Vultures are found in many parts of the world except Australia and Antarctica.
Vultures like to be in groups.
Vultures ' senses help them find food.
Vultures travel long distances everyday.
Vultures glide instead of flapping.
Vultures' stomach can handle dangerous food.
O'Clock means of the clock.
300 - 400 years ago, people used 2 types of time.
1. Sun time -- By position of Sun ( like on midday. )
2. Clock time --- By mechanical clock
To be clear which type of time they are referring to, people started saying ----
3 of the clock -- meaning clock time, not Sun time !!!
Over the time, of the clock shortened to O'Clock .....
So, 3 O'Clock = 3 of the clock !!!!
Here are some of the world's most surprising countries defined by very unusual " NO " !!!
1. Ireland --- No mosquitoes
2. Saudi Arabia --- No permanent rivers
3. Vatican City ---- No airports
4. Costa Rica --- No standing army
5. Singapore --- No natural lakes
6. New Zealand --- No native snakes
7. Bhutan ---- No traffic lights
8. San Marino --- No railway station
9. Qatar =-- No forest
10. Greenland --- No road networks between cities
In my house, washing machine is having its own place away from bathroom !!!
But nowadays, I observed that people are accomodating washing machine inside the bathroom !!!
But this poses life threatening condition.
Washing machines are significantly heavy and have a large amount of vibration. As a result internal wiring eventually breaks down.
If the live electric wire makes contact with wet end of pump of washing machine, electric current travels through discharged water.
As the water has high electrolytic conductivity, the shower we are taking will serve as the termination point for leakage current !!!!
What can be done ???
WAITING !!!!
We must allow any left over water to drain completely and also allow the whole system to shut down completely.
Waiting of minimum 30 to 40 minutes is necessary to take shower after the " END " light turns off from washing machine !!!!
Trans Siberian Railway is the world's longest railway route.
This railway joins the Western Russia to the distant Siberia and Pacific coastal regions of Russia.
It covers the distance of almost 9289 km.
It crosses the immense territory of Siberia that includes forests, rivers and remote areas.
It passes through 8 time zones !!!!
Some other railway routes around the world are ------
Railway route country length
Trans Siberian Russia 9289 km
Railway
China Europe Multiple More than
Railway countries 8000 km
The Canadian Canada 4466 km
Indian Pacific Australia 4352 km
California USA 3924 km
Zephyr
This question was asked on Koun Banega Karodpati program.
Question
Which of these gases causes airbags to inflate in cars ??
1. Nitrogen
2. Helium
3. Oxygen
4. Hydrogen
Answer
I had a doubt between nitrogen and helium.
I know nitrogen is an inert gas and helium can be inhaled by humans !!!
Answer Nitrogen !!!
We will look at how airbags work ......
Inside the airbag module, there is a solid compound called Sodium Azide NaN2.
When sensors detect a crash, they set off an igniter.
The heat thus produced, makes Sodium Azide to decompose really fast.
It produces a huge amount of nitrogen gas in about 0.03 seconds.
This Nitrogen gas instantly inflates the nylon airbag so we don't bounce off it !!!
Why Nitrogen gas ??
Nitrogen gas is inert and don't burn.
It is abundant in air.
Nitrogen gas can be instantly generated from a solid !!!
So airbags are filled with the same gas that is already around us and can be inhaled.
ANSWER NITROGEN !!!!
Despite their outward resemblance, snakes and earth worms represent widely different branches !!!
I have listed down the differences -----
1. Snakes are reptiles.
Earthworms are Worms.
2. Snakes have backbones.
Earthworms don't have.
3. Snakes have dry scales has body covering.
Earthworms have moist skin.
4. Snakes breath through lungs.
Earthworms breath through skin.
5. Snakes are carnivorous.
Earthworms feed on decaying organic matter.
6. Snakes slithers using muscles and scales.
Earthworms move by contractung their body segments.
That little groove between nose and upper lip is called PHILTRUM !!!
I know after reading this, many of you just touched it !!!
Its a left over from how our face gets built in the womb.
Its basically an embryological scar. Humans don't use it for anything functional now.
The philtrum is very useful in DOGS AND CATS .......
Their philtrum is wet and helps carry moisture from mouth to nose , boosting their sense of smell.
For humans, its just vestigial , not able to function !!!!
These factors make international relocation, more demanding ----
1. Strict immigration and visa requirements
2. Complex residence documentation
3. Employer sponser obligations
4. Language and cultural barriers
5. Extensive government bureaucracy
Such countries are ----
1. Indonesia
2. Japan
3. Lithuania
4. Saudi Arabia
5. Malaysia
6. Greece
7. India
8. Thailand
9. Estonia
10. Finland
This city is the only national capital in the world outside USA named after a US president !!!!
