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. 

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.

Around 1770, Franz Mesmer is credited with bringing hypnosis to the public's attention. The Austrian physician was probably aware of earlier societies' use of hypnosis, and he spent much of his career researching hypnosis, hypnotic techniques, and its effects on the human mind. Interestingly, Mesmer referred to hypnosis as "animal magnetism" or "mesmerism," and the latter term is still used occasionally today. (We're guessing you're completely enthralled by this fact.)

The coconut bought in western shops does not resemble the ones growing on the tree. There are three layers to an unopened coconut. The exocarp is the outermost layer, which is usually smooth and green or yellow in colour. The fibrous husk, or mesocarp, is the next layer. The final one is called the endocarp, and it envelopes the seed. When you buy a coconut at the shop, the exocarp and mesocarp are usually removed, leaving only the endocarp.

The basic idea behind cruising across the shores of a river is to derive utmost pleasure, and there is no better way to cruise off the Brahmaputra coast than to board the M.V Mahabaahu. It was built in Kolkata with state-of-the-art facilities, which include Cabins with very Assamese decor of silk panels in golden Muga, Bathrooms/showers with branded quality furnishings & fittings, Central AC with individual control, and others.

The Trans-Siberian Railway crosses 3,901 bridges on a one-way trip. The Trans-Siberian Railway is not only Russia's longest railroad but also the world's longest. During the seven-day journey, passengers pass through eight different time zones and cross 3,901 bridges.

The coconut bra is not indigenous to Hawaii, but rather a Western concept.

Benefits-The practise of Chhath puja increases energy, gives mental peace (by purifying the body and mind), boosts immunity, and lowers the frequency of wrath, jealousy, and bad emotions. Chhath puja rites are also said to help slow down the ageing process.

Stonehenge is a massive circle of standing stones built by men. Our forefathers constructed the monument over many decades and thousands of years. It is one of the most recognisable prehistoric landmarks in the world, as well as one of the world's biggest unsolved mysteries.

Because of 150 years of British colonial control, Chinese cultural traditions combine nicely with Western cultural values in Hong Kong. Feng-shui traditions are extensively practiced, as are other spiritual beliefs such as the belief that the numbers 3, 5, and 8 are auspicious and bring good fortune.

In the 12th and 13th centuries, a large and powerful Kingdom flourished in the plains of central Myanmar. Kings built a succession of ancient temples and pagodas, which became a center for Theravada Buddhism. This was also the birthplace of the dominance of Burmese culture and language in modern-day Myanmar.

Visiting the temples in modern-day Bagan is one of the top things people do when they visit the country. You can see more than 2000 religious monuments in a very tiny area and experience the best sunset of your life.

Bob Kane created Batman, but it was collaborator Bill Finger who added numerous essential elements that helped him become the iconic hero we know today, such as naming Gotham City, naming him Bruce Wayne, and completely revamping the original costume (a red bodystocking with a domino mask) with pointed ears, a black colour scheme, and a scalloped cape. Yet it wasn't until recently that DC Comics began crediting Finger as a co-creator.

You may know Benjamin Franklin as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America and the man who performed the lightning rod experiment, but did you know he also invented bifocal lenses? He was both far-sighted and near-sighted, and he was sick of constantly changing his glasses. As a result, he devised the idea of combining both lenses into a single frame.

A Chinese empress is said to have discovered silk in the past, and for thousands of years, it was a closely guarded state secret. But as new trade routes appeared, silk began to reach new markets via what came to be known as the Silk Road. Other nations eventually began to learn the art of sericulture (or silk production).

Although rattlesnakes lack limbs, they are nevertheless effective predators. This is partially because rattlesnakes can see smaller animals even in total darkness because to heat-sensitive pits on each side of their heads. The snake can "see" the heated image of its prey thanks to the pits' assistance in detecting heat by sending neurons to the same region of the snake's brain that receives optic nerve impulses.

The purchase of Core's parent company by Eidos Interactive in 1996 was the final step in Lara's evolution. Laura Cruz was replaced because Eidos wanted the game to appeal to a wider audience in the United Kingdom. So, how did they come up with Lara's new surname in the United Kingdom? The Core team in Derby, England, took out a phone book and began looking for names that sounded similar to Laura Cruz. They landed on Lara Croft, and all of a sudden, some random Derbyite became famous.

Women make up about half of the labor force, but they continue to earn much less than men in comparable jobs. That roughly 20% salary disparity has scarcely changed in years. According to the Institute for Women's Policy Research, women earn less than men in practically every occupation where there is enough data to calculate a gender ratio. Even the fact that women are better educated than at any other moment in history, with more women obtaining undergrad and advanced degrees than men, hasn't made a difference. Moreover three-quarters of UK companies pay their male employees more than their female employees, and males earn at least 10% more than women in nine of seventeen industries.

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.

How much melanin, or pigment, is present in the eye affects the color of the eye The color of the eyes will be darker if there is a lot of melanin present. 

Chances are good that you know that the Starbucks logo is a mermaid, even if you never buy coffee there. The mermaid, though, is actually a siren. Before 1987, it was super controversial, because the siren was naked and had exposed nipples. In 1992, they changed it to be a little more covered up.

Santa has a workforce of Elves that labor all year long to prepare presents for Christmas. The precise number of Elves at Santa's workshop is unclear, but we contacted the Grotto's HR department and were given an estimate of at least 12'.

Its exact position is uncertain, and experts are divided on whether it ever existed at all. Those who believe it existed agree that it was most likely located in what is now Poland's Wollin. Others debate this position, but all agree that Jomsborg was on the Baltic coast, between Poland and Germany. According to mythology, Jomsborg existed during the late tenth and early eleventh centuries. According to mythology, King Magnus the Good eventually destroyed it in 1043. A gold disc discovered in 2014 that references the stronghold and King Harald Bluetooth is one piece of historical evidence supporting Jomsborg.

Nail painting has been practised since 3000 BCE. There is archaeological evidence that the Ancient Babylonians used a solid gold manicure set to paint their nails before battle. People used beeswax, egg whites, gelatin, and vegetable dyes in Ancient China during the Ming Dynasty.

Walt Disney has won more Oscars than anyone else. He was nominated for 64 awards, and won 26! Composer John Williams is the second most nominated person, with 47 Academy Award nominations (and counting).

Sualkuchi is a village in Kamrup district, which is often dubbed the “Manchester of Assam”, because of its huge cottage and textile industry. It is famous for producing high-quality Mekhela Chadors and Gamosas which are indigenous to Assam.