› added 4 months ago

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TIL that sodium batteries are a solid alternative to lithium batteries in industrial environments. Sodium is more abundant (500x) and cheaper than lithium. They are also considered safer (non-flammable). Energy density needs to improve for them to work for EV cars

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79mp TIL that the Fertile Crescent A.K.A the Cradle of Civilization is now largely barren, sun-baked clay in many areas, due to human activity
DW1Y TIL a homeless cat sneaked into a lynx’s enclosure in a Leningrad zoo, then the two became best friends
neR9 TIL that Jim Varney’s (of Earnest Goes somewhere fame) last words to his partner were “Please leave the window open”. He died of lung cancer but did quit after being diagnosed. He also filmed an anti-smoking PSA, in his Earnest character.
ORn1 TIL that Transport for London has a history of giving babies born on a train/in underground stations free lifetime rail/train passes
0YW1 TIL a couple people in Bath, UK opened a very short toll road connecting Bath and Bristol around a year ago. The toll road, which did not get a permit to be built, bypassed a short section of a main road that had a 14 mile long detour. They built the road in only 10 days.