35 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics)

The day can be gloomy, hard, long, or totally irrelevant, but if you can learn something on that day, even the simplest fact, then your day is complete. And there’s no better place to do that than our beloved corner of Reddit, the ‘Today I Learned’ community that has people sharing interesting things they learned on the internet.

And keeping in mind what a vast place this world wide web actually is, there’s always something new to discover! Some things are totally useless yet eyebrow-raising, others are seriously game-changing, so there’s a little for everyone to get their brain cells in shape.

Scroll down, upvote your favorites, and be sure to check our previous TIL posts here, here, and here.

This post may include affiliate links.

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL, The Netherlands gives Canada 20,000 tulips every year as a thank you for protecting the Dutch royal family in ww2

Jasian1001 , Andrew Scheer Report

Final score:

358points

POST

Bobert Robertson 3 years ago

As a Canadian man who's wife loves tulips, I think I end up buying about 10% of these every year

30points

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35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (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.

theonewithBacon , Nhobgood Report

Final score:

341points

POST

trulli 3 years ago

They still are in German: Seeigel 😜

106points

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35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL the self-absorption paradox asserts that the more self-aware we are, the less likely we are to make social mistakes, but the more likely we are to torture ourselves over past mistakes. High self-awareness leads to more psychological distress.

SonOfQuora , Anna Shvets Report

Final score:

334points

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Luther von Wolfen 3 years ago

The happiest people I know have no self-awareness whatsoever. They're also sociopaths.

243points

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In the midst of everyday life, it often seems like there's not enough time for learning new things, taking up a new hobby, or doing something outside your comfort zone. But staying curious about new things may open up new horizons for all of us.

So to find out more about curiosity and how we can all become better at learning new things every day, Bored Panda spoke with Helen Marlo, a licensed clinical psychologist and Jungian psychoanalyst who provides psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, and consultation. Helen is also a Professor of Clinical Psychology and the Department Chair at Notre Dame de Namur University.

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that tigers are nearly invisible to their prey, who see orange as green. Tigers are orange because mammals can’t produce green fur, and orange was the next best thing.

Iwantmorelife , Bernard Spragg Report

Final score:

326points

POST

Downunderdude 3 years ago

Next best thing? 'I'll have green fur, please' 'Nope, sorry we don't do green fur' 'Oh bugger. Well, I suppose orange, then'.

180points

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35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL of the Ovitz family, not only the largest family of dwarfs ever recorded but also the largest family (12 people ranging from a 15-month-old baby to a 58-year-old woman) to enter Auschwitz and survive intact.

lighted_is_lit , imdb Report

Final score:

301points

POST

Suzy the observer 3 years ago

I read the WP article about them. Mengele was a monster who never admitted any wrongdoings. Pure evil.

21points

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35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Sir Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web in 1989. He was frustrated with the fact that he had to go and ask his coworkers what data was on their computer so he can add it to his computer which led to him creating an application that became the world wide Web.

somnifacientsawyer , ITU Pictures Report

Final score:

260points

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Crazy Dog Lady 3 years ago

That's a weird pic of Al Gore. ;)

106points

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“It helps to understand what messages we have internalized about curiosity as well as the responses received from others when we express curiosity. For example, many internalize that being curious means they “do not know something” or are not intelligent. That inhibits curiosity and its negative effects are compounded because it limits further learning,” Helen explained.

She continued: “Similarly, curiosity can diminish when others respond with judgment, criticism, rejection, or shame rather than encouragement, wonder, openness, and affirmation.”

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that Tupac Shakur renamed his publishing company name from "Ghetto Gospel Music" to "Joshua’s Dream" after meeting with 11-year old Joshua Torres with muscular dystrophy who died 45 minutes after Tupac left his bedside

Sno0pyBo0 , ballislife Report

Final score:

256points

POST

Watching 3 years ago

Rip to both.