It is named after James Monroe .
Capital city is Monrovia !!!!
Capital of Liberia.
Liberia was founded in 1822 as a settlement for freed African - American slaves.
They named the capital of the country Monrovia to honour US president Monroe because ----
1. He supported the idea of resettling of freed slaves in Africa.
2. He was the US president at that time.
3. US helped to fund the early colony.
Capital city of Liberia, Monrovia is home to nearly 1.5 million people !!!
The oldest river in the world predates dinosaurs !!!
The Finke river in Australia is between 300 million to 400 million old.
Rivers are constantly in flux, with some growing bigger from year to year and others drying up completely.
So, why has Finke river lasted so long ??
In case of Finke, Australia has been the unusually stable landscape for a very long time.
Resting in the middle of the Australian plate, continent has experienced no significant tectonic activity for the several million years !!!
Thus, Finke river has been able to develop and expand almost uninterrupted......
Question
Seema is shopping at D - Mart. Her bill contains the following ----
Goods worth Rs 400 -- There is no GST
Goods worth Rs 5೦0 -- GST of 5%
Goods worth Rs 900 --- GST of 18%
What is the final D - Mart bill ???
Answer
1. Zero GST goods
The value remains Rs 400 as there is no GST
2. 5% GST
Value Rs 300
GST calculation = 5% of 300
5/100 * 3೦0
15
Total value 300 + 15 = 315 Rs
3. 18% GST
Value Rs 900
GST calculation = 18% of GST
18/100 * 900
162
Total value 900 + 162 = 1062 Rs
Value GST Total Bill
400 0 400
500 15 515
900 162 1062
Total bill = 400 + 515 + 1062 = 1977 Rs
During monsoon, homemade curd turns slimy because of WRONG BACTERIA !!!
Good curd bacteria needs warmth. In monsoon it is cooler so it grows slow.
When its cool and wet in air, slime making bacteria grows faster. It makes a sticky, thread like substance over curd.
To avoid this, always keep the curd in warm place.
This question was asked on Koun Banega Karodpati program.
Question
Which country got its name from tree growing there ??
Answer
For this question, there were no options !!!
So I did the best I could do.......
I searched web !!!
When Portuguese explorers came to this country, they found a red wood tree in abundance.
The wood made a red dye that was super valuable in Europe.
This tree was the main thing they traded.
The tree is called Pau - Brasil !!!
Country is BRAZIL .....
Volcanic lake forms when rain and ground water fill a crater left by an eruption.
Here are some of volcanic lakes -----
1. Lake Toba, Indonesia
2. Lake Taupo , New Zealand
3. Crater Lake , Oregon
4. Taal lake , Philippines
5. Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
6. Quilotoa , Ecuador
7. Lake Toya , Japan
8. Kerid , Iceland
Neptune is farthest from Sun.
Its natural to think that Neptune is the " coldest planet ".
But in reality, Uranus is much colder than Neptune .....!!!!
Uranus is 6 degree Celsius colder than Neptune which is farthest from Sun
Distance matters but internal heat matters most ....!!!
Neptune is farther from Sun but warmer inside !!!
Uranus is a broken furnace, hence colder ......
Both the planets get almost NO SUN !!!
But internal heat is the big difference ........
Planets are warm from the heat they made when they are formed .
Neptune still has a lot of internal heat leaking out. It gives off 2.6 x more heat than it gets from Sun !!!
Like it has a tiny furnace inside.
Uranus has almost no heat coming out. It gives off the same heat it gets from Sun.
Basically zero extra !!!
That's why Uranus is colder than Neptune .....
These are the few fun facts about otters ----
1. Sea otters often hold hands or wrap themselves in kelp while resting on water !!!!
2. Many otters keep a special rock tucked under their arm to crack open shellfish !!!
3. These animals learn by watching and copying one another.
4. Otter's fur is the densest in animal kingdom.
5. They are very playful. They love chasing each other through water !!!
6. They help protect ecosystems.
First we will know why pizzas are round -----
1. Bakers spin the pizza dough in air. So it takes circular shape.
2. Heat spreads across circular pizza evenly. Square pizza would have burnt corners and soggy middle.
3. Pizza was originated in Italy. Italian ovens are round brick ovens. Hence, pizza is also round !!!
Why pizza boxes are square -----
1. Round boxes waste a lot of material to prepare and cost more. Square boxes are cheaper to make !!!
2. Square boxes stack perfectly in delivery bags , cars and on shelves. Round boxes would roll and waste space.
3. Square box gives extra space in corners.
THERE ARE ROUND PIZZA BOXES !!!
