› added 2 years ago

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TIL Co-Op city, a housing area collectively owned by its tenants, objected to the construction of a tall, bright LED sign facing the city. This was strongly opposed by the residents. Two years later, a windmill was erected near the sign, a month later it collapsed, and took the sign down with it.

LQjRV TIL that the record for most lunar orbits is shared by Apollo 17 astronaut Ronald Evans and five mice brought on the mission. The mice, named Fe, Fi, Fo, Fum, and Phooey, were euthanized and dissected upon their return.
W7ED9 TIL of "The Dip", a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide used to clean lead off of suppressors and other firearm parts. The resulting chemical reaction dissolves the lead into lead acetate, which can cause lead poisoning from simple contact with the dermis (skin).
OovvL TIL that Immanuel Kant promoted "scientific" racism, giving a hierarchy of four races: white Europeans "always advance to perfection", yellow Asians "can never reach the level of abstract concepts", black Africans "can be educated but only as servants", and red Amerindians "cannot be educated"
rRno TIL NASA cannot bring birds into space because birds need gravity to swallow.
EgMlX TIL about John L Burns, a 70-year-old veteran of the war of 1812 who was caught in the crossfire during the battle of Gettysburg in 1863; after being released from his confederate prison, he promptly arrested the traitorous stragglers and took up his flintlock against the rest.