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TIL that in the 1980s East Germany tried to resolve a major coffee shortage by building coffee-production infrastructure in Vietnam, its close ally. By the time any coffee was harvested, East Germany had ceased to exist. Meanwhile, today Vietnam is the second-largest coffee producer in the world

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Ky89 TIL: John Delorean (designer of the Delorean DMC-12 “back to the future” car) was arrested for conspiracy to traffic narcotics, after being set up by FBI. Delorean was saved from prison after publisher Larry Flynt obtained and released tapes and documents that proved his innocence.
Me7k8 TIL that the Von Trapp family, made famous by The Sound of Music, lost their fortune in the Great Depression, and the children's singing careers were purely a way to earn a livelihood.
lodYN TIL the largest action of the American War of Independence was actually the Great Siege of Gibraltar (1779-1783) by a combined French & Spanish force, showing how the Thirteen Colonies were merely one theatre of a much wider war.
5YgeQ TIL Lightning plays an important part in the Earths nitrogen cycle by breaking down nitrogen molecules in the air, so they can be dissolved by rain, and then carried down to Earth. Nitrogen is a very important element and needed for the production, growth, and decomposition of every living thing.
YmP7 TIL that Jim Carrey explained the significance of detecting gravity waves in the cosmic microwave background 10+ years ago (Conan O'Brien Show, 22 May 2003). Special guest star Stephen Hawking.