94points

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35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL, that Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Queen's tribute for Elvis, took Freddie Mercury 10 minutes to write while taking a bath

Darkness4923 Report

Final score:

253points

POST

2x4b523p 3 years ago

The most creative thing I've ever done in a bath was winning imaginary argument

18points

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35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that in India, there is a species of giant squirrel that have multicoloured fur, with with varying shades of orange, maroon and purple. Their bodies measure 36in from head to tail – double the size of their grey relatives – and they can leap 20ft between trees.

Alolan_Teddiursa , VinodBhattu Report

Final score:

231points

POST

Kari Panda 3 years ago

Indian Giant Squirrel. They’re beautiful :)

4points

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According to the clinical psychologist, research suggests that “individuals who feel secure in relationships are more likely to feel and express curiosity including feeling free and confident to explore others’ viewpoints; pursue a new hobby, or learn a new subject area.”

Among many new things we can learn every day, language is one of the most beneficial ones. Helen explained that learning a new language has many benefits including improving cultural awareness and increasing empathy.

#10

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL two high school students found that despite advertising claims that “the blackcurrants in Ribena have four times the vitamin C of oranges,” the drink contained almost no trace of vitamin C and one orange juice brand had over three times more. The company were taken to court and fined NZ$217,500.

Str33twise84 , Melaneas Report

Final score:

229points

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KJ 3 years ago

Ribena's reply was apparently "and I would have gotten away with it too, If it weren't for you meddling kids!"

204points

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#11

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that cigarette filters were designed with color-changing chemicals to give the illusion that they filter out toxins. In reality, the filters have little to no health benefits.

gnulynnux , Akroti Report

Final score:

228points

POST

Eppe 3 years ago

How does the tobacco industry still exist?

174points

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#12

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL there is a herd of wild zebras in central California that can be seen off of Route 1 near San Simeon.

Platographer , Linda Tanner Report

Final score:

219points

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Otter 3 years ago

Are they escapees from the Hearst Castle private zoo, by any chance? Because that's why there are feral hippos in Columbia, an abandoned private zoo.

78points

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You may also hear that learning languages has the ability to prevent diseases like dementia, but Helen warns that data on that is mixed. “However, very generally speaking, there is a “use it or lose it” principle when it comes to our brain health. We are less likely to “lose it” when we “use it,” she explained.

#13

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL about a New Jersey history professor who was telling a story to his class about how a ranger saved his life in a canyon at night in Texas in 1940. The ranger had managed to track him down and coincidentally walked in to the classroom right as the professor was telling the story.

CanadianW , Laird Funeral Home Report

Final score:

210points

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Christopher Walkies 3 years ago

Was the professor's name Indiana Jones?

74points

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#14

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL - Ben and Jerry's has a physical graveyard that they retire old flavors to, and you can actually go visit it.

Chr0nos1 , Jimmy Emerson, DVM Report

Final score:

210points

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Eppe 3 years ago

Pear flavoured ice cream sounds good. But not as good as any flavour with chocolate in it.

63points

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#15

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL some people suffer a "weekend migraine" or "let-down headache" on weekends (or other break from a 9-to-5 weekday job) due to a decrease in stress.

tense_n_nervous Report

Final score:

204points

POST

Steve 3 years ago

wait, what? So THAT'S why I get kick-ass migraine attacks at the weekend? And the way to cure it is to get MORE stressed at the weekend? Right, who designed the Human Body? I want to make a formal complaint...

25points

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Moreover, “engaging in learning, especially something new like a language, that stretches our minds can stimulate and support brain activity which can support brain health.” Helen said and added that “research supports that learning and keeping our brains active can help slow the progression of cognitive decline as seen in dementia,” she concluded.

#16

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL of Tullimonstrum Gregarium, aka the Tully Monster. An animal so strange, that despite having thousands of fossils, we don’t know whether it was a vertebrate or an invertebrate. To add to the strangeness, fossils of this creature have only been found in one fossil site in the world.

xSparkyBoomManx , Nobu Tamura Report

Final score:

196points

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Kari Panda 3 years ago

That looks like a kid made up a fantasy animal :O

109points

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#17

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Harrison Ford was frozen in The Empire Strikes Back because, unlike Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill, Ford had only signed on for two films. After the success of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Lucas didn't think Ford would return for the 3rd Star Wars film, but left him frozen just in case.

wjbc Report

Final score:

184points

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Woltax 3 years ago

Clever😁👍🏻 And now iconic.😎

56points

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#18

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that the vampires were not inspired by bats. Bloodsucking bats were only discovered in Latin America in the 16th century, while the earliests vampires stories were from 12th century Europe.

