Have you ever thought about why you get hiccups? The spasms in your diaphragm compel you to suck in a breath, producing a gulping sound in your voicebox. Hiccups aren't beneficial in today's society, yet they were 370 million years ago. Scientists think that our ancestors had both gills and lungs and that when they pulled water in via their gills, it might aspirate into their lungs. A well-timed hiccup would clear the airway and prevent choking. Even though we no longer have gills, we still love the occasional hiccup!

No, this alleged torture gadget did not exist. The widespread usage of the term "mediaeval" is a typical 18th-century fiction, fueled by conceptions of the Middle Ages as a generally uncivilised era of murder and mayhem. (They weren't awful, but they weren't great.)

If you've ever considered memorizing all of the different species of butterflies, it might take a little longer than you expected. Those species that are usually found in the lower 48 states of the United States would be a good place to start. Still, that figure is close to 575, so we recommend making note cards or focusing on the butterflies you see in and around your yard this spring and summer.

The camera, invented by Thomas Edison and William Dickson, allowed a single person to view a film through a peephole window at the top of the device. The only surviving Kinetoscope film is the 1890 test film "Monkeyshines, No. 1."

Midway through the 1840s, Charlotte came across some of Emily's poems and immediately saw their genius. She took the initiative to find a home for a book of poems she and her two sisters had collected. They used the pseudonyms Currer, Ellis, and Acton (respectively Charlotte, Emily, and Anne), and they shared the pseudo surname Bell.

Termites produce a lot of gas as they break down the wood and other materials they've eaten. Considering the size of a termite, this may not seem like much, but the gas accumulates. In fact, this amount is so large that termites are responsible for about 20 million tonnes of methane emissions annually on a global scale. That much gas is a lot!

The information on cataracts is unambiguous. Once they begin to form, they will only get worse. Because cataracts cannot be reversed, it's crucial to contact a doctor as soon as any symptoms show up. The reduction in vision brought on by cataracts can be stopped. A synthetic intraocular lens is used in place of the damaged lens following laser surgery. The vision of each person is boosted as much as possible thanks to this personalised lens.

In the film "Pulp Fiction," John Travolta pulls a needle from Uma Thurman's chest after she overdoses. The actual shot was filmed backwards, giving the impression that the needle made contact with Thurman's skin. This made the shot much safer because Travolta was less likely to puncture his co-star.

A coconut may survive on the ocean's tide for up to 100 days and still germinate. Coconuts are able to float in the ocean due to their water resistance. As a result, they can be found throughout the Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Africa.

Other minerals can be combined with sand, lime, and soda ash to produce different colored glass. Adding nickel oxide, for example, results in the violet glass.

People used to make windows out of flattened animal horns before that.

Only a few witches were ever burned at the stake in real life. Even during the well-known Salem Witch Trials, 165 people were charged, with 31 imprisoned and 19 sentenced to death. Eighteen of the 19 people who were hanged were women. The only survivor was a man who refused to admit he was a witch and was stoned to death. As a result, because it was illegal, immolation was never used as the primary method of execution. In fact, none of the accused were burned in America.

In an interview with BBC's The Graham Norton Show, Samuel L. Jackson insisted on keeping the purple lightsaber that his character, Mace Windu, used in several epic fights in the Star Wars prequels. But what was the most stunning revelation? What Jackson said was etched on his lightsaber, which is not suited for youngsters under the age of ten. Anyone who has followed Jackson's career for a long time might probably guess it. As you may recall, Jackson featured in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction in 1994, as Jules Winnfield, an enlightened hitman whose wallet is embroidered with the same lines.

Africa has parts in all four hemispheres. c It, for example, spans all four hemispheres and encompasses nearly 12 million square miles.

Because Lara's polygon count was so limited, one of her trademarks, the braid she wears in all promotional and concept art, had to be removed from the game.

This may come as a surprise but the Gala was not always held at the Met. Actually, from 1948 until 1971, the Gala took place in different areas around New York City such as Central Park, the Waldorf Astoria, and the Rainbow Room.

Fairy wasps are not suitable as pets. They don't even have life spans that can last a week, and first of all, they are usually too small to be seen.

This is more than anywhere else in the world due to Australia's isolation from other continents.

Every oyster is born male, and they all undergo at least one gender change. Oysters can fertilise their own eggs since they have both sets of reproductive organs at birth.

The Pope is guarded by 135 Swiss troops known as the Pontifical Swiss Gaurd. They were initially engaged in 1506 by Pope Julius II, who required personal security from Church adversaries. They are immediately identified by their brightly coloured striped jerseys. Anyone can join the Swiss guard, but they must be male, between the ages of 19 and 30, and 5' 8" tall. In addition, one must be a Christian and have undergone basic military training.

Mango is not only the national fruit of India, but also of Pakistan and the Philippines.Mango is a true star of the summer because it is juicy, pulpy, and delicious. This season, make sure to sample as many as you can.

Thousands of people's wishes are inscribed on the confetti in Times Square. "Wishfetti" became a part of the ritual in 2015. People write their New Year's resolutions and submit them to the Wish Wall in Times Square (or online), where they are transformed into the confetti that falls over the throng at midnight.

A serum is an excellent moisturizer for the skin. While moisturisers stay on the skin's barrier and prevent moisture from leaving, serums penetrate deep into the skin and replace moisture that has been lost.