› added 3 months ago

17

TIL the Whitworth rifle, used during the Civil War, is considered the first "sniper rifle", accurate at distances up to 1800m (2000 yd) when equipped with a 4x scope

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4XxlX TIL that it is not illegal to grow, possess and consume "magic mushrooms" (Psilocybe cubensis) here in Brazil (basically because we don't have a law against it) and there is even a web store selling them (alongside shitake, shiimeji and porcini mushrooms).
MeYr7 TIL: Compressed air is used as a battery substitute by some utility companies.
6964w TIL the word ‘sadism’ derives from the Marquis de Sade, a contemporary of Napoleon whose views on violence scandalised French society (even during the revolutionary terror). His book 120 Days of Sodom is considered unreadable for its abhorrent graphic sexual violence
J1vV TIL - Josh Wolf served 226 days in prison, longer than any other journalist in U.S. history has served for protecting source materials.
D1y9V TIL that the hottest part of the day isn't noon, but between 4-6. The earth warms during the day but continues to get warmer until the evening