Ptcruz , George Hodan Report

Final score:

184points

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Kira Okah 3 years ago

Vampire stuff stemmed from differences in understanding of decomposition and probably premature burials

82points

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#19

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL the longest surgery ever recorded was performed in 2001 by a team of 20 doctors; it took 103 hours (more than four days) to complete.

electricmaster23 , Vidal Balielo Jr. Report

Final score:

179points

POST

Michelle M 3 years ago

It happened in Singapore and was for the separation of female conjoined twins.

280points

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#20

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that due to the fact that they spend the majority of their lives on sea ice, polar bears are classified as marine mammals, like dolphins, seals, and whales.

derstherower , Alan Wilson Report

Final score:

175points

POST

Mazer 3 years ago

Polar bears do very well in the water, will swim for hours and go miles off shore.

38points

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See Also on Bored Panda

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

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

#21

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL the most powerful commercial radio station ever was WLW (700KHz AM), which during certain times in the 1930s broadcasted 500kW radiated power. At night, it covered half the globe. Neighbors within the vicinity of the transmitter heard the audio in their pots, pans, and mattresses.

PlatinumAero , Joanna Poe Report

Final score:

173points

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Downunderdude 3 years ago

And tooth fillings, probably.

86points

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#22

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Purkinje Effect. Which states that as the lights dim, our eyes get more sensitive towards blue end of the spectrum. This is the reason why in movie theaters, chairs are usually red. In low light, red is the first color the human eye loses sight of, hence enhancing our viewing experience.

mandlebrot235813 , prateekvjoshi Report

Final score:

172points

POST

Woltax 3 years ago

Oh, and I always thought it‘s all about design issues.😅

26points

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#23

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that Vermont ambulances stock maple syrup for 'oral glucose' administration.

Jxntb733 , Jxntb733 Report

Final score:

167points

POST

Auntriarch 3 years ago

My mother must never hear about this

77points

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#24

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Due to casino distributions, every Seminole Indian child born is a multi millionaire when they turn 18 years old.

joecooool418 , picryl Report

Final score:

162points

POST

Watching 3 years ago

As a Native American although not from this tribe I'd like to say: the sad thing is these children are brought up with this money and they turn out to be absolutely nothing but drug addicts and alcoholics. Having money of that kind is not good for someone that just turned 18 years old.

147points

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See Also on Bored Panda

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

#25

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL about two Irish boys aged 13 and 10 who in 1985 ended up in New York after sneaking onto a train and a ferry in Dublin, a train to Heathrow, and a flight to JFK, all without being caught.

katdicko , 3219702288063048 Report

Final score:

157points

POST

KJ 3 years ago

and now you can't take more than 100ml of a fluid onto a flight, slight upgrade in security.

62points

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#26

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that the Concorde airplane flew so fast, if you left London (or Paris) in the evening flying west towards New York, to the passengers in the plane, the sun would actually appear to begin rising again shortly after reaching cruising speed. The plane flew faster than the Earth's rotation.

PlatinumAer0 , Eduard Marmet Report

Final score:

154points

POST

Downunderdude 3 years ago

Dinner in Paris, lunch in New York, luggage in Uganda.

226points

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#27

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL In the original ending to "Pretty Woman", Richard Gere's character throws Julia Roberts character out of his limo in a dirty alley and tosses $3,000 on top of her

New_Particular7075 Report

Final score:

141points

POST

mph seti 3 years ago

Would have been a much more realistic ending.

158points

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#28

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL it took 4 people only 4 days to replicate a typical 2.5 tonne Block of the Great Pyramid, using the same tools found in an abandoned ancient quarry (copper chisels, wooden mallets, etc.)

