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TIL Japan does not accept signatures on official documents (banks, real estate and business) but require a ‘hanko’ which is an official carved wooden or stone seal pressed in ink

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VMV4D TIL The Czech Republic now goes by Czechia
kJ8dm TIL about the birthday effect. A statistical phenomenon where an individual's likelihood of death appears to increase on or close to their birthday, variously attributed to alcohol consumption, psychological stress, increased suicide risk, and other factors.
ANL8x TIL One Gallon of Oil Can Contaminate One Million Gallons of Fresh Water
Z8Ygv TIL Pope John XII was the only Pope who was ever beaten to death by a jealous husband for sleeping with his wife. He was also accused of turning the papal palace into a brothel, sleeping with his niece, toasting the devil, ordaining a 10yr old boy, and misusing papal funds to pay gambling debts.
oyGY TIL There was an armed interceptor version of the SR-71 called the YF-12. It was the largest manned interceptor ever made, and held several world records for speed and altitude. It was cancelled after the secretary of defense held funding so it could be spent in the Vietnam war.