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TIL that one of the weapons America would have used in the planned invasion of Japan was Little David, a 36" (914mm) mortar used to test aerial bombs. Converted into a mobile siege gun, it fired 3650 lb (1.6k kg) shells at a range of 6 miles, and would have been the largest calibre gun ever fielded.

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nWjk9 TIL that in 1943, Rosa Parks boarded a bus being driven by James F. Blake when the latter told Parks to disembark and re-enter from the back. When Parks got off the bus, Blake sped off. 12 years later, Parks would famously defy Blake, thereby prompting the Montgomery bus boycott.
jjvR TIL Those gray bugs that you can find under a brick that roll up into a ball can be kept as pets; and if taken care of, can live up to 3 years.
E1Knx Til the Sasanian Persians gassed Roman soldiers with sulfur dioxide during the Siege of Dura Europos. One of the earliest examples of chemical warfare
ZpxAG TIL Legendary songwriter Jim Steinman (Bat Out of Hell) accomplished a rare feat in 1983 when Bonnie Tyler's cover of his song 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' was #1 on the charts, while #2 was Air Supply's cover of his song 'Making Love Out of Nothing at All'.
xK0b TIL Before the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther confessed for hours at a time. Annoyed, the priest told him “If you’re going to confess so much, why don’t you go do something worth confessing? Kill your mother or father! Commit adultery! Quit coming in here with such flummery and fake sins.“