› added 7 years ago

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TIL of William Rankin, a fighter pilot who survived ejecting into a thunderstorm. He encountered very low temperature, frostbite, massive wind and lightning, severe decompression, and nearly drowned from breathing in rain water. Overall, he was in the cloud for more than 40 minutes.

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4kE7g TIL that the idea that low-alcohol beer was consumed more commonly than water during medieval times is a myth. Water was cheaper than beer, and towns/villages were built close to sources of fresh water such as rivers, springs, and wells to facilitate easy access to the resource.
Qe9M TIL Bob Ross used to receive up to 200 letters from fans per day. When regular letter-writers fell out of touch, he would phone them, just to see if they were ok.
ney7P TIL that a German submarine was forced to surface and subsequently bombed, because a crew member made a mistake while using the toilet. Instead of flushing, he opened a valve that flooded the u-boats batteries, casuing them to create a deadly gas.
DQElg TIL that when French forces led by King Francis I attacked Arles in southern France in 1536, the word "grenade" was first used. Firepots, kegs, jars, and glass globes were used to make the first grenades. The Germans quickly began using two grenade variants (stick and egg).
P15rE TIL that woman in the U.S. found an ancient Maya vase for $3.99 while thrifting. Recognizing its similarity to museum artifacts, she felt curious and responsible. After confirming its historical significance, she returned it to Mexico, where authorities verified its authenticity.