› added 4 years ago

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TIL that seat belts were very controversial when they first appeared in cars during the 40s and 50s with many arguing that they caused injuries and didn't work, no matter how much researchers disputed these claims. Many people refused to wear them and even cut them out of their car seats.

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via reddit.com

jNbYR TIL: "Backpack nukes" weren't spy novel fiction. A veteran trained in the 60s to use one-person-portable nuclear weapons said “We all knew it was a one-way mission, a suicide mission,” since one couldn't get away in time and also such bombs weren't expected to be left unguarded before exploding.
Dwe TIL Simon, a ship’s cat in WW2, the only cat to be awarded the Dickin Cross, was also given 3 other medals and the rank of Able Seacat
O0EY TIL that only apes, elephants, and some dolphins, whales, and birds can pass the mirror self-awareness test
aApM TIL the female equivalent of ‘morning wood’ is 'morning dew’.
RbXQ TIL the CIA attempted to discredit Castro by making his beard fall off.