› added 9 months ago

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TIL that in January 2019, a sound installation powered by solar batteries was set up in an undisclosed location in the Namib Desert to play Toto’s “Africa” on an indefinite constant loop.

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via reddit.com

v5JL TIL of high speed tape, an adhesive that closely resembles duct tape and is frequently used on planes as a temporary patch to any punctures, scrapes, or surface damage. It is FAA-approved and can withstand extreme temperatures and high speeds.
9YOLD TIL that 18 fictional characters have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, including Mickey Mouse, Snoopy, Godzilla and Shrek.
OoeEL TIL Rum-Running is smuggling alcohol over water; Boot-Legging is smuggling alcohol over land.
R5nLQ TIL that in 1846 Christian Friedrich Schönbein discovered a formula for nitrocellulose when working in his kitchen. He spilled nitric acid and sulfuric acid on the kitchen table, wiped it up with a cotton apron, then hung it on the stove door to dry. As soon as it was dry, the apron ignited.
D1NlV TIL the McIlhenny Company is one of just a few U.S. companies to have received a royal warrant of appointment that certifies the company as a supplier to Queen Elizabeth II. The warrant held is "Supplier of Tabasco HM The Queen – Master of the Household – Granted in 2009".