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40 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics)
Learning doesn’t stop the moment you get your diploma. Finishing kindergarten with flying colors? Acing middle school? Graduating high school? Finishing college? Getting your mitts on that coveted PhD that proves you always had it in you? They’re all amazing accomplishments, but they pale in comparison to what matters the most: keeping the spark of curiosity alive as you grow up and get older.
The ‘Today I Learned’ online group on Reddit is a community that celebrates lifelong learning, knowledge, and showing off our collective curiosity about the world. In short, for any Harry Potter fans out there (probably most of you Pandas, right?), it’s probably the most Ravenclaw place on the internet. A whopping 26.3 million fact-loving redditors call it their home and help make the internet a more enlightened place.
We’ve collected some of the most interesting and intriguing facts for you to enjoy today, as featured on TIL. Make sure you’ve got your thinking caps on before scrolling down, Pandas! Upvote your fave facts and don’t forget to share the best ones with your friends. Knowing stuff is great, but it becomes brilliant the moment you share the wisdom with others, whether it’s via social media or at a fancy dinner party.
Author and child independence expert Lenore Skenazy helped Bored Panda understand how to fall in love with learning and how it’s related to the things we’re most interested in. Lenore is the president of Let Grow and the founder of the Free-Range Kids movement. You’ll find her brilliant insights about how we’ve all “narrowed down our idea of what learning” and how “our species is built to learn” below, Pandas, so be sure to read on.
PS—For those of you whose curiosity can’t be sated with just these facts, don’t worry, we’ve got dessert. Take a peek at Bored Panda’s earlier articles about the wonderful TIL community here, here, and here.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
TIL that Curly from "The Three Stooges" saved and rescued more than 5,000 dogs during his lifetime. He used to bring stray dogs home and sheltered them until he found a home for them. When the Stooges was on tour, he found at least one stray dog a new home in every town he visited.
“How do you fall in love with learning? You don’t. You fall in love with something that you love to do— drawing, kicking a ball, playing make-believe, walking in the woods, reading…,” Lenore, the president of Let Grow, told Bored Panda in an interview via email.
“All of those things involve learning. If they didn’t, you’d be bored and you’d stop doing them. Instead, as a kid AND as an adult, you get into something and do it because each time you get a little better, or try a slightly different technique. In a game, you’re ALWAYS thinking and learning because the ball never comes to you in exactly the same way twice. In the woods, there’s always something new to look at, climb or poke. In play, you have to react to the other person. And you pick up a book to fall into another world and learn all about it,” she explained that part of what makes us love certain activities is that we’re constantly improving and learning. Bit by bit.
According to Lenore, we’ve narrowed down what our idea of learning really is. Nowadays, learning is most closely associated with school and formal education, but this goes against the grain of what was true for most of human history. “We think it’s what happens in a classroom, and the proof is on a test. Considering that most humans didn’t even HAVE school till maybe 100 or 200 years ago, that’s very strange. The species had to be smart enough to survive and it did so by learning to farm, raise kids, fish, build boats—you name it. Our species is built to learn. Curiosity and drive turn that superpower on.”
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#2
TIL of an Australian diver who befriended a baby shark. For years afterwards, whenever the shark would see him, she would swim up to him and demand cuddles
#3
TIL alpacas are being used as bodyguards in some turkey farms, since they instinctively accept the birds into their herd and scare off foxes.
Lenore put it simply that in order to fall in love with learning, you have to fall in love with something that’s either interesting to you or essential. “The learning comes automatically,” she said.
I was curious whether keeping our kids surrounded with books at home can be a plus. Lenore noted that we shouldn’t discount other learning resources either. “Having books at home can help a child find new things to fall into—but so does YouTube. Remember: every new technology is distrusted at first,” she pointed out that Socrates hated the idea that people had started writing down ideas instead of memorizing them.
“So yes books are great. But don’t ignore all the skills, hobbies, facts, and new things kids can learn online as well. If you’re worried about the bad stuff, install some filters. But learning from a podcast or DIY video is still LEARNING. Think of all the things you have learned since your formal schooling ended. Learning doesn’t only take place in a classroom or book!” she said.
