Taste receptor cells in the pancreas enable it to detect the presence of sugar. Artificial sweeteners are also "tasted" by it. But unlike our tongue's taste buds, it doesn't send these sensations back to the brain. Instead, the pancreas uses this sensory data to maintain a healthy hormonal balance and blood glucose levels.

Russia’s Ekaterina Lisina has legs that measure 132.8 cm (4 ft 4.2 in) and 132.2 cm (4 ft 4 in) for the left and right leg respectively, take from the heel to the top of the hip. That’s more than twice the height of the world’s Shortest woman ever.

Palm trees are revered religious symbols. The people of Jerusalem greeted a triumphant Jesus just one week before his death and resurrection in the Bible, a tradition that is now known and celebrated as Palm Sunday, the week before Easter. Palms appear numerous times in both the Bible and the Quran. Palms are associated with peace and abundance in Judaism.

Domestic cats are usually considered to be quite small and dainty creatures. But did you know the world’s longest cat was a Maine Coon called Stewie which was measured at 48.5 inches? Whereas, the record for the tallest cat belonged to Arcturus at a whopping 19.05 inches tall! Those are some big cats.

For devotees, it sometimes seems like Starbucks can do no wrong, especially when it comes to new and creative drinks. But they have had a big flop, and it's called the Chantico. The Chantico came out in 2005 and was described as a "drinkable dessert."

It was a 6-ounce hot "drinking chocolate" that was supposed to mimic the sweet chocolate drink served in Europe. According to some employees, it failed because it couldn't be customized, while others say customers said it was too rich and heavy. Starbucks pulled the drink in 2006.

There are quite a few landmarks around the Harvard campus. The most famous one is known as the statue of three lies. It’s called so to account for its three inaccuracies. The sculpture states that it is of John Harvard, the founder of Harvard and that Harvard was founded in 1638. However, John Harvard was not the founder of the university, he was the first major benefactor. Also, Harvard was founded in 1636 and not 1638. What’s more? The sculpture isn’t of John Harvard at all, but that of some unknown student.
 

Increasing your exercise regimen or moving heavy furniture over the weekend could result in a hernia. Think about arduous exercise or heavy lifting. Smoking, obesity, and poor diet can all weaken the abdominal wall and raise your risk of developing a hernia.

During the first season, The Office was a close adaptation of the UK version. As the first season came to a finish, Steve Carell's The 40-Year-Old Virgin hit cinemas and catapulted him to stardom. It was at this point that The Office's creators decided to soften Michael Scott. From Season 2 on, we see a huge shift in the program, which may be attributed to Carell's popularity.

Glassblowing is a disappearing art form. There is just no demand for blown glass today due to the rise of mass production. Really, it's a shame because blown glass is so exquisite and distinctive. No two pieces are exactly the same because each is entirely handmade. Only a few glass-blowing studios are in existence, and even fewer artists are skilled at blowing glass. 

Want to know why these earthen pots—which we also mentioned above—are the best for cooking and are even recommended by health professionals? Because earthenware is porous by nature, it helps your food retain heat evenly. They require more time to cook than usual while keeping the moisture and nutrients in the food inside the pot. Along with the combination of slow cooking, they also impart an earthy flavor to your dish.

The snake plant is especially well-liked because it makes the perfect "thank you" gift for new parents. This is a great houseplant to give as a present to someone you know who just had a baby. It's fantastic for newlyweds as well. Get your own snake plant the next time you want to pamper yourself or give someone a housewarming gift.

Koko is a renowned gorilla that understands sign language. When asked where gorillas go once they die, the gorilla quickly signed "Comfortable hole, bye."

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 

 

Do you want a large, muscular baby? Then formula is your ticket, according to a study published in the Journal of Proteome Research by UC Davis. Researchers discovered that when five formula-fed infant rhesus monkeys were compared to five breastfed monkeys, the former developed quicker and bigger than the latter. One probable explanation is that formula includes higher protein than breast milk: human milk contains 8% protein whereas rhesus monkey milk contains 11.6 percent. At 18%, formula outperforms both.

Yoga can not cure insomnia, but it does assist reduce stress and anxiety, which can be the cause of sleeplessness. Yoga is a complementary strategy for addressing the issue of sleeplessness holistically.

In contrast to the 10 trillion cells in our body, a healthy person has between 100 and 300 trillion probiotic bacteria and yeast.

According to popular belief, the first lavish celebration of Dussehra was held in the Mysore Palace in the 17th century on the king's orders. Since then, Dussehra has been grandly observed throughout the nation.

We are the world's second-largest silk producer (after China) and third-largest cotton grower. With such a rich history and abundance, it's only natural that the majority of our clothing incorporates these materials.

India is home to one of the world's hottest chillies, the bhut jolokia or ghost pepper, which is 400 times hotter than Tabasco sauce. The chilli, which is grown in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur, was certified as the world's hottest in 2007 by Guinness World Records, but it fell out of that position in subsequent years.

One of the lesser-known facts of the Indian Ocean is that it has a number of tectonic plate boundaries, notably the Rodrigues Triple Point, where the African, Indo-Australian, and Antartic continental plates collide.

Archaeological discoveries suggest that this dog existed around 4500 years ago. A Pariah dog skull from 2500 BCE was discovered during excavations at the Mohenjo-Daro site in the Sindh region of Pakistan (home to the Indus Valley civilization). Pariah dogs may be among the world's oldest canine breeds, according to numerous cave drawings found throughout the Indian subcontinent.

A blueberry's silver-gray bloom is a protective layer that serves as a covering. The bloom is what keeps the berries fresh, so wait to wash them until you're ready to eat them.

Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the head of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, won the general election in July 1960 and became the world's first female prime minister. She served the country for three terms before resigning in August 2000 due to health issues. Sirimavo Bandaranaike died of a heart attack in the same year she voted in the parliamentary elections, at the age of 84.