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TIL that the first pitching machine was built in 1897. It was a shoulder mounted cannon that could shoot baseballs at 70 mph.

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R5xg8 TIL on James Cameron's 3rd dive to the Titanic, he & his pilot had "a near-death experience". They encountered a sandstorm on the ocean floor & became temporarily stuck there with low power supply & few batteries. It took them 3 attempts from the bottom to rise above 25 meters & surface 5 hrs later.
Red1 TIL a study found that people who like randomly generated ‘pseudo-inspirational’ quotes (quotes that don’t mean anything, e.g. “A wet person does not fear the rain”) on social media websites are also more likely to believe in conspiracy theories, alternative medicine and the paranormal.
M7Eaa TIL the medical examination to fight in the Civil War was to only show your hands and feet
BrZMK TIL Cyclist Graeme Obree broke the hour world record twice on a bike he built himself, without major sponsorship, whilst struggling with depression.
v1djD TIL that Vin Mariani the Cocaine-Laced Wine was new kind of wine invented by French Chemist Angelo Mariani in the 19th century. Queen Victoria, Thomas Edison, and Ulysses S. Grant were all big fans of Vin Mariani. Pope Leo XIII awarded the drink an official medal from the Vatican.