Fact of the Day

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - 1 MILLION INHABITANTS

Did you know.... Today, Tokyo is the world’s largest city by population, with more than 37 million residents, but long before the Japanese metropolis took that honor, there was another record-holder: Rome. The ancient city was the world’s largest back in 133 BCE, when it became the first city to reach 1 million inhabitants. 

 

Everyday life in ancient Rome was largely dictated by wealth: Affluent residents lived in finely decorated townhouses (and often had countryside estates for trips out of the city), while lower-income citizens resided in apartment-like buildings called insulae. But all social classes enjoyed the perks of living in a major city, including fresh water piped in from aqueducts, and the availability of markets, entertainment, and even food stalls that served quick meals. Rome’s population eventually declined as the Roman Empire fell, yet no city surpassed its record population for millennia — that is, until London became the world’s largest city, with 1 million people in 1800 and more than 6 million people by 1810.

 

Two-thirds of the world’s population will likely live in a city by 2050.
Modern human societies haven’t always gravitated toward city life — in the 1800s, only 3% of the world’s population lived in a metropolis. That changed with the Industrial Revolution, which drew large numbers of workers to cities, and today, 80% of Americans live in an urban environment, a trend that’s echoed around the globe and not expected to decrease. In fact, a United Nations report from 2018 predicts that two out of every three people will live in a city by 2050. Many of the globe’s busiest cities will continue to grow, and some will become megacities — areas with more than 10 million people — creating the potential for some cities to become more important than countries, changing maps and impacting economies.

 

 

Source: Rome was the first city to reach 1 million inhabitants.

Edited October 2 by DarkRavie

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - SCORPION VENOM

Did you know... Most rational people are inclined to leave scorpions well enough alone, given those stinger-tipped tails that administer venom capable of paralyzing their prey (and worse). Yet there are certain intrepid souls willing to brave the dangers and coax these arachnids into unleashing their toxins, for the simple reason that scorpion venom can sell for as much as $39 million per gallon. 

 

Who actually dishes out the dough for this potent liquid? The medical industry, as venom from scorpions, spiders, vipers, and an array of other creatures has been found to provide compounds with surprising health benefits for humans. The venom of the deathstalker scorpion, for example, contains a peptide called chlorotoxin, which can pinpoint the location of aggressive brain tumors. Another species, the Diplocentrus melici, produces venom with 1,4-benzoquinone compounds that kill highly infectious bacteria, including the strains that cause tuberculosis.

 

Unsurprisingly, the monster dollar signs linked to this particular field have inspired a sub-industry of scorpion farmers and breeders, some of which are endangering scorpion populations. Insiders caution against getting involved for the money, though: For one thing, the venom has to be “milked” in absolutely sterile conditions; it’s a laborious process to do so, and the minute amounts that change hands between buyers and sellers aren’t going to pay off anyone’s mortgage. Additionally, many labs have turned to synthesized versions of the isolated compounds needed for their research. 

 

Antimatter is the most expensive substance on Earth.
If you think scorpion venom costs a pretty penny, then imagine the payment plan you’d need to meet the $2.7 quadrillion price tag for one gram of antimatter. As you may recall from high school physics, antimatter is a substance that has the opposite electric charge of the ordinary matter that fills up most of our universe; because naturally occurring antimatter detonates upon contact with regular matter, the only way to obtain it for a significant length of time is by way of high-speed collisions generated by immensely powerful and expensive particle accelerators (currently only available at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research). So what purpose does this elusive material serve? The observation of antimatter production has been used for medical radio imaging, and it’s been speculated that the energy created by matter-antimatter collisions could be harnessed for space travel. Otherwise, the practical applications are pretty minimal, as fascinating as it is for scientists to study.

 

 

Source: Scorpion venom is among the most expensive liquids on the market.

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - WHY? WHY? WHY?

Did you know... Answering the same question over and over and over again can get grating. But there are important developmental reasons behind why young children are so into asking “why.” 

If you’ve ever spent time with a preschooler, you’ve probably been hit with the famous barrage: “Why is the sky blue?” “Why do dogs bark?” “Why can’t I eat cookies for breakfast?”

 

Before you can finish one answer, they’re on to the next. It’s adorable … until you’ve fielded your 107th question of the hour (and that’s no exaggeration—one study found that kids between 14 months and 5 years old ask an average of 107 questions per hour). So what’s behind kids’ obsession with asking “why?” We explain below.

 

New Connections in the Making
Around age 2 or 3, kids’ brains start making new connections at lightning speed. They’re piecing together how the world works—and once they learn that adults can give them the information they want on demand, they lean into it.

