The Alipore Zoo is literally something to be proud of, from the Royal Bengal to the greatest species of animals. However, few Kolkatans are aware that it is also the country's oldest zoo. Alipore's tagline as a brand could be - entertaining everyone since 1875!

In 2020, Netflix released "The Queen's Gambit," an adaptation of Walter Tevis' novel of the same name. Anya Taylor-Joy starred as chess prodigy Beth Harmon in the limited series. Every game in the series was created by chess consultants Garry Kasparov and Bruce Pandolfini. Whether the game was shown on screen or not, the actors learned and played every move, including the speed chess games.

The first version of a vision aid, known as a "reading stone," was invented 1000 years ago. It appeared to be a small magnifying glass. However, the first wearable vision aid is thought to have been invented in the thirteenth century by Italian Salvino D'Armante. So we can thank Italy for both a cool accessory and delicious food.

Traditional cleaning goods like paper towels and throwaway clothing always wind up in landfills, and many of them aren't even biodegradable! As a result, it takes decades for them to decompose into soil. Microfiber cloths, on the other hand, are renewable. You use a cloth to clean your house, and then you just wash it. It will be as good as new after washing! Because microfiber cloth is extremely resilient, you may repeat this cycle for years without affecting its cleaning capabilities. My favourite microfiber cloth is almost ten years old and still looks brand new. It may have faded a little, but it still works perfectly.

There are numerous references to this phenomenon when looking deeper into the online crochet community. This completely surprised me because I try to live simply and am generally turned off by consuming more than is necessary. According to a practical joke, crochet hooks ought to be labeled "Caution, use of these may cause yarn addiction!" I think I've got it under control by this point, mostly because I've run out of room and have a closet full of yarn—referred to in the needlecraft community as a stash.

Nail painting has been practised since 3000 BCE. There is archaeological evidence that the Ancient Babylonians used a solid gold manicure set to paint their nails before battle. People used beeswax, egg whites, gelatin, and vegetable dyes in Ancient China during the Ming Dynasty.

The Komodo Dragon is the world's largest lizard, and this 3 metre long, aggressive, scaly beast can only be found on five Indonesian islands: Padar, Gili Motang, Flores, Rinca, and, of course, Komodo. With their deadly bites, massive height, and carnivorous habits, these animals are extremely fearsome. They hunt and kill animals much larger than themselves, even humans.

You might not be shocked to learn that probiotics help ease constipation (Italy, Amenta et al. 2006). You might be surprised to learn that probiotics are involved with cancer, though. They have been found to increase the production of molecules that fight cancer (Hatakka et al. 2008). According to frequency and dosage, the probiotic Lactobacillus casei has also been demonstrated in Tokyo to lower the incidence of bladder cancer (Ohashi et al. 2002).

That's over 3 feet per year! This is because it was created thousands of years ago on a lake. Today, the lake is part of Mexico Metropolis's aquifer system, and water demand is so high that the city is sinking.

Silent film 'The Artist' is widely tipped to win the Best Picture gong at this year's Oscars, but the only silent film to previously win an Oscar for Best Picture was 'Wings' in 1929. The movie is about two young fighter pilots during World War I who starred Charles ‘Buddy’ Rogers, Richard Arlen, Clara Bow, and a young Gary Cooper.

Additionally, it aids in removing toxins from the body and increases vigor and strength.

Most people know that anxiety causes difficulty focusing and concentrating, restlessness, irritability, and frustration. However, few people realize that anxiety causes serious physical problems like weakness, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, nausea, hot flashes, and dizziness. People experiencing a panic attack often end up in the ER believing they are having a heart attack.
 

With a total wealth of $280 billion, the city-state ranks seventh on the list of countries with the most billionaires. However, when it comes to cities with the most billionaires, Hong Kong comes in second. (From Asia Tatler)

People used to eat arsenic to improve their skin. You've probably heard about how arsenic was found in many of the Victorians' favourite cosmetics, but it gets worse. There were also edible products on the market in the late 1800s, such as Dr. James P. Campbell's Safe Arsenic Complexion Wafers. They advertised that they could remove freckles, blackheads, and other "facial disfigurements." That has to be one of the most intriguing facts you've learned in a long time.

The silly term is thought to have been created by fusing two French words: saquer (to draw) and bouter (to shove). The sackbuts of the Renaissance were the forerunners of the trombone, despite having a slightly different size and shape.

According to Italian studies, eating pizza daily can cut the chance of acquiring oesophageal cancer by 59%, mouth cancer by 34%, and colon cancer by 26%. (Of course, with many diet restrictions, take it with a grain of salt.)

Back in the 1970s, Paul and David Merage came up with the idea for microwavable "sandwiches." The product initially appeared on grocery store shelves in 1983.

Quokkas love to approach the humans who visit Rottnest with their cheeky grins. As well as giving them the cute factor, a quokka's smile helps them cool down. 

The Water Festival, also known as Thingyan, is one of the biggest festivals in the country. Thousands take to the streets for a huge water fight to celebrate the Burmese New Year in April. Everyone has a great time and it’s one of the most important facts about Myanmar culture you should be aware of as a tourist. Taking part is probably the best travel experience you can have here.

As you may have heard, Starbucks offers a generous benefits package to their employees, including providing healthcare to employees who work 20 hours a week or more. In fact, according to Howard Schultz, CEO of the company in 2008, Starbucks spends $300 million annually on healthcare, which is more than what they spend on coffee beans.

In 1970, Pope Benedict XVI was given an organ donor card. The card became invalid when he was elected Pope in 2005, according to the Telegraph. The Pope's entire body, according to the Vatican, must be buried intact because his body belongs to the universal Catholic Church.

A single cigarette contains more than 4,800 chemicals, 69 of which are known carcinogens. Over 7,000 chemicals are found in secondhand smoke, including 70 carcinogens.

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.

The concept of mindfulness, or living in the now and paying attention to what is going on around you, is often connected with Buddhism, however, the word itself may not accurately reflect the meaning intended. "Most Buddhist experts think that the term "mindfulness" is a severe mistranslation of the word "sati," explains Crystal Beckwith, a Reiki practitioner and energy coach. "In reality, Buddhism is about an empty mind; sati is best described as mindfulness." Learn how to be more attentive in your everyday life.