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TIL that from 1864 to 1870 three countries (Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil) declared war to Paraguay (whos motto is “Victory or Death”). Roughly two-thirds of Paraguay population were killed, including around 90% of its men. That war was called “War of the Triple Alliance”

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7rVmb TIL that the word "sophomore" means "wise fool" in Greek, describing the tendency of adolescents to behave so irrationally despite thinking rationally sometimes.
4XwWJ TIL that, on May 13, 1974, seventy three children were struck with a mysterious illness at a Florida elementary school. Suspecting a gas leak, the Dept. of Public Health sent investigators. Dr. Nitzkin, an epidemiologist, discovered it was mass hysteria: one child fainted and the others panicked.
QnvL TIL Thomas-Alexandre Dumas the father of novelist Alexandre Dumas. Was a general in Revolutionary France and the highest-ranking person of color of all time in a European army. He was the first person of color in the French military to become general-in-chief of a French army
5YEBr TIL that as part of their "armed neutrality" policy, Switzerland strongly considered building nuclear weapons and acquired 10 tons of uranium in the early 1960s, with plans to make up to 100 bombs
p89DA TIL after her mental issues Britney Spears was placed under legal conservatorship. Her finances and many of her personal decisions are run by a group of paid conservators (including her father) for approval even today.