› added 13 years ago

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TIL the 1964 earthquake in Alaska was so big that water sloshed in wells in Africa

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WkJnB TIL because electronic computers were not fast in 1959, the X15 experimental jet used a Fluidic Digital Computer that used water instead of electricity. It featured hypersensitive Fluidic Integrated Circuits and Logic Gates that could make course corrections faster than its contemporary computers.
m18jP TIL that multiple undetonated bombs have been found in Pompeii. As a result of Allied bombing during World War II, it is estimated that between seven and ten unexploded bombs remain in the unexcavated portions of the site. The last time one went off was over thirty years ago.
wox9Y TIL: That at the audition for the role of Mork in Mork & Mindy, Robin Williams was asked to take a seat and promptly sat on his head. Producer Gary Marshall cast him on the spot, later commenting that Williams was the only alien who auditioned.
WkMKd TIL of the Invention Secrecy Act. The government has a program in place which specifically deals with inventions that are deemed to be "threats to national security" (open thread for choice quotes). There are currently 6102 inventions under lock and key, some of which "pertain to energy generation".
8adKV TIL that EU citizen can demand a copy of all personal data that companies hold about them. However, more than one year after implementation of the new law, most Android and iPhone apps still completely ignore this right, a study has found.