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TIL the Rubik’s Cube (Magic Cube) was invented because Erno Rubik wanted to build a structure with pieces that move independently without falling apart. He had no idea he was creating the best-selling toy of all time.

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yQKLv TIL the surviving family of MLK all believe that James Earl Ray was framed for King's assassination, and a lawyer won a mock trial defending Ray in 1993 to prove it.
loX81 TIL If Earth stopped spinning suddenly, the atmosphere would still be in motion with the Earth's original 1100 mile per hour rotation speed at the equator. All of the land masses would be scoured clean of anything not attached to bedrock.
gkOD TIL a New Jersey politician was indicted for accepting $360,000 in bribes. The politician went so far to avoid his conviction that he faked his own death by friends saying he swallowed pain pills before a scuba dive and ‘never resurfaced’. He was found 2 years later and arrested while scuba diving.
98r7 TIL in the first edition of “The Hobbit,” Gollum willingly bets his ring in the riddle game with Bilbo and the two part on good terms. Tolkien changed the story in the second edition to reflect the corruptive powers of the ring taking shape in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
aw9Qb TIL that, in France, it is illegal to to publish photographs of identifiable handcuffed suspects, as they are not to appear guilty until proven so. This means that "perp walks" are not allowed under current law, either.