› added 12 years ago

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TIL that Muslim astronauts have struggled with the issue of how to pray from space. When orbiting the Earth, it’s impossible to pray facing Mecca because its direction constantly changes.

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dePB TIL that Vermont (42% gun ownership rate) had the lowest rate of gun murders in 2010: only 2
E16BW TIL that during the siege of Leningrad, Hitler had no intentions of actually invading the city. He did not want to capture and feed the 3 million inhabitants and ordered an unending siege, disregarding possible surrender, waiting for the city to starve to death. Close to a million civilians starved.
9Ylg6 TIL Water has been America's #1 drink since 2013. Before that for 20 years it was soda.
Ypwgd TIL the Darien Scheme in 1698 was Scotland’s sole attempt at colonization. The effort failed but cost £400k (£71m inflation-adjusted) – about 20% of the nation’s capital. It crippled Scotland’s economy and was a major factor in its Act of Union with England in 1707, thus forming the United Kingdom.
Q6yk TIL: After WW2 the Japanese Admiral who invented the idea of kamikaze pilots committed ritual suicide, seppuku, as an apology. After cutting through his abdomen he refused the customary beheading, instead slowly dying over several hours.