› added 4 years ago

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TIL: Gerhard Schrader was a chemist tasked to create new insecticides. He created Preparation 9/91 which killed insects, but also caused diarrhea, vomiting, and death. His employers stated he had failed. He then alerted the Nazis and was hired. He was paid $20,000 and soon developed Sarin gas.

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WkKj4 TIL the first pilot to spot incoming Japanese fighters at Pearl Harbor was a woman. Her name was Cornelia Fort and she was a civilian flight instructor. 2 years later she was killed in a mid-air collision and became the first female pilot to be killed on active military duty.
jWrv TIL that in Japan eating Christmas dinner at KFC is so popular that two-hour lines form at some locations as people wait to get in.
XEWJ6 TIL A turkey is called a Hindi in Turkey because of everyone being confused as to where this bird came from in the days of the New World
J7lV TIL that in Star Trek the voice of the Breen alien race was inspired by Lou Reed’s album Metal Machine Music, which the postproduction sound staff were instructed to listen to when creating the electronic cackle that served as the Breen’s voices.
JapB TIL that the locations of the world’s tallest and oldest trees are kept top secret to avoid tourist crowds damaging them and their surroundings.