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TIL that the Great Pyramids of Giza were built smooth and shiny. There was an outer layer of white limestone that covered the pyramids and reflected the Egyptian sun, but it was removed over time and only the inner layers remain.

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KYZ6E TIL of the ancient law of General Acerage. If a ship carrying cargo needs to jettison some of its load to save the rest, that loss is to be shared proportionally among interest holders and the ship owner. First written into law in 800BC, it continues to be declared in maritime emergencies.
Z6dp TIL that in the state of New Hampshire, defense attorneys are legally entitled to inform juries of their right to return a not guilty verdict even when they believe a defendant is guilty, otherwise known as Jury Nullification
4kOM6 TIL The Scarlet Pimpernel is the first character to have a secret identity, being first published in 1905. Everyone believes Sir Percy Blakeney is a wealthy fop, but in reality he is a daring adventurer who saving people from execution during the Terror of the French Revolution.
D1wJP TIL Cats were kept on ships by Ancient Egyptians for pest control and it become a seafaring tradition. It is believed Domestic cats spread throughout much of the world with sailing ships during Age of Discovery(15th through 18th centuries).
b9wwp TIL that the nuclear warning systems for both US and Russia aim to detect a nuclear weapons before they hit the target so that a retaliation can be launched before their own weapons are destroyed. The system has given at least 22 false alarms which could have caused a nuclear war.