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TIL after Douglas MacArthur was relieved of command in the Korean War in 1951, Emperor Hirohito visited him to offer his condolences. It was the first time a Japanese Emperor had ever visited a foreigner who was not a diplomat or royalty

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YppEd TIL we live closer to the rule of Cleopatra than Cleopatra lived to the building of the pyramids of Giza.
N7KPE TIL that a Chemistry Prof Accidentally Killed Herself by Allowing 2 Drops of Organic Mercury to Land on Her Gloved Hand
xVWE5 TIL that introduction of iodized salt in 1920s increased national IQ average by 3.5 points in a decade and in certain states which had high levels of iodine deficiency previously, saw avg IQ increase as much as 15 points within the first decade.
wL6O7 TIL German-Italian microcar BMW Isetta was modified to hide a person inside the engine bay in order to escape unsuspecting East German border police. Nine people were able to defect successfully before being discovered.
Br6db TIL the U2 Spy Plane, first launched in 1955 and instrumental during the Cuban Missile Crisis, is not only still in service for surveillance missions, but still also uses film for its high-resolution photography.