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TIL there have been computers programmed in “ternary” instead of the conventional binary. One such computer, built by the Soviets in 1958, had distinct advantages over binary computers such as increased power efficiency, cheaper parts and easier implementation of certain operations.

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Br7xD TIL that a baby prince from Khawarizam (Persia) was sold as a slave after the Mongols invaded their land and killed his family. He arrived in Egypt and rose among the ranks until he became king. He then lead the army and served the Mongols their biggest defeat in history.
01jN TIL the “London Beer Flood” of 1814 spilled 323,000 imperial gallons of beer into the streets of London; killing eight people and destroying two homes.
mx8av TIL that after the Colossus of Rhodes snapped at the knees and fell over onto the city after an earthquake, the remains lay untouched for over 800 years. Even broken, the Colossus was so impressive that many people travelled just to see the pieces.
995G TIL In 2006 casino mogul Steve Wynn was set to conduct the largest art transaction in history by selling Picasso’s Le Rêve for $139 million. The day before the transaction was set to take place Wynn accidentally stuck his elbow through the painting.
DQLwr TIL 145 Polish pilots, representing some five percent of Fighter Command’s overall strength, claimed 203 German aircraft for the loss of 29 of their number killed in the Battle of Britain. This amounts to 15 percent of the Command’s total score