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TIL that when the Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883, the public doubted the stability of the bridge. Six days later, a pedestrian fell, causing a woman to scream, which led to a stampede that killed 12. Public concern was only dispelled a year later when P.T. Barnum marched 21 elephants across it.

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ANAbd TIL: The NBA began the 2006 season using a microfiber composite ball designed to eliminate the need for a "breaking-in" period. Players hated it, and some said it caused paper-cut-like slashes on their hands. The NBA returned to leather balls less than two months into the season.
bAQE TIL Through a series of electrocutions to the spinal cord, four patients who were paralyzed from the neck or below, have been given full control of their limbs
xG80 TIL Kit Kat is so popular in Japan that it is sold at high-end department stores, Kit Kat only specialty shops, and post offices. Nearly every region has a signature flavor sold only in that part of the country, and there are nearly 300 flavors of Kit Kat.
WkEL4 TIL about Basil Zaharoff, He sold the Greek government a submarine, then told the Turkish government that the Greeks had a submarine, Turkey then bought 2 submarines. He then told the same to the Russian government who later bought 2 submarines as well. None of the submarines worked.
OoxmR TIL of the Amesbury Archer (Amesbury pronounced Aims-bree), a skeleton of a Bronze Age man discovered where some new houses were going to be built.