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TIL Jesuit missionary in China Ferdinand Verbiest won an astronomy contest against the imperial court's top astronomer. His Chinese opponent was exiled and Verbiest assumed the post. He renovated Beijing Observatory and designed what some claim to be the first ever car, among other inventions

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KORjQ TIL in 2005 a group of Manchester United supporters who were annoyed by the takeover of their club by businessman Malcolm Glazer decided to start their own team - F.C. United of Manchester. The new club is democratically run by its members, who all have equal voting rights.
R7DMa TIL that in 2014 Pope Francis declared evolution and the Big Bang Theory to be right and said that the Big Bang "does not contradict the divine act of creating, but rather requires it".
WkW0A TIL Socrates suggested a passive solar design for Greek houses. All openings faced south and roofs were angled north. Houses remained cool during summer since the roof provided shade, and warm during winter since the roof deflected cold north winds and sunlight entered through the south openings.
Qx6k TIL in 2001 a Columbine-style attack on a San Jose, CA community college was averted because a photo lab employee called the police when she was processing photos of the student posing with guns and homemade bombs. The police were waiting for him when he returned for his photos
mxORY TIL that, not only the Normandy scene in Saving Private Ryan cost $11m to shoot, but also most of the soldiers seen were actually members of the Irish Defence Forces.