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TIL 54 countries won their independence from the UK

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0wx1v TIL that one of the top security experts at the FBI, Frank Abagnale, was also one of the most successful con-mans of all time. He posed as a pilot to travel for free on over 250 flights to 25 countries aged between 16-18, and had scammed his father out of $28k (adjusted for inflation) aged just 15.
OPg TIL that even if a black hole were to replace our sun, Earth and the other planets would orbit the black hole as they orbit the sun now, not get sucked in.
j6Mgn TIL that the ancient Mayan city of Caracol in modern-day Belize was founded in 1200 BCE, held more than double the population of the largest current day city in Belize (of 61,461), and the one of its temples, Caana, built ~9th century CE, is still the tallest building in the country today.
J11y4 TIL The Outback Way is a 2,700 km "shortcut" directly through the Australian Outback. Without it, the trip from Winton to Laverton would be over 4,000 kms.
4XnMN TIL Captain Robert Knox (1641 – 1720) of British East India Company was imprisoned for 20 years in the south asian island of Ceylon. Upon his escape he bought back a "strange intoxicating herb" unheard of in Europe. The herb is known today as Cannabis Indica.