BetaKeyTakeaway , Mgiganteus1 Report

Final score:

141points

POST

Chris Wade 3 years ago

Copper chisels? Damn those must wear out quick

56points

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See Also on Bored Panda

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

#29

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL there's a mineral element (Promethium) so rare that it's estimated there are 500-600 grams of it in the Earth's crust

Soft-Problem , Lanthanum-138 Report

Final score:

135points

POST

Colin Matthews 3 years ago

Freaky. Only a few thousand atoms of Francium on earth

31points

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#30

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Titan is the only moon in the solar system with a thick atmosphere and the only world other than Earth that has surface liquid in the form of lakes, rivers and oceans

svetambara , NASA Report

Final score:

132points

POST

Robert T 3 years ago

Yes, lakes of liquid methane. Lovely.

8points

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#31

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Procter & Gamble argued for years that Pringles were NOT potato chips, but Britain’s Supreme Court of Judicature ultimately determined that they were -- requiring Procter & Gamble to pay $160 million in taxes.

sisyphushaditsoeasy , goiwara Report

Final score:

131points

POST

Sue Hazlewood 3 years ago

Tax dodging corporations are nasty. Also makes you wonder what is in the chips.

63points

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#32

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Cyprus was going to host the first particle accelerator in the Middle East, but ministers chose to spend the money on hosting the Miss Universe pageant instead.

mrcchapman , Miss Universe Report

Final score:

130points

POST

Jon S. 3 years ago

Never previously thought of Cyprus as being in the middle east

16points

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See Also on Bored Panda

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

#33

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that the Sun is 99.86% of all mass in our solar system. Every other planet, asteroid, and comet only adds up to 7/50th of a single percent.

Katiari , NASA Report

Final score:

130points

POST

chi-wei shen 3 years ago

...and some 70% of this 0.14% is Jupiter.

49points

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#34

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Krabby Patty is a veggie burger, as he series' creator, Stephen Hillenburg, expressly stated that the patties do not contain any meat.

Super_ACF Report

Final score:

112points

POST

Beck(formerly Becca/Gizmo sq) 3 years ago

I mean it makes sense. How would they get a cow down there?

10points

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#35

35 'Today I Learned' Facts That Show It's Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that despite not existing for the past 30 years, the Soviet Union still holds the most Olympic gold medals for wrestling.

disc2k , The U.S. National Archives Report

Final score:

109points

POST

KJ 3 years ago

Totally drug free, honest.

88points

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Note: this post originally had 49 images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.

What do you think ?

thefaithfulspouse 3 years ago

Everyone of these is coming from the QI game show.

7points

Lauren Caswell 3 years ago

Oh QI is great! I didn't think they could replace Stephen fry when he left, but Sandy toksvig is brilliant

9points

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Rob Woodman 3 years ago

Sandy is never brilliant. She destroyed every time team she appeared in with her utter ignorance and harpy voice.

0points

Kendra Miller 3 years ago

I learned that there is a bacteria? Parasite? That exists naturally in swamps. This bacteria pretty much kills off most frog populations when it infects a new swamp. This bacteria was shipped around the world by us, because we used frogs as pregnancy test, e.g. a suspected pregnant woman would pee on a frog to find out if she was pregnant. So yay for the invention of the modern pregnancy test, but unfortunately most frog populations are still slowly disappearing as a result. Bonus downer, frogs are supposed to ribbit in sync in order to make themselves sound bigger than they are and to make sure predators can't pick them out of the crowd. When their rhythm is disrupted by a loud noise like a car passing it can take hours for them to get in sync again. In the mean time a few have been picked off. TT

3points

P.s. I will look up my sources if anyone wants.

jpaul 3 years ago

here's my contribution. the french word for fox was goupil until the 19th century. when the book 'le roman de renart' (the novel of renart) came out the book which had a fox hero called renart in it became so popular that the french decided to adopt the word renart instead of goupil. renart being a super sly hero in the book. with time it turned to renard with a D, actual french word for fox

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35 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics)

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