› added 7 years ago

934

TIL in 1921 a group of workers in a fertilizer factory stuck dynamite in a 4.5k lbs block of hardened ammonium nitrate to loosen it up. The resulting explosion killed 500 people, destroyed 80% of the surrounding homes and ripped the roofs off of buildings 15 miles away.

JOpl TIL in 1914, Mexico arrested nine U.S. sailors in Verecuz for trespassing. The U.S. demanded the release of the sailors, an apology, and a 21 gun salute. Mexico released the sailors and issued an apology, did not give the 21 gun salute. The U.S. responded by invading and occupying the city.
YpbJZ TIL about “Anti-Japan Tribalism”—a book by professor Lee Young-Hoon— that argues the official history of the ROK is based on false narratives and that a number of South Korean scholars, journalists, activists, and politicians have been active in creating and spreading anti-Japanese sentiments & lies
VB7OZ TIL of the red flag act enacted in the late 19th century where every vehicle had to be led by a person on foot carrying a red flag to warn bystanders of the vehicle’s approach
BrEjD TIL that the highest absolute altitude ever achieved by a helicopter (12,440 m) resulted in the engines experiencing a flameout at peak altitude. The pilot then set the record for the longest autorotation used for the unpowered landing of a helicopter.
JYbMk TIL about cross dominance where each hand is better at different activities. Ex: being a lefty when writing but preferring the right hand for throwing a ball etc.