But they cost 30% more and don't stack well for delivery.
This question was asked on Koun Banega Karodpati program.
Question
Riga is the capital of which country ??
1. Estonia
2. Lithuania
3. Latvia
4. Sweden
Answer
I know the capital of Sweden.
It is Stockholm !!!
Sweden is ruled out ......
Capital of Estonia Tallinn.
Estonia ruled out ......
Capital of Lithuania Vilnius
Lithuania ruled out ......
Capital of Latvia Riga......
Correct answer Latvia !!!
Some facts about Riga ------
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia.
1/3 of Latvians live in this city.
Language is Latvian and currency is Euro.
The oldest river in the world predates dinosaurs !!!
The Finke river in Australia is between 300 million to 400 million old.
Rivers are constantly in flux, with some growing bigger from year to year and others drying up completely.
So, why has Finke river lasted so long ??
In case of Finke, Australia has been the unusually stable landscape for a very long time.
Resting in the middle of the Australian plate, continent has experienced no significant tectonic activity for the several million years !!!
Thus, Finke river has been able to develop and expand almost uninterrupted......
CURD turns sour because of OVER FERMENTATION !!!
Milk has sugar.
Curd bacteria eat this sugar and make acid. This too much acid == sour taste !!!
In warm temperature, bacteria grows superfast.
If the curd is not kept in fridge after 4 - 6 hours, it will go sour overnight !!!
If more than 1 tsp of old curd is added to 1 litre of milk, it ferments too fast and turn sour .
Geo thermal activity turns up all over the planet, usually as hot springs, geysers.
Rarely does this heat an entire lake !!!
Such lakes are ------
1. Kelimutu lakes, Indonesia
2. Lake Natron, Tanzania
3. Yellowstone Lake, USA
4. Frying Pan Lake, New Zealand
5. Boiling Lake, Dominica
Diplomatic Blue Book = Government report about other countries.
What's in it ??
Its like a file where the government keeps
1. Letters between our country and other countries.
2. Agreements and treaties we signed.
3. Speeches by PM and foreign minister about foreign matters.
4. What our stand is on war, trade and problems with other nations.
Why blue colour ??
Long ago, important government reports were printed with BLUE COVERS.
So, people started calling them BLUE BOOKS !!!
Why do they make it ??
To tell people what the country is doing outside.
Proof of what decisions are taken.
So that everyone knows the official story.
The mountain known as " yellow mountain " is Mount Huangshan.
It is located in eastern China. It is one of the most famous mountains in the country.
The name " yellow mountain " does not come from the colour of mountain !!!
Instead, it is named after legendary Yellow Europe, also known as Huang Di.
Long ago, people believed that yellow empire came to this mountain to find the secret of immortality.
A ruler of China renamed the mountain to honour him.
Fog and clouds are seen here for more than 200 days a year !!!
During sunrise and sunset, clouds reflect golden light which sometimes makes the mountain to look yellow !!!!
When I was watching a quiz program, this question was asked,
Which planet spins the slowest ??
I know JUPITER is the planet which spins fastest on its axis !!!
I found out these facts about slow spinning planet -----
1. This planet rotate so slow that the wispy clouds floating above, are faster than it !!!
2. This planet spins backwards !!!
3. The planet has a sweltering climate. Temperatures reach upto 900 degree Celsius !!!
4. This planet is the hottest in entire solar system !!!
5. A day on this planet lasts longer than a year !!!
Planet is VENUS !!!
In a 10 liter solution, ratio of milk and water is 3 : 2. How much milk is there in solution ??
Answer
The ratio of milk : water is 3 : 2
Total parts 3 + 2 = 5 parts.
Total solution = 10 litres
So,
The amount of milk in the solution,
3
------ * 10 = 6 litres
5
Amount of water in the solution,
2
--------- * 10 = 4 litres
5
Asia 's largest natural ice skating rink is located in Western Himalayas. !!!
It's an unique natural phenomenon where seasonal freezing transforms water into historic arena for winter sport.
It is among the few rinks in the world shaped entirely by climate rather than machines !!!
This is eco friendly and extremely rare. This is also major winter tourist attraction.
It is SHIMLA ICE SKATING RINK , SHIMLA !!!
It is the only open air ice skating rink in South Asia.
A house isn't just for people !!!!
WE DON'T KNOW THE REASON !!!!
