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. 

For her suspenseful film about the Iraq war, "The Hurt Locker," Kathryn Bigelow made history by becoming the first woman to win the Oscar for Best Director. James Cameron, who was nominated for the same award for his 3-D epic "Avatar," was defeated by Kathryn. She is only the fourth woman to ever receive a nomination; the others are Lina Wertmüller for "Pasqualino Settebellezze," Lina Wertmüller for "The Piano," and Sofia Coppola for "Lost in Translation" (2004). (1977).

For men, ashwagandha may have reproductive benefits. By normalising reproductive hormone levels, ashwagandha has been proven to considerably enhance sperm quality in infertile males. One study found that 14% of male patients' partners fell pregnant after the study. Separately, in an ashwagandha stress trial, researchers discovered that the herb boosted testosterone levels in male but not female subjects. Another study on the effect of ashwagandha on muscle strength in men found a considerable increase in testosterone.

The pancreas does play a significant role in digestion even though food never enters the organ. The pancreatic duct transports the pancreatic fluid it produces to the duodenum. Once in the digestive system, the fluid's enzymes aid in the breakdown of fat, protein, and carbohydrates. It performs the role of an exocrine gland by releasing a substance into the body's ducts. It also serves as an endocrine gland, secreting two hormones into the bloodstream to help regulate blood sugar levels. Glucagon is released when you don't have enough sugar, and insulin is released when you do.

The Kung Fu nuns dress up in pyjamas and yellow sashes to sing for you when you visit the Drukpa monastery. This is a 2,000-year-old custom among them. They also offer a variety of events, one of which is the Eco Pad Yatra, which involves picking up rubbish and educating villagers about the environment across a distance of 400 miles on foot.

Sharks have microscopic teeth called epidermal denticles that cover their bodies. Because of this, their skin feels like sandpaper.

The 14th Dalai Lama has served as a monk in the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism. He is supposed to be the current incarnation of Tibet's last 13 Dalai Lamas. In 1937, the Tibetan government dispatched a search expedition to find the Dalai Lama. They discovered the current Dalai Lama as a toddler, living with his family in a small agricultural hamlet, based on indications and visions. In 1940, he was appointed as Tibet's official spiritual head. He is now renowned as a spiritual rock star as well as a religious figure, and he is famed for his inspirational words of wisdom.

The Spaniards celebrate Christmas, the New Year, and the Three Wise Men feast during the winter holidays. This time of the year is very special and they live it intensely. A fun fact about Spain is that it is traditional to eat twelve grapes at a time to receive the new year. It is more difficult than it seems, but the Spaniards swear that achieving that gives good luck for the rest of the year.

The mantis shrimp uses its two tentacles, which have the same velocity as a rifle gunshot, and dismember other shellfish by boiling the water around them to produce a shockwave that can kill animals. To put that into perspective, a human could have thrown a rock into space if they had used the same force in their arms! Additionally, the intensity of their shell is so great that it served as a model for true human body armour.

The Hands Resist Him is a haunting painting created by Bill Stoneham in 1974. The work depicts a young boy standing next to a female doll who has hollow eyes and a downturned smile. Behind them are disembodied hands reaching through the glass panels on the door. Though the contents of the painting are spooky in itself, some also believe that anyone in contact with it will die. The art critic, gallery owner, and first owner of the painting each died within a couple of years of each other after coming in contact with the painting.

Amateur astronomers look forward to the Perseid meteor shower every year in August, and NASA predicts that the 2019 event will be among the finest ever. The new moon will offer the best viewing conditions, allowing the shooting stars to shine, so we may thank it for that. The greatest Perseid activity occurs on the nights of August 12 and 13, however, the Perseids are visible from July 17 to August 24. For the optimum viewing experience, get away from buildings and city lights. You'll be oohing and ahhing as up to 100 meteors per hour zip by.

Following the failure of attempts to construct a nuclear weapon, the Axis countries contemplated using what they had to explode a "dirty bomb" on the west coast of the United States, utilising I-400 class submarines from Japan to transport the uranium manufactured in Germany. However, the uranium never made it to Japan and was most likely utilised in the Hiroshima atomic bomb.

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.

The Western Desert encompasses roughly 262,800 square miles and makes about two-thirds of Egypt's land surface (680,650 square km).

If you visit northern Norway in the summer, you may take advantage of the midnight sun. Admire the night scenery in the setting sun, with extra daylight for outdoor activities and living like a native. In the northern city of Troms, for example, the sun only sets for 3-5 hours each night between May and July. In June, closer to the summer solstice, the sun never sets.

Desi dogs are accustomed to both city and rural life, and they can live comfortably in either a farmhouse or an apartment.

Even though no one knows when yoghurt was discovered, the name "yoghurt" is unmistakably Turkish. However, we do know that fermented milk has been utilised since prehistoric times.

If you think your current steering wheel is complex, wait till you see what Formula One drivers have to deal with. Their steering wheels can have up to 25 buttons. Every button and switch controls every part of the vehicle, giving the driver complete control. It is even stated that pressing the wrong button might lose a race. To put that into context, some buttons alter the way the brakes operate, allowing the balance to be adjusted in split seconds. These modifications might cause the automobile to behave differently from corner to corner. Talk about power!

Some fun facts about the Pyramids are that they were built to house the rulers of ancient Egypt and ferry them and their families into the afterlife. The pyramids were made as tombs for the Pharaohs and their families.

Ancient Egyptians believed that they had to follow strict rules to have a good afterlife. They also believed that it was up to the living to help them get to the afterlife. Great care was taken in the mummification process because the ancient Egyptians believed that the body needed to be preserved to be reborn and be ferried to the afterlife. They even mummified animals.

which is why braille books are much larger than their counterparts. For example, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” is 10 volumes in braille, the “New American Bible’’ is 45 volumes, and “Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary” is a shelf-hogging 72 volumes.

Leonardo da Vinci, the ideal of the Renaissance man, was a talented musician as well as a skilled painter. In addition to playing the lyre and the flute, he sang regularly at noble meetings and at the palaces of his benefactors. Some of his musical creations are also included in his surviving manuscripts.

According to a 2019 poll of 1,132 menopausal women conducted by Newson Health Clinic, 76% of their companies did not provide any type of menopause assistance, despite the fact that over 90% of respondents felt that their symptoms were negatively impacting their job.

For the French, comedy is the most important and preferred film genre. The French have a sophisticated sense of humour and enjoy films that are both funny and intelligent. They also enjoy films that provide a unique perspective on life and challenge conventional ways of thinking.

The northwestern Brazilian city of Manaus, on the banks of the Negro River, is located in the centre of one of the world's most lush jungles. Manaus, the Amazon's largest city and a major port, is a well-developed and busy metropolitan centre with a population of over 2.5 million people. However, the metropolis' position is unusual in that it is totally encircled by the Amazon Rainforest.

On occasion, hypnosis is shown on television. It's usually part of a plot where the hypnotised person loses control and becomes a "puppet." In reality, people in a relaxed state of hypnosis are fully conscious. They should be able to hear, understand, and remember what the hypnotist says. There should be no worries about being hypnotised and made to cluck like a chicken or sent on a murder spree. They are simply experiencing deep relaxation as a result of their concentrated attention.