› added 1 month ago

10

TIL about the device ADE 651, which was described by its maker, ATSC, as being powered through the user's static electricity to detect explosives and drugs thanks to "programmed substance detection cards". It was bought in Iraq, Pakistan and the USA before the fraud was discovered

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X0wyj TIL that the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom was only established in 2009. Before then, the final court of appeal in the country was the House of Lords, the upper house of the U.K. Parliament.
7rA5r TIL of Vedius Pollio, famous for feeding his slaves to eels. When Emperor Augustus witnessed an attempt, over a slave breaking glass, he had the slave freed and all of Pollio's glasses broken as punishment. He would go on to demolish Pollio's house for the incident.
17L4 TIL that the the Samurai Sword is one of the most technologically advanced swords despite being an ancient sword making technique
wonrW TIL the first Wrigley Field was in Los Angeles, not Chicago
J11PQ TIL that Norse Paganism is the fastest growing and largest non-Christian religion in Iceland