When lightning strikes sand, glass can naturally develop due to the high temperatures. 
 

Bamboo has the distinction for the fastest growing plant on the planet. Certain bamboo species can grow up to 91 cm every day, or over 4cm per hour!

The massive book tour that surrounds publication is probably the largest fallacy propagated by television and movies about the publishing industry. Most authors do not have the name recognition to necessitate a multi-city reading tour. J.K. Rowling, Roxane Gay, David Sedaris? They can all sell hundreds of volumes in a bookstore or an auditorium. A first-time author from a tiny town? Not at all. This has nothing to do with the actual quality of their work; it's merely a publicity stunt. So, if you see an author you enjoy speaking at a library, reading at a bookstore, or participating in a demonstration near you, go! Support them in person!

He was promoted to professor of cosmic ray research from the position of "reader" in theoretical physics at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. He became chairman of the newly created Atomic Energy Research Committee five years later, and subsequently of the Atomic Energy Commission.

After being motivated by an animated film called Alakazam the Great, Miyamoto originally envisioned an ox as Mario's main foe. Fellow designer Takashi Tezuka, on the other hand, believed the ox character's illustrations looked more like a turtle. Following that, the two collaborated to create a nefarious turtle-like Koopa leader who would go on to become Bowser.

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.

Beetroots are a special vegetable since their roots are abundant in sugar. This sugar is gradually released into circulation, so you don't get a sugar rush as you would with other sweet meals. As a result, beetroots are an excellent choice for people seeking a healthy alternative to sugary snacks. Beetroot sugar is also advantageous to diabetics since it helps to manage blood sugar levels.

Karl Schwanzer, an Austrian architect, created the BMW headquarters in Munich, which took four years to complete. Construction lasted from 1968 to 1972, with the goal of finishing in time for the 1972 Summer Olympics. The building, which is located close to Olympiapark, has served as the BMW headquarters since 1972. The design is inspired by a BMW engine, with four towers signifying four engine cylinders. The four interconnecting towers are hung on top of a single foundation. The building has a total of 22 stories, 18 of which are utilised as office space.

It is common knowledge that Athens was the most powerful and glorious city-state of ancient Greece. Its inhabitants created a great culture that is still respected today. It is also believed that the city was named after Athena, the goddess of knowledge and courage.

The Artist' may lead the film pack this year, with 12 Academy Award nods, but the most nominated movies of all time garnered a whopping 14 nominations. First up was the black and white film All About Eve in 1950. 50 years later, Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio's doomed love story 'Titanic' sank all competition.

Counting systems are classified into two types. One system makes use of native Korean. It is used for all numbers less than 99, counting items, describing time, distance, dates, and discussing aging. All numerals greater than 100 are derived from Chinese.

Saint Marinus moved to Rimini, Italy, with his lifelong friend Leo, from the island of Rab in modern-day Croatia, to work as a stonemason. After the Diocletianic Persecution that followed his Christian preaching, he retreated to the nearby Monte Titano. He founded a little church in Titano and lay the basis for what is now the city and state of San Marino.

Starbucks is often known for the music they always have playing in the background of each store. As it turns out, Starbucks is more serious about music than you may have thought. The company actually has its own record label called Hear Music. It was created with Concord Music Group in 2007, and actually includes some pretty huge performers, like Paul McCartney, James Taylor, and Joni Mitchell. 

If you download the app, you can find information on what's playing in the store, and sometimes get points for free song downloads.

 

In China, restoring virginity is both possible and popular. This plastic surgery is also known by a medical term: hymenorrhaphy. Chinese ladies spend a lot of money to get their hymens reconstructed before their wedding night. They simply do not want their future spouses to discover that they are no longer virgins...

The frozen meals staple was not always connected with the catchphrase "Hot Pockets!" They were originally named "Chunk Stuffers," but thankfully someone thought better of that unappealing moniker.

Climbing up and down the cobblestone streets may exhaust you. Bring suitable walking shoes and be prepared.

Trifasciata is a member of the succulent family but is not a cactus. Its look often leads people to mistake it for a cactus. The plant has thick, fleshy leaves that mimic those of a cactus. In actuality, agave, jade, and aloe vera plants share a structure with snake plants. The plant's maintenance needs are likewise quite similar to those of cacti.

The Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge is the world's longest of its type, stretching across the majestic peaks that inspired Avatar's Hallelujah Mountains. The bridge opened to considerable fanfare in 2016 and has since been the setting for several viral videos, with some tourists humorously unable to withstand the intensity of the passage. Despite its frightening aspect, the bridge is secure. Before presenting it to the public, Zhangjiajie officials urged individuals to shatter it with hammers and even drive a car across it to demonstrate its strength.

If you've seen the crowds that gather around Oxford Circus in London when the green man arrives, you might find this hard to believe. Shibuya Crossing, on the other hand, frequently sees up to 2,500 people crossing at the same time. That's a lot of work!

Lord Shiva is regarded as the originator of yoga, the first yogi, or Adiyogi. He was the first person to plant the seeds of yoga in the human mind. Lord Shiva had taught yoga to seven people who became known as Saptarishis and were tasked with spreading it throughout the world.

Another fun fact about Spain is that it has 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Only Italy and China have more. Probably the most famous UNESCO World Heritage Site is the Sagrada Familia cathedral in Barcelona. This building was begun to build in 1882 and is believed to be finished in 2026.

"When things are going well, [romantic love] is a very powerfully wonderful addiction," said Helen E. Fisher, a biological anthropologist at Rutgers University, in a 2006 TED Talk. That's because the hormones released by your brain when you're in love are intensely euphoric, to the point of making you addicted to love—and the person you're in love with.

Monkeypox usually runs its course in two to four weeks. If you get monkeypox, your provider will keep an eye on you until the rash goes away.

The Lamborghini Winter Academy teaches you how to have fun while driving 5-700 horsepower Lamborghinis over the Alps. During the winter. Nothing except snow and ice covered the ground. Unless you strike anything, it's also pretty cheap.