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TIL after the British government started pressuring hospitals to see emergency patients within 4 hours, there were occasions when patients were asked to wait inside ambulances until the hospital was sure that the patient cоuld be seen within the 4 hour limit, and only then would the patient come in

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Z8Ywa TIL In 1986, 3 volunteers dove into radioactive water to prevent a second explosion at Chernobyl that could have spread fallout across half of Europe. The members of the "suicide squad" were Alexei Ananenko, Valeri Bezpalov, and, Boris Baranov. Ananenko and Bezpalov are still alive today.
4o55 TIL during the Battle of the Bulge, American MPs trying to uncover German infiltrators would ask soldiers questions only a real American would know. General Omar Bradley was briefly detained after he “incorrectly” identified Springfield as the capital of Illinois. The MP thought it was Chicago.
v1omj TIL that Vikings were keen skiers, they even worshipped a god in its name. Medieval sources have very limited material on the god Ullr, but he's almost always shown on skis carrying a bow. In one text, it is said that Ullr can be called ski-god, bow-god, hunting-god and shield-god.
LJap TIL that white-tailed eagles often reuse their nests instead of recreating them year after year. One family of white-tailed eagles in Iceland have taken this to the extreme by reusing the same nest for 150 years.
VM0bp TIL that museum conservators do not wear white gloves when handling rare books or artwork. The only reason you see it on TV is because they get sick of people complaining that they aren't wearing gloves.