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.

Contrary to popular belief, the last Egyptian queen was not born in Egypt. According to historians, Cleopatra VII (her official name) was Greek. She was a descendant of Ptolemy, Alexander the Great's Macedonian general.

Flash USB flash drives made in the UK are dependable and long-lasting computer peripherals. No matter how many surface scratches or bumps they sustain, your USB flash drive will keep working for many years to come thanks to a ten-year warranty and immunity to electromagnetic interference! when the connection port is still open

MIND THE GAP! That’s the gap between when there was a British Museum tube station and now. The photos above (courtesy of London Transport Museum) show the entrance to the Museum’s underground station in 1921, some gentlemen waiting on the platform in 1903 (with some fabulous hats!), and its construction in 1898. The station opened in 1900 but was closed in September 1933 when the new Holborn station opened, less than 100 yards away.

Many notable enterprises were formed in Sweden, particularly in the fields of design and technology. Electrolux, Ericsson, H&M, IKEA, Saab, Scania, and Volvo are just a few of the well-known Swedish brands in the world. Sweden is also the source of several inventions and advancements. Tetra Pak, the pacemaker, dynamite, and the spherical ball bearing are only a few examples.

Copper in electrical components provides for improved gear and engine control, as well as the expansion of entertainment and sensor systems. The more intricate and efficient the electrical systems of contemporary automobiles are, the more electricity they demand. As a result, more copper.

Thanks to its microscopic budget and major success at the box office, the 2007 film Paranormal Activity, scored a return on investment of 19,758 percent, absolutely blowing away the next most profitable film (2015 horror film Gallows, with an ROI of 6,843 percent). It cost just $60,000 to make and another $400,000 or so to market, yet ultimately brought in more than $89 million.

Contrary to popular belief, termites are actually fairly hygienic creatures. Despite living almost entirely in mud, they all work together to practise good hygiene. Like cats, termites groom one another in an effort to get rid of parasites and other harmful bacteria. Although it may seem pointless, maintaining proper grooming is essential to the colony's survival because staying clean prevents the spread of deadly diseases.

One in three carers, or around 30%, is 65 years of age or older. The majority of caregivers—2/3 of them women—are daughters of dementia patients. One further interesting aspect of Alzheimer's caregivers is that 25% of them are members of the "sandwich generation," and 66% of them share a home with a loved one who suffers from dementia. This implies that they look after their young children in addition to their elderly parents.

Those who believe they are the most intelligent in the DC universe appear to be doomed to miss the more obvious secrets. Lex Luthor finds it absurd that Clark Kent, a mild-mannered reporter, could be his arch-nemesis in this case. Because of his hatred for Metahumans, he finds it difficult to believe that one can live a normal life.

Panthers are carnivores that usually hunt on small to medium-sized herbivores, however which species vary on the area. Antelope, deer, warthog, tapir, wild boar, rabbits, and birds are among the animals that can be eaten. There are several panther facts pertaining to this animal's strong hunting abilities. Panthers are distinguished from other large cats by their ability to remain hidden. Panthers hunt at night since they are nocturnal. Their black fur lets them to blend in with their environment, and their keen eyesight and sense of smell aid in the detection of prey.

When luciferase was first discovered, fireflies were the only source of the chemical. Even though synthetic luciferase is now readily available, some businesses continue to collect fireflies, which may be a factor in their decline.

Some pirates delayed burying their treasure because they wanted a piece of the loot first. And a pirate's treasure wasn't always gold or silver; it could also be food, lumber, cloth, or animal hides.

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.

In a way. After Tobey Maguire was injured on the set of Seabiscuit, Jake Gyllenhaal, who plays the duplicitous and theatrical Quentin Beck/Mysterio, was rumoured to be taking over for him in 2004's Spider-Man 2. Maguire recovered in time to reprise his role as Peter Parker, so the point was moot. However, Gyllenhaal has admitted that he was one of several actors considered for the emergency fill-in role.

Lionel Messi is live proof that Argentinians are goal-scoring machines. But an incredible football fact is that on December 26, 1998, one day after Christmas, Ricardo Olivera created history by scoring a goal in 2.8 seconds. To put it in context, a regular human can speak 7.5 words in 3 seconds. "We just had the kick-off," the commentators must have exclaimed, as the scoreboard read 1-0. Olivera beat the mark set by English footballer Colin Cowperthwaite in 1979, when he scored in 3.5 seconds against Kettering.

It is not always possible for the hero to save the day. If Aquaman had been successful in rescuing Black Manta from pirates, perhaps the ray-themed supervillain would have pursued more honourable endeavours? Manta is angry at Aquaman for "not saving him and abandoning him to a life of horrible servitude, violence, and abuse," according to Bounding into Comics.

Tea in Sri Lanka is equivalent to coffee in Laos. Lattes, espressos, and cappuccinos abound in Laos, and the Arabica coffee bean is the country's most important agricultural export. Every year, coffee plantations grow and extend across the country, and high-quality beans are in high demand in the international market. Cheers to all things caffeinated!

This fun fact about the Netherlands may entice beer-lovers to visit – they have the largest pub in all of Europe. 

The Drie Gezusters (Three Sisters) pub in Groningen holds the title of the biggest pub on the continent and is a national heritage site. We hope it’s also got the most bathrooms of all the pubs in Europe!

 

But don't worry, Earth is not in danger! Astronomers think our Milky Way has a massive black hole that is light-years away from Earth.

During the late 90s, the company used to call their subscribers near the company’s location for surveys. They would also ask them to visit the company and observe how they work. When they visit, the company bought them coffee to gain valuable information about their usage.  

 

The young queen was a wedding trendsetter. In 1840, it wasn’t normal to see a bride wearing white. The color was considered boring and conservative, but Victoria didn’t care. She chose simplicity over opulence, and her lacy silk-satin grown—crafted from the finest British textiles—gave a much-needed boost to the struggling lace trade. Several years later, a women’s publication stated that white was the “most fitting hue” for brides, and a tradition was born.

Elephants are extremely clever and simple to teach, making them ideal for use as executioners and torturers. They may be taught to use enormous blades connected to their tusks to slowly destroy bones, crush skulls, twist off limbs, or even execute people. This manner of death was still used in various regions of Asia until the late nineteenth century.

According to Grunge, Russia discharged radioactive waste into Lake Karachay from 1951 to 1953. Like a result, its colouring is extraordinarily vivid (typically neon aqua, until it's agitated, as in this photo, when it bubbles crimson). You wouldn't be able to breathe after only one hour in its waters, such is the severity of its poisoning.

Pirates from The Bahamas had their flags custom-made by a sailmaker's widow who accepted brandy as payment, while Blackbeard had his own black flag with a skeleton with horns. The skeleton held an hourglass in one hand and a spear pointing to a heart dripping with three drops of blood in the other.