Random "facts"
Just for fun.
We are taller when we wake?
Research Questions:
It is said that humans are taller in the morning when they wake up than later during the day. If true, this may be due to gravity compressing on the vertebrae (spine) in our backs as we stand up or sit down during the day. While we are laying down in resting position, the spine is said to “spread out” and decompress, hence the person is taller after lying in bed all night. In fact, astronauts coming back from outer space are a few inches taller than their normal height on earth because there is very very weak gravitational forces in outer-space relative to acceleration and weight; thus there is no compression on the spine. But when they are on earth again, gravity will gradually return them to their normal height. So does this mean that the longer we sleep, the taller we will be? What is the truth?
We are taller when we wake?
Research Questions:
It is said that humans are taller in the morning when they wake up than later during the day. If true, this may be due to gravity compressing on the vertebrae (spine) in our backs as we stand up or sit down during the day. While we are laying down in resting position, the spine is said to “spread out” and decompress, hence the person is taller after lying in bed all night. In fact, astronauts coming back from outer space are a few inches taller than their normal height on earth because there is very very weak gravitational forces in outer-space relative to acceleration and weight; thus there is no compression on the spine. But when they are on earth again, gravity will gradually return them to their normal height. So does this mean that the longer we sleep, the taller we will be? What is the truth?
If there were no Spiders?
Without all those hungry, carnivorous spiders, insect populations would explode, food crops would be decimated, ecological balances would be ravaged, and humans would probably starve within a matter of months – if they hadn't already died from insect borne diseases.
Without all those hungry, carnivorous spiders, insect populations would explode, food crops would be decimated, ecological balances would be ravaged, and humans would probably starve within a matter of months – if they hadn't already died from insect borne diseases.
If there were no Dung Beetles?
So, imagine if all 8,000 species of dung beetle, plus other doo-dining insects, like flies, vanished worldwide. The land would be knee-deep in...you know. Farmland, forest, and desert would all collapse, and floating throughout would be loads of corpses. You see, most animals won't eat dead bodies...
So, imagine if all 8,000 species of dung beetle, plus other doo-dining insects, like flies, vanished worldwide. The land would be knee-deep in...you know. Farmland, forest, and desert would all collapse, and floating throughout would be loads of corpses. You see, most animals won't eat dead bodies...
A bolt of lightning contains enough energy to toast 100,000 slices of bread?
If you consider that each bolt of lightning contains more than 5 billion Joules of energy, then the average 1000-watt, two-slice toaster could be powered for 84,000 minutes with just one strike. That's just enough time to toast about 100,000 slices of bread, bagels, English muffins—whatever you prefer.
If you consider that each bolt of lightning contains more than 5 billion Joules of energy, then the average 1000-watt, two-slice toaster could be powered for 84,000 minutes with just one strike. That's just enough time to toast about 100,000 slices of bread, bagels, English muffins—whatever you prefer.
I can always smell the rain before it arrives.
Yes, you can smell rain?
Weather patterns produce distinct smells, and one of these is a lightly pungent scent of ozone that springs from fertilizers and natural sources and can be carried in a thunderstorm's downdrafts from higher altitudes, alerting those with sensitive noses that the rain is about to fall.
Yes, you can smell rain?
Weather patterns produce distinct smells, and one of these is a lightly pungent scent of ozone that springs from fertilizers and natural sources and can be carried in a thunderstorm's downdrafts from higher altitudes, alerting those with sensitive noses that the rain is about to fall.
The world's most successful pirate was a woman?
The 19th century Chinese pirate Ching Shih, a former prostitute and widow of fearsome pirate Cheng I, became a hugely successful pirate in her own right, succeeding her husband and eventually commanding more than 1,800 pirate ships and 80,000 men (the secrets she'd learned about her powerful clients at the brothel also came in handy).
The 19th century Chinese pirate Ching Shih, a former prostitute and widow of fearsome pirate Cheng I, became a hugely successful pirate in her own right, succeeding her husband and eventually commanding more than 1,800 pirate ships and 80,000 men (the secrets she'd learned about her powerful clients at the brothel also came in handy).
In the 16th century, poets exchanged rap-battle like stylised insults in an act called "flyting"
The word "flyting" comes from the Old English word for "quarrel." Something like today's freestyle rap battles, the purposes of flyting was to craft poetic insults so devastating to your competitor that they'd be too insulted to muster a comeback. One recorded exchange is known as The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie, in which Kennedie tells Dunbar, "You look like the crows already ate your cheeks; Renounce, rebel, your rhymes and sorry shrieks." What a burn.
The word "flyting" comes from the Old English word for "quarrel." Something like today's freestyle rap battles, the purposes of flyting was to craft poetic insults so devastating to your competitor that they'd be too insulted to muster a comeback. One recorded exchange is known as The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie, in which Kennedie tells Dunbar, "You look like the crows already ate your cheeks; Renounce, rebel, your rhymes and sorry shrieks." What a burn.
When lightning strikes a beach
When lightning strikes sand or sandy soil, it fuses together the grains to create a small glass-like tube known as a fulgurite.
They are not only prized by collectors, they are also of great scientific value in demonstrating past occurrence of lightning storms.
When lightning strikes sand or sandy soil, it fuses together the grains to create a small glass-like tube known as a fulgurite.
They are not only prized by collectors, they are also of great scientific value in demonstrating past occurrence of lightning storms.
Dancing plague of Strasbourg 1518 was an incredible (still unexplained) incident where lots of Strasbourg folk took to the streets and danced like fuck (uncontrollably) day and night for two months. lots died of exhaustion
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Anonymous
The oft quoted "a duck's quack doesn't echo" is, in fact, not true. There you go.
Magdalena said:In the 16th century, poets exchanged rap-battle like stylised insults in an act called "flyting"
The word "flyting" comes from the Old English word for "quarrel." Something like today's freestyle rap battles, the purposes of flyting was to craft poetic insults so devastating to your competitor that they'd be too insulted to muster a comeback. One recorded exchange is known as The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie, in which Kennedie tells Dunbar, "You look like the crows already ate your cheeks; Renounce, rebel, your rhymes and sorry shrieks." What a burn.
This is excellent!
Keep up the great thread, Mags.
The word "flyting" comes from the Old English word for "quarrel." Something like today's freestyle rap battles, the purposes of flyting was to craft poetic insults so devastating to your competitor that they'd be too insulted to muster a comeback. One recorded exchange is known as The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie, in which Kennedie tells Dunbar, "You look like the crows already ate your cheeks; Renounce, rebel, your rhymes and sorry shrieks." What a burn.
This is excellent!
Keep up the great thread, Mags.
