› added 8 months ago

26

TIL: That the Beirut Explosion of August 4th, 2020 is considered one of the most powerful artificial non-nuclear explosions in history. It was equivalent to around 1.1 kilotons of TNT and generated an earthquake equivalent to 3.3 in magnitude.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

6NXJ TIL that a species of nematode was discovered living at depths of up to 2.2 miles deep, suggesting that an undiscovered biosphere may exist underground.
x6pNk TIL about the Bussard Ramjet, a theoretical method of spacecraft propulsion for interstellar travel. A spacecraft scoops up hydrogen from the interstellar medium, the hydrogen is compressed until thermonuclear fusion occurs, and the fusion provides thrust for the spacecraft.
4XKxb TIL: The speed cameras in Germany are made to take photos of drivers who sit in the left side of the vehicle, so a driver using a British car put a muppet in the passenger seat to hide their identity.
6E7Kl TIL The US shipped about $40 billion in cash to Iraq on planes between 2003 and 2008 and most of it went missing and is still unaccounted for today.
PnNe TIL Ancient Egyptian families would mourn the death of a family cat by shaving off their eyebrows. The cat was embalmed with a sculpted wooden mask and the tiny mummy was placed in the family tomb or in a pet cemetery with tiny mummies of mice.