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TIL that in the 1400s, China owned the greatest seagoing fleet in the world. But by 1525, all of China’s “Treasure Fleet” ships had been destroyed at the urging of the political elite who had become alarmed at the rise of a newly rich merchant class.

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rROvM TIL that your heart rate slows when your face touches water; this is called the mammalian diving reflex.
mOPy TIL that in 1669, Hennig Brand discovered phosphorus by boiling down urine and heating the residue to very high temperatures. He was trying to make gold though, and he hoped that the yellow color of urine meant there was gold in it.
p85dN TIL that Henry II, King of France 1547-1559, died due to a septic infection caused by splinter piercing his eye during a jousting match. His death played a significant role in the decline of jousting as a sport in France.
rRRYW TIL that in 1966, when asked by a Senate subcommittee member about the dangers of LSD, Timothy Leary stated: "Sir, the motor car is dangerous if used improperly...Human stupidity and ignorance is the only danger human beings face in this world." The Senator he was replying to was Ted Kennedy.
wlk6 TIL a homeless girl went to Harvard. She attended 12 schools in 12 years; lived out of garbage bags among pimps, prostitutes and drug dealers. She was accepted to more than 20 universities before choosing Harvard.