Today I learned yesterday

TIL that Burmese pythons have a compound, pTOS, in their blood that increases more than 1000-fold after a meal. When pTOS was given to obese mice they lost 9% of their body weight after 28 days. This suggests pTOS could pave the way for new anti-obesity drugs. https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-026-01485-0 #til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1ry64l9/til_that_burmese_pythons_have_a_compound_ptos_in/

Today I learned 2 weeks ago

TIL that as of February 2026, Starlink has officially hit the 10,000-satellite milestone, making up 65% of all active satellites. Scientists warn that a single major solar storm could knock out their navigation and trigger a "Kessler Syndrome" chain reaction, trapping humanity on Earth.

Starlink deploys 500th satellite of 2026

SpaceX launched its 500th Starlink satellite of the year during a flight from Vandenberg Space Force Base on February 25th. The Falcon 9 rocket car...

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1rhoa8l/til_that_as_of_february_2026_starlink_has/

Today I learned 2 weeks ago

TIL the room used to collect sperm at a sperm bank is called a masturbatorium

Sperm bank - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1rgtb40/til_the_room_used_to_collect_sperm_at_a_sperm/

Today I learned 3 weeks ago

TIL 53% of Americans think they're "cool".

Woodward Community Media Springfield

Do You Think You’re “Cool”? Most Americans Say Yes, They Are

Beyonc, Harry Styles . . . that old guy from the Dos Equis ads: All people who are definitely "cool." But do y...

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1rbpahi/til_53_of_americans_think_theyre_cool/

Today I learned 3 weeks ago

TIL the iPad started development before the iPhone, despite releasing 3 years later.

iPad - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1raq63q/til_the_ipad_started_development_before_the/

Today I learned 0 months ago

TIL our galaxy, in part, is flavoured like raspberries and scented of rum. In 2009 scientist performed telescopic spectroscopy on the Sagittarius B cloud at the centre of our Milky Way and found Ethyl Formate - which gives raspberries their distinct flavour and has a faint rum scent. https://analyticalscience.wiley.com/content/article-do/raspberry-flavoured-galactic-centre-hint-rum #til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1r8wc0m/til_our_galaxy_in_part_is_flavoured_like/

Today I learned 1 month ago

TIL that Daylight Saving Time (DST) actually reduces deer-car collisions. This happens as DST shifts commuting peak hours to daylight, resulting in lower overlaps with deers which are most active at dusk.

UW News

Permanent daylight saving time would reduce deer-vehicle collisions, study shows

University of Washington researchers found that adopting permanent daylight saving time in the United States would reduce deer-vehicle collisions a...

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1qrsnms/til_that_daylight_saving_time_dst_actually/

Today I learned 2 months ago

TIL David Rockefeller had 7 heart transplants before his death at 101 years of age

Telegrafi

The billionaire who could not buy "eternity", even though he changed his heart seven times

Billionaire philanthropist and banker David Rockefeller passed away in his sleep at his home in Poncantico Hills, New York. David Rockefeller died ...

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1qcp71j/til_david_rockefeller_had_7_heart_transplants/

Today I learned 2 months ago

TIL Sega published a game called Segagaga, a role playing game where the player is tasked with preventing Sega from losing the home console market. The game was released 2 days before the Dreamcast was discontinued.

Segagaga - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1qcm62t/til_sega_published_a_game_called_segagaga_a_role/

Today I learned 2 months ago

TIL Voltaire had enough money to sit around and think all day because he noticed a flaw in the national lottery which he exploited to win half a million livre, worth as much as $120 million today by some measures

Smithsonian Magazine

Voltaire: Enlightenment Philosopher and Lottery Scammer

The French government was trying to raise money by running a bond lottery, but a group of intellectuals had other ideas

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1qcih2h/til_voltaire_had_enough_money_to_sit_around_and/

Today I learned 2 months ago

TIL Priests Can’t Report Confessions, Even if It's a Murder

The Seal of Confession

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1pz3yjv/til_priests_cant_report_confessions_even_if_its_a/

Today I learned 2 months ago

TIL Jane Goodall observed a 4 year "civil war" among chimpanzees at Gombe Stream National Park. The conflict involved kidnapping, organized violence, and the total annihilation of a breakaway group, shocking Goodall who previously thought chimps were peaceful.

Gombe Chimpanzee War - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1py8zxs/til_jane_goodall_observed_a_4_year_civil_war/

Today I learned 2 months ago

TIL Voltaire most famous quote isn't about HRE. It's "With great power comes great responsibility"

Power - Wikiquote

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1pw4ow9/til_voltaire_most_famous_quote_isnt_about_hre_its/

Today I learned 3 months ago

TIL that today, 122 years ago, the Wright brothers made the first powered flight at Kitty Hawk—Orville’s first flight lasted just 12 seconds and went 120 feet.

The Wright Brothers Made History at Kitty Hawk

Wilbur and Orville Wright made history in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. They made the first powered, controlled flight of a heavier-than-air flying m...

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1ppdwbr/til_that_today_122_years_ago_the_wright_brothers/

Today I learned 3 months ago

TIL that if Louisiana were a country it would have the second highest incarceration rate in the entire world, behind only El Salvador

List of U.S. states and territories by incarceration and correctional supervision rate - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1pmd0rs/til_that_if_louisiana_were_a_country_it_would/

Today I learned 3 months ago

TIL that building the Great Pyramid only required about 1 to 2 % of Ancient Egypt’s GDP-equivalent, according to leading Egyptologists. Despite its size, it barely strained the Old Kingdom economy, which had a huge agricultural surplus.

NOVA Online/Pyramids/Who Built the Pyramids?

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1peeii4/til_that_building_the_great_pyramid_only_required/

Today I learned 3 months ago

TIL - The Big Mac Index has been published since 1986 as an unofficial method to measure Purchasing Power Parity between currencies

Big Mac Index - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1peavqi/til_the_big_mac_index_has_been_published_since/

Today I learned 3 months ago

TIL that Pope Leo XIV plays Wordle and Words With Friends with his brothers

TODAY.com

Pope’s brother says they regularly do Wordle and shares more personal details about his life

It's (sometimes) fun and games being the pope's brother.

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1pe3ytz/til_that_pope_leo_xiv_plays_wordle_and_words_with/

Today I learned 3 months ago

TIL that in 1996 Caribbean authorities shot at a plane that Jimmy Buffet and Bono were on suspecting it was carrying drugs. Jimmy buffet later went on to write a song called Jamaica Mistaica and put it on his 1996 album Banana Wind.

Jamaica Mistaica Incident » Jimmy Buffett World

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1p9w4hf/til_that_in_1996_caribbean_authorities_shot_at_a/

Today I learned 3 months ago

TIL John F. Kennedy, who grew up in an affluent household in the 1920s, admitted he only learned about the Great Depression from the books he read at Harvard.

Miller Center

John F. Kennedy: Life Before the Presidency | Miller Center

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1p991qt/til_john_f_kennedy_who_grew_up_in_an_affluent/