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TIL that ancient Roman concrete’s resilience comes from lime clasts, which helped it self-repair cracks and maintain strength over centuries

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VBKYB TIL about how, during World War II, the United States military experimented with using bats as weapons. In a project called "Project X-Ray" or "Project Bat Bomb," the plan was to attach small incendiary devices to bats and release them over Japanese cities.
WkwEB TIL A 40,000-year-old bracelet was found in Siberia. It was made by an extinct human species called Denisovans. Homosapians did not produce bracelets of this technical sophistication until 10,000 years ago. It is one of the oldest pieces of jewellery ever discovered.
bmV4 TIL there’s a website containing thousands of first hand accounts of slavery from former slaves. Many (if not most) of the former slaves have nothing but positive things to say about their former masters.
noXo TIL Manta rays frequently leap out of the water, sometimes to heights as high as 9 feet and then belly flop back into the water. This flop has been reported to sound as loud as a gunshot. It is still a mystery as to why they do this.
epZx4 TIL that Marlon Brando often refused to memorize his lines for movies like The Godfather. Instead, the crew used cue cards placed around the set, even on other actors. Brando claimed this approach made his performances feel more real and spontaneous, capturing the uncertainty of real conversations.