30 "Today I Learned" Facts To Help Keep Your Brain In Top Shape

Learning new things is not just enjoyable; it is also beneficial for people, regardless of their age.

It can involve learning new hobbies or simply acquiring new facts. According to research, learning new information is one of the ways to enhance your brain's health.

Acquiring knowledge is akin to exercising your brain. It's mental sweat that helps produce brain cells and strengthens the connections between them.

When you do your brain this favor, you can improve its cognitive abilities. You'll experience better concentration, memory retention, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills.

You also decrease the chance of developing dementia, a condition in older individuals in which they gradually lose their cognitive functions.

We want to feel good about ourselves, and to achieve that, we need to have a sense of accomplishment.

Acquiring new knowledge is a rewarding experience; it feels like we have leveled up as individuals.

So, if you want to keep those brain cells functioning while entertaining yourself at the same time, you've come to the right post.

We've compiled 30 random facts from the popular Today I Learned subreddit. It's a community where people share new things they have learned.

It's heavily moderated to ensure that we are only reading factual information.

1. A multi-talented cryptographer

TIL that Alan Turing, the cryptographer responsible for breaking the Nazi Enigma code during World War II, was also an Olympic-level runner and developed a new field of biology out of his fascination with daisies.wanderling_alien, jecinci

2. The reason why Vincent van Gogh could dedicate all his time to painting

TIL about Theo van Gogh, Vincent's younger brother, whose unwavering financial and emotional support allowed his brother to devote himself entirely to painting. He also died six months after his brother's suicide, and today they are buried next to each other at the cemetery of Auvers-sur-Oise.edi24, Yannbee

3. How to determine if your dog is excited

TIL that dogs "play sneeze" when they're feeling excited or playful. "Play sneezes" indicate that your dog is having a good time and signal to other dogs that their behavior is merely play.shelbeelzebub, otamajakusi

4. Old-style marketing

TIL that Virgin Atlantic kept having passengers steal their popular salt and pepper shakers. Instead of removing them from the plane, they placed the words "pinched from Virgin Atlantic" at the bottom. The shakers then became dinner table conversation pieces and served as free advertisements.blueberrisorbet, Tiguy789

5. Cats' circadian rhythm

TIL that cats are neither nocturnal nor diurnal; they are crepuscular, exhibiting a circadian rhythm where they are most active during dusk and dawn (low-light hours).PlatinumAero, Christopher Alvarenga

6. Tommy Davidson's past

TIL that Tommy Davidson, the comedian and actor from "In Living Color," was abandoned in a pile of trash at eighteen months old. He was rescued and adopted by a white family.marmorset

7. Joni Mitchell's deal

TIL that songwriter Joni Mitchell only released a greatest hits album, "Hits," on the condition that she would also release a "Misses" album to accompany it.ronache_9, ultomatt

8. When death knocks on the door of a person with dementia, this happens.

TIL that "Terminal Lucidity" is the brief return of mental clarity or memory right before death in people who suffer from severe dementia and other neurological disorders.jeffgolenski, Pawel Czerwinski

9. How long have Aboriginal people been in Australia?

TIL that the Aboriginal people of Australia have occupied the land for more than 60,000 years.Siray

10. Random Harry Houdini fact

TIL that Harry Houdini was skeptical of anything mystical and harbored intense anger towards miracle workers, spiritualists, and mediums who preyed on vulnerable people.wanderling_alien, Thurston, John H.

11. An odd job for the queen

TIL that Queen Elizabeth has an official shoe-wearer who breaks in her shoes so they don't cause her blisters.katymae123, wikimedia

12. Serves the bank right.

TIL that in 2011, a couple from Florida turned the tables and received a judgment against Bank of America for mistakenly foreclosing on the family’s home and covering subsequent legal fees. A court issued the family a writ of execution, giving them permission to seize bank assets.samgarita, Taylor Simpson

13. The effect of throat cancer on Val Kilmer

TIL that Val Kilmer has lost his voice, quite literally. The only way we may hear him speak again is through a computer program.flynnfx, Georges Biard

14. Subjugation that took three centuries

TIL that the Mapuche of South America were one of the few tribes that successfully resisted Spanish control, remaining independent for over 300 years. They referred to the Spaniards as "New Incas" because they successfully resisted the Incan Empire as well. They were only subjugated in 1883.CactusCoin, John Englart

