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TIL the influenza epidemic of 1918 was called the “Spanish Flu” because Spain was neutral during World War I and was the only country with a free press able to report on the disease. People just assumed the flu, which killed more people than WWI, began in Spain, but it’s unknown where it started.

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via reddit.com

WDON TIL of Fritz Haber, a German Chemist who is responsible for both developing ammonia based fertilizers, which has helped feed and sustain the modern worlds population, and various chemical weapons such as chlorine gas, which is resulted in some of the worlds greatest atrocities.
7rypP TIL of the 2016 case of State of Georgia vs Denver Fenton Allen where a routine pre-trial hearing turned into a wild and graphic shouting match between the Judge and the defendant. The creators of Rick and Morty animated the incident using the transcript verbatim.
YEXd TIL carbon nanotubes and cementite nanowires have been found in ancient Damascus steel swords, possibly playing a part in their incredible and mysterious strength.
16wx4 TIL the woodlouse, a common crustacean that goes back 100 million years, has over 50 different common names used around the world
wLwBY TIL that during the Austro-Prussian War, Liechtenstein had an army of 80 men. During the conflict no men were injured or killed and they returned home with 81 men because they’d made an Italian friend along the way. The army was then disbanded and Liechtenstein hasn’t had a military since.