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An ancient vending machine dispensed holy water

Hero of Alexandria described a coin-operated device that released a measured amount of holy water nearly 2,000 years ago.

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A coin landed on a lever, briefly opening a valve. When the coin slid off, a counterweight closed the valve again. The mechanism used the same basic exchange that defines a vending machine today.

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Louis XIV reigned for more than 72 years

Louis XIV of France held the longest verified reign of any sovereign monarch, lasting 72 years and 110 days.

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The shortest recorded war lasted less than an hour

The Anglo-Zanzibar War on August 27, 1896, is commonly recorded as lasting between 38 and 45 minutes.

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The Declaration was signed in August, not on July 4

Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, but delegates began signing the parchment copy on August 2.

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