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TIL During World War II, The United States Playing Card Company created a very special deck of cards known as the “Map Deck.” When soaked in water, these decks could be peeled apart to reveal hidden maps that allowed escaping prisoners to find their way to safety.

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via reddit.com

9pKM TIL more people die each year in the US from STDs than ALL illicit drug abuse.
KOMLR TIL after losing automatic control of his Mercury capsule, astronaut Gordon Cooper was forced to use his knowledge of constellations, wristwatch, and his eyeballs to manually land his spacecraft. He ended up splashing just 4 miles from his recovery ship, the most accurate landing up to that point.
M7bQV TIL that in 2023 a final rule was finally published by the Fish and Wildlife Service declaring the iconic Ivory Billed Woodpecker was extinct. The rule included 21 species, including 10 birds, 8 mussels, 2 fish, and a flying fox. The rule removes protection under the Endangered Species Act.
61dw TIL of twin brothers who ran a marathon where halfway through the race they switched places in a toilet. The 1st brother drove ahead while his twin ran,rejoining the race ahead finishing 9th winning R6000. A keen eyed journalist noticed the two wore their watches on opposite hands in different pics.
0w86v TIL that a Russian Black widow bomber blew herself up when her phone company sent her a spam text message, causing her explosive device to explode prematurely.