› added 11 years ago

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TIL that in response to bioterrorism threats, the US has stockpiled enough smallpox vaccine to vaccinate its population

Read more emergency.cdc.gov

via reddit.com

7m1p TIL epidemiologists studied World of Warcraft’s unintentional “Corrupted Blood” plague as a virtual model of disease spread and populace reaction to deadly pandemic.
QNRoM TIL that in 1967 during the Vietnam War, US Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock strapped a scope to a 50-caliber machine gun, using it like a rifle. He made a number of kills with this weapon in excess of 1,000 yards, including his record for the longest confirmed kill at 2,500 yards.
oG9r TIL that survival rates for cardiac arrests in the US are a low 8% with many survivors having disabilities. Though some US TV shows have incorrectly portrayed them at 67%
0da5y TIL the US Post Office issued stamp on 13 May 1918 to mark the first official airmail flight, featuring an image of a “Curtiss Jenny” biplane. A printing error caused the plane to be shown flying upside down. Only one "Inverted Jenny" sheet was printed, making those stamps extremely rare.
wlGY TIL that the intense rationing in England during WWII actually reduced infant mortality by guaranteeing nutrition to everyone.