In the world's oceans, lakes, and freshwater rivers, stingrays are thought to exist in roughly 220 different species. One of the ocean's rarest species, the small eye stingray has a wingspan of nearly 7 feet, white markings, and tiny eyes (hence the nickname). 7 Only a few sightings were reported before the early 2000s, but this is gradually changing; in the previous 15 years, researchers have counted 70 sightings off the southern Mozambique coast.

We're not surprised that Rolls Royce vehicles are meticulously detailed in every nook and cranny. When you know that the coach line is painted freehand by one guy only – Mark Court – you can proudly proclaim it as the epitome of meticulousness and exclusivity. Mind you, no robots or machines were employed!

Many people are familiar with Venetian blinds and believe that they originated in Venice. However, these blinds were originally a Persian invention that was later discovered by the Venetians in the 18th century before being shown to the rest of Europe.

While Bulgaria is the oldest European country by name, the Republic of San Marino, an autonomous state inside Italy's borders, is Europe's oldest independent state. It was born in the year 301 AD. As other Italian republics fought and collectively became part of Italy, San Marino was able to maintain its independence for centuries, thanks in large part to its steep geography.

Japan’s big-name stars are its densely populated cities, and it’s not a country you’d think of as a scarcely populated, mountain wilderness. However, around 70% of Japan is made up of forest and mountains that aren’t suitable for farming or living in. There are over 100 active volcanoes, and its tallest mountain is the famed Mount Fuji, with its elevation of 3,776 feet.

Street painting has become permitted and publicly encouraged in recent years, resulting in a booming art community that has transformed drab, blank walls into colorful canvases that reflect feelings, abilities, and contemporary societal issues. Street painters can paint on any structure, wall, or surface as long as they have permission from the owner and it is not a listed historical building.

There are genuine Christmas trees, artificial Christmas trees, and a 30-foot Christmas tree constructed of tumbleweeds in Chandler, Arizona. According to Fodor's Travel, it takes 1,200 tumbleweeds to build the edifice, which is then sprayed in glitter and 20 litres of flame retardant.

Writing, "I am not the serious, grave, cool-hearted individual you suppose; you would think me romantic and eccentric," Charlotte Bronte turned down a marriage proposal in 1839. While Anne may have once had a failed romance, Emily hardly wanted to leave the parsonage.

If you've ever seen stage hypnosis for entertainment purposes, you've probably seen the entertainer/hypnotist select a seemingly random group of audience members to come up on stage and "be hypnotized." But, as with any good show, not everything is as it appears. Various scientific studies have found that some people are more susceptible to hypnotic suggestion. These people are more easily persuaded into the subconscious mind than others. These people are frequently "tested" ahead of time, even if they are unaware of it.

The contemporary game began in Manipur, India's northeastern province, and was spread by British military officials in the mid-nineteenth century. It is now well-known all across the world. The current game of polo originated in Manipur, India, where it was called as 'Sagol Kangjei,' 'Kanjai- bazee,' or 'Pulu.' It was the anglicized version of the last, alluding to the wooden ball that was used in the sport's sluggish introduction to the west.

A small 2011 study with 24 participants discovered that eating kiwi fruit appeared to enhance the quality of their sleep. Their sleep onset (the amount of time it took them to fall asleep), sleep duration, and sleep quality all improved after 4 weeks of kiwi consumption.

According to swissinfo.ch, Switzerland has one of the greatest shares of internationals among other nations, accounting for around 24.6% in 2015. More over 80% of foreigners in Switzerland are from Europe, with nearly half coming from France, Germany, Italy, and Portugal alone. Switzerland leads the European immigration countries, with 19 arrivals per 1000 population on average in 2014, considerably ahead of Germany (11), the United Kingdom (9.8), Spain (6.6), and France (5.1).

Hot Pockets have experimented with a plethora of tastes throughout the years, but there are a few standbys that will never go away. The most popular flavors are Pepperoni Pizza and Five Cheese Pizza, since who can resist frozen pizza that cooks in two minutes?

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.

There are a few arachnids in the world that cause some nasty spider bites, which can cause some risky complications to your health due to their venom. The majority of spiders in the UK will not bite people, and if they do, their venom is ineffective. Unfortunately, and I hate to say it, being bitten by a spider will not transform you into Spider-Man! That is not a side effect of their venom. If that were the case, I'd be web-slinging around Surrey's streets instead of writing this blog!

Henna twigs are still used as toothpicks by the local population in rural North Africa to maintain healthy gums and clean teeth. Who would have guessed that Mehendi could be used to save money on dental bills?

Over 300 different types of bread can be found in Germany, which is another interesting fact. Regional variations aren't even taken into account in that! There are more than 1,200 different varieties of pastries, cakes, and other baked products. If you're a foodie who enjoys trying new meals from different cultures, Germany is a unique place where you may sample a variety of cuisines. Really, Germany is a carbohydrate lover's dream.

The chia plant is fickle and requires highly specialised growth conditions. It cannot withstand frost, yet it need low temperatures to create large quantities of omega-3 fatty acids. Chia grows best between 23 degrees north and south of the equator. This region has some of the ideal conditions for growing chia seeds.

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.

An adult rattlesnake typically passes two weeks or so without eating because they only eat when they are hungry. The precise length of time depends on how much they ate for their last meal. Rattlesnakes mainly prey on mice, rats, squirrels, and rabbits, but if they can capture them, they will also consume birds. Young rattlesnakes typically consume more food, up to once a week.

As a student, he alternated his time between Cambridge and Copenhagen, where he worked with Nobel Prize winner Niels Bohr to establish the cross-section of electron-positron scattering, which was called Bhabha scattering in his honour.

No, not an elaborate April Fool. Many cats have lived at the Museum over the years. Perhaps the most famous was Mike, who guarded the main gate between 1909 and 1929. When he died, his obituary appeared in the Evening Standard and TIME magazine. The picture above shows Mike in action.