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TIL: As many as 35,000 Connecticut building foundations are effected by bad cement mix containing pyrrhotite from specific mines in the area. The mineral expands with air and moisture that can take 20 years to appear and $200K+ to repair, forcing many into foreclosure.

Read more portal.ct.gov

via reddit.com

8a8rb TIL the Demon Core was a piece of plutonium intended to be used in a third atomic bomb to drop on Japan... due to lax saftely standards, its criticality was being regulated with just a screwdriver, and two physicists were killed maintaining it
67Am TIL Saint Philosophus, before he was martyred, was tied to a bed by his persecutors. They then sent in a prostitute, in an attempt to take away his chastity before he died. With no other options, he bit off his tongue and spat it at the prostitute, who was so horrified that she ran from the room.
QJpxk TIL that Churchill, Manitoba has a prison that holds Polar bears. The facility has a capacity for 28 inmates and has held over 2000 mighty white bears over the years. And no, its not as cruel as it sounds.
ADB5n TIL In 17th century England, the pineapple was a symbol of wealth and luxury. Even security guards were hired to protect pineapples from being stolen. Such as in an 1807 court case where a Mr. Godding was sentenced to seven years transportation to Australia for stealing seven pineapples.
k68d TIL–As Zelda Fitzgerald, Author F.Scott Fitzgerald’s wife, emerged from the anesthesia after giving birth, Scott recorded Zelda saying, “I hope it’s beautiful and a fool—a beautiful little fool.” This was a line later used for Daisy Buchanan within the Great Gatsby.