Earlobes are one of those body parts that don't have a single, obvious job !!!
Earlobes vary a lot across people.
Other primates have much smaller or no distinct lobes.
Removing them surgically won't affect hearing or to maintain balance.
Earlobes are made up of skin and fat, no cartilage or muscle. They are just structural left overs.
Some theory states that earlobes might help dissipate heat since they are fatty and have a good blood supply.
There is no bones in earlobes so it doesn't affect hearing.
But researchers say earlobes are an evolutionary byproduct with no critical function !!!!
Herding cats is an idiom used to describe a task that is extremely difficult, chaotic and nearly impossible to manage.
It refers to the challenge of trying to organise or control a group of individuals who are uncooperative.
We can keep a cow or sheep together. They naturally stay together in a herd.
But not cats !!!!
Cats are solitary and headstrong.
If we try to push them in one direction, they are likely to scatter around or hide.
Or they just simply ignore us !!!!
To describe an impossible task to do , this idiom is used.
Three countries border three oceans outright.
These countries have continues mainland coastlines on 3 oceans.
They are ----
1. Russia
2. Canada
3. United States of America
Bordering oceans are Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic.
Australia, South Africa and Chile also can be considered as bordering 3 oceans.
If South Africa is considered, why not India ??!!
4 oceans through overseas territories are
France and United Kingdom.
These are the fastest rivers -----
1. Amazon river
2. Brahmaputra river
3. Colorado river
4. Congo river
5. Franklin river
6. Futaleufu river
7. Yangtze river
8. Zambezi river
Titan is Saturn's biggest moon.
Titan is weird because it is the only world besides Earth, with stable liquids on surface, an Earth like cycle and complex organic chemistry.
Everything is made up of ice and gasoline instead of water !!!
Titan has rivers, lakes and seas. But not of water !!!
They are made of liquid methane and ethane.
Rain falls, cloud forms and there are seasonal storms too. Titan is the only place besides Earth with full weather cycle !!!
Titan has dense atmosphere. Atmosphere mainly comprised of Nitrogen just like Earth !!!
Titan is Earth like, but super cool. Cold enough that water ice is as hard as rock !!!
This question was asked on Koun Banega Karodpati program.
Question
Soyombo which is derived from Sanskrit word Swayam Bhu, meaning
self born is a national symbol featured in which country's flag ??
1. Mongolia
2. Kazakhstan
3. China
4. South Korea
Answer
We will look into each county's flag !!!
Flag of Kazakhstan features a sky blue background with a gold Sun and 32 rays above a soaring eagle in centre.
Kazakhstan ruled out !!!
In Chinese flag, we see one large gold star and 4 smaller gold stars !!!
China is ruled out.
In South Korean flag, red and blue circle in the center and 4 black trigrams.
South Korea ruled out.
Flag of Mongolia is a vertical triband with a red stripe at each side and Mongolian Soyombo symbol centering on left most stripe.
Answer Mongolia !!!
I searched web for more information.
Soyombo DOES come from Sanskrit !!!
A Mongolian Buddhist scholar created a new writing system.
He named that script SOYOMBO script !!!
He took the Sanskrit word Swayam Bhu, and adapted it to Mongolian as Soyombo.
Soyombo means THE UNIVERSE !!!!
Cats are masters of sleep !!!
Despite having countless napping options, cats constantly choose to sleep on us.
This behavior is far more meaningful than simple comfort.
Cats may appear independent, but they are deeply social with the persons they trust..
Sleeping near or on a human allows them to feel safe, secure and emotionally connected.
A person's warmth, scent and steady breathing provide reassurance and helps them to relax.
Cats mark us as part of their territory !!!
Our body provides them warmth.
For many cats, human lap is the ultimate comfort nap especially during daytime naps !!!!
Question
A circle is perfectly inscribed inside a square. If the area of square is 64 cm '2, what is the area of circle ??
Answer
We know the area of square as 64 cm2.
=>> Area of square = side2 = 64
==>> side = sqrt 64
==>>side = 8 cm
Circle is perfectly inscriptions inside the square.
==>> side of square = diameter of circle
==>> 8 cm
We know
diameter of circle = 2 × radius of circle
Radius = diameter ÷ 2
Radius = 8 ÷ 2
Radius = 4 cm
Area of circle,
Ï€ × radius^ 2
Ï€ × 16
3.14 × 16
50.24
Area of circle = 50.24 cm2 !!!
We cook white rice in our house. When it remains more than required, my mother seperates the remaining cooked rice in a bowl and keeps it inside the fridge.
