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TIL the only active ship in the US Navy that has sunk an enemy ship is the USS Constitution built in 1797

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16vl4 TIL There are fossilized plants in Greenland under 1.4 km of ice. At the bottom of a 1.4 km core sample, which was taken in 1966 at Camp Century, researchers found "well-preserved fossil plants and biomolecules," which means that the massive sheet melted and reformed at least once in the last millio
XE94X TIL When Chinua Achebe became the editor of the Heinemann African Writers Series, one of the first books he chose was a collection of stories by Cyprian Ekwensi. Ekwensi became one of the most prolific African writers of the twentieth century
kr47 Til Muslims believe that all human beings are born pure. Children automatically go to heaven when they die, regardless of the religion of their parents
E1Jbw TIL From 1994-99 George Foreman was paid about 40% of the profits on each Foreman grill sold, earning him $4.5M a month in payouts at its peak. In the period it’s estimated he received over $200M, more than he did as a boxer.
Z6mR TIL that the Japanese imperial succession law barring women from the throne is only about 140 years old, and not ancient tradition. The rule was changed when Japan was modernizing to match Prussia’s succession rules, as Japan looked up to the rising European superpower.