› added 11 years ago

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TIL during a meeting with the UN, North Koreans came with AK-47s under their jackets. Instead of confronting them American officers turned up the heat in the room to make them sweat under their heavy clothes

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ANRXx TIL that an English chemist named James Price claimed to be able to turn mercury into silver or gold. When asked by members of the Royal Society to perform the experiment in front of credible witnesses, he reluctantly agreed, only to drink poison in front of them instead.
V9eQ TIL Bill Gates’ net worth is four and a half times as large as North Korea’s estimated GDP
rNmjy TIL 15th century Korea developed the Geobukseon (turtle ship), a warship roofed with spiked plates to prevent boarding actions. Each Geobukseon was also designed with a dragon head on the bow that hid a cannon or could release smoke to inspire terror or cover ship movements.
8mpL TIL electric vehicles predate the model T, and in the year 1900, comprised 38% of cars on the road
8aW5V TIL that plate armor and firearms had coexisted for over 300 years in Europe. Armor had been in an arms race against firearms during that time, and it wasn't until the 16th century that full body armor was phased out in favor of prioritizing protection of vitals.