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TIL The UK has 4 nuclear submarines as a nuclear deterrent, each has an identical “letter of last resort”. These letters contain orders from the current PM should the government collapse due to nuclear attack. The PM has only four options to choose and they’re destroyed unopened upon a new PM.

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woMkY TIL insects' ability to hear using tympanal ears has independently evolved at least in seven different orders (Orthoptera, Mantodea, Hemiptera, Neuroptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Diptera), involving at least 15 body locations
E1Mxx TIL the solar storm of 1859 caused the aurora borealis to be seen as far south as the Caribbean and was bright enough to wake miners in the Rockies. The geomagnetic current was also strong enough to power telegraph systems. A similar event happening today would cause widespread blackouts and damage.
wL5KJ Historical photos show fishermen with chinooks almost as tall as they are. A century's worth of dam-building, overfishing, habitat loss and hatcheries has cut the size of the average fish in half.
awJay TIL in 2017, elevated radioactivity levels were detected across Europe. While the increase was not dangerous for Europeans, it was estimated that people in a radius of several km from whatever happened were at severe risk. Nobody has assumed responsibility yet.
kOmVd TIL that the home of Lord North, popularly known as the British prime minister who “lost America,” is today owned by an American university and houses American exchange students.