Next day rice becomes dry and hard.. But it is very much suitable to prepare curd rice !!!
We have it with pickle.
SCIENCE OF STALE RICE
When we first cook rice, the starch granules absorb water and swell up, making them soft.
This is called GELATINIZATION.
When the rice cools in refrigerator, starch molecules start to realign themselves into a crystalline structure.
As they recrystallize, they effectively squeeze out the water once they held.
This makes the rice to feel dry if the rice is kept covered inside refrigerator.
Refrigerators pull the moisture out of the air to prevent frosting.. This further dehydrates rice.
Rain shadow = " dry side " of mountain !!!
To know, what is " dry side " of a mountain, we must know what is " wet side " of a mountain.
1. Wet side
Wind blows from the ocean , hits a mountain.
The air is forced up. As it goes up, it gets cold. And all the water in it, turns into rain !!!
So, this side of mountain gets lots of rain and is called " wet side ".
2. Dry side or Rain Shadow
After the air crosses the mountain top, it comes down on other side.
Now the air is dry, as it has dumped all its water content on " other " side !!!!
So this side gets very little rain and it is known as " rain shadow ".
Example
Mountain : Western Ghats
Wet side : Mumbai
Rain Shadow : Solapur, Bijapur
Human babies have big brains. But mothers have narrow hips as we walk on 2 legs.
So baby can't stay inside till the brain is fully grown.
Baby has to come out early.
That's why human babies are born unfinished !!!!
When human babies are born, their brain is only 25% done. The rest grows after birth.
For the first year, human babies need mom/dad for everything.
But other primates ' babies stay inside the body for longer time. When they are born, their brain is already more grown. So they can hold on, crawl and cling right away !!!
So this difference make human babies so helpless because of unfinished brain !!!
Hospital linens are not average laundry load !!
It can be exposed to bodily fluids, bacteria and pathogens during patient care.
If these textiles are not properly disinfected, they may contribute to the spread of hospital acquired infections.
HOW THE LAUNDRY IS CLEANED ??
The machines operating in laundry work are operated in carefully calibrated thermal environment.
They use specific detergents and disinfectants to eliminate harmful bacteria and viruses.
Linens are washed at temperatures exceeding 70 degree Celsius for a period of time so that effective removal of pathogenic microorganisms are achieved.
Linens used in isolation ward and surgical ward are cleaned in different way than general ward linens.
We all have listened to the story of rabbit and tortoise.
Both of them challenged each other to take part in a running race competition.
Whoever reaches the final stop, he would be the winner.
As tortoise walk slowly, rabbit crossed half the distance and fell asleep !!!!
When rabbit woke up, tortoise was slowly walking and was nearing to final stop.
Rabbit ran as fast as it could but couldn't make to final stop and tortoise won the race !!!
This story everyone knows ......
But the twist is the original story was having HARE instead of RABBIT !!!!
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HARE AND RABBIT ??
HARE and RABBIT both look same but differ each other in how they live and grow up.
1. Rabbits are born hairless, blind and helpless.
Hares are born fully furred, eyes open and ready to run within hours !!!!
2. Rabbits are more compact and stocky.
Hares have longer ears and longer limbs.
3. Rabbits have shorter hind legs.
Hares have longer hind legs.
4. Rabbits are social.
Hares are mostly solitary.
5. Rabbits don't do seasonal colour changing.
Some hares change colour. Brown in summer and white in winter.
6. Rabbits rely on zigzag running.
Hares rely on speed and fast running.
These are the most populated cities in the world -----
1. Shanghai , China
2. Delhi , India
3. Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
4. Beijing , China
5. Karachi , Pakistan
6. Shenzhen , China
7. Mumbai , India
8. Guangzhou, China
9. Kano , Nigeria
10. Istanbul , Turkey
This country is wealthier than King of Britain !!!
This country has no airport, no currency and no official language.
Here crime rate is so low that people don't even bother to lock their doors during night !!!!
This tiny nation tucked between Switzerland and Austria.
It has no airports. One has to fly into another country.
It has no currency. People use Swiss Frank.
It has no official language of its own. German is borrowed.
Yet, it is the richest and safest country on earth.
It is LIECHTENSTEIN !!!
Coconuts are water proof because they have 3 natural layers that block water .
1. Hairy husk
Spongy + full of hair
Water can't soak through fast and it helps the coconut to float.
2. Hard shell
Like a sealed wooden box. No holes for water to get in.
3. Tight skin inside
Pressed against white meat. Keeps the coconut water sealed in.
Nature has made coconut water proof. So that coconut can float in ocean for months !!!
