The Netherlands could be crammed into Mongolia 37 times. It is the world's 18th most populous country (Iran is 17th).

Uncracked codes are shown in a sculpture outside the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia. The Kryptos sculpture, created by artist Jim Sanborn, has four inscriptions, three of which have been broken but the fourth remains a mystery.

It should come as no surprise that "Avatar" has the highest production budget of any Oscar-winning film, with an estimated $280 million spent on its making. It received Academy Awards for Art Direction, Cinematography, and Visual Effects despite not winning Best Picture or Best Director.

In uncontracted braille, every word is spelled out. Contracted braille is a “shorthand” version where common words are abbreviated, much like “don’t” is a shorter version of “do” and “not.” Most children learn uncontracted braille before they learn the contracted version.

Palm trees have been associated with humans since the dawn of time. Archeological discoveries have revealed that the date palm was widely used in Mesopotamian society, both for food and for other purposes. Palm branches were given to triumphant champions of games and wars by the Romans as a symbol of victory.

The sisters decided to submit the manuscripts for their respective novels, The Professor by Charlotte, Wuthering Heights by Emily, and Agnes Grey by Anne, all under their pseudonyms after the harrowing experience of having the poetry collection published.

Their will to achieve and create money is one of the reasons why this city has become a global economic powerhouse. Hong Kong was rated sixth on the global billionaires list in 2018.

The record for the loudest purr by a domestic cat is currently held by Merlin, a black and white cat from Torquay, UK. His purr is 67.8db(A) and for context, this is nearly the same volume as a shower! Most cats purr at around 25db.

Melanism can be an advantageous evolutionary process. Panther facts reveal that darker members of a species are frequently more disguised and so more likely to survive and reproduce. This is especially true in some environmental environments, such as deep woodland areas with minimal light, where melanism is more widespread. Melanism is thus passed on by a dominant gene in Panthera onca, the kind of panther derived from the jaguar species. This implies that although black jaguars can have either black or spotted offspring, normal jaguars can only have spotted cubs.

Because the Incas lacked a writing system, there are no written records of the people who lived there. Most archaeologists assume it was created as a royal estate by Emperor Pachacuti. Some believe it was a refuge for the Inca empire's high-ranking religious leaders and academics.

Betel leaves are a mild stimulant that the locals like to chew on for a couple of minutes. Unfortunately, the leaves cause their mouths to water, which in turn is mixed with the red dye of the substance. People then spit this out onto the floor causing red stains along the street. The first impression when you see this ubiquitous marking on the floor may be blood. But, it’s not.

When you’re in Myanmar, you’ll see people chewing this and will become familiar with the red stains that line the streets. Vendors sell large green leaves containing the nut with spices and occasionally tobacco. Try it yourself if you dare.

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.

A student went 264.4 hours without sleep while still in high school, winning first place in the 10th Annual Great San Diego Science Fair in 1964. Randy said emphatically "no" when asked if he'd do it again. Others claim to have broken Randy's record, but none of their attempts were done under close scrutiny, as Randy's were, so there's no way of knowing if they're genuine.

According to a 2011 research, Earth generates up to 40 terawatts of heat, half of which originates from radioactive decay in its core. Scientists studied antineutrinos that flowed up from Earth's core and discovered that radioactive decay of specific elements generates half of Earth's heat.

One of nature's rock stars is broccoli. It's a major source of plant compounds that have been demonstrated to help reduce the risk of several cancers naturally (though many other things also affect your cancer risk). Additionally, the florets provide a good amount of vitamin C and K in each cup.

Regina King, Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and Linda Manuel Miranda will be co-hosting this year’s gala and red carpet event. And Blake Lively took the red carpet by strom this year

According to the Ancient History Encyclopedia, Herodotus wrote in 440BC that when a pet cat died in Ancient Egyptian times the family members would shave off their eyebrows in mourning. Now that’s an interesting cat fact!

Between 1502 and 1503, Sultan Beyazid II commissioned Leonardo da Vinci to create a bridge across the Golden Horn. Da Vinci's design, which followed the three geometric principles of the pressed-bow, parabolic curve, and keystone arch, would have been the world's longest bridge at the time, but the sultan did not sanction it.

To create the flavour base, you mix the seasoning each time using masala, chilli powder, coriander, cumin, and other spices. The proportion of each spice varies depending on the dish, resulting in a balanced flavour that complements the ingredients.

If you need the toilet you can knock on someone’s door and ask to use their bathroom in Scotland – and by law, they cannot deny you. 
 

Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom penned this in 1841, following the British takeover of Hong Kong. Possession Point, where the British first raised the Union Jack, was known as Tai Hang Hau, or 'great puddle.' It was accumulating water directly on the island's shoreline. Today, the site is known as Hollywood Road Park. 

Or at the very least, one that is more horror-inspired. Wes Craven (A Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream) reportedly signed on to direct a Doctor Strange film in 1992. That obviously never happened, but it's fun to speculate on how terrifying his version of the Marvel sorcerer would have been.

Pink Floyd, a rock band, captured a live performance in Pompeii's Roman Amphitheater in 1972. There was no audience present, but director Adrien Maben had realized his vision; the sound was incredible, and it was unquestionably a significant moment in rock history.

Although cold weather might shorten a butterfly's already brief life by rendering it immobile, others see the reduction in temperature as a signal to move. Butterflies are cold-blooded and require a body temperature of about 85 degrees Fahrenheit to activate their flying muscles. When the weather begins to change, some species will simply migrate in search of sunlight. Some, such as the North American Monarch, travel 2,500 kilometers on average!