A Chinese empress is said to have discovered silk in the past, and for thousands of years, it was a closely guarded state secret. But as new trade routes appeared, silk began to reach new markets via what came to be known as the Silk Road. Other nations eventually began to learn the art of sericulture (or silk production).

Every crystal you find has mineral structure. For some, this structure corresponds to sacred geometry, determining how the crystal functions with a specific type of energy. These structures are distinct from tetragonal, hexagonal, trigonal, triclinic, or monoclinic structures. Each of these has inner structures that have been observed to reverberate throughout nature and within your body. Hexagonal crystals, for example, are known to be the most powerful healers, whereas cubic and isometric minerals are good conductors of energy. It is best if you become more acquainted with this before purchasing some of these crystals.

Ladakh is home to a specialist in the creation of fake glaciers. Chewang Norphel, a retired civil engineer, saw a little brook had frozen beneath the trees. Soon after, he became involved in waster shed development and built more than 15 artificial glaciers. His longest glacier was over 1000 feet long and could support a whole settlement of 900 people.

Sharks have microscopic teeth called epidermal denticles that cover their bodies. Because of this, their skin feels like sandpaper.

Not because they are correct, but because the world of publishing is entertaining, and they generally explain the profession while infusing their lives with drama. I really suggest it. (Does anyone else enjoy this show?)

The iguana has a third eye called the parietal eye. This pale-colored eye is positioned on the top of the head. It cannot distinguish between forms or colours, but it can detect light and movement. This allows the iguana to detect predatory birds from above.

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.

The tides are caused by the tiny changes in gravitational pulls of the Moon and Sun, as well as centrifugal forces in opposite directions. The tides on Earth are at their greatest when the three bodies are aligned, which occurs near the full and new Moons. The Earth is then extended along that line According to Ingersoll. "The water responds the greatest, but the solid Earth responds as well," he explains. "Water flowing in the oceans and rocks moving underground, both of which lose kinetic energy, are the answer. As a result, the Earth is rotating slower and the day is growing longer."

Carl Barnes, an Oklahoma farmer, spent years selectively breeding the colourful corn as a way to reconnect with his heritage. Anyone can now purchase and plant the multicoloured cobs.

It may sound absurd, but soap production was once strictly regulated to prevent illegal production. According to the Telegraph, the soap tax, which was implemented in 1712, was once a major source of revenue for the Exchequer, raising roughly the same proportion of income as alcohol duty does today. The imposed levies were so high that the tax collector decided to lock the lids on soap boiling pans every night to prevent illegal soap production after hours.

Vitamin D is commonly lauded for its role in bone health and good moods, but new study suggests that it may also have a role in metabolism and weight loss. In one prior study, for example, when vitamin-D-deficient women increased their blood levels of vitamin D to recommended levels, they lost more weight. According to the National Institutes of Health, potential symptoms of vitamin D insufficiency include bone pain and muscular weakness. Even if you take vitamin D pills, don't assume that your levels are enough. When the women in the research took supplements, they absorbed varying levels of the vitamin.

Because of their keen sense of smell, beagles can even detect pregnancy. Elvis, a beagle, was taught specifically to determine whether polar bears in zoos are pregnant, earning him the moniker "polar bear pregnancy detector." Although it's a strange career, Elvis was made for it!

Kopi Luwak is the name of a special coffee that may be found all around Bali. It's made in an unusual and unethical way - from civet droppings. Civets consume coffee beans, and their poop is collected and processed to create the unique coffee, which can sell for up to $50 per cup.

According to Chinese history, music was invented in 2697 B.C. when Emperor Huang Ti sent Ling Lun to cut bamboo poles that would produce a sound similar to a Phoenix bird's call.

Queen Victoria ruled for 63 years, and up until September 2015, was the longest reigning British monarch. The current monarch, Queen Elizabeth II—celebrating her Platinum Jubilee of 70 years on the throne—now holds the title.

Every country has a few outdated laws which didn't quite catch up with the times, but some of the laws in Bangkok will really leave you scratching your head as to the reason they were formulated in the first place. You might inadvertently commit a crime if you:

-Leave the house without wearing underwear 
-Drive a motorized vehicle bare-chested
-Use a durian fruit as a weapon; the fine levied will be determined according to the number of thorns that strike the victim
-Step on the currency, as it contains the image of the King and must not be disrespected 

 

Elephants are extremely clever and simple to teach, making them ideal for use as executioners and torturers. They may be taught to use enormous blades connected to their tusks to slowly destroy bones, crush skulls, twist off limbs, or even execute people. This manner of death was still used in various regions of Asia until the late nineteenth century.

Marvel launched a fan competition in the 1980s to find young writers and artists. One fan proposed a stealth outfit for the web-head, designed by Reed Richards and fashioned by Janet van Dyne. The concept didn't work out, but Marvel liked the costume and compensated the fan $220 for it. It appeared in comic books and even in films such as 2007's Spider-Man 3.

Some people only get one wisdom tooth, while others get two, three, four, or none. It is not uncommon for a person to have more than four wisdom teeth. In this case, the extra teeth are referred to as supernumerary teeth. The number of wisdom teeth you develop is also influenced by genetics. According to studies, at least 53% of people have at least one wisdom tooth emerge. If you don't have any wisdom teeth, that doesn't mean they aren't present. Sometimes wisdom teeth never erupt and are never visible. In this case, an x-ray can determine whether you have wisdom teeth under your gums.

The Story of the Kelly Gang, an Australian film, was the world's first feature-length film. IMDB has information on the cast, box office, and budget. It lasted more than an hour, and the reel length was approximately 4,000 feet. To put that into perspective, a small 5-inch reel of film can hold up to 200 feet, a 6-inch can hold 300 feet, and a 7-inch can hold 400 feet. Depending on the size of the reel, that's at least 10 reels of 7-inch film and up to 20 reels of 5-inch film.

Raindrops appears to be very fascinating since childhood. But have you ever wondered about its shape? Raindrops are more like hamburger buns. As the raindrops fall they become more flattened at the bottom resembling hamburger buns. Isn't this interesting?

Birmingham actually boasts more canals than Venice, Italy, with a 35-mile-long water network. Not only that, but Birmingham's canals carry more cubic meters of water than any other city on the planet! You can board a boat at Gas Street Basin and tour the city while learning about its industrial history.

You might be tempted to take off the white flesh that lies between you and the luscious fruit as you peel back the grapefruit's outer skin. Pith is the term for that white flesh. And you might decide not to discard it.