It can grow into new tree on another beach.
Nature made coconut floating, sealed water bottle !!!!
This island has one of the world's brightest bioluminescent Bays.
This is the group of islands.
This sits on northeastern Caribbean sea.
It is an unincorporated territory of United States.
Here we can see a mix of Taino, Spanish and African culture.
Island Puerto Rico !!!
Lesser known facts -----
1. Puerto Rico is home to three of world's five bioluminescent Bays.
2. This is also called " Land of Valiant Lord ".
3. It is native to a type of frog whose croaking can reach 100 decibels !!!
4. It is considered world's oldest colony.
5. Because it is a US territory, American citizens do not need a passport to travel and currency is US Dollor.
Feeling hot at night because body is trying to cool down !!!
To prepare for sleep, body widens blood vessels near skin to release internal heat.
This drop in heat makes skin feel warm at night.
Mattresses of synthetic bedding traps body heat instead of letting it escape.
Spicy foods, alcohol and caffeine stimulate sweat glands.
Stress and anxiety increases heart rate and heat.
Taking shower before going to bed and using natural fabrics like cotton and linen optimizes bedding and helps in cooling !!!
Different length fingers make the best grip + tool hand !!!!
If all fingers were of same length, our hand would be pretty useless !!!
If we try making fist , our fingers naturally curl into a curve that matches round things.
Thumb = It is a clamp that works against other fingers.
Index + Ring = They help with precision and power.
Middle finger = Anchor in the centre.
Pinky finger ≠ It tucks in and adds stability.
This length difference lets the hand to form a power grip.
If.the fingers were equal, we would just have a paddle !!!
Our ancestors needed hand for climbing.
Equal fingers would have made us worse at surviving,making tools etc
This island also holds the Guinness world record for world's largest artificial island .
No... No... It is not in Dubai or China !!!!
It is so big that over 4,00,000 people live here today.
It is surrounded by 3 freshwater lakes.
Built was started in 1919 and took 67 years to complete.
The goal was simple. Drain parts of north sea inlet. Reclaim the land. Turn open water into farmable and livable ground.
It is FLEVOPOLDER in NETHERLANDS !!!
The only natural satellite humanity knew was Moon, natural satellite of Earth.
In recent years, more than 800 natural satellites have been discovered. Astronomers haven't yet discovered a moon outside the solar system.
Here is the list of largest moons of solar system ------
1. Ganymede, moon of Jupiter
2. Titan , moon of Saturn
3. Callisto, moon of Jupiter
4. Io , moon of Jupiter
5. Moon , natural satellite of Earth
When a country don't have official currency, it does not print or manage its own money.
Instead it uses foreign currency for buying and selling things.
Reasons for a country not to have its own currency ---
1. Countries are very small in size
2. Countries want a safe and stable economy.
3. Priming own currencies is expensive.
4. Using popular currency makes the trade easier.
Countries that don't have official currency -----
1. Vatican city
2. Monaco
3. San Marino
4. Andorra
All these countries use Euro as their currency.
1. Panama
2. Ecuador
3. El Salvador
All these countries use US dollor as their currency.
It seems a very straight forward question.
Question
You have 80 apples. You divide them by half and add another 30 apples . How many apples you are left with ??
Hint : It is not 70 !!!
Answer
At the first glance , we make calculation that
We have 80
Dividing it by half , half of 80 is 40
Then add 30, totally 70 apples !!!
But it is clearly said answer is not 70.
We will again go through question.
It says, we have 80 apples.
Divide them by half !!!
Here is the culprit.....
We must divide by half, not dividing by 2 !!!
That means, 80 / ( 1/2 )
==>> 80 * 2 = 160 !!!
Now again add 30 apples.
==>> 160 + 30 = 190 Apples.
Finally we are left with 190 apples !!!
1. Biggest bird in the world
OSTRICH
2. Biggest land animal in the world
AFRICAN ELEPHANT
3. Biggest reptile in the world
SALTWATER CROCODILE
4. Biggest whale in the world
BLUE WHALE
5. Biggest insect in the world
GIANT CHINESE STICK INSECT
6. Biggest snake in the world
RETICULATED PYTHON
7. Biggest spider in the world
GOLIATH BIRD EATER
8. Biggest marsupial in the world
RED KANGAROO
9. Biggest primate in the world
EASTERN GORILLA
10. Biggest freshwater fish in the world
STING RAY
Flames behave differently in space due to microgravity.
Here are the main differences ----
1. Spherical shape
Flames tend to be spherical in space as there is no buoyancy or convection to distort their shape.
