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TIL in the 1800s, the country now known as Vietnam asked the Qing dynasty to change their name to "Nam Việt". The dynasty said no, and changed their name to "Việt Nam" instead.

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Wg7B TIL Scientists in the South Pole have a tradition of sitting in a sauna and then running outside naked to the ceremonial pole and back. They can go from a 200° F sauna to -100° F outside. They have to do it fast enough before frostbite on essential reproductory equipment. Not all are successful.
QNr9X TIL about the oddly-named "Doomsday Rule" which can (with practice) be used to calculate the weekday of a target date based on the fact that certain days (4/4, 5/9, 6/6...) in any given year all fall on the same day of the week.
rRQMo TIL that when practicing for the D-Day landings in "Exercise Tiger" at least 749 Americans were killed by friendly fire and a "wolf pack" of 6 German E-boats who stumbled on the LST ships in the dark. D-Day was nearly called off because 10 officers who knew the exact plans went missing.
P1EWn TIL about the UW Lozenge. A ‘breath mint’ that is under development that could rebuild decaying teeth with just two of the lozenges a day.
R5bVl TIL that exposure to UV light increases sex drive