› added 8 years ago

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TIL the United States is on pace to build a 1-megawatt laser weapon capable of melting 20 feet of steel per second.

Read more onr.navy.mil

via reddit.com

R4ja TIL In 1972 Lyle Snider, a Quaker who didn’t want his tax dollars going to fund war, was arrested for claiming 3 billion dependents, the population of the Earth, on his W-4 form. Snider was charged with filing a false and fraudulent withholding form, and sentenced to 9 months in prison.
OyPg TIL Before the Queen leaves Buckingham Palace to deliver her speech at the Opening of Parliament, a member of the House of Commons is ceremonially held hostage at the palace. This was started to ensure the safe return of the monarch from a possibly hostile Parliament.
7VLx TIL when using “perfect strategy” in blackjack, the casino only has a 2% edge over the player in the long run. Due to some players playing with their instincts versus the math behind perfect strategy, the casino can gain 10 times their original advantage.
va8R TIL the minimum wage of $1.60 an hour in 1968 would be $10.56 today when adjusted for inflation
ep645 TIL that the planet Saturn is the only planet in our solar system with an average density that is lower than water. It could theoretically float in a pool (if there was a pool big enough to support it 🙃)