#4
TIL that even though Henry Heimlich demonstrated his signature maneuver thousands of times throughout his life he never got the chance to use it in an actual emergency until he was 96 when he saved a woman in his nursing home from choking on a burger
#5
TIL Agatha Christie has outsold Stephen King and J.K Rowling combined by about 2 billion books.
#6
TIL James Michael Tyler, who played Gunther the barista on “Friends” was originally meant to only appear as an extra; he remained on the show as he was the only actor there who knew how to operate an espresso machine.
“When kids play without adult intervention (and what is doing a hobby but playing?) they learn all sorts of social-emotional skills we want them to have: Patience, curiosity, frustration-tolerance, focus. At Let Grow we encourage schools to start a Let Grow Play Club before or after school when kids have that crucial time to just figure out how to have fun and make something happen. (Our implementation guide for this is free, too.)” Lenore gave some great advice for school staff.
“Kids need some time to goof up, noodle around, and find their interests. You probably had a chance for all of that when you were young, before we decided that every moment should be ‘teachable’—as in, taught by a wise adult. If you thought you got something from your ‘wasted’ time, please assume your kids will too. Starting now!”
#7
TIL the ancient Egyptians developed the first recorded early pregnancy test, whereby a woman would urinate on a bag of wheat or barley and, if the bag started sprouting, it indicated a pregnancy. In 1963, researchers measured the test as being 70% accurate.
#8
TIL A duet sung by Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson remained unfinished because Mercury walked out of the recording. He couldn’t tolerate Jackson bringing his pet llama into the studio
Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago
Bummer, would have been interesting to hear since both are in my top 5 faves.
#9
TIL David Bowie considered becoming a Buddhist monk, & studied for a few months in 1967 before a Lama told him he should follow music instead. His ashes were scattered in Bali in accordance with Buddhist rituals
A few months back, I reached out to the team at Age UK to understand lifelong learning, keeping our minds sharp and bright, and how we can facilitate it all as we grow older. Age UK is the country’s leading charity that wants to help everyone make the most of later life.
At the core of keeping our minds healthy lies the fact that we need to take the best possible care of our bodies. What’s more, we have to continuously explore new interests and keep ourselves socializing as much as we can.
"Hobbies add color and variety to all our lives so it’s good to help to inspire others to take up new interests. New hobbies and interests can help maintain social connections and reduce feelings of loneliness and it’s a great way to learn new skills. Taking part in social activities may help us to stay sharp in later life,” a representative of Age UK explained to Bored Panda during an interview.
#10
TIL that in 1997, a 50-pound pumpkin was speared atop a tower at Cornell University, 173 feet in the air. It stayed in place for months. Alumni are still trying to figure out who did it without being noticed -- and how.
#11
TIL Hippos sleep underwater even though they breathe air. They automatically close their nostrils and surface to breathe every 3-5 minutes. This all happens unconsciously, even in their sleep.
#12
TIL inventor of the Murphy-Bed, William Lawrence Murphy (1856-1957), created his first hide-away bed as means to convert his one-room apartment into a parlour, specifically to host the company of his future wife. It was considered inappropriate at the time to for a woman to enter a man's bedroom.
"If joining clubs and classes are not an option, or your loved one doesn’t feel ready to start going outside yet, there are still ways to help them engage with new hobbies. Making sure older family members have everything they need to take up or continue hobbies, such as arts and crafts or wool if they are a keen knitter, ingredients if they are a budding chef or even the right tools for DIYing, can help," Age UK detailed how we can help seniors in our own lives stay interested in their hobbies. Having all the materials at hand means it’s more likely that you’ll do the activity you want to instead of putting it off.
"Doing activities together such as the gardening can be a great incentive too, or maybe help them research locally to see if there is a neighborly Book Club dial-in they could join. If your loved one finds it hard to stay physically active, or doesn’t know where to start, take a look at Age UK’s information on keeping active, which has ideas of activities for everyone. Even encouraging older friends and relatives to settle in with a favorite book or audiobook, do some cooking, listen to the radio while doing a puzzle, or tuning in to an afternoon radio play can help emotional wellbeing and mental health,” the Age UK representative explained.
