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172

TIL about heavy water, which is just water but slightly heavier

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N7dy8 TIL Bobby Fischer made the only perfect score in the U.S. Championship and went on to invent a modified chess timing system, which added a time increment after each move, now a standard practice in top tournament and match play.
9mLG TIL that there are unmanned US-CAN border crossings. You talk officers using a videophone and hold your passport up for the camera.
KYN99 TIL Of the 45 persons who have served as President of the United States, at least half have displayed proficiency in speaking or writing a language other than English. Of these, only one, Martin Van Buren, learned English as his second language; his first language was Dutch.
7rRY7 TIL that Freddie Mercury used to sneak Princess Diana into gay bars disguised as a man, and once brought her to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, which is still a highlight of the London gay scene today.
WkOlN TIL During the American Revolutionary War, both the British and Americans allowed slaves to enlist, promising freedom once the war was over. After the war, most American troops were forced back into slavery, but the British kept their word and freed most of their troops.