It’s our closest celestial neighbour, gave us our first ever calendars, dictates the timing of religious events like Easter and Ramadan, and was considered a deity in most ancient religions. Here are ten things you might never have guessed about the moon. 10. It doesn’t make us mad… The words “lunatic,” “lunacy” and “loon” all…
Author: Guest Author
Throughout history empires have been formed through war and great tactics. However, many forget the toll that this takes on a nation’s citizens. Foreign nations and their people are not the only ones that are forced to reckon with a hegemonic power. American citizens have also had to pay the price of a government that…
Mankind has come a long way over the centuries, with structures evolving from simple one-room huts, to castles, all the way up to state of the art skyscrapers in bustling metropolises all over the world. The most amazing feats of architectural achievement used to take years or even decades to complete, like Neuschwanstein Castle in…
Most people outside a specific culture rely on television and movies to learn about that culture, unless they get a chance to visit the concerned region. When it comes to India, some of us watch ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, and ‘Life of Pi’, and take that to be India, but the problem is these movies are made…
The Streisand Effect is a phenomenon where an act of suppressing information makes the information more widespread. Celebrities and organizations often find themselves in difficult situations when sensitive information gets publicized on the Internet. We might think that a quick course of action is the best solution, but on the Internet information can travel faster…
So many of the unsung hero’s of history have been women. Women who have made tremendous contributions to fields like science and civil rights, yet were overshadowed by their male counterparts who more often than not received the awards for accomplishments that those women assisted in coming to fruition. This list is comprised of pioneers…
When we think of cyborgs our minds immediately go to science fiction. But in a way, cyborgs already exist — just look at people with pacemakers and ear implants. Their bodies are a combination of organic, bio-mechanical and electronic parts. And if that’s too ordinary for you, there are people who have integrated technology into…
We may find it difficult to believe that Agatha Christie, a Victorian wife and mother who wrote crime stories set in rural England, supported feminism through her writings. Indeed, we will find many critics like Johann Hari who tell us that Christie did exactly the opposite, incorporating “a hostility to feminism” into her stories. The…
The following concepts point toward a future where the way we interact with the environment and each other is severely different from what we know now. Let’s dive into tomorrow, shall we? 10. Electrolux Memory Electrolux Memory aims to revolutionize the way we enjoy coffee. The concept was created to understand, remember and prepare your…
Like them or loathe them, condoms are a part of daily life. Experts predict that 18.6 billion will be used worldwide in 2015. They live in our nightstands, our wallets, our handbags and frequently go where we go, double entendre not intended. But just how much do we know about them? “Enough” is probably the…
Most of us think of crucifixion as ancient history – a gruesome execution method practiced by the Romans and other long-ago cultures – with Jesus Christ its most famous victim. But crucifixion, though rare, has continued into the modern day – as a devotional practice among fervent Christians, as a tool of terror, even as…
In today’s movie culture, major studios have seemingly swallowed up their competitors and operated under the mantra of “franchise, franchise, franchise.” Movies seem to be made with the idea of copying what’s worked before, splitting up a small story into as many films as possible and banking on the idea that moviegoers will become hooked.…
A nudge is “any aspect of choice architecture that alters behavior in a predictable way without forbidding any options or significantly changing economic incentives.” Simply put, a nudge is anything that influences our decision-making in a positive way while still leaving the final call in our hands. Promoting the benefits and availability of water in…
For some of us, the thought of descending hundreds of feet toward the seafloor on just a single breath brings to mind nothing but the most primal of terrors. But for others freediving is a sport, a way of life and a way to commune with nature. Freediving, or underwater diving without breathing apparatus, sees…
Modern western society tends to view shed hair with all the tolerance it affords a dead rodent, as you may know if you’ve ever heard your mother shouting, “Why is there a capybara in my shower drain?” But some shrewd thinkers have started to see the hidden merits of human hair. They view it as…
Every February, USA celebrates its annual ‘Black History Month,’ commemorating well-known figures such as Martin Luther King, Maya Angelou and Rosa Parks. February 21st this year also marked the 50th anniversary of the death of Malcolm-X, one of the most important leaders during the civil rights campaign. Aside from these figures though, there are thousands of…
Coal, natural gas and other traditional fuels fill the atmosphere with gases that contribute to climate change. But renewable energy sources like wind turbines, solar panels and nuclear power have their own drawbacks in terms of cost and efficiency. Scientists have further developed their designs in order for these alternatives to be more cost-effective and…
There are countless blood sucking parasites with evil agendas that can affect the human body in the grossest ways imaginable. The most unusual critters can breed and dwell in one of the most sensitive parts of our body — our eyes. Make sure to clean your contacts properly, because you never know what’s lurking. 10.…
We all know that Neil Armstrong was the first man on the Moon. And we’ve all seen the Stars and Stripes embedded into the surface, a declaration that the United States was the victor of the Space Race. But surely it was about far more than simply conquering the Moon’s surface? There’s no denying just…
Rhode Island is the smallest state in the Union, and is often overlooked by tourists and historians for its neighboring big brother, Massachusetts. However, the smallest state packs quite a package of important historical sites that many tourists have no idea exist. Here are the top ten historic places in Rhode Island that just may…
According to Gallup, 51% of Americans want to lose weight, and about half that number are seriously trying. Whatever we’re doing, though, it’s not working: Americans are about 15 pounds chubbier than they were in 1990. The truth is, we have no idea how many people will succeed at losing weight; but we do know that…
Single? You may be eating soup for one, but you’re certainly not alone. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 96 million people in America above the age of 18 who haven’t found someone to “put a ring on it.” While this figure does count everyone “single” as single, divorced or widowed, that’s still…
2015 marks the year the beloved Back to The Future: Part II promised self-lacing shoes, hoverboards and giant flat screen TVs. While the latter may have come gloriously true in living rooms across the land, hoverboards still sadly exist only in the realm of science fiction. As for automated laces, the only progress in that…
With the World Cup now over, it’s hard to believe that we’ll have to wait another four years for awesome goals, epic defeats and overall standout moments. Many touted the 2014 World Cup as one of the most eventful ever, and with these unpredictable happenings, we’re likely to agree. Here are 10 moments no one could…