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TIL the only way the BBC could record its live broadcasts in the 1950s was to point a film camera at a television. Because of this, the only known recording of the landmark sci-fi serial “The Quatermass Experiment” features an insect walking across the screen.

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yQpXp TIL That the game Battleship dates back to turn of the 20th century, where is was played with just paper and pen. The game is said to have been played by Russian officers before WWI. A version using plastic pegs wasn't created until 1967.
lopY1 TIL of Project Valkyrie: a theorized lightweight interstellar spacecraft that could attain 92% lightspeed. Components are tethered, with the crew 10 km away from the antimatter engine. A system would spray liquid droplets in front of the craft to shield against interstellar dust particles.
0wYpM TIL playwright and actor Noël Coward never publically confirmed that he was homosexual, even when it was known. When making a statement on his sexuality, he just said that "There are still a few old ladies in Worthing who don't know.".
N7wXP TIL whilst boarding a plane, an elderly passenger threw coins into one of the engines to ensure “good luck”. Plane mechanics later found nine coins at the site, including one inside the engine. The flight ended up taking off more than 5 hours late.
eBAE TIL The snow used for the maze in the climactic scene of ‘The Shining’ was made from 900 tons of salt and Styrofoam. The snow was also used for the Hoth scenes in 'Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back’, which was filmed in the same studio later that year.