› added 12 years ago

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TIL a consortium of American and German organizations cut a hole in the side of a 747 to install a 2.5m telescope. This modified plane is flown above most of the atmosphere so infrared observations can be made.

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via reddit.com

xGaB TIL George Washington was the wealthiest US President, with $525 million (adjusted for inflation). His salary was 2% of the total US budget in 1789, and he owned over 50,000 acres of land.
YpkNW TIL that the moon has "moon-quakes" and because the moon has a smaller core than earth, this causes it to ring like a bell
KN4B TIL that Hitler’s doctor injected him with a solution of water and methamphetamine saying that was which he called “vitamultin”. He kept a diary of the drugs he administered to Hitler, usually by injection (up to 20 times per day). The list include drugs such as heroin as well as poisons
D1ykJ TIL of a 1698 beard tax in Russia, in which authorities were authorized by Emperor Peter I to publicly shave individuals who did not pay the tax on their beards. The tax was designed to make Russian men conform to Western European notions of grooming.
w1B8 TIL Comedian Spike Milligan’s wish to have his tomb stone read “I told you I was ill” was refused by the Chichester diocese. They compromised and wrote the same epitaph in Irish.