2. Slower burning
Flames burn slower and more efficiently in space as there is no oxygen flow to fuel combustion.
3. No flicker
Flames don't flicker in space as there is no air movement to cause turbulence.
4. Blue colour
Flames in space often appear blue indicating complete combustion.
All of us know that Antarctica lies in southern hemisphere. It is the southern most continent in the world.
Antarctica has no fixed cities or villages.
It has only research base and weather stations.
Many South American cities claim to be the southernmost city of the world.
But according to atlas,
PUERTO TORO, CHILE is considered as southernmost permanent city in the world.
It is the place where people dwell 24 hours in 365 days.
There are only 36 inhabitants of Puerto Toro. They are mostly fishermen and their families.
This is the city which officially holds the northern most capital of a sovereign country.
It receives nearly 24 hours of sunlight during summer.
This city runs entirely on renewable energy.
It is home to many iconic structures.
Despite the latitude, it is mild for its location because of Gulf stream.
It is home to 1,40,000 people.
Other northern most capitals are -----
Helsinki, Finland
Oslo , Norway
Tallinn , Estonia
Stockholm , Sweden
Nuuk in Greenland is a bit norther. But Greenland is the self governing territory of Denmark.
So, this city is the official northern most capital of a sovereign nation.
City is REYKJAVIK ,
capital of ICELAND !!!
A person who makes pizza is called PIZZA I OLO (male ) or PIZZA I OLA ( female ). It is an Italian word.
PIZZA I OLO
This Italian word specifically refers to a highly skilled, professional pixza chef who has mastered the traditional art of pizza making from scratch.
In English, we have words like ----
Pizza Chef / Cook
These are standard restaurant style titles.
A pizza chef often manages the kitchen inventory, develops the menu recipes and oversees kitchen staff.
A pizza cook generally focuses on assembling and cooking the pizzas.
PIZZA BAKER
This title is usually reserved for individuals who focuses heavily on dough preparation, proofing and baking processes.
He often works on a bakery style kitchen setting.
CONCRETE HAS CEMENT IN IT BUT CEMENT DON'T HAVE CONCRETE IN IT !!!
KEY DIFFERENCES
1. Cement is a fine binding powder.
Concrete is a solid masonry product.
2. Cement is made up of limestone and clay.
Concrete is a mixture of cement, sand, water and gravel.
3. Cement acts as glue.
Concrete is a structural building block.
4. Cement is prone to cracking.
Concrete is strong and long lasting.
5. Cement is used for small repairs.
Concrete is used for large scale constructional work.
Listed below are the agricultural heavyweights that are feeding the planet !!!
1. United States
2. Brazil
3. China
4. India
5. Russia
6. Ukraine
7. Canada
8. Australia
When we look at the front of a man's neck, we spot a hard ridge jutting out just above the collarbone.
But in women and other primates, we don't find this. !!!
The lump itself is not a seperate organ. It's the front edge of thyroid cartilage. It protects the voice box.
In children of both the sexes, this cartilage sits at shallow angle and barely shows.
During male puberty, rising testosterone drives the cartilage to grow forward.
This is male specific.
The visible " Apple " is just the seam of sharper angle pressing against the skin. !!!
Why testosterone remodels the throat ??
Boy's voice drops roughly over adolescence, as longer and thicker vocal chords vibrate more slowly.
While girl's vocal chords drops only slightly !!!!
Rainbow snakes are the prettiest snakes in North American continent !!!
It has a shiny black body and dark blue on top.
3 bright red stripes running down the back and sides.
Red and black checkerboard pattern belly
In sunlight oe water, the scales look like a rainbow !!! That's how it got its name...
Cool facts
1. They are non venomous
2. They are shy and harmless.
3. If scared, they press their tail up and hide their head.
4. They'd rather play dead instead of fight !!!!
In earlier times, countries did not have national anthem as we have today.
There was no single song officially chosen to represent the nation as a whole.
With the raise of nationalism in 18th century, countries started using songs that reflects the feeling, hope and struggles of ordinary people.
FRANCE is the first country to officially adopt a national anthem.
The anthem was written during French revolution when French people were fighting against monarchy and foreign threats.
In 1795, France officially recognized this song as national anthem.
1. Lizards are the largest group in reptile family.
2. Lizards can detach their tails as a defence mechanism to escape predators.
3. Lizards inhibit every continent except Antarctica.
4. Some desert dwelling lizards might go their entire life without drinking water !!!
5. Komodo dragon is the notable venomous lizard.
6. Chameleon from lizard family can change their colour.
7. Lizards lack eyelids.
8. Some lizards can run on water .
Wind is invisible yet its strength is unmistakable be it a gentle breeze or tropical storm.
