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TIL Xinghai Square, Dalian, China covers a total area of 110 ha (270 acres), making it the largest city square in the world. China's tallest huabiao (19.97 meters high) was once located at the center of the square but it was demolished secretly in 2016 at midnight without explanation

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Yp7m7 Consider the autoclave, which scientists use to sterilize tools and which issues scalding steam to do so. Or consider the heat gun, which is used to dry glassware and to warm distillation devices. It can also ignite anything flammable that gets too close. Glass containers in a vacuum can implode, spraying shards everywhere. Centrifuge rotors can fail, causing explosions that throw shock waves throughout a lab filled with chemicals. Steel vessels built to contain liquids and gases at hundreds of pounds of pressure per square inch can rupture, hurling metal at lab workers.
0dg41 TIL That Woody Harrelsons father was a hitman who was responsible for killing a federal judge. This judge was also the first federal judge to be killed in the 20th century. The previous was in 1867.
wLOY7 TIL that the government of Palau has required all tourists entering to sign a pledge stamped on their passport promising to be environmentally conscious and “tread lightly, act kindly, and explore mindfully.”
oBjBr TIL At age 30, Dan McLaughlin with no golf experience, quit his job and dedicated to train to be a pro golfer. His philosophy was 10k hours to become an expert, and with the help of psychologists and trainers he was able to get a 2.5 handicap (top 6%), but his back went out at 6k hours and he quit.
nel7P TIL that when the German army broke through French lines in 1918, a small battalion of US marines disregarded general orders to retreat and dug shallow holes with their bayonets. The German advance was stopped after six days of fierce fighting, and the marines had been given a new name-- Devil Dogs.