› added 8 years ago

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TIL that engineers at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab have developed a next-generation prosthetic: a robotic arm that has 26 joints, can curl up to 45 pounds and is controlled with a person’s mind just like a regular arm.

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via reddit.com

G95J TIL that Hugh Thompson Jr., a Vietnam War helicopter pilot, saved 11 civilians during the My Lai massacre. He ordered his men to fire upon American soldiers if they tried to shoot civilians. While he was derided by Congress, 30 years later, he was awarded the “Soldier’s Medal” by the Army.
rNwQW TIL that the earliest known depiction of a handshake is an ancient Assyrian relief of the 9th century BC depicting the Assyrian King Shalmaneser III shaking the hand of the Babylonian King Marduk-Zakir-Shumi I to seal an alliance.
N7d98 TIL that the tensile strength of plated bamboo cables is as strong as or stronger than a steel cable of the same size. Hemp rope loses 20% of its strength when wet while bamboo cables increase in strength by as much as 20% when wet.
R5bpl TIL a Nashville man known as "The Free Pizza Guy" has been giving free pizza to anyone who asks for it since 2019. As of November 18, 2020, they had sent nearly 4,000 pizzas to strangers in need.
Z8PJp TIL Iguanas turn black when they’re going through severe or psychosocial stress.