Around the world, powerful winds remind us that powerful nature is the dominant force.
These are the places with strongest winds -----
1. Baku , Azerbaijan
2. Barrow island , Australia
3. Cape Blanco , Oregon
4. Cape Dennison , Commonwealth Bay , Antarctica
5. The Cairngorm , Scotland
6. Kirkwood Mountain , California
7. Mount Everest
8. Mount Washington , New Hampshire
9. Patagonia , Argentina
10. Wellington , New Zealand
Reason is " Restaurants almost always fry their potatoes twice at two entirely different temperatures " !!!
To prepare FRENCH FRYS, we use raw potatoes.
Then,
WATER , STARCH AND HEAT CONTROL
1. Water is the enemy of crispiness
Potatoes are 80% water. In restaurants, they cut potatoes soak then blanch them.
That removes surface starch and drives out moisture before frying. If we skip this, water streams inside the oil and we end up in soggy frys !!!
2. Starch management
Restaurants often do DOUBLE FRY.
First fry at low temperature, cooks the inside of potato.
After cooling, the second fry at high temperature, dehydrates the surface fast and makes it shatter crisp.
3. Equipment and oil
In restaurants, they use deep fryers with massive oil volume and precise temperature control.
In home, it is difficult to maintain precise temperature and we END UP WITH SOGGY FRYS !!!!
Planet Mercury is closest to Sun than planet Venus.
But, Venus is hotter than Mercury !!!
This is because of 3 reasons ----
1. Venus has a super thick atmosphere
Venus is wrapped in a very thick atmosphere. Its 96% CO2 !!!
CO2 traps heat. Sunlight gets in but can't escape back out.
Mercury barely has an atmosphere. Heat just radiates back into space.
2. Mercury swimgs widely, Venus doesn't
Mercury has no air to spread the heat around.
Venus thick CO2 spreads heat everywhere. No cold nights. Day and night both are hot.
3. Venus has bright clouds that bounce 70% of sunlight away. So Venus gets less direct sunlight than Mercury !!!
But the heat which gets in, get trapped by CO2 and never leaves making Venus hottest planet in solar system.
It comes down to physics, food and other limits.
1. Water supports weight
On land , we have gravity. An animal's skeleton and muscles have to hold it up 24*7 against gravity.
But in water, buoyancy cancels most of this out.
A blue whale weighs 200 tons, but in water it feels almost weightless !!!
This allows sea animals to grow bigger without breaking their bones.
2. More food, more space
In oceans, there is huge uninterrupted food chains. There is nothing to stop a predator from roaming to find it.
3. Heat management is easier
Big bodies heat up and cool down slowly. In water, heat dissipate faster .
So giant marine animals don't overheat !!!
4. Less predation pressure
In open ocean, size itself is the best defense. For big marine animals, there is nothing that can kill them !!!
Salt and pepper are the standard foundation of seasoning.
They work together to chemically enhance anf physically transform the taste and aroma of food.
People often lump them together !!!!
But they serve completely different at molecular level.
CULINARY SCIENCE OF SALT
Salt is not technically a spice !!!
It is an essential mineral required for human survival.
Salt enhances the flavor which are already present in the food. Salt
1. Suppessees bitterness
2. Amplifies sweetness.
3. Salt draws out moisture from food.
4. Salt softens the rigid cell wall of vegetables.
CULINARY SCIENCE OF PEPPER
Unlike salt, black pepper is a spice that adds entirely new taste and sensation to dish.
Pepper gives -----
1. Layered flavour experience.
2. It releases complex aromas.
The reason these two specific seasonings sit on dining table is largely due to French royal court cuisine which is the global standard for fine dining.
This is the only country that could feed its entire population healthy balanced diet.
It is fully self sufficient in all the food groups !!!
The 7 essential food groups are ------
1. Fruits
2. Vegetables
3. Grains
4. Legumes, nuts and seeds
5. Dairy
6. Meat
7. Fish
This country is the " global outlier ".
Reasons are abundant natural resources, low population density and strategic investment.
Country GUYANA !!!!
Tangulla railway station at Tibet is the highest railway station in the world standing tall at 5068 meters above the sea level.
Tangulla railway station iw unlike any other .. Here there is no staff and no passenger service !!!
It exists as technical stop never meant for boarding or exit !!!
No crowd, no noise only fresh breath of nature.
Passengers can not step into its platform.
To ease the journey , oxygen is supplied within carriages.
