› added 12 years ago

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TIL that one of the US Navy’s most advanced yet-to-be commissioned missile destroyers is commanded by Captain James Kirk.

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N7EXb TIL the Czech Republic changed its English name to Czechia in 2016
nWBpb TIL messenger pigeons only fly home to where they were born and pampered. To keep them loyal, they were isolated in cages while traveling. Releasing them with a message meant they'd rush back to their luxury life. They acted as a speedy, one-way messaging service.
awAJL TIL in 1969, upon request from Richard Nixon, NASA made 250 display plaques for the 50 US states, 135 countries, and the UN. Flags from all the countries and states were flown on board Apollo 11 to the moon and back, and were gifted to each respective state along with fragments of the lunar surface.
VB0Wp TIL about Georges Ruggiu. A Belgian civil servant, who at 35 moved to Rwanda, become a radio presenter for the ruling party (despite not speaking the native language) and demonised the Tutsis, which ended in their genocide.
gM577 TIL There's only one confirmed case of a hybrid between an Asian Elephant and an African Elephant, Motty. He only lived to see 11 days before perishing.