#13
TIL: The aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has a reverse osmosis system capable of producing more than 500 tonnes of fresh, drinkable water from sea water per day.
#14
TIL Switzerland has 7 simultaneous "presidents", each with equal power. Every year they rotate control of 7 federal depts & who acts as "head of state" (e.g. when dealing with other countries). They come from various parties — right now it's 2 conservatives, 2 liberals, 2 socialists, and a centrist
#15
TIL Gordon Ramsay has 16 Michelin Stars. Only two chefs have ever earned more.
Not A Panda 3 years ago
I like how his public persona (with adults) and his real persona are two such different things that I've made friends drop their jaws on the floor when showing his show with kids, or interviews with him. He really does over do the angry chef bit so well people believe it.
"Having a hobby or learning new skills, whatever form they take, is important. And while for many they provide a nice way to spend spare time and an opportunity to interact with friends over a shared pursuit, for those with less social contacts it can give life a real sense of purpose and routine."
We can also exercise our minds by doing mentally stimulating activities. Puzzles and games are great ways to keep our minds sharp while also having a boatload of fun. "If we want our brain to stay in peak condition, we should use it. In fact, one of the theories about reducing or delaying cognitive aging is referred to as the 'use it or lose it' theory. Research shows that things like learning languages helps keep us brighter as we age. It is just as important to look after your brain by exercising your thinking skills, as you would do physical exercise to look after your body."
#16
TIL that when Hattie McDaniel became the first black person to win an Academy Award (for her performance in "Gone with the Wind") in 1940, she was seated at a segregated table at the side of the room
The Scout 3 years ago
Cinematic legend says that only an intervention by her collegues made it possible for her even to be at the ceremony at all. McDaniel's role was much of a cliche, and a racist one at that, but as she pointedly put it: “Why should I complain about making $700 a week playing a maid? If I didn't, I’d be making $7 a week being one.”
#17
TIL In 2019, a potato chip factory in Hong Kong found a World War I grenade in a shipment of French-grown potatoes, just as the potatoes were going through their processing machines.
#18
TIL Swedes have a national weekly eating plan. Thursdays are traditionally pancakes and split pea soup.
Have you picked up something new about growing to love learning keeping your minds active as you grow older, dear Pandas? Which of these TIL facts caught your attention the most? What have you learned recently that you can’t wait to share with everyone else? What’s something new that you literally learned today? For example, just this morning, I relearned something that I’d forgotten for a while: how much I love the sound of my shoes crunching over frosted grass, just as the sun’s coming up. It’s a different kind of knowledge, it’s very personal, but, I think, just as valid.
#19
TIL that Confederate soldier Willis Meadows survived a shot to the eye at the battle of Vicksburg. 58 years later, he randomly almost choked to death in his own home until he coughed up a 1 ounce bullet. It was the same one that lodged into his head years earlier.
#20
TIL researchers were able to predict whether or not a couple will stay together with extreme accuracy based on one partner’s reaction to things that excited the other. For example, if a wife says “look at that beautiful bird” and the husband blows it off, that’s a strong indication they’ll divorce.
Not A Panda 3 years ago
I don't really think you need researchers to understand that if one person "blows off" (i.e. dismisses as unimportant, or even makes fun of it) something the other person finds important or enjoys, that the relationship is going to have issues.
#21
TIL that the Luna Moth only survives 6-7 days once reaching adulthood because it has no mouth and dies of starvation.
#22
TIL Mice do not have a special appetite for cheese, and will eat it only for lack of better options; they actually favor sweet, sugary foods. It is unclear where the myth came from.
#23
TIL Stephen Hawking found his Undergraduate work 'ridiculously easy' to the point where he was able to solve problems without looking at how others did it. Even his examiners realised that "they were talking to someone far cleverer than most of themselves".
#24
TIL that Velociraptors were the size of a turkey in real life, not 2m (6 1⁄2 ft) tall as they were portrayed in Jurassic Park movie.
