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TIL in WW2 US tried to weaponize botulinum. Chinese prostitutes would receive capsules to kill Japanese officers who hired them. The plan was tested on donkeys, who survived so it was scrapped. That research led to the creation of Botox It was later discovered donkeys are immune to botulinum toxin.

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XEm4j TIL In 1920, a comedian called Harold Lloyd lost two fingers after picking up what he assumed to be a lit prop bomb at a photo shoot, that turned out to be a real bomb. It took 8 months to recover, and for the rest of his career, he had to wear a prosthetic.
epvQL TIL the British entered their own cartridge into NATO's PDW trials, which sought to replace the standard 9x19mm Parabellum round. Competing with FN's 5.7x28mm round and H&K's 4.6x30mm was .224 Boz, a necked down 10mm Auto cartridge.
9J0m TIL In 1848, the British East India Company sent Botanist Robert Fortune on a trip to China’s interior, an area forbidden to foreigners to steal tea seeds from China to India.He succeeded and within his lifetime, India surpassed China as the world’s largest tea grower.
b9LYZ TIL a group of friends in Saint Paul, Minnesota were hosting a small gathering to play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate when police officers showed up in response to a noise complaint from a neighbor. No charges were made by the police; instead, 2 officers joined in playing Smash, one playing Pikachu.
rRlyw TIL that cooling pasta for 24 hours reduces calories and insulin response while also turning into a prebiotic. These positive effects only intensify if you re-heat it.