› added 9 years ago

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TIL in 2014, scientists created Vantablack, a substance made from carbon nanotubes, which absorbs 99.965% of radiation in the visible spectrum making it the blackest substance known.

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MKmK TIL that in 2008 a ship’s anchor accidentally cut two underwater Internet cables - reducing Asia’s internet capacity by 72%.
MebnV TIL the first documented use of toilet paper dates back in 589AD in early medieval China. Elsewhere, wealthy people wiped themselves with wool, lace or hemp, while others used their hand when defecating into rivers, using rags, wood shavings, leaves, grass, hay, stones, sand, moss,water, snow, etc.
mv4p TIL that there is video footage of Helen Keller, including her speaking.
m1p8M TIL the reason the "funny bone" feels different is because it is pain inflicted directly onto a nerve (pinching it into a nearby bone), in contrast to when nerves react to nearby trauma (like banging your toe)
W7Lr4 TIL the Port Chicago disaster accounted for 15% of all African American casualties in World War II