 

Asking “why” helps them link cause and effect—something they start learning at a very young age. It’s their way of saying, “Wait, so if this happens, does that mean that will too?” Every answer you give builds another block in their mental Lego tower.

 

Why Asking “Why” Is So Important
Parents sometimes assume kids fire off “why” questions just to stay in the spotlight. But psychologists say it’s more than that. Kids are genuinely trying to understand the world, and your explanations give them comfort.

 

Think about it: for most people, when they know what’s coming next, they’ll often feel less anxious. The same goes for kids. By asking “why,” they’re learning how to predict what happens in their ever-expanding little universe; this helps them feel safer and more confident.

 

Sometimes, “why” isn’t really about the answer at all. It’s about sharing excitement. If your child spots a butterfly and asks, “Why is it orange?”, they might already have a theory. But really, they’re saying, “Hey, I noticed this cool thing, will you notice it with me?”

 

How to Respond When Your Kid Won’t Stop Asking “Why”
The constant questioning can be exhausting. But it’s also a sign of a healthy, curious, imaginative mind at work. That shared back-and-forth builds self-esteem.

 

 

Rather than shutting down the endless barrage of questions, try prompting them to figure out the answer. A simple “you tell me” or “why do you think?” can help a child come up with an explanation on their own. 

 

Be mindful of your tone and body language—as frustrating as answering the same question over and over again can be, you don’t want to discourage your kid from being curious. And, if you really need a break, you can always tell your kid you’ll answer their question at a later time.

 

If your kid does happen to ask a question that leaves you truly stumped, you can use it as an opportunity to learn something new together.

 

 

Source: Why Do Little Kids Love to Ask “Why”?

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - FAKE SPIDER WEBS

Did you know.... Along with jack o’ lanterns, skeletons, and ghosts, spider webs are a classic part of creepy Halloween décor. But the spooky faux webs can be more dangerous than they appear.

 

Now that the warm, sunny days of summer have wound down and been replaced by cooler temperatures, changing leaves, and pumpkin spice lattes, many will get the urge to bust out their Halloween decorations and string those creepy-looking artificial spider webs around their yards. And though fall is certainly the time for spooky décor, those fake spider webs can turn into a truly scary situation for birds, bees, and other wildlife. 

 

The Hazards of Fake Spider Webs as Halloween Décor
Artificial spider webs are made out of dense cotton, PVC, or other artificial fibers. The stretchy structures don’t break readily and can be difficult for animals to see at night or in low light conditions; this makes it easy for small creatures to fly or walk into them and become stuck. There have been many reports of birds trapped in their fibers, leading to broken limbs and even death.

 

 

Some birds have even been spotted using the artificial material to make their nests—and though a nest decked out in Halloween décor sounds cute, it can potentially trap or harm their chicks. Bees, chipmunks, and other small animals can also become stuck and injured in the webbing.

 

If the risk to animals isn’t enough of a reason to not use artificial webbing, the fake spider webs are also highly flammable. There’s always an uptick in fires around Halloween, often due candles and overheating lights (plus, in certain places, some good old fashioned arson). If the artificial webs catch fire, the blaze could ignite and spread quickly throughout your yard and home.

 

Alternatives to Artificial Spider Webs
If you want to ditch the dangerous material but don’t want to say goodbye to an arachnid-themed display, there are some safer, eco-friendly solutions to choose from when adding fake spider webs to your Halloween décor. 

 

You can simply display the fake webs inside your home (making sure you don’t hang them too close to any candles or hot light bulbs, of course). Just drape the webs in window frames, on mirrors, and across doorways.

 

Alternatively, you could make fake spider webs of all sizes out of rope and knots; these won’t present a danger to the non-human creatures in your neighborhood. Another safe-for-wildlife web decoration option is to make them out of paper. For a really eye-catching fake web, try making your own dramatic DIY light-up web using some simple supplies and string lights, or simply purchase a pre-made one.

 

 

Source: Why You Shouldn’t Put Out Fake Spider Webs This Halloween

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - FINGERPRINTS

Did you know... Fingerprints are one of the few parts of the human body that generally never change — in some cases, even after thousands of years. Scientists who study ancient civilizations by way of mummified remains can attest: Mummies have fingerprints. But how? 

 

Mummification works by drying out soft tissue such as skin, halting decomposition and preserving the body, fingerprints included. Recovering the fingertip impressions isn’t easy, but it is possible; the job requires soaking or injecting mummified hands with hydrating solutions that plump the tips. From there, the fingertips are inked and copied in a fashion similar to how modern fingerprints are recorded. 

