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TIL Sir Francis Bacon, known for his phrase that “knowledge is power”, wrote the first book on the growing of terrestrial plants in a soilless environment. That practice would later become known as Hydroponics.

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O49a TIL a New Zealand school ditched schoolyard restrictions on play, and saw a drop in bullying, serious injuries and vandalism, and concentration levels in class increase. Instead of a playground, children play in a “loose parts pit” which contains junk such as wood, tyres and an old fire hose.
KELa TIL over a period of 200 years, 3 ships perished at the same location (off the coast of Wales), on the same day (December 5th), and each wreck had only 1 survivor. All 3 of the survivors were called Hugh Williams.
6Zow TIL a billionaire is plotting to propel thousands of miniature satellites at 20% the speed of light by aiming minutes-long 100-gigawatt laser pulses at light sails as early as the 2040s, to arrive at Proxima B (the nearest Earthlike planet in the Goldilocks Zone of Alpha Centauri) by the 2060s
AN7yw TIL that the Premier League in England doesn't have a postseason tournament to determine the champion. Instead, the team with the best record at the end of the regular season is automatically crowned champion.
mmMR TIL general Erwin Rommel found himself several times behind Allied lines. On one occasion, he stumbled across an allied field hospital. They were low on supplies and he promised to bring medical supplies, after which he drove off unhindered. Later he returned with the promised medical supplies