently (New Pics) TIL that Sea Urchins are called Sea Urchins because Hedgehogs used to be called Urchins until about the 15th century. Sea Urchins are Ocean Hedgehogs.

visiblecustomer2021 , www.quirkbooks.com Report

Final score:

301points

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waddles 1 year ago

that makes sea urchins sound really adorable

95points

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#10

“Today I Learned”: 30 Interesting Things About The World That People Didn’t Know Until Recently (New Pics) TIL that domestic dogs have developed muscles in there brow to "mimic" humans.

Doomncandy , StudioVK Report

Final score:

283points

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Mickysixxx 1 year ago

Or we've selectively bred the ones that could move their eyebrows because we consider them cuter and as a result they now have the muscle rather than they developed it to mimic us

112points

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#11

TIL Crows are a highly intelligent species, which are self-aware just like humans. They are as smart as Gorillas and have a complex brain which has the ability to reason.

DueDoughnut7842 Report

Final score:

276points

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ISeeWendiGo 1 year ago

There's 3 in my neighborhood that I feed. If I'm gone before I feed them in the morning they will sit in a tree at the main road so they can spot my vehicle turning into our road. They will follow me home and patiently wait for about 30 minutes in the backyard for their food. If it's longer than that, one will sit on the deck and tap on my sliding door and caw until he sees me coming out. Visitors think it's hilarious, and they are cute! I named them Poe, Lenore, and Nevermore, what else?

271points

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#12

TIL that in The Shawshank Redemption, when Morgan Freeman’s character is asked “why do they call you Red?” and he responds with “maybe it’s because I’m Irish”. It’s because the character in the novel was a red haired Irish man. They cast Freeman for the part but added the line as a joke.

lettuceandcucumber Report

Final score:

258points

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Guido Pisano 1 year ago

he's was perfect btw

80points

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#13

“Today I Learned”: 30 Interesting Things About The World That People Didn’t Know Until Recently (New Pics) TIL that in 1554 Elizabeth Crofts hid in a wall on Aldersgate Street, where she pretended to be a heavenly voice. Reputedly 17,000 people came to listen to her give out anti-Catholic propaganda.

Kurma-the-Turtle , Ethan Doyle White Report

Final score:

246points

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waddles 1 year ago

so, if i simply hide in a wall, people will listen to anything i say? FANTASTIC

146points

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#14

“Today I Learned”: 30 Interesting Things About The World That People Didn’t Know Until Recently (New Pics) TIL mixed-breed dogs live an average of 14 years while purebreds live only an average of almost 10 years.

Splashlight2 , Christopher_Boswell Report

Final score:

240points

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Jill Rhodry 1 year ago

It also depends on the size of the breed of dog - a great dane averages 8-10 years whereas a chihuahua 12-18 years.

97points

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#15

TIL that the world's largest rodent "Capybara" are so chill to the point that they can form an unlikely friendship with crocodiles.

Lets_Earn26 Report

Final score:

237points

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Renee Kamphuys 1 year ago

Capybaras are friend-shaped

218points

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#16

“Today I Learned”: 30 Interesting Things About The World That People Didn’t Know Until Recently (New Pics) TIL Willie O'Ree, the first black man to play in the NHL, was blind in one eye. It was caused by a ricocheting puck that hit him in the face when he was 18 and he kept it a secret for his entire 21-year career.

PyrowithJared , Eric Connolly Report

Final score:

235points

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RenRenRan 1 year ago

Does anyone know if the fact that he was blind in one eye would have disqualified him from being in the NHL? ?

55points

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Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

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#17

TIL that New York City is reintroducing millions of oysters into their harbor to help clean the water and create marine habitats. They've been collecting used shells from local restaurants to create new homes for juvenile oysters.

Rexton9 Report

Final score:

226points

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Mark Mark 1 year ago

There's an American city (forgot which one) that uses mussels to gauge water cleanliness. Mussels will only filter clean water, so if there's a contamination the mussels will close their shells and the water will be shut off until its rectified.

69points

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#18

TIL the Higgs-Boson Particle, aka "the God Particle", was actually called "the Goddamn Particle" by physicists because it was so difficult to detect. Publishers forced the rename, resulting in a confusing tie to religion for the particle which is nearly universally hated by physicists.

whozitsandwhatsits Report

Final score:

213points

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censorshipsucks 1 year ago

The God particle - you can't have Mass without it.

