It was a widely held assumption up until about three decades ago, in the 1980s, that stress increased the development of acidic liquids in the stomach and led to ulcers. While arguing that stress can contribute to and exacerbate gastric ulcer symptoms, recent research contradicts this theory and shows that the Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori, bacterium is present in over 90% of cases. Its presence can be detected using a stool, blood, or breath test, and antibiotics work well to treat it.

The Banshee is Ireland’s best-known spirit. This female figure roams the countryside and is said to wail as a warning that death is near. Though she does not cause death, her presence is believed to foreshadow death’s arrival. Historians have traced the Banshee story back to the 8th century when it was customary for women to sing sad songs to lament a death. There are a few variations as to how the Banshee appears: some depict her as a beautiful, young woman with flowing white hair, while others describe an old woman with dirty, rotting teeth and long fingernails.

According to Merriam-Webster, the "octo" prefix alludes to the eight points on the popular sign, but the "thorpe" remains a mystery. One hypothesis derives from the Old English term for "village" because the sign resembles a hamlet surrounded by eight fields!

At a time when it was considered impolite to show a toilet being flushed on screen, Alfred Hitchcock saw an opportunity to add even more shock to his already shocking film by presenting a scrap of paper that proves to be an important clue, failing to flush in a toilet. The clue in the book was an earring discovered in the bathroom, but Hitchcock changed it to a piece of paper found in the toilet, partly to give viewers a surprise.

In a country that’s famous for its windmills, it’s no surprise there are over 1,000 windmills spread across the Netherlands. 

The windmills traditionally harnessed the wind for a variety of purposes, such as grinding grain and draining wetlands, but there are only a few still in commercial operation. 

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinderdijk is the best place to see Dutch windmills, with 19 traditional windmills.

Kalibangan in Rajasthan is one of the most important sites of the Indus Valley Civilization, which existed for around 450-600 years. This location has provided evidence of the first plowed agricultural field. This site also revealed evidence of the first known earthquake (2600 BC), which might have been the cause of the civilization's demise. The discovery of fire altars at the site suggested that the inhabitants worshipped fire. A visit to this location will give you an idea of how the ancient people lived with limited resources. You may take a train to Bikaner because it is the nearest railway station, around 205 kilometers away from Kalibangan.

The name Dussehra is derived from the Sanskrit phrase Dash Hara, which in English means "the defeat of the Sun." Hindu scriptures claim that the Sun would never have risen again if Lord Rama had not vanquished Ravana.

Speaking of wings, we may have purposefully saved the most fascinating butterfly information for last! Butterflies have four distinct wings, regardless of how they appear in motion or in drawings or paintings. The wings closest to its head are known as the forewings, while those farther back are known as the hindwings. During the flight, all four wings move up and down in a figure-eight pattern due to the strong muscles in the butterfly's thorax.

Termites can communicate and navigate their environment thanks to organs at the bases of their antennae and tibiae that can detect vibrations. Soldier termites will bang their heads against the tunnel walls when there is a potential threat, vibrating the colony as a warning. Some termite species even use the vibroacoustic signals given off by wood to decide which food source to invade next, in addition to using them for communication.

Wayanad is derived from the Malayalam terms 'Vayal' and 'Nadu,' which translate as 'paddy field' and 'rural land,' respectively.

Blood type personality, or ketsueki-gata, is a Japanese belief that it's one's blood type that may determine aspects of their personality. According to Very Well Health, the pseudoscience can be traced back to 1930 when a professor named Tokeji Furukawa suggested the possibility that there could be a correlation between blood types and certain traits. People with A blood are thought to be creative and stubborn, for example, while those with O are confident and self-centered.

Eel flavoured ice cream and Green Tea Kit Kats are just two of the weird and wonderful flavours you can come across in Japan. Kit Kats are the most popular confectionary (‘Kit Kat’ sounds similar to ‘kitto katsu’, a Japanese saying meaning ‘good luck.’) You can try edamame, wasabi and ginger ale flavoured Kit Kats, too.

Thyme's bronchodilator effects on the respiratory system have been demonstrated to help asthmatic people breathe easier. After inhaling thyme oil, patients with asthma showed improvement, indicating thyme may be helpful for treating asthmatics. Thyme may be successful in treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) in light of its success in treating various lung ailments (COPD).

According to studies, those who consume more vitamin C in their diets had a lower risk of contracting cancer. Additionally, there is a small body of evidence suggesting consuming citrus fruits like grapefruit may reduce the incidence of stomach and lung cancer.

Since blood is how nails receive their important nutrients, blood flow is crucial for nail health and growth. When there is an injury preventing them from receiving adequate blood flow, your fingernails may actually momentarily cease growing.

Brazil is the world's ninth largest economy. The country is a member of the BRICS group, which also comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

Otto Plath died unexpectedly due to complications after the amputation of his foot from untreated diabetes. His death had a significant impact on Plath, and was the inspiration for many of her poems, including one of her most famous: "Daddy."

The oldest continuously operating tramway in Asia is found in Kolkata. Additionally, it is Asia's second-oldest electric tramway. With tramways weaving crookedly through the city's streets, Kolkata has painstakingly retained the old-school romance of trams.

This province's official language is French. Approximately 80% of inhabitants speak French as their first tongue, and almost 95% of "Quebecers" do as well. The word "Francophone" refers to someone who speaks French as their first language. It is North America's oldest French-speaking community. However, most inhabitants also speak English. During my tour, I encountered no locals who did not speak English.

One of our favourite amusing facts about Poland is that it is home to the world's first upside down house. The topsy-turvy wooden home was erected upside down in a forest and appears to be something out of a storybook. Visitors must enter the home through the attic windows and may walk around the furnished interior, which is evocative of Communist Poland in the 1970s, to symbolise how Communist control turned life in Poland upside down. Hundreds of interested visitors have visited the home since its unveiling in 2007, and it is located in the little Polish town of Szymbark, which has a population of roughly 500 people.

The light is the world's most effective light source. The chemical reaction's energy is nearly entirely released as light.

Persian rugs are beautiful because they resemble works of art. The intricate patterns and designs are one-of-a-kind works of art that are frequently regarded as being undervalued. It is believed that the patterns and colors used are a reflection of ancient Persian culture. Each rug is rich with history.