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TIL In 1920, the New York Times published an editorial titled "A Severe Strain on Credulity," mocking scientist Robert Goddard's contention that a rocket could conceivably leave the atmosphere and even reach the moon. They later printed a retraction, the day after the launch of Apollo 11.

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rRO5y TIL of Percy Terry, an American amateur researcher who tried to invent a bulletproof ointment in 1915. He tested his invention on himself by shooting his own face, resulting in a punctured cheek and a second try by shooting his own head with a gun which resulted in his death
epVoL TIL The Flamingo Kid, a 1984 American romantic comedy, was the first film to receive a PG-13 rating, although it was the fifth to be released with that rating (after Red Dawn, The Woman in Red, Dreamscape, and Dune).
dLAQ TIL Nestle promised none of their products would be made using child slavery by 2005. When the deadline was reached and it was found they did not keep their promise, they started suing companies releasing reports about it.
6Em6X TIL the term “square meal” comes from the British navy where plates were square with raised edges to stop food spilling in rough seas.
mxEAP TIL that in 1704, George Psalmanazar, who claimed to be from Taiwan, published a book in Britain about Taiwanese customs. As nothing was known about Taiwan in Europe at the time, his claims (such as that if a Taiwanese woman cheated on her husband, he could legally eat her) were widely believed.