› added 11 months ago

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TIL the CIA tested the SR-71 radar signature by mounting it to a pole in the desert (Area 51). It was removed daily just before the Soviet satellite passed above. But since a shadow was created on the hot desert dirt - the temperature differential exposed the exact shape of the jet to the Soviets

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via reddit.com

MElK TIL Due to difficulties importing the necessary ingredients to make Coca-Cola syrup into Nazi Germany, Coca-Cola company decided to make a new product with the available ingredients at that time, the product is called Fanta.
XOO6 TIL Scientists are on the verge of being able to produce viable, living human organs via 3D bioprinters.
EVVV TIL that the EPA used to chase commercial jets down the runway with a heavily modified Plymouth originally meant for NASCAR competition. The car stayed in the jet wash the entire time. At $25,000, they determined this to be the cheapest way of collecting emissions data for airliners
vjkr TIL The two “M’s” in M&Ms represent the names of Forrest E. Mars Sr. (son of candy company Mars, Inc. founder Frank C. Mars) and Bruce Murrie (son of Hershey’s Chocolate president William F. R. Murrie).
E1Gbw TIL US Marines have strict rules about tattoos, like leaving a two inch gap on the elbow for vein access and uniform reasons.