164dD TIL that after WWII, the US granted immunity to members of Japan's Unit 731, who conducted human experimentation and torture, in exchange for their warfare biological data.
oR0XA TIL There are entire floating neighborhoods in the swamplands of Louisiana that used to house thousands of people before their populations started to dwindle in the twentieth century
dDgb7 TIL that Dante Alighieri only met the real-life Beatrice twice in his life.
KY1PJ TIL: The pigment in the iris of your eye can rub off and break free. This is called Pigment Dispersion Syndrome. The pigment granules can then block fluid flow inside your eye, which can lead to increased eye pressure. For about 10-35% of those with the condition, it results in a form of glaucoma.
a8byN TIL that of the 45 persons who have served as president of the United States, at least half of them were/are multilingual.
Zpb1v TIL at the premiere of Beethoven’s 3rd Piano Concerto, his designated page turner discovered that the score he was turning was almost entirely blank. The concerto was still a work in progress even during its premiere, so Beethoven memorized his entire solo part and played them all from memory.
786vM TIL that the domestic cat (Felis catus) is included in the list of "100 of the World's Worst Invasive Species" published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature
kJbR5 TIL animals in cold climate have hollow hair and trap air for insulation...
Eg7wo TIL that the CIA ran a secret program called Project Stargate from the 1970s to the 1990s to study “remote viewing” for intelligence purposes, before officially shutting it down in 1995
Y7box TIL of Bohemian Grove, a heavily guarded private forest retreat where powerful politicians, CEOs, and global elites gather each year for secretive ceremonies, including a nighttime ritual before a massive stone owl.
BgY5y TIL that despite being a Muslim theocracy, Iran is the country with the second-most sexual reassignment surgeries every year, with only Thailand ahead of it. This is due to the government’s position that transitioning can “correct” homosexuality by making one partner the opposite gender.
rNbPd TIL the Stephen Sondheim musical "The Frogs" premiered at the Yale University swimming pool 30 years before it opened on Broadway. The ensemble cast included Yale students Meryl Streep and Sigourney Weaver.