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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.
#1
TIL, The Netherlands gives Canada 20,000 tulips every year as a thank you for protecting the Dutch royal family in ww2
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
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#2
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.
#3
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.
Luther von Wolfen 3 years ago
The happiest people I know have no self-awareness whatsoever. They're also sociopaths.
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.
#4
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.
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'.
#5
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.
Suzy the observer 3 years ago
I read the WP article about them. Mengele was a monster who never admitted any wrongdoings. Pure evil.
#6
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.
“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.”
#7
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
#8
TIL, that Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Queen's tribute for Elvis, took Freddie Mercury 10 minutes to write while taking a bath
#9
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.
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
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.
#11
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.
#12
TIL there is a herd of wild zebras in central California that can be seen off of Route 1 near San Simeon.
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
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.
#14
TIL - Ben and Jerry's has a physical graveyard that they retire old flavors to, and you can actually go visit it.
#15
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.
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
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.
#17
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.
#18
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.
#19
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.
Michelle M 3 years ago
It happened in Singapore and was for the separation of female conjoined twins.
#20
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.
#21
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.
#22
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.
#23
TIL that Vermont ambulances stock maple syrup for 'oral glucose' administration.
#24
TIL Due to casino distributions, every Seminole Indian child born is a multi millionaire when they turn 18 years old.
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.
#25
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.
#26
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.
#27
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
#28
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.)
#29
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
#30
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
#31
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.
Sue Hazlewood 3 years ago
Tax dodging corporations are nasty. Also makes you wonder what is in the chips.
#32
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.
#33
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.
#34
TIL Krabby Patty is a veggie burger, as he series' creator, Stephen Hillenburg, expressly stated that the patties do not contain any meat.
Beck(formerly Becca/Gizmo sq) 3 years ago
I mean it makes sense. How would they get a cow down there?
#35
TIL that despite not existing for the past 30 years, the Soviet Union still holds the most Olympic gold medals for wrestling.
What do you think ?
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
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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
Kendra Miller 3 years ago
P.s. I will look up my sources if anyone wants.
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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
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
Load More Replies... 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
Kendra Miller 3 years ago
P.s. I will look up my sources if anyone wants.
Load More Replies... 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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