 

Historians don’t just recover fingerprints from mummies — some can be found on objects, too. In fact, one set has been discovered on a 3,000-year-old coffin. Researchers at the Cambridge Fitzwilliam Museum in England discovered the prints on the internal lid of a coffin for Nespawershefyt, an Egyptian priest, in 2005; they were likely left by a craftsman who touched the lid before its varnish was fully dry. While it’s impossible to ever know the person behind the prints, historians say just seeing them helps modern people connect with people of the past.

 

Some mummies have tattoos.
Humans today are far more like ancient Egyptians than we may realize. Everyday people thousands of years ago went to work and school, baked bread, shared meals… and even got tattoos. While it’s unclear how widespread permanent body art was throughout ancient Egypt, researchers have found tattoos on mummified remains dating back 3,000 years. Seven female mummies unearthed from the archaeological site of Deir el-Medina in Egypt are adorned with symbols such as baboons, lotus blossoms, and human eyes (used as a symbol of protection). While it’s likely the women worked as artisans or crafts workers who helped decorate nearby elaborate tombs for royalty, another theory suggests their tattoos may have been related to work as healers or religious figures. Mummification generally preserves skin, but the oils and materials used in the initial process can hide evidence of tattoos, which is why researchers are now turning to infrared imaging to catch a better glimpse of potential body art — a tool that has also revealed tattoos on two 5,000-year-old male mummies.

 

Source: Mummies can still have fingerprints.

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - CUMULUS CLOUD

Did you know.... When people draw clouds, the results are usually big, fluffy, white creations, known scientifically as cumulus clouds. Although there are dozens of different cloud types, this is the one we most often associate with the word “cloud.” Though they may not be as mesmerizing as lenticular clouds hovering over volcanoes or as puzzling as arcus clouds stretching for miles, there still are some facets of them that truly boggle the mind. Take, for instance, the weight of an average cumulus cloud. Although these collections of water vapor seem to float effortlessly, clouds are extremely heavy. In fact, according to the United States Geological Survey, the average cumulus cloud weighs 1.1 million pounds. 

 

If a cloud floats, how do you weigh it? Well, the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research estimates that the average cumulus cloud is about 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) long and 1 kilometer tall, or a billion cubic meters in volume. Meanwhile, the water density of a typical cumulus cloud is 0.5 grams (about a marble’s worth) per cubic meter. That means the average cumulus cloud holds 500,000,000 grams of water — or 1.1 million pounds. But while we have the equivalent of 100 elephants floating above our heads, the dryer, denser air beneath the cloud is even heavier, which is why those clouds can harmlessly float on by.

 

Three of the world’s 10 sunniest cities are in Arizona.
The sunniest place in the world is Yuma, in the southwest corner of the extremely arid state of Arizona; the city receives 4,000 hours of sunlight every year. However, Yuma isn’t alone — nearby Tucson and the state’s capital, Phoenix, are also in the world’s top 10 sunniest places. Nearly the entire state exists in a rain shadow caused by mountains in nearby California. This means little moisture, which in turn means little cloud cover. All in all, it’s a pretty poor place to go cloud gazing.

 

 

Source: The average cumulus cloud weighs 1.1 million pounds.

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - LEATHER DIAMONDS ON BACKPACKS

Did you know... You probably don’t need an instruction manual to understand how backpacks work, but they’re often adorned with one common feature that’s largely overlooked: a little leather diamond patch sewn onto the outside. This embellishment is called a “lash tab,” and it serves more than a simply decorative purpose, as it was initially used by mountaineers to secure their gear.

 

The name comes from the word “lashing,” defined by Merriam-Webster as “something used for binding, wrapping, or fastening.” These tabs are also colloquially referred to as “pig snouts,” as the two vertical slits resemble a pig’s nose. In an interview with Reader’s Digest, JanSport product director Ryan Lee said, “The diamond lashing square was used to hold ice tools for mountaineering expeditions, particularly the ice axe.” Hikers would feed a rope or cord through the slits, allowing them to tie up their equipment. This made it easier to access the items, which would hang off the bag instead of being tucked inside.

 

These practical leather patches began appearing on mountaineering bags in the 1930s, expanding to more general recreational backpacks as the century progressed. By the 21st century, the tabs were relied on less for function and more for their rugged, retro design aesthetic. However, they can continue to serve a purpose if desired. Some outdoor enthusiasts may hang a carabiner off the lash tab to secure their water bottles, while others thread their shoelaces through to hang muddy boots after a long hike.

 

The world’s two tallest mountains are located in Hawaii.
At 29,032 feet, Mount Everest is the world’s highest in terms of its elevation above sea level. But while Everest is the highest, the two tallest mountains in the world are located on the island of Hawaii, though each is largely hidden under the waves of the Pacific Ocean.

