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TIL of the unit of measurement, "smoot", which is named after an MIT prank on Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity pledge, Oliver Smoot, whose body was used to measure the Harvard Bridge in 1958. One smoot is 5 foot 7 inches and length of the Harvard Bridge is 364.4 smoots.

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GboN TIL when the Soviet Union launched the 1st satellite (Sputnik) into space in 1957, the event created such a profound public shock in the US that, in less than a year, congress had increased education funding six-fold and Eisenhower had signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act - creating NASA.
JYEj1 TIL about Salting, a labor union tactic involving the act of getting a job at a specific workplace with the intent of organizing a union
Zp49B TIL about Beverley Shenstone, a Canadian engineer who actively sought employment in Germany, because he thought they were leading the field in aeronautics. He worked for Junkers and met with leading German engineers. He was later an important contributor to the design of the Spitfire.
7rpRO TIL Chester Bennington's final purchase before his death was a new house in Los Angeles with five bedrooms and four bathrooms, priced at £2 million. Many people believe this may have been him trying to make sure his family were secure before his passing.
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