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TIL in 1995, NASA astronomer Bob Williams wanted to point the Hubble telescope at the darkest part of the sky for 100 hours. Critics said it was a waste of valuable time, and he'd have to resign if it came up blank. Instead it revealed over 3,000 galaxies, in an area 1/30th as wide as a full moon

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ADjr4 TIL as a young boy Yuri Gagarin (first man in space) had his village occupied by nazis, his family forced to work while living in a 3 by 3 meter mud hut for 21 months, saw his little brother being hanged (but saved by his parents) and his two older siblings deported for slave labor (who escaped).
bnd9 TIL that there is a form of insomnia that is progressive and 100% fatal. Sufferers gradually lose the ability to sleep until it is completely impossible. After several months of no sleep, they become unresponsive, mute, and eventually die.
ep0Ab TIL The Mapuche of South America were one of the very tribes successfully resisting Spanish control, staying independent for over 300 years. They called the Spaniards "New Incas", because the successfully resisted the Incan Empire as well. They were only subjugated in 1883
4kMvN TIL Rock paper scissors originates from Jan-ken, a Japanese variation of a Chinese game imported to Japan in the 17th century, which had a slug, frog and snake. The modern version was created in the late 19th century and spread beyond East Asia as Japan increased contact with the west
d8Eld TIL Jazz is the hardest word to guess in hangman, according to math.