› added 12 years ago

115

TIL that Jimmy Carter left nuclear launch codes in his suit when it was sent in for dry cleaning

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via reddit.com

9wN4r TIL The Nagant M1895 is one of the few revolvers that can successfully use a silencer. This is possible because the ammunition's casing extends over the projectile and the cylinder slides forward when cocked. When fired these elements create a gas seal that prevents gas from venting out the sides.
JYVg1 TIL Due to Galileo's training in Renaissance art and an understanding of chiaroscuro (a technique for shading light and dark) he quickly understood that the moon shadows he was seeing were actually mountains and craters. From his sketches, he made estimates of their heights and depths
D1Bpe TIL two guys used nothing more that high visibility vests to gain free entry into a movie, a zoo, and a Coldplay concert.
XEKR6 TIL Mel Brooks offered the role of Waco Kid (Gene Wilder's character) in Blazing Saddles to John Wayne.
vP8oK TIL there's a stinging tree called Gympie Gympie that has a toxin so excruciating it's driven people and animals to suicide. It feels like being doused in hot acid and electrocuted.