237points

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#19

“Today I Learned”: 30 Interesting Things About The World That People Didn’t Know Until Recently (New Pics) TIL - The Middle Ages had retirement homes, where seniors could buy residence for the rest of their lives at a monastery with food, shelter and clothing included.

fencerman , monkeybusiness Report

Final score:

209points

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Rae Ramirez 1 year ago

This should always be a thing, but in about 10 years, it’s going to be bad in America

55points

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#20

“Today I Learned”: 30 Interesting Things About The World That People Didn’t Know Until Recently (New Pics) TIL That in 1941, USS New York opened fire on an object, believing it to be a japanese aircraft. Fire commenced until a navigator realized they were shooting at Venus.

daesereg , www.pacificwarmuseum.org Report

Final score:

202points

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Tucker Cahooter 1 year ago

Did the commanding officer claim that they hit it?

56points

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Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

#21

“Today I Learned”: 30 Interesting Things About The World That People Didn’t Know Until Recently (New Pics) TIL when an American film has more than one writer, an "&" indicates that the screenwriters collaborated on the script. An "and" means they worked independently on separate drafts.

griefofwant , Alex_star Report

Final score:

191points

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Nicola Roberts 1 year ago

et al means 'and others' in text books. I wonder why they can't say what it means. That way you wouldn't need to learn what all the coded language meant.

11points

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#22

TIL a “ferocious rabbit” ran amok in Central Park in 1917. He terrorized the sheep in Sheep Meadow, maimed dogs, and fought an orangutan in the zoo.

cy_ko8 Report

Final score:

189points

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Chocolate llama 1 year ago

they should've gotten the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch

290points

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#23

TIL Wolfgang Mozart had a sister, Maria Anna, who was also an extremely talented child prodigy in music. Sadly, she was prevented from performing as an adult. Many of her compositions have been lost, including one Wolfgang wrote that he was in ‘awe’ of, contributing to her obscurity.

madhatter103 Report

Final score:

187points

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Nicola Roberts 1 year ago

I wonder why Maria Anna was prevented to perform? Whatever the reason I'd be surprised if it was for her own good.

39points

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#24

TIL In 1941 The Germans allowed the British RAF to drop a prosthetic leg by parachute to a Luftwaffe base in France. The Germans were very respectful of Captain Douglas Bader, who was captured after bailing from his plane with only one of his two prosthetic legs. One got stuck in his damaged plane.

aim179 Report

Final score:

186points

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Ariom Dahl 1 year ago

His story is told in 'Reach for the Sky'.

47points

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#25

“Today I Learned”: 30 Interesting Things About The World That People Didn’t Know Until Recently (New Pics) TIL about the thymus, a small (1 oz.) organ behind the sternum that trains new white blood cells to NOT attack the body's own cells. Only 2% survive this rigorous training program; the rest commit suicide to prevent themselves from attacking friendly cells.

Iestwyn , en.wikipedia.org Report

Final score:

185points

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Stardust she/her 1 year ago (edited)

This kind of makes me want to write a fanfic about the immune system. It’s so interesting to me

25points

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#26

“Today I Learned”: 30 Interesting Things About The World That People Didn’t Know Until Recently (New Pics) TIL about hysterical strength, a display of extreme physical strength by humans, beyond what is believed to be normal. Examples include a woman saved several children by fighting a polar bear and a woman lifting a car high enough to save a person.

Paesano19 , ivanmorenosl Report

Final score:

181points

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TotallyNOTaFox 1 year ago (edited)

Our brain limits us from using our maximum strength to prevent bone and muscle damages, in a life or death situation that limit often gets lifted

171points

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#27

TIL Founding Father and author of the Bill of Rights James Madison stopped the Virginia Assembly from establishing Christianity as the state religion with the help of Thomas Jefferson.

Dvibs420 Report

Final score:

181points

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Atero 1 year ago

And now we need further push to get religion out of the politics entirely... Doesn't matter which idol you worship - your personal believes should not affect lives and behavior of other people.

187points

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#28

TIL that the writers on Futurama created and proved a new mathematical theorem as a plot point for a body-switching episode.

rarelyapropos Report

Final score:

177points

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NickTheDuck 1 year ago

i hate math

24points

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#29

“Today I Learned”: 30 Interesting Things About The World That People Didn’t Know Until Recently (New Pics) TIL in the 1800’s bananas were seen as “immoral fruit” because of their shape. Fruit companies began issuing postcards of women eating bananas to advertise the fruit wasn’t taboo.

mmmyesplease--- , Queensland State Archives Report

Final score:

154points

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Lilla Ontherun 1 year ago

The only acceptable way to me to eat a banana in my male friends company is to break it half at first. Looking at their face during it is priceless.

131points

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#30

“Today I Learned”: 30 Interesting Things About The World That People Didn’t Know Until Recently (New Pics) TIL On PC/console games, about 60% of the female avatars you meet are played by a male player.