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TIL the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Carl Vinson can make 400,000 gallons of its own freshwater daily by desalinating surrounding saltwater

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WkjJL TIL The FBI held a conference with all the top video game devs of the 80's and made them compete to get the "Winners Don't Use Drugs" slogan programmed first. The winner's products would be showcased at an FBI anti-drug press conference.
VB47Q TIL Postman’s Park in London contains over 50 plaques that honour individuals who died performing brave acts to save others — like rescuing people from burning buildings, saving children from drowning, or shielding others from accidents.
9ojB TIL that some of the earliest “roller coasters” originated in Russia, and in romance languages, roller coasters are often called “Russian mountains” (e.g. Spanish: montaña rusa). However, in Russian, they are called “American mountains” (американские горки).
9wxeD TIL about the Gnomes of Wrocław. In the 1980s people in the Polish city began painting gnomes over Soviet propaganda. After the fall of the USSR, a sculptor was hired to place gnomes around the city to honor their history. Others joined in and now there are over 400 gnomes and an annual parade.
wolN7 TIL In a dark location, many galaxies beyond the Milky Way can be seen through a telescope with aperture of 3.1 inches. But from a suburban backyard, the telescope needs to be 6 to 8 inches to view these same galaxies