It all started with the Home Insurance Building that was built in 1885 in Chicago. Just a ten-story building, but it was a revolution at the time, and that was the beginning of the era of skyscrapers. It was constructed using a revolutionary method: the building had an inner skeleton made of steel, which allowed the walls to be thinner and the whole structure being higher than ever.
Let’s get into the “purrfect” world of felines. From the sand cat that can go for weeks without drinking water to the first cat that went to space. Here are the 10 interesting cat facts for you to enjoy and be informed about.
This. Is. Earth... 335 million years ago. I wasn’t around then, but there’s just one supercontinent, Pangaea. See? Let’s watch it shift around in fast-forward. Ok here we go, it just split into two huge pieces! Australia goes this way, North and South America go that way. Africa, Asia, Europe, forming, forming... and there we go, the planet as it is today. Let’s keep going, I mean, the continents are always on the move! Over time, some of them will crash into each other, others will break apart. But that’ll take about 100 million years! Better put it on super fast-forward! 100 years from now. Humans keep spitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and the planet’s already warmed up a bunch. The world’s ocean levels have risen about 4 feet. The Bahamas? They’ve totally disappeared! 200 years from now. The Earth’s population is about 19 billion people. The climate’s gotten even warmer, we’re packed in like sardines over here! New medical tech makes it possible to live to 180! But why? Fossil fuel reserves of oil and gas... long gone. Oh, and the continents have drifted over 16 feet!
Flies are everywhere we go, literally. It is believed that flies originated in Asia, but these days they live everywhere people live, only excluding Antarctica, and — maybe — a couple of islands. Flies have traveled the oceans following humans, but they never go anywhere alone. In the wilderness and deserts, where humans are absent, you won’t find any flies.
Poison dart frogs are one of the most toxic species on our planet. They come in a range of bright colors: blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. And that’s not just to show-off! It’s a kinda message to all the predators that might want to come after them — “I’m toxic so you better stay away and don’t try to eat me!”. The golden poison dart frog, for example, has so much poison it could finish 20,000 mice.
Alright. You’re scuba diving in the ocean, watching corals and colorful fish flitting by, when suddenly an enormous shadow appears above you. You look up and see a massive creature approaching you, its mouth a gaping abyss... Relax, just stay still and you’ll be fine.
As the largest continent on the planet, Asia is home to 60% of the world’s population, comprising 49 countries in total. The region is famous for its tall buildings, 2 world wonders (the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China), and rich biodiversity. Still, there are numerous facts about Asia that are not as well-known, but they can easily blow your mind — so we are eager to tell you about them in this article.
Ok, so right after being produced, plastic water bottles aren’t the size you buy at the store. Even a gallon water bottle starts its life as a small tube. Later, it gets heated, inflated, and shaped into the bottle you know. Boy, I can relate to the heated and inflated part.
It can be tough navigating unfamiliar cultural norms, especially when you don’t want to offend anyone or ruin your trip. For example, in some Asian countries, it’s considered impolite to point with your index finger. To help you have a smooth trip, we’ve compiled a list of 10 cultural mistakes to avoid.
You’re running around the bus station with 20 bags, looking for your bus. You can’t afford to miss it — the next one is leaving next year. Finally, you find the right bus, and meet 19 other passengers you’ll be traveling with through 18 countries for the next 70 days. Whew, is there a bathroom on this thing?The new luxury bus will get on its first 12,500-mile journey from India’s capital New Delhi to London in the United Kingdom in 2021. It’ll be a hop-on/hop-off trip divided into 4 legs across Asia and Europe and operated by an Indian tour company. Each leg will last 12 to 22 days, and you can book them independently. Passengers will get to visit the sights of Southeast Asia, the Great Wall of China, the Silk Road in Central Asia, Gobi Desert, and Europe’s largest cities. Guided tours, meals, and hotel stays will be included in the $20,000 bus fare.
A species of millipede made musical headlines this year! Yep, you heard that right, it’s called the Taylor Swift millipede as was recently discovered in 2022. The scientists behind this finding are said to have named this little critter after the famous singer. They became really attached to her music in their younger years and thought it was a nice homage. The Taylor Swift millipede joins the list of 16 similar creatures found in the Appalachian Mountains of the United States.
