Mildly interesting
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Fun fact: The swimming pool on The TItanic is still full of water.
wrote on 29 May 2025, 02:51 last edited by@Doctor-Phibes 555
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wrote on 31 May 2025, 14:23 last edited by
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wrote on 31 May 2025, 18:31 last edited by
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wrote on 31 May 2025, 18:39 last edited by
This morning I saw a map of heavy drinking. Wisconsin was in deep trouble.
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wrote on 1 Jun 2025, 00:54 last edited by
Rivers by flow rate.
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wrote on 2 Jun 2025, 01:44 last edited by
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wrote on 2 Jun 2025, 02:26 last edited by
Seems like it would be traumatic for the moth, even with the New Age music.
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wrote on 3 Jun 2025, 00:57 last edited by
@Mik I was thinking the same. Nature is pretty good about timing things when they are ready.
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wrote on 4 Jun 2025, 10:44 last edited by
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wrote on 4 Jun 2025, 13:40 last edited by
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wrote on 4 Jun 2025, 13:41 last edited by
That’s pretty cool.
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wrote on 4 Jun 2025, 13:44 last edited by
South Park airs possibly the most offensive scene of all time.
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wrote on 4 Jun 2025, 13:46 last edited by
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wrote on 5 Jun 2025, 12:00 last edited by
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wrote on 5 Jun 2025, 13:10 last edited by
Cool map above. Somewhat related, the below map, each color is ~14% of the world population
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wrote on 7 Jun 2025, 03:07 last edited by
When an elephant needs to be transported by plane from one country to another—for example, from India to the United States—its crate is filled with… tiny chicks.
Yes, you read that right: little, fragile chicks.
Why?
Because despite their enormous size, elephants are deeply afraid of causing harm. Throughout the entire flight, the elephant stands perfectly still, not daring to move, so as not to risk stepping on a single chick.
That’s how the plane stays balanced.
And for the elephant, it’s the first test of its noble nature.Fascinated by this behavior, scientists have studied the elephant’s brain and discovered spindle cells—rare neurons also found in humans.
These are associated with self-awareness, empathy, and complex social perception.In other words, an elephant is not only physically huge; it’s an emotional giant, too.
It feels, understands, and acts with silent wisdom.Leonardo da Vinci, deeply fascinated by nature, once wrote about elephants:
“The elephant embodies righteousness, reason, and temperance.”
He also noted:
The elephant enters the river and bathes with a certain dignity, as if wishing to purify itself from all evil.
If it finds a lost person, it gently guides them back to the right path.
It never walks alone: always in a group, always led by a guide.It is modest.
Mating happens only at night, away from the herd, and before returning to the group, the elephant bathes.
If it encounters another herd on its way, it gently moves them aside with its trunk, careful not to hurt anyone.But perhaps the most touching thing is this:
When an elephant senses the end is near, it leaves the herd and goes to die alone, in a secluded place.Why?
To spare the younger ones the pain of watching it die.
Out of modesty. Out of compassion. Out of dignity.
Three rare virtues.
Even among humans. -
When an elephant needs to be transported by plane from one country to another—for example, from India to the United States—its crate is filled with… tiny chicks.
Yes, you read that right: little, fragile chicks.
Why?
Because despite their enormous size, elephants are deeply afraid of causing harm. Throughout the entire flight, the elephant stands perfectly still, not daring to move, so as not to risk stepping on a single chick.
That’s how the plane stays balanced.
And for the elephant, it’s the first test of its noble nature.Fascinated by this behavior, scientists have studied the elephant’s brain and discovered spindle cells—rare neurons also found in humans.
These are associated with self-awareness, empathy, and complex social perception.In other words, an elephant is not only physically huge; it’s an emotional giant, too.
It feels, understands, and acts with silent wisdom.Leonardo da Vinci, deeply fascinated by nature, once wrote about elephants:
“The elephant embodies righteousness, reason, and temperance.”
He also noted:
The elephant enters the river and bathes with a certain dignity, as if wishing to purify itself from all evil.
If it finds a lost person, it gently guides them back to the right path.
It never walks alone: always in a group, always led by a guide.It is modest.
Mating happens only at night, away from the herd, and before returning to the group, the elephant bathes.
If it encounters another herd on its way, it gently moves them aside with its trunk, careful not to hurt anyone.But perhaps the most touching thing is this:
When an elephant senses the end is near, it leaves the herd and goes to die alone, in a secluded place.Why?
To spare the younger ones the pain of watching it die.
Out of modesty. Out of compassion. Out of dignity.
Three rare virtues.
Even among humans.wrote on 7 Jun 2025, 14:47 last edited by@Mik said in Mildly interesting:
When an elephant senses the end is near, it leaves the herd and goes to die alone, in a secluded place.
Why?
To spare the younger ones the pain of watching it die.
Alternatively, it could be because it just can't take any more of their bullshit.
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wrote on 7 Jun 2025, 15:20 last edited by
My new best friend ChatGPT does not think highly of the veracity of some of those anecdotes about elephants.
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wrote on 7 Jun 2025, 16:38 last edited by
Yeah, well, it’s artificial, so….
Still, many animals go off alone to die because they know they are vulnerable.
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wrote on 7 Jun 2025, 17:49 last edited by
@jon-nyc said in Mildly interesting:
The London Metro is a free newspaper. I'm guessing the reference is to the Tube or London Underground. More daily/yearly users?