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TIL of the Third Plague Pandemic- an outbreak of bubonic plague that killed 15 million people between 1855-1960. In Hong Kong, where the bacterium responsible was identified (Y. pestis), the plague recurred every year for 30 years.

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ZjvD TIL the Iraqi government spent $78m on bomb detectors that turned out to be glorified dowsing rods. The director of the UK-based company behind the devices was jailed for 10 years.
JYGpV TIL of "Sluggish Schizophrenia," used in the Soviet Union to describe a form of schizophrenia characterized by a slowly progressive course. It was often diagnosed in those who exhibited no symptoms of disorders; this would deprive people of their credibility and was used against political dissidents
VmOG TIL Isaac Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000 letters and postcards.
yQpp8 TIL Before she became a big name in pop music, Taylor Swift was knocking praying mantises out of Christmas trees. Her family lived on a tree farm, and the superstar’s job was to ensure customers’ christmas trees weren’t full of bugs.
MbW7 TIL Tom Cruise is one inch too short to qualify to become a Navy pilot, let alone a Top Gun.