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TIL about NASA TALs (Transoceanic Abort Landing sites) that were specially built all over the world, including in Gambia, Senegal and Morocco, that would be used in the event of an aborted Shuttle Launch

Read more nasa.gov

via reddit.com

P1kEL TIL the gourd was one of the world's first cultivated plants grown not primarily for food, but for use as containers. It is also used as a resonator on many stringed instruments, including the sitar
neBv9 TIL In 2000, one of the worst peacetime submarines accidents ever took place off the coast of Russia. A huge explosion sank the giant nuclear-powered submarine Kursk, killing most of its crew and stranding nearly two dozen survivors hundreds of feet underwater.
e0lkb TIL famous mathematician Paul Erdos was once challenged to quit taking amphetamines for one month by a concerned friend. He succeeded, but complained “You’ve showed me I’m not an addict, but I didn’t get any work done…you’ve set mathematics back a month”.
eB7k TIL Elmo has been called the “Little Red Menace” by Sesame Street purists because he takes screen time away from other beloved characters.
9w7ZX TIL R. Norris Williams survived the sinking of the Titanic clinging to an overturned lifeboat. The injuries to his legs were such the doctors aboard rescue ship suggested amputation. He refused and instead went on to recover his faculties and eventually winning the tennis Olympic gold medal in 1924.