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TIL the Backfire Effect occurs when, in the face of contradictory evidence, established beliefs do not change but actually get stronger

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p8omN TIL the "Clear and Present Danger" doctrine is no longer the standard of discerning when speech is criminal. The current standard is called "Imminent lawless action" and was established by the United States Supreme Court in Brandenburg v. Ohio in 1969.
E1Lrp TIL that the transformation of common metals into gold, a seemingly impossible goal attempted by alchemists for centuries, is now entirely possible using either a nuclear reactor or a particle accelerator. However, the process is so expensive that it is functionally useless.
6EvGw TIL a former engineer in Japan claims to be the only heir to authentic ninjutsu. In his 60s, Jinichi Kawakami decided he will not appoint anyone as the next ninja grandmaster, saying: "we now have guns, the internet and much better medicines, so the art of ninjutsu has no place in the modern age."
0dRL5 TIL we can't just throw all our garbage into a volcano to burn it up because volcanoes are not hot enough to melt the metals in the trash, and most volcanoes don't actually have a lava lake (only 8 of the thousands on earth)
mxPVR TIL NHL legend Maurice Richard was so beloved in Canada that he was named one of the inaugural members of the Order of Canada, had a short story written about him adapted into an animated film by the National Film Board, and was the first non-politician to be given a state funeral.