What’s with the long face? In Milan, the law compels you to smile. It’s prescribed by a city regulation from Austro-Hungarian times that was never repealed. Exemptions included funeral goers, hospital workers or those at the bedside of an ill family member. For everybody else there is no excuse for being glum, the alternative being a fine.

Did you know that "serendipity," one of the British's favorite words, is derived from "Serendip," the Arab and Persian names for Sri Lanka? The English writer Horace Walpole coined the term in 1754, based on the title of a Persian fairy tale, The Three Princes of Serendip, in which the princes "were perpetually making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in pursuit of." Sri Lanka is known as the "Land of Serendipity" for a reason: it has unspoiled beaches, timeless ruins, wonderful wildlife, and breathtaking landscapes.

Blue eyes and red hair are the most unusual combination on the planet. The majority of (natural) redheads have brown eyes, followed by hazel or green.

A procedure to remove a cataract was first successfully carried out in 1747 by French ophthalmologist Jacques Daviel. The treatment was only carried out in the most extreme circumstances because the entire lens was removed. Unfortunately, other fields of medicine had not evolved as much. The incision remained open because fine sutures were not yet invented. Sandbags were employed to keep the patient motionless while the injury healed.

Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the Oscar for Best Director in 2010 for her Iraq war thriller, 'The Hurt Locker in. Kathryn beat her ex-husband James Cameron who was up for the same award for his 3D epic 'Avatar'. She is only the fourth woman to ever receive a nomination, the others are Sofia Coppola for 'Lost In Translation' (2004), Jane Campion for 'The Piano' (1994) and Lina Wertmüller for 'Pasqualino Settebellezze' (1977).

The forests of Kanha National Park inspired Rudyard Kipling to write the famous children's novel "Jungle Book." All of the characters and animals were inspired by the dense forests of Madhya Pradesh, where Rudyard Kipling visited and drew inspiration for his world-famous work.

We are all aware of the damage smoking causes to our skin. Did you know, however, that exposure to secondhand smoke is also harmful to your skin? Even though you might not be smoking, second-hand smoke can hasten age and cause sagging skin if you are exposed to it.

"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.

In any case, Athena had to avenge her house’s desecration. However, Poseidon was immortal and older than her. Therefore, Medusa had to take the punishment even though she was the victim. Athena turned Medusa from a beautiful maiden into a hideous beast, unable to stare someone in the eye without turning them into stone. The hair that once attracted compliments as the source of her beauty became venomous snakes. Medusa was now a Gorgon.

These parasites affect the whole Great Lakes coastline, wreaking havoc on both permanent and seasonal companies, as well as property values and tourism growth.

A precious tooth relic of Lord Buddha, transported from India in the fourth century CE, is still kept in Kandy's Temple of the Tooth. Every summer, one of Sri Lanka's seven finest festivals, Esala Perahera (Festival of the Tooth), is held to honour the tooth. More information about the Kandy Festival of the Tooth may be found here: Kandy Festival of the Tooth.

These insects are extremely elusive. As a result, it is even more difficult to determine whether a particular species is in danger of going extinct. For fairy wasps, there are no known targeted conservation initiatives. Additionally, it is not included on the IUCN Red List (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

The light is the world's most effective light source. The chemical reaction's energy is nearly entirely released as light.

The Ambassador was once a terrific option for families and was the first automobile ever produced in India. The first one came out in 1957, about 70 years ago. It had adapted quite well to our society and is still lovingly remembered by all of us.

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...

This is because redheads are more sensitive to hot and cold discomfort, according to a study. Nothing to do with their legendary fiery temper!

Alzheimer's disease is most frequently associated with memory loss, however this is not always the case, claims Alzheimer's Net. Keep in mind that Alzheimer's is caused by the quick loss of brain cells. This has an impact on many cognitive processes, including reasoning, memory, judgement, behaviour, and personality. Although memory loss is a common symptom, not everyone is equally affected.

Several times over its lengthy existence, the Great Sphinx has been destroyed by the shifting sands of the Egyptian desert. Thutmose IV, who would shortly rise to the throne as Egypt's king, was responsible for the first documented repair of the nearly totally buried Sphinx. The monument was once again covered by the three millennia that followed. By the nineteenth century, the statue's front arms had sunk well into Giza's walking surface. It wasn't until the 1920s that the statue was fully unearthed again.

Leonardo was born on 14/15 April 1452 at a farmhouse outside the hamlet of Anchiano in Tuscany, the son of Ser Piero, a rich Florentine notary, and Caterina, an unmarried peasant woman. They had 12 other children with other partners, but Leonardo was their sole kid together. Because of his illegitimacy, he was not expected to follow in his father's footsteps and become a notary. He was instead free to pursue his own interests and enter the creative arts.

Yes, indeed. When directing a laser beam through a container of water, a cool effect known as total internal reflection is used. Light is slowed by heavier particles in water as it passes through it, as detailed here. As a result, the laser beam is essentially “stuck” in the water.

Hypnotherapists are sought after for a variety of reasons. These include seeking help for overcoming fears and phobias, losing weight, dealing with negative and traumatising memories, insomnia, and quitting smoking. It has even been discovered that hypnotherapy can help labouring mothers by reducing pain during childbirth. More parents of ADHD children are discovering that hypnotherapy has a positive, drug-free effect on their children. "Hypnotherapy allows the child to gain a sense of control, increase self-esteem and competence, and reduce stress," according to the British journal Paediatrics Child Health.

If you add salt to your milk, it will last longer. Adding a pinch of salt or baking soda to each carton as soon as you open it will keep milk fresh for more than a week after it has expired. The active ingredients preserve the milk, preventing it from spoiling as quickly as it would otherwise. You could also put it in the freezer!

For diabetics, amaltas is helpful in regulating blood sugar levels. The cassia fistula's activity improves insulin sensitivity, which in turn helps regulate blood sugar levels.

This tree's pulp, commonly known as cassia pulp, is renowned for its laxative properties. 50 grams of cassia pulp should be strained after an overnight soak in water. It can cure constipation if you add 25 grams of sugar to it. The pulp of the Cassia fistula acts as a gentle and risk-free purgative.

Anxiety is often a cause or a trigger of depression. Research indicates women who have generalized anxiety disorder are at an increased risk of developing depression. People with chronic depression often develop symptoms of anxiety as a result of the mental exhaustion of depression. The same is true for sufferers of chronic anxiety. For example, people who struggle with Social Anxiety Disorder often develop depressive symptoms as a result of lifestyle choices made to accommodate the symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder, such as avoiding others and public places.