› added 6 years ago

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TIL that Austro-Hungarian officer Gunther Burstyn produced and patented the design for what would've been the world's first tank in 1911. Both the Germans and Austro-Hungarians rejected his designs due to a perception that such a vehicle was unnecessary in the near future.

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QJY6e TIL that Henry VIII was sometimes called "Old Coppernose." He issued debased coins to fund wars and one coin was mostly copper with a thin layer of silver on top. The coin had a portrait of Henry and his projecting nose caused the silver to wear off first exposing the copper underneath.
9YDyM TIL: The creator of the Gil Sans font had sex with his sisters, daughters, and dog. He was named Royal Designer for Industry, the highest British award for designers
jmQX TIL Brazilian doctors have begun using tilapia skin to treat severe burns because it is more soothing and less painful to change than traditional gauze.
nWDyY TIL in 2015, BMW New Zealand ran an April Fool’s ad promising a free car to the first person who showed up with their old car and ask for ‘Tom’. Tianna Marsh took the chance, arrived at 5:30 local time with her 15-year-old station wagon, and drove away in a $50,000 BMW with a ‘NOF00L’ license plate.
AN9kw TIL During the Edo period in Japan, "shunga" (erotic woodblock prints) was not just mainstream, but celebrated. These detailed artworks served as both art and educational guides for couples, enjoyed by everyone from aristocrats to commoners, across genders.