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TIL Pentagon freaked out in the 1980s when they realized Finland had, against their expectations, managed to build two Mir submarines capable of diving to 6000 meters. They went on to shut down the whole Finnish submarine industry by privately threatening the country with heavy sanctions.

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ldP5 TIL that during their expedition Lewis and Clark brought packs of “thunderclappers,” rediculously strong laxatives made of 60 percent mercury. Due to the strength of the laxatives and the longevity of mercury, scientists can track the route of the expedition by following deposits.
v4ML TIL that ‘meconium’, the first bowel movement of an infant, can be tested to determine if the mother smoke, drank or engaged in drug use during pregnancy. Meconium testings can be used in the US to determine the eligibility of the parents to keep their newborn child.
4Xd5R TIL when France was occupied by the Germans in 1940, Citroen was forced to produce vehicles for the Nazis. They chose to move the fill line on their oil dipsticks lower, causing the trucks to seize under stress from low oil.
l7RK1 TIL all 1,000 people that attended Genghis Khan’s funeral were killed by executioners, who were then killed by members of his escort, who then committed suicide, just to keep the location a secret. It hasn’t been found.
e0xNg TIL of Ulster Nationalism, the belief that Northern Ireland shouldn't be apart of either the UK or the Republic of Ireland, but be a independent state.