› added 7 years ago

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TIL that the USSR renamed its rocket base Baikonur in 1961 to keep the Soviet space program a secret. Residents of the original Baikonur, hundreds of km away, took advantage of the resulting confusion by ordering many valuable supplies for themselves before the scam was discovered.

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emKg TIL that the Hindenburg was originally designed to use non-flammable helium but the USA refused to export any resulting in the hydrogen based construction.
wLWdY TIL of guevedoces--genetic males in a small community in the Dominican Republic that are born with a vagina instead of a penis. At puberty, the vagina fuses into a fully-functioning penis and scrotum.
p8Nwe TIL the Mesoamerican ballgame played by the ancient Aztecs and Mayans might have been used as a subsitute for warfare.
8aLDG TIL of Poundbury in Dorset. Due for completion in 2025, the new town is designed to the personal tastes of Prince Charles and includes a replica of Buckingham Palace.
WkepA TIL about high school football quarterback Nate Haasis. After discovering the coaches of his and the opposing team conspired to let him break the record for most career passing yardage, he came forward and had the record expunged.