› added 9 years ago

89

TIL around 20 million chinese civilians died in World War II.

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DG0p TIL an FDA official saved the US from a generation of children with birth defects such as flipper-like arms and feet by repeatedly blocking the authorization of a drug, already approved in Europe, known as Thalidomide.
p5xN TIL that home ownership in Romania is 95.6%, Spain 77.7%, Greece 75.8% while in Germany it’s 52.6% and Switzerland only 44%.
Z89wp TIL that after France surrended in June 1940, the Royal Navy sailed down to Algeria to seize the bulk of the French navy. When the French refused to surrender control of the ships, the Royal Navy open fired, destroying the fleet and killing 1300 French sailors
rgQM TIL: Marie Antoinette’s last words were, “Pardon me, sir. I meant not to do it”. It was an apology to the executioner for accidentally stepping on his foot on her way to the guillotine.
Menkm TIL that the "gas pedal" (accelerator) on modern car engines actually first controls the amount of airflow, and then the ECU decides how much gas/petrol is injected.