The Mona Lisa, arguably one of the most famous paintings in the world, is regarded as an Italian Renaissance masterpiece. The painting, widely assumed to be that of Italian noblewoman Lisa Gherardini, is thought to have been created between 1503 and 1506 and possibly as late as 1517. With an insurance valuation of more than $870 million, it is one of the most valuable paintings in the world.

Vatican City is most likely the only country on the planet without a prison. The country does have a few pre-trial detention facilities. According to the Lateran Treaty, those convicted and sentenced to jail serve their time in Italian prisons. The Vatican government pays for the costs of incarceration.

Consider speeding to 100 mph and returning to zero in less than four seconds. If you have a cardiac issue, you may not live. The sensation is similar to being pressed by an invisible force. In such a circumstance, breath control is critical, and F1 drivers must go through many drills to prepare for G-Force. Formula 1 vehicles are capable of such a feat because they must sharply stop while approaching curves and then accelerate swiftly, as it is a race against time. When the drivers are subjected to force, their stamina and overall physical condition are tested.

Your liver uses cholesterol to make bile acids, and bile is the only way your body can get rid of excess cholesterol.

Your body also uses cholesterol to make sex hormones, like estrogen and testosterone. If you have liver disease, you’ll have trouble absorbing fats as well as hormonal problems.

But fats are chemically different from cholesterol; the body burns fats for energy. That’s why food labels list fat and cholesterol separately.

Ashton Kutcher has syndactyly, sometimes known as webbed toes. In 2008, the actor displayed his linked numbers on a British chat program. "Something has to give when everything else is this good-looking," he joked.

If you are easily agitated, you can employ visualization to relax by creating vision boards. For example, if you are apprehensive about giving a speech, imagine yourself giving the best and most memorable speech ever. Consider yourself in a beautiful gown, with everyone appreciating your efforts. Display a picture of a stage and cut a picture of yourself to place in the center of the stage. Imagine yourself giving your finest speech to a delighted audience every time you view this vision board. When you feel out of balance, you can use visualization to get your thoughts back on track. Listening to quiet music and envisioning your day can help you order your thoughts, mentally prepare, and sleep better.

Although it's rarely used, the phrase's full form is "as joyful as a clam at high water." The full meaning of the idiom is clearer because clams are normally safe from predators during high tide.

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.

Did you think Captain America was the first Marvel superhero? You'd be correct if it weren't for some cunning adjustments. The Human Torch — not Johnny Storm, but an android who could manipulate fire – was Marvel's first hero, initially appearing in Marvel #1 in 1939. More than 800,000 copies of the comic book were sold. Our favourite Cap wasn't born until 1941, yet he sold over a million copies.

The vitamins, nutrients, and deliciousness are packed into every grapefruit hue. But the ones in red and pink have a little extra.

They are frequently served in Spain and Portugal! Unfortunately, humans in the Great Lakes (and the rest of America) haven't developed a taste for them, thus population control tactics must be maintained to prevent the sea lamprey from wreaking additional havoc on the region.

Bulgarians celebrate Baba Marta in March (Grandma March). Giving each other martenitsas, which are little red and white weaved tassels, is a traditional way to celebrate this event. Wearing a martenitsa is customary up until you spot a stork or a swallow, which are regarded as signals of spring. A martenitsa on your wrist is said to bring luck and good health for the coming year.

Brown eggs have thicker shells than white eggs, contrary to popular belief. In reality, the thickness of an egg is solely determined by the age of the chicken: younger chickens lay eggs with thicker shells, while older chickens lay eggs with thinner shells. This thickness will occur regardless of the breed of chicken or the colour of the egg.

Have you ever thought about why you get hiccups? The spasms in your diaphragm compel you to suck in a breath, producing a gulping sound in your voicebox. Hiccups aren't beneficial in today's society, yet they were 370 million years ago. Scientists think that our ancestors had both gills and lungs and that when they pulled water in via their gills, it might aspirate into their lungs. A well-timed hiccup would clear the airway and prevent choking. Even though we no longer have gills, we still love the occasional hiccup!

The front of the Rolls Royce starring the Spirit of Ecstasy — an early hood peculiar to a Rolls Royce was prone to being tossed off its front. This booty hack is no longer a possible with the current models, thanks to a safety device that allows the mascot to retract quickly into the body of the car when force is applied. If you're wondering what the word means, it refers to the illicit love affair between John Walter, editor of The Car Illustrated magazine, and his secretary, Eleanor Velasco Thorton. Sultry and hot!

Those whose middle name is binge-watching may think this is a fantasy. A tagger watches three to eight titles every week. They take data from a pool of keywords and categorise tags and subtags. This aids Netflix's video recommendation algorithm, popularly known as Netflix Quantum Theory.

The Netherlands has one of the highest home birth rates in the developed world. Around 30% of Dutch women deliver their babies at home, and this figure has changed little since 1990. 

So why are home births still cherished in the Netherlands? It’s partly because Dutch health insurance fully covers home births, but doesn’t always cover hospital births without medical necessity. 

The Dutch medical system also has a good screening system and provides midwives (verloskundige) who help mothers have a safe delivery at home.

That's enough pencils to circle the globe 62 times, believe it or not.

Centipedes are skilled hunters due to their incredible speed and venomous forcipules. Smaller species primarily consume mollusks, worms, insects, and spiders. Larger species frequently eat small birds, bats, and frogs as food. Even other centipedes will be eaten by some centipedes! Their meals are somewhat dependent on what is available to them. Some centipedes will scavenge for food in a pinch, but most of the time, they will hunt for it. Centipedes hunt for prey with the help of their antennae and catch it with their speed. Then, after encircling their prey, they wait for their venom to take effect before consuming their meal. Really brutal, no? However, it does the job.

For someone seeking a mid-sized dog, this breed is ideal. But don't be deceived by their appearance. They normally measure between 13 and 15 inches, but their personalities are far larger than that. It's crucial to keep in mind that mid-sized canines require energy expenditure in the same manner as larger ones. Walking is absolutely advised every day.

Rose fossils dating back 35 million years have been discovered by archaeologists. Roses are the oldest plant species to be grown for decoration, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The rose (genus Rosa, family Rosaceae) is the oldest plant species cultivated and used for decoration. According to documents dating back to AD 50, the flowers were grown in vast plantations and local hothouses to ensure a year-round supply of medicinal extracts, cooking ingredients, and ornamentation. Roses were used to decorating buildings, furniture, and people in ancient Rome, and petals were laid to create rose carpets and walkways.

Although the origin of the name "Jolly Roger" is unknown, one theory attributes it to the use of red flags. A red flag was commonly used during naval warfare centuries ago to signal that no mercy would be shown and that anyone captured would be killed immediately. According to theorists, the French called it a Joli Rogue ("pretty red"), which was then translated into English as Jolly Roger. Another theory holds that the name Jolly Roger was derived from "Old Roger," a term for the Devil. Oh, these pirates are so enigmatic!

The Netherlands has one of the highest home birth rates in the developed world. Around 30% of Dutch women deliver their babies at home, and this figure has changed little since 1990. So why are home births still cherished in the Netherlands? It’s partly because Dutch health insurance fully covers home births, but doesn’t always cover hospital births without medical necessity. The Dutch medical system also has a good screening system and provides midwives (verloskundige) who help mothers have a safe delivery at home.

The Khajuraho temples are thought to represent the pinnacle of Indian architectural talent during the mediaeval period.