› added 12 years ago

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TIL Chlorine trifluoride is a substance so flammable that an accident resulted in 900 kg burning straight through a foot of concrete and three feet of gravel. Cloth, wood, water, sand, and asbestos all make it burst into flames. The only way to stop it is to wait for it to burn itself out.

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X0ExP TIL The Béarn, France's only aircraft carrier during WW2, never launched her aircraft in combat. Instead Béarn transported supplies and spent most of the war in Martinique. On the ship's only voyage to Europe Béarn collided with the USAT J. W. McAndrew killing dozens.
neMOb TIL African Americans have the highest incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer of any ethnic group in the United States
n8o9 TIL that The Netherlands sends 20,000 tulips to Canada each year as thanks for their aid during World War II.
5EkP TIL in 1974 Paul McCartney and John Lennon watched SNL in John’s apartment when Lorne Michaels offered $3000 to get the Beatles back together. The two seriously considered going to the studio just a few blocks away but decided it was too late. This was the last time the two would ever be together.
lyNB TIL the USA developed at least 2 working nuclear thermal rocket engines that were twice as efficient as chemical rockets, tested them both in the open air at Jackass Flats near Area 51, and deemed them ready to power a manned spaceflight mission to Mars.