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TIL that one of the most effective weapons in WW2 was the proximity fuzed shell: the allies were so terrified of the enemy getting hold of samples they were initially only to be used over water by the Navy - there was an embargo on their use over land until 1944.

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epAQ5 TIL about Cranberry/Gold Ruby glass, which is made by mixing miscible gold (sometimes tin as well) into molten glass. Furthermore, there's 1976 film "Heart of Glass" about it by Werner Herzog in which he hypnotized actors before most scenes in his endeavor to, quote, speak through them.
0ERj TIL two British students tried to kidnap Prime Minister Alec Douglas-Home in 1964; when he answered the door, he convinced them not to kidnap him by saying “I suppose you realize if you do, the Conservatives will win the election by 200 or 300”
W7v59 TIL the Nile crocodile is estimated to kill hundreds of people each year which is more than all other crocodilian species combined & since a majority of fatal attacks are believed to be predatory in nature, the Nile crocodile can be considered the most prolific predator of humans among wild animals.
6rOm TIL that Jack Nicholson passed up the role of Michael Corleone in the Godfather. “Back then I believed that Indians should play Indians and Italians should play Italians.”
BDEW TIL the last Emperor of Brazil Pedro II became ruler aged 5. He had a grim, lonely childhood studying for duty. He won 3 wars, turned Brazil into a global power & abolished slavery. After 58 years he grew weary, accepting a military coup. He lived his last days alone in Europe on very little money.