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TIL billions of wooden pallets are circulating through the world (2 billion in the United States alone). Some 80 percent of all U.S. commerce is carried on pallets. They’re so widespread they account for more than 46 percent of total U.S. hardwood lumber production.

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JQyV TIL the Catholic Church did not persecute Copernicus and instead the Pope was so pleased with the theory he gave a gift
16wo4 TIL there is a group of 737 aircraft operated by "Janet Airlines", a highly classified airline that shuttles military personnel and contractor employees to and from Area 51. The aircraft are generally unmarked, aside from a red cheatline along the windows of the aircraft.
Y41W TIL in 1964 the FAA, wanting to find out whether the population of a city would tolerate regular sonic booms, got the air force to make multiple daily supersonic flights over Oklahoma City for six months
d8j4Z TIL that in 2001 a New York couple used a submersible to be married two and a half miles underwater, on the wreck of the Titanic
PYo9w TIL in 1991, 60 Minutes suggested red wine was the answer to the "French Paradox" (France enjoys a low incidence of heart disease despite a diet high in saturated fats). Within a year, American consumption of wine increased 40% and some wine sellers began promoting their products as "health food".