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TIL in 1633, a Turkish gentleman by the name of Lagâri Hasan Çelebi launched himself into the air on a rocket filled with 140 lbs of gunpowder. He landed in the river and was rewarded with silver by the Sultan. Mythbusters later tested this story in 2009 and considered it implausible.

YpDE7 TIL that John Wayne said that there was nothing wrong with the fact that colonists took land away from Native Americans, because the early settlers were "people who needed new land, and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves".
W7RaY TIL AlphaGo's shocking 'Move 37' in 2016 Go match against Lee Sedol defied logic, baffled experts. This unexpected play, later proven brilliant, marked a turning point, showcasing AI's potential to revolutionize problem-solving.
wQ7J TIL Alaska was never meant to be separated from the rest of the United States, but would be linked when British Columbia also joined. Instead, the Alaska Purchase compelled British Columbia to join the Canadian Confederation 3 months later.
LQkVp TIL that the holes on the electrical prongs of plugs don't actually serve any function - companies that make them save a bit of metal from each plug by creating these holes. People nowadays also expect to see these holes which is another reason companies continue to produce plug prongs with holes.
vPvmB TIL Barry Manilow thought "Last Christmas" by Wham! was so similar to his 1978 hit "Can't Smile Without You" that he took George Michael to court. But the case was thrown out after a musicologist presented 60-odd songs from the past century that had a comparable chord sequence and melody.