› added 2 years ago

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TIL: The first helicopter used by the US in combat was during WWII, originally meant to ferry parts from ships to shore, they quickly realized how useful they were and used them for medevac purposes.

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v1Ve8 TIL that some people, after eye surgeries where the cornea is remover, are able to see ultraviolet light-a part of the spectrum not normally visible. Monet, for example, painted with more blues after his op (at the age of 82!) because he could now see uv light bouncing off his beloved flowers.
woov6 TIL Elizabeth, the current Queen of England, is the second-longest verified, reigning monarch of all time. She has a little less than 2 years to beat the record set by the French monarch Louis the XIV, the "Sun King".
QR06 TIL George Ferris died from tuberculosis at age 37, just three years after he invented the Ferris Wheel. Since the Chicago World’s Fair staked a claim to most of the proceeds and economic recession crippled his business, the funeral home held onto his ashes because no one paid the balance due.
DJ9r TIL that when celebrated singer Marian Anderson was denied permission to perform for an integrated audience because she was black, President Franklin Roosevelt arranged for her to give a concert on the steps of Lincoln memorial that was heard by thousands in person and millions over the radio
16oEW TIL when Gelje Sherpa spotted a Malaysian climber struggling in the 'death zone' on Everest, he ended his client's bid to the summit to rescue the climber. So Gelje strapped the climber to his back & carried him down 600 meters taking about 6 hours. Another guide then helped him complete the rescue.