The goal is to achieve a knockout or a checkmate by alternating between four-minute rounds of speed chess and three-minute rounds of boxing. The game of pawn vs brawn can be traced back to a 1992 science fiction graphic novel by Yugoslavian-French cartoonist Enki Bilal.

After the success of the 2007 film telling the story of the lovable, culinary-inspired vermin, kids everywhere asked their parents, "Can we get one? I promise I'll take care of it." At least one domestic pet chain saw sales of pet rats jump 50 percent after the movie's release. We wonder how many of those rats immediately became parental responsibilities…

The Mona Lisa, arguably one of the most famous paintings in the world, is regarded as an Italian Renaissance masterpiece. The painting, widely assumed to be that of Italian noblewoman Lisa Gherardini, is thought to have been created between 1503 and 1506 and possibly as late as 1517. With an insurance valuation of more than $870 million, it is one of the most valuable paintings in the world.

Healthy levels of the vitamins C, A, and K as well as manganese are present in this green. Including 1.5 cups of leafy green vegetables in your diet, each day may help reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. 

Yes! You read that right. Parrots have zygodactyl feet. Parrots' feet are much like human hands that they use to pick up their food and bring it to their mouth. They have one of the strongest feet among all the birds, which they use to clench branches for a long period. The strong feet even allow these birds to hang upside down from the branches.

The one-of-a-kind work of art depicting a 13th-century chronicler in Budapest's City Park appears to have miraculous powers. According to legend, touching the Anonymus' pen will bestow upon you great writing abilities. You may not believe in its magical abilities, but the pen's gleaming surface suggests that many others do.

A female shrimp will give birth to an insane number of eggs that will hatch in two weeks during a single season. As long as there is food, they can also thrive in any.

Although it has become one of fashion’s biggest nights, it did not start this way. The Met Gala’s shift into the limelight didn’t take place until Diana Vreeland, former Vogue editor-in-chief, joined the institute as a consultant. After she joined, the event elevated – celebrity guests were in attendance, they introduced themes, and there was press everywhere. Vreeland was a pivotal leader in the event until 1989 when she passed. After her reign, Anna Wintour became chairwoman for the event in 1995, and to this day she still oversees the guest list and the event.

The legend of La Ciguapa is one of the most renowned in the Dominican Republic. Ciguapas are small, feral women that inhabit the mountain areas, lurking in the shadows and waiting to capture lonely men. They appear to have extremely long hair that covers their thin bodies and backward feet. One of the earliest written accounts of these creatures appeared in novelist and poet Francisco Javier Angulo Guridi’s 1866 short story “La Ciguapa,” where he provides a lengthy description of the mountain women. Since, they have been an important part of the Dominican Republic’s culture and represented in mythical paintings and sculptures.

Do you believe the Ark of the Covenant is hidden away in a government warehouse? Wrong. It's in Lara Croft's foyer, to be precise. Hey, it's a great way to evict lingering partygoers.

Barbie's ridiculously svelte-yet-busty figure has been at the center of many-body image controversies over the years. Barbie is made by Mattel on a 1/6 scale, which is the standard scale for action figures. Barbie's measurements would then be 38-18-28. (reports vary based on versions of dolls). Various outlets and organizations have pointed out that her proportions are more than just an unrealistic standard; they would render a human woman physically incapable of walking, holding her head up, or having fully functioning internal organs. Mattel responded to calls for change by releasing a variety of dolls with different body types, skin tones, and hairstyles.

There isn't much wooing before lobster love-making. Females who have recently shed their shells emit a scent to alert males that they are ready. Six to nine months later, eggs appear on her tail, and they hatch after another six to nine months. A female lobster weighing one pound and a half can lay between 8,000 and 12,000 eggs, each roughly the size of a raspberry piece. Females do not have monogamous relationships.

Throughout the majority of the Uncharted series, Drake claimed to be a descendent of Sir Francis Drake, despite the fact that Sir Francis Drake was known to have no children. Drake's Deception reveals that he is not who he claims to be. This is further developed in A Thief's End, as Drake's true identity is revealed to be Nathan Morgan. Cassandra Morgan, his mother, was an archaeologist who hypothesised that Sir Francis Drake had heirs. Following his mother's death, Drake and Sam were placed in a Boston orphanage. After fleeing, they decided to alter their names, and they chose the surname "Drake" in honour of their mother.

The motif of a coconut tree appears on the flag of the Indonesian Scouting Organization. It represents the philosophy of a real Scout, who must make himself/herself useful in all facets of life, just like the Coconut tree is every day for Indonesians.

Malleus Maleficarum became the go-to handbook for both the hysterical masses and witch-hunters on how to deal with a witch. It was a legal and theological document written by two clergymen that offered advice like shaving the witch's hair off her body so she can't hide magical objects. Go figure.

Although the origin of the name "Jolly Roger" is unknown, one theory attributes it to the use of red flags. A red flag was commonly used during naval warfare centuries ago to signal that no mercy would be shown and that anyone captured would be killed immediately. According to theorists, the French called it a Joli Rogue ("pretty red"), which was then translated into English as Jolly Roger. Another theory holds that the name Jolly Roger was derived from "Old Roger," a term for the Devil. Oh, these pirates are so enigmatic!

When we throw away our clothes, we accept that we will never see them again. However, just because our old clothes are no longer in our possession doesn't mean they've vanished. While some materials decompose more slowly than others, they all have negative environmental consequences. In addition to emitting gases such as methane, most fabrics contain dyes and chemicals that can contaminate the soil and groundwater.

Did you know that the process of digesting food burns calories? Protein burns the most calories of the three macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, and fat). According to research, boosting protein consumption temporarily increases metabolism by 15 to 30 percent. A protein-rich diet, on the other hand, promotes healthy amounts of lean muscle mass, which raises the basal metabolic rate. Lean meats like chicken and fish, as well as dairy, whole grains, beans, lentils, and nuts, are also good sources, according to Cederquist. Spread protein consumption throughout the day for the best results.

Wisdom teeth typically erupt between the ages of 17 and 25. The oldest person to grow a wisdom tooth, according to Guinness World Records, was 94 years old. Wisdom teeth can erupt at any time, but they have been doing so for a long time. A 25- to 35-year-old woman died 13,000 to 15,000 years ago with impacted wisdom teeth, according to the earliest recorded case.

If your kid begins on a certain brand-name formula, don't be surprised if you begin to consider the less expensive store-brand alternatives. One research conducted by the University of Virginia discovered that switching is safe; babies saw no increase in spit-up, burping, gas, crying, or irritation as a result.

We ate a lot of Hot Pockets Sideshots – tiny, soft rolls with sloppy joe or cheeseburger filling — when they were still available. Other short-lived offerings were Hot Pockets Pasta Bake, which had cheesy noodles (holy carbohydrates!) and Food Truck Bites, which were inspired by genuine food trucks in Los Angeles and Chicago.

Cambodians think that counting the chirps of a gecko would reveal whether or not you will be lucky enough to marry. If a tokay gecko makes seven or more calls in the same room as you, it is considered lucky.