› added 4 months ago

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TIL about the Manhattan Schist: a 450 million year old piece of bedrock, remnants of the Appalachian Mountains, that exists close to and above the surface of the ground. Something not seen anywhere else in the world, and one of the main reasons it’s possible for Manhattan’s dense skyscrapers

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j6okN TIL in contrast to the myth, America didn't cut support to South Vietnam as it still appropriated $700 million in 1975
BGDd TIL The Roman Colosseum had 28 lifts which hoisted animals 24 ft up, then cage lids and trap doors in the arena floor opened simultaneously, unleashing beasts to fight each other or men. A lift was remade last June, ridden by a wolf who received a biscuit when released into the Colosseum.
6EdE8 Dangerous selfies have killed 'at least' 259 people. A 2018 study claims the number could be much higher, as selfies are never named as a cause of death.
PwEO TIL that between 1969 and 1970, the US dumped 112 tonnes of VX nerve agent into the Atlantic Ocean
kOBBm TIL that Roy Orbison had a gift for impersonation and could recite entire Monty Python sketches.