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TIL in 1954 the real-life inspiration for Godzilla came from a U.S. thermonuclear test that was so powerful it irradiated a Japanese fishing boat 80 miles away, killing a crew member and triggering global outrage.

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YpeVZ TIL that pink peppercorns are related to cashews and can cause an allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis, for those with tree nut allergies.
7PL7 TIL McDonald’s is no longer the world’s largest restaurant chain - Subway now has more outlets open worldwide than McDonald’s.
D1Zjg TIL of the “Fruit Machine”. In 1961 the Canadian government hired a university professor to develop a machine to identify gay people. It was at the height of the Cold War and homosexuals were thought to be more susceptible to communism.
yVKrl TIL that there was a 1.5 Mbps cable internet service in the early 1980's that only cost $8-$10 per month, and went up to 6.4 Mbps
XEjpk TIL about Pierre Levegh, who attempted to drive the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1952 all by himself. He held a 4-lap lead after 23 hours, but over-revved his engine by breaking a connecting rod, causing him to lose his lead in the final hour.