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781

TIL Washington DC isn't in a state

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P1ZlL TIL that in 2008, a gamma ray burst was observed from 7.5 billion light years away. It was visible with the naked eye for about 30 seconds, and if viewed from the same distance as the sun it would be 21 quadrillion times brighter.
OodnL TIL a town crier needed to be employed in Germany to remind the local populace not to defecate in the river every time its water was drawn for brewing beer
e09j4 TIL the Lancia Gamma had such a badly-designed engine that even turning the steering to full lock could cause high strain on the timing belt, leading to it snapping and causing significant engine damage.
m97x TIL that in a 1998 survey, 54.4 percent of Icelanders said they believed in the existence of elves
J1Yom TIL in 2018, a leaping elk brought down a research helicopter in Utah.