› added 2 years ago

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TIL how trains turn, without a differential. The wheels should create massive friction under the heavy loads. It is solved by conical wheels.

neJ1o TIL that McDonald's infamous ice cream machines are not always "broken" but are usually being cleaned. The whole process takes over 4 hours and they can't serve ice cream during that time. They have to do this every day.
JBmk TIL Geckskin is a superstrong adhesive based on Gecko feet that can hold up to 700lbs on a smooth wall. Developed at UMass (and funded by DARPA), it can easily attach and detach heavy everyday objects such as televisions or computers to walls, as well as medical and industrial applications.
R7Y11 TIL the monarch in the UK cannot be prosecuted for any crime. In theory, this means somebody could murder their way up the chain of succession. Providing they are not caught before they become the monarch, they will be able to get away with it without any legal issues.
JYnZm TIL that Kent released a cigarette in 1952 with a filter made out of asbestos (branded as a "micronite filter"). they sold 13 billion of these cigarettes before being discontinued in 1956 and they are suspected of causing many mesothelioma cases
Bg4LK TIL: The first computer virus, "Creeper," was created in 1971 as an experiment. It displayed the message, "I'M THE CREEPER: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN!" on infected systems. It was followed by the first antivirus, "Reaper," specifically designed to remove Creeper.