Elita One 3 years ago
There's actually a dinosaur similar to what the Jurassic Park velociraptors looked like, similar in size too, the Australovenator or Banjo as we Aussies call him. Imagine this thing running you down. AUSTRALOVE...5b544e.jpg 
#25
TIL in 1978 Emilio Palma was the first person born on Antarctica, making them the only currently living person that was the first person born on a continent
#26
TIL the lyrics at the end of 'Sweet Child of Mine' were literal. Axel Rose and his music producer were discussing what to do with the end of the song and Rose started saying to himself "Where do we go? Where do we go now?" The producer suggested singing that and that's how it made it in the song.
#27
TIL Italy, France, and Brazil are not even in the top ten highest consumers of coffee. The Nordic countries dominate coffee consumption and are all within the top ten countries worldwide. Further, Finland (the highest consumer in the world) more than doubles the annual consumption of Italy.
Not A Panda 3 years ago
Well of course. It's cold and dark in Nordic countries. You have to drink coffee to wake up and get going. Warm countries it's much easier to warm up to get going! ;)
#28
TIL that the actor who played Charlie Bucket in the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory never acted again, and grew up to be a veterinarian.
#29
TIL: That most of the fake snow used in the 1980 Movie "The Shining" was repurposed from the ice planet Hoth scenes in "The Empire Strikes Back".
Katie Lutesinger 3 years ago
And the fake snow in The Shawshank Redemption was made from freeze dried potato flakes!
#30
TIL the watch made its migration from the pocket to the wrist during World War I, when soldiers were obligated to attach them to their arms for coordinated attacks, instead of fumbling in their pockets. Before then, the "bracelet watch" had mostly been regarded as a joke and "silly-a*s fad".
#31
TIL Psychologists found that interrogative self-talk, asking yourself a question about a future action increases the likelihood of it happening. For example, rather than saying "I'm going to the gym later." You would say, "Will I go to the gym later?" It triggers more goal-oriented behavior.
#32
TIL Desert sand is effectively useless for construction. Saudi Arabia imports sand from Australia.
#33
TIL that in 2004 at the Smithsonian, Walnut, a rare female White-Naped Crane, fell in love with a zoologist named Chris Crowe, who was able to rear her eggs without Walnut hurting other males. White-Naped Cranes are monogamous and stress easily so Chris must stay until he, or Walnut, dies.
#34
TIL in 1950 airlines didn’t serve alcohol when flying over dry states.
#35
TIL that the transformation of common metals into gold, a seemingly impossible goal attempted by alchemists for centuries, is now entirely possible using either a nuclear reactor or a particle accelerator. However, the process is so expensive that it is functionally useless.
#36
TIL When Assyrian priests saw a bad omen aimed at the King they used a ritual called The Substitute King. A commoner was found to replace the king while he went in hiding. The man lived as the king absorbing the evil spirits. When the omen passed the commoner was killed and the king returned.
#37
TIL the International Space Station is the most expensive thing ever built by humanity at over 150 billion dollars over the course of its construction
#38
TIL that drinking Coca-Cola is prescribed as an effective treatment for certain types of bowel obstructions
Andy Acceber 3 years ago
I've used it to eat through corrosion on my car battery before. I'd assume it could get through a bowel obstruction.
#39
TIL Texas A&M University offers a class on Texas Barbecue that teaches the history of BBQ, cooking methodology, flavorings and seasonings, and different types of BBQ. The class is offered in the fall and is held on Friday afternoons.
#40
TIL about the highly lethal, hallucinogenic and terrifying effects from consuming the attractive flowers of the Brugmansia (aka angel tears) plant, including a documented case of a young man who amputated his own penis and tongue after drinking only one cup of Brugmansia tea
What do you think ?
AzKhaleesi 3 years ago
You must be so fun at parties. Because if you learned it before or after "today" it wouldn't be "today I learned" now would it? Plus pretty sure the people that posted it didn't learn it "today" but YOU did. Because I guarantee you didn't know more than half of this stuff. I know I didn't so therefore, Today I learned..... and also darling, knowledge isn't annoying.
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AzKhaleesi 3 years ago
You must be so fun at parties. Because if you learned it before or after "today" it wouldn't be "today I learned" now would it? Plus pretty sure the people that posted it didn't learn it "today" but YOU did. Because I guarantee you didn't know more than half of this stuff. I know I didn't so therefore, Today I learned..... and also darling, knowledge isn't annoying.
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