 

Measuring from base to peak, the tallest mountain is Mauna Kea — a dormant volcano that’s estimated to stand at 33,481 feet from toe to tip. However, roughly 59% of this mountain is located underwater; only 13,796 feet are exposed above sea level. (This still makes it the highest point in the state of Hawaii.) Located to the south is Mauna Loa, an active volcano measuring more than 30,000 feet from the ocean floor to its peak. Mauna Loa reaches comparable heights of 13,681 feet above sea level.

 

 

Source: The leather diamonds on backpacks were originally used for mountaineering.

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day -  GIANT MUSHRROMS

Did you know.... Long before trees, Earth was home to towering organisms called Prototaxites, which lived during the Late Silurian through the Devonian periods, roughly 420 million to 350 million years ago. Fossil evidence shows they could reach up to 24 feet tall and 3 feet wide, making them the largest land organisms of their time. 

 

Most plants back then measured only a few inches, forming low mats of mosses, liverworts, and early vascular species. Land animals — millipede-like arthropods, primitive insects, and early amphibians — were also relatively small, and the first treelike plants would not appear until millions of years later, making Prototaxites the giants of their prehistoric world.

 

For more than a century, scientists debated whether Prototaxites were plants, fungi, algae, or lichens, since nothing comparable exists today. Their fossil “trunks” were composed of tightly packed microscopic tubes, unlike vascular tissues in plants, and they lacked roots, leaves, or wood. Isotope studies suggest they lived as heterotrophs, absorbing nutrients from decaying organic matter rather than producing their own food.

 

They may also have played a role in shaping primitive soils and nutrient cycles, and some researchers speculate their massive columns offered shelter to small arthropods. Although scientists are still investigating how Prototaxites lived and precisely what role they played in early ecosystems, evidence now points to them being either fungi or an otherwise unknown fungus-like branch of life.

 

Some mushrooms can glow in the dark.
Bioluminescent fungi, such as Panellus stipticus and Mycena chlorophos, emit a soft green light through chemical reactions involving enzymes and oxygen. This glow serves multiple ecological purposes: It may deter predators, attract insects to help spread spores, or even protect the fungi from harmful oxidative stress. In dense forests at night, patches of these glowing mushrooms can make the forest floor shimmer as if dotted with tiny lanterns.

 

Interestingly, more than 130 fungi species are known to exhibit bioluminescence, making it more common among fungi than among animals. In Japanese folklore and among Indigenous cultures in Central and South America, bioluminescent mushrooms were often thought to be the spirits of the dead. Today, their glow reminds us even seemingly ordinary organisms hold hidden wonders, quietly illuminating the ecosystems we may otherwise overlook.

 

Source: The Earth used to be covered in giant mushroom-like organisms.

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - WET CARROTS? WHY?

Did you know.... It’s not your imagination. Baby carrots are wet on purpose.

 

Contrary to their name, baby carrots aren’t the juvenile version of Bugs Bunny’s favorite vegetable. The product comes from fully-grown carrots that have been processed into cute, bite-sized shapes. But snackability isn’t the only thing distinguishing the smaller model from the classic vegetable. As anyone who’s reached into a slimy bag of baby carrots knows, downsized carrots come with some unintended consequences.

 

Baby Carrots Need to Stay Hydrated
According to Southern Living, baby carrots tend to be wetter than most veggies in the produce section. This is because they’re prone to dehydration, so water is added to them during the processing and packaging stages. Producers give baby carrots their stubby shape by chopping up carrots that aren’t attractive enough to sell whole and tossing them into a polishing drum. Water that’s added to the drum gives them their smooth, shiny appearance.

 

This accounts for some of a baby carrot’s moisture, but not all of it. The bags they come in contain supplemental water to keep the miniature veggies from drying out. Full-sized carrots and other vegetables rely on their natural skins to retain moisture. To make baby carrots, the outer layer has to be shaved away, so there’s nothing keeping the water locked inside. A splash of water inside each bag gives the carrots the crisp, fresh taste people expect from their produce.

 

Avoiding “Carrot Blush”
Baby carrots aren’t immune to drying out—especially if they’ve been sitting in an open bag or on your kitchen counter for a while. The white film that forms on the product is called carrot blush, and it’s a normal sign of dehydration. The rumor that the white stuff is really chlorine is false, though it is true that baby carrots are processed with a minimal (and safe) amount of the chemical. You can read more about the history of the snack food here.

 

Source: Why Are Baby Carrots Always So Wet?