15. Recommended speed on the Autobahn

TIL that while you can drive any speed on the Autobahn when indicated by signs, the recommended speed is 130 km per hour. If you are in an accident while going 170 km per hour and it could have been avoided at the lesser speed, you will be automatically partially or fully at fault for the accident.missxxvic, Jennifer Latuperisa-Andresen

16. It makes you wonder how many harems existed back then.

TIL that there are at least ten other men who left genetic legacies that rival Genghis Khan's, and we only know the name of one of them: Giocangga, a 16th-century ruler and ancestor of the Qing Dynasty.DirtyDracula, Vidor

17. What happened to the Gibson Nine children

TIL about the Gibson Nine, an Australian Aboriginal family who were still living a traditional nomadic lifestyle in the outback until 1984, when they settled in a town. The children have gone on to have successful careers as painters, although one of them later returned to the desert.JosephvonEichendorff, Ninara

18. We didn't know kidney stones can be sold.

TIL that in 2006, William Shatner sold a kidney stone for $25,000 to an online casino. Shatner then donated all the proceeds to charity.gladman1101, Stephen Tordoff

19. Do this if you want to win an election.

TIL that wearing glasses actually increases a political candidate's electoral success, despite many politicians avoiding them because they believe it makes them look less attractive.gabejohn, Sigmund

20. Fire departments need to be funded well. The volunteers deserve to be compensated for their efforts.

TIL that 67% of all fire departments in the United States are entirely or mostly staffed by volunteers.busterbrown78, Daniel Tausis

21. Don't get into the trend if it'll cost you your life.

TIL that at least 33 people have died by electrocution while practicing Fractal Wood Burning.iritian, MrMarkinator

22. A problem that took 40 years to solve.

TIL that in 1714, the British government offered £20K (~£2m today) to solve the longitude problem, which had cost thousands of lives due to a lack of ship positioning. John Harrison, a carpenter, took 40 years to create the perfect clock; his final version only lost 39.2 seconds over a voyage of 47 days.goodvibezone, cottonbro

23. Acid rain effects

TIL that in the 70s and 80s, dead acidic lakes were fairly common in the US, Europe, and Canada due to acid rain. The acidity in lakes killed all microbes and aquatic life, resulting in crystal-clear water that allowed the lake bottom to be visible.adimwit, Jeremy Bezanger

24. The blood-stained hands of the Catholic Church

TIL that a century before Martin Luther, Jan Hus criticized the Catholic Church for selling indulgences and church positions. Hus was invited to the Council of Constance, arrested, charged with heresy, and burned at the stake on July 6, 1415.jamescookenotthatone, Maria Orlova

25. A waste of money

TIL that in 2014, the state of Alabama paid $75,000 for the right to use the phrase "Sweet Home Alabama" on road signs at the state line.Michael Rivera, Alpha Bonding

26. Why did she receive such bad treatment?

TIL that Susan Sarandon, who played a cellist named Jane in "The Witches of Eastwick," learned only after being cast that she would have to quickly learn how to play the cello, and was told that she would be sued if she left the production.Svarec, Gimmeges

27. We wonder why the librarian hated the book.

TIL that for 25 years, "Goodnight Moon" wasn't carried at the New York Public Library because it was disliked by the children's librarian.rachaelonreddit, Margaret Wise Brown

28. This is heartbreaking.

TIL that Charles Lindbergh’s son, Charles Lindbergh Jr., was kidnapped at 20 months old. The kidnapper picked up a cash ransom of $50,000, leaving a note about the child’s location. The child was not found at that location. The child’s remains were discovered a month later, not far from the Lindberghs' home.renaissanceman717, fbi

29. It's a bad idea to name a ship after a country.

TIL that in 1940, Hitler decided to change the name of the battle cruiser "Deutschland" to "Lützow," recognizing that the sinking of a warship was a propaganda disaster if it bore the name of its country.Roche7000, Андрей

30. Random Victory Day kiss fact

TIL that there is another photo, taken from a different angle, of the same famous Victory Day kiss in Times Square; unlike the original, the other photograph was taken by a government photojournalist on official duty and is thus in the public domain and not protected by copyright.janmayen, Victor Jorgensen

Learning new things will always be fun and exciting.

Aside from expanding our memory, we gain extra knowledge to share with others. Knowing a lot helps us gain confidence, which in turn helps us deal with various challenges in our lives.

Share this post with your friends who love random trivia too!