› added 9 months ago

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TIL that the U.S. planned to detonate a nuclear bomb on the moon in the 1950s to show military strength during the Cold War. Carl Sagan worked on the calculations. It was called Project A119.

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yVg1J TIL scurvy was so common during the Age of Sail that shipowners and governments assumed a 50% death rate from the disease for their sailors on any major voyage.
nDNr TIL that the Hope diamond glows a brilliant red for several minutes after being exposed to UV light.
OGBYe TIL in the first auto show in New York in 1899, every vehicle was electric with the exception of some steam powered cars.
DYAp TIL people who think they wake up just before their alarm goes off have brain waves showing they were asleep. They may simply be remembering — or not forgetting — the moments just before waking, while forgetting the rest of their sleep.
d0jQ TIL When a frog swallows its prey, it blinks, which pushes its eyeballs down on top of the mouth to help push the food down its throat.