› added 7 years ago

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TIL the USA developed at least 2 working nuclear thermal rocket engines that were twice as efficient as chemical rockets, tested them both in the open air at Jackass Flats near Area 51, and deemed them ready to power a manned spaceflight mission to Mars.

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7rxWO TIL Female anaconda sometimes eats the smaller male after mating, Sexual cannibalism provides female anacondas with a lot of nutrients, useful for them because they fast for seven months while pregnant.
6OAw TIL there is a fortress castle called Mont Saint-Michel off the coast of Normandy, France that is accessible by foot at low tide, but becomes an island at high tide. It was the only spot in Normandy that never fell to the English during the 100 Years War. It has also served as a church and prison
R7D06 TIL: To combat the theft of trees around Christmas time, University of Nebraska-Lincoln used to spray their trees with fox urine. It freezes and has no odor outside, but thaws if taken indoors. The resultant smell is so rancid it is “eye-watering”.
7rx1Z TIL of Operation Wikinger, where in February of 1940, because of poor communication between the German Kreigsmarine and the Luftwaffe, there was an intense fight between them, resulting in the loss of 578 German sailors and 2 destroyers despite there being no Allied forces anywhere near the battle
e0dkg TIL Germany's flag is actually an alternative to the actual flag