› added 8 months ago

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TIL that in 1986 a limnic eruption caused a toxic gas cloud of CO2 to be released from Lake Nyos. The cloud traveled downhill at 30mph and killed 1,786 people nearly instantly. People have since moved back to the area, and scientists believe it is only a matter of time before this could happen again

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EoaP TIL that CAPTCHA is an acronym for “Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart”
e0y55 TIL that the depiction of angels as winged humanoids in robes was just a relatively recent idea. In the Bible, they were described as terrifying odd shapes and stuff. One was a burning wheel with multiple eyes and another was a four-faced being. This was why they would say 'fear not' to a human.
NX9N TIL candle wicks curve over on purpose. This puts the tip just (and just the tip) in reach of oxygen, effectively trimming the wick.
ep0gD TIL A WW1 forerunner to cruise missiles, the pilotless Kettering Bug was designed to strike targets at a range of 75 miles.
9njG TIL that goats can eat poison ivy with no ill effects. There are farmers that rent out goats to clear parks, golf courses and historical sites without using chemicals and herbicides.