"We don't really know who first came up with the idea for looking at things in nature and divining influences on humans," NASA astronomer Sten Odenwald told Time. "There's some indication that cave art shows this idea that animals and things can be imbued with some spirit form that then influences you, and if you appease that spirit form, then you will have a successful hunt. That was taken over by the idea of divination, where you can actually look at things in nature and study them carefully, such as tea-leaf reading."

There are thousands of distinct species all throughout the world, and Britain has 26 of its own. The most prevalent in the UK are reddish-brown 'surface dwellers,' such as tiger worms (Eisenia fetida), grub around in rotting leaves and other organic materials. Then some worms dig no deeper than 30cm, such as the grey worm.

We are always told that chocolate causes tooth decay, but it actually prevents tooth decay. The antibacterial agents in the cocoa beans inhibit the growth of the cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth and prevent tooth decay. But yes! This doesn't give you the right to eat chocolates daily

The appendix used to be mainly disregarded as being useless. The appendix would need to be removed in the event of appendicitis, a potentially fatal condition. The vermiform appendix was the subject of study by Randal et al. in 2007 at Duke University. The probiotic bacteria in the appendix were found to release when the body was being attacked by a particular sort of infection, as was discovered by the researchers. When the body is contaminated, the appendix accomplishes this by releasing them into the cecum.

Selenium is an essential antioxidant for cell metabolism. This antioxidant is typically difficult to locate in meals, but chia seeds are an excellent source.

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.

Countless species, including fireflies, are bioluminescent, or able to generate their own light.

Experts believe the Portland Vase was created in Rome between AD 5 and AD 25. The Vase is currently housed in the British Museum and has been there for over 200 years.

The first McDonald's drive-thru was erected in a restaurant in Sierra Vista, Arizona, near the military post of Fort Huachuca. Military regulations prohibited soldiers from wearing their uniforms in public, and they weren't about to change into civilian clothes just to grab a burger and rush back to base, so restaurant manager David Rich devised a solution: cut a hole in the wall so that military personnel could pick up their orders without having to exit their vehicle. The idea soon gained popularity due to its ease and simplicity.

Even though the first cataract extraction operation was conducted in the 18th century, cataracts have really been treated for a much longer. In actuality, the earliest known cataract operation took place in the fifth century BC. As a result, it ranks among the earliest surgical techniques ever performed. The methods employed then were undoubtedly less advanced than those used now or even in the 18th century. When the lens was fully opaque and hard, a procedure called "couching" was applied. This involved poking the eye with a sharp item or striking it with a blunt one.

The first color film to win the Best Picture was 'Gone With The Wind' in 1940.

The raptors' terrifying noises in Jurassic Park were inspired by recordings of tortoises mating. The sound designer also tried horses breathing and geese hissing, but the tortoises proved to be the most evocative.

Seeing new individuals nude isn't as fascinating as it sounds after time. The sight of another body does not excite most OB-GYNs. "Over time, that perspective shifts from sexual to therapeutic. I know many patients don't notice a change, but I get a little weirded out when individuals just strip naked in front of me "according to one doctor

The wax forms an unsightly ring of hard wax around the edges when you can only melt it close to the wick. Tunneling is the term for this. All you need to do is wrap some foil around the top of your candle. After that, make a hole for the wick in the center. The hard exterior wax is encouraged to melt evenly and soften. 
To make sure the entire top layer is liquid, burn your candle for a number of hours with the foil cover on.

The original Beauty and the Beast fable was written in 1740 by French author Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, and the beast was a horrible mix of an elephant and a fish. The story was designed to persuade girls to accept arranged marriages, "for an alliance that entailed effacing their own wants and surrendering to the will of a monster," according to children's literature expert Maria Tatar.

Approximately 17 breakfast dishes originated here. If you enjoy breakfast, the South has many options for you. We counted more than 17 breakfast dishes that originated here, including the all-time favorites idly, dosa, uttapam, upma, and many others.

The owners of Swiggy have not indicated any desire to file an IPO and take the company public. The funding that it currently receives from its venture capital investors is more than enough to fully fund all of Swiggy’s expansion efforts. Swiggy may remain one of India’s largest privately-owned companies as there is no need for it to offer shares on the public stock exchange markets. We fully expect to see Swiggy continue to grow and expand throughout India, and perhaps other parts of the world in the years to come.

It's strange to think of the founder of modern science dabbling in astrology. But two things should be kept in mind: First, historians warn us that judging historical events by today's standards is tricky. We all know that astrology is nonsense, yet astrology was only just beginning to separate from astronomy at the time of Galileo. Besides, Galileo was not wealthy: A professor who can teach astrological methods will be more in demand than one who cannot.

Another impact of spirituality is that it can help you live a healthier life. When you have a solid connection to your spiritual side, it gives you solace during tough times. It can help you make better decisions about your health and individual well-being, both physically and emotionally, and is a positive factor for mental health.

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!

In fact, she originally majored in studio art at Smith College before switching to English. From collages to paintings, much of her art uses the abstract in unique ways. Her visual art was recently put on display at the Smithsonian National Gallery and you see it in person until May 20, 2018.

The Vatican is the only nation that has been listed as a World Heritage site on its whole. It was added to the list in 1984. The list contains both the city of the Vatican and extraterritorial sites in Rome, such as St. Peter's Basilica and Saint Mary Major.

After regular services were discontinued, some Cambodians built their own trains out of bamboo. It is now a popular tourist destination and a must-see for anybody visiting Cambodia.

A small 2011 study with 24 participants discovered that eating kiwi fruit appeared to enhance the quality of their sleep. Their sleep onset (the amount of time it took them to fall asleep), sleep duration, and sleep quality all improved after 4 weeks of kiwi consumption.

Although many scholars regard the OED as the ultimate authority on dictionaries, the OED requires your assistance. At any given time, the dictionary's editors are researching the history of specific words and phrases, and The OED Appeals allows the public to submit evidence of the earliest record of certain words (via the comments section). Camouflage and Arnold Palmer are two recent entries in the OED, so if you have old books or magazines that mention some strange word, please let the OED know. You might just see your contribution in the next edition of the dictionary.