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TIL that the instructions on how to use the US M79 Rocket Launcher was to “aim towards the enemy”

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WmwB TIL of Unit 731, a covert biological warfare research and development unit of the Japanese Army that undertook lethal human experimentation. A few of the experiments included vivisection without anesthesia and pressure chambers to see how much a human could take before his eyes popped out.
A6vw TIL In 1942 Hitler met with Mannerheim in an attempt to get Finnish support against the Soviets. Mannerheim lit a cigar and when Hitler (who was known to hate smoking) did not complain, he interpreted it as a sign of weakness and did not agree to the request.
v1xVR TIL of Eilmer of Malmesbury, an 11th century English monk who built a flying machine inspired by the myth of Daedalus. He successfully flew 200 meters off the roof of his abbey before crashing because he forgot to include a tail in the design.
V8DG TIL Researchers at MIT studied phantom traffic jams (jams that arise in the absence of any obstacles) and found they are inevitable at a certain vehicle density threshold. The waves of traffic are named Jamitons, and are similar to the equations that describe detonation waves produced by explosions.
WkALA TIL of the SS Morro Castle, a cruise ship that suffered a disastrous fire during a nor'easter off NJ in 1934, killing 137. The cause of the fire was never discovered, but some believe it was intentionally started by the Chief Radio Operator, who was later convicted of two murders and a bombing.