› added 6 years ago

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TIL that pope Stephen VI once dug up the body of a previous pope, put it on trial for bribery and rule-breaking and mocked him for being silent in front of the entire vatican. The defendant lost the case.

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Wk7wY Microwaves can transform a frozen pizza into hot, melted goodness in four minutes flat, but they can't rescue your melted ice-cream sundae. To cook food, a microwave oven converts voltage into high-frequency electromagnetic microwaves. The molecules in food—especially water and fat—absorb this energy and wiggle at high speeds, causing them to heat rapidly and warm the surrounding food. Although quickly turning leftovers cold would be handy, this is a one-way operation, explains David Pozar, a professor and microwave expert at the University of Massachusetts.
EgKxP TIL a 22-year-old high school JV girls basketball coach in Virginia lost her job after she played in a game by posing as a 13-year-old on the team who was out of town. Upon being reported, the team forfeited the game and the players (both JV & varsity) voted to cancel the rest of their seasons.
YBJr TIL In December 1952 the Tower Bridge started to open while a double-decker bus was passing. The driver, Albert Gunton made the decision to accelerate, clearing a 3 ft gap to drop 6 ft onto the north bascule, which had not yet started to rise. There were no serious injuries.
N45N TIL that a floating British base was abandoned until a rogue DJ moved there. He declared the floating fortress the Principality of Sealand. He raised a flag, named himself Prince and his wife Princess. Sealand withstood court challenges, and remains an independent nation to this day.
wLD78 TIL that NASCAR drivers who weigh less than 180 lbs have to add weights to their cars.