› added 9 years ago

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TIL The most powerful sidearm ever issued by the US military was the Colt Walker of 1847. It weighed 4.5 pounds, had a 9" barrel, and fired a .44 caliber projectile with the muzzle energy of a .357 magnum. It had an effective range of 100 yards, but was prone to blowing up in the shooter’s hands.

MZoK TIL A father and son team designed and built the Brooklyn Bridge. The father died from tetanus after injuring himself during the initial planning and the son was paralyzed by the bends while digging the underwater foundation.
8ebxZ TIL that the clitoris is like an iceberg in that only 10 percent of it is visible, the other 90 percent is internal.
69QmZ TIL that in the early 20th century, doctors used to prescribe cigarettes to patients as a treatment for a variety of ailments, including asthma, anxiety, and even sore throats. It wasn't until the 1960s that the link between smoking and lung cancer became widely known.
16D14 TIL Giant seabirds called albatrosses have specialized salt glands above their beaks that allow them to drink seawater. These glands filter out excess salt, which is then excreted through their nostrils as a concentrated saline solution.
1avjW TIL that Frank Abagnale Jr. , once used a security guard disguise , bought at a local costume shop , to be able to label a box at an airport which money was being transfered to daily, with a sign stating: "Out of service, Place deposits with security guard on duty", which suprisingly worked.