Asia is home to nearly 60% of the Earth’s population. This continent is the birthplace to some of the world’s earliest civilizations, like Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley civilization as well as ground-breaking inventions such as gunpowder and paper-making. Even today, Asia never ceases to amaze us with its technological and social innovations which, to a Westerner, might seem like something out of a futuristic sci-fi film.
There is a lot of beauty in this world, and we all have eyes to see it. But sometimes, the eyes of a talented photographer can show us fascinating new angles of the world’s wonders. Japanese photographer Ryosuke Kosuge shows the fascinating simplicity, symmetry, and elegance of Asia through his lens, and we couldn’t be more shocked by the results.
It’s not easy to ascend to the peaks of the Hollywood Hills and become a well-known celebrity. However, the path upward is open to everyone and you don’t necessarily have to be the most handsome to get there. On the contrary, actors who possess peculiar appearances and charisma tend to be the most memorable anyway.
In numerous countries around the world, toilet hygiene practices diverge significantly from the common use of toilet paper. A fascinating example of this can be found in countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and India, where traditional bathrooms often feature a wide, scoop-like plastic implement, known as a “dipper,” which is utilized for personal hygiene. But that’s not all; in Japan, they’ve taken toilet innovation to a whole new level with the development of specialized toilets featuring cleansing seats that offer an experience akin to a bidet.Diving deeper into this intriguing phenomenon, one can’t help but wonder what drives these alternative practices in Asia, and it turns out there’s a multitude of reasons, both cultural and medical, that shed light on this unique approach to personal hygiene.Culturally, many of these practices are deeply rooted in tradition and local customs. In countries like India, for instance, the use of water instead of toilet paper can be traced back centuries, as it aligns with the principles of cleanliness and purity outlined in ancient texts. Similarly, in Indonesia and the Philippines, the practice of using a dipper and water is not only practical but also culturally significant, reflecting a connection to the environment and a holistic approach to hygiene.Moreover, medical considerations play a pivotal role in the preference for water-based hygiene methods. In regions where certain waterborne diseases are more prevalent, such as Southeast Asia, the use of water for cleaning is seen as a safer and more effective way to prevent contamination and maintain personal health. The feeling of cleanliness and freshness that water provides can also be psychologically reassuring, contributing to its popularity.Additionally, the invention of advanced toilet technology, like the aforementioned Japanese cleansing seats, has further bolstered the adoption of alternative methods. These innovations not only provide a luxurious and efficient cleansing experience but also align with Japan’s penchant for cutting-edge technology.
We may have seen many people with these sun-kissed shades of hair on the silver screen, but in reality, blondes are a lot less common than that. Famous blondes such as Marilyn Monroe, Gwen Stefani, and Reese Witherspoon were not actually born with those luscious locks of golden hair. But there’s just something about being blonde that makes powerful women opt to bleach their hair to a lighter shade.
The Mayan civilization is one of the most amazing, mysterious, and at the same time one of the most attractive populations who have ever lived on our planet. The peculiarities of this civilization attract scientists and ordinary people, as it left many questions that have been waiting for answers for centuries. And the smartest people in the world are still racking their brains, trying to figure out their secrets.
Around the world, people just have their own way of doing things. So it comes as no surprise that certain things that you don’t normally pay attention to, even simple things you do when going to a restaurant or going shopping, might actually be considered offensive or strange somewhere else. In fact, some things that you might find offensive, like yelling or throwing a tantrum in public, might actually be considered polite or normal in another country.
When going on a trip, you can’t prepare for everything. Even if you carefully read all the forums and travel guides, it doesn’t mean you won’t get into some funny or awkward situations like, for example, when you want to pay for something but they don’t take cash, or when you wear a green Panama hat and people start laughing at you. They might also ask you some uncomfortable questions, such as “How often do you take a bath?” or “Do you eat too much?”
While we usually use no more than 30 different spices in the kitchen, there are more than 100 types of them in the world. And many of them are not just herbs — for example, sesame grows in pods, saffron is the stamen of a flower, and black pepper can be found on a liana!
Despite the fact that plague pandemics appeared in both the Middle Ages and in the modern world, the fiercest and most destructive was the one that ravaged Europe in the 14th century, killing a third of the European population of that time — about 25 million people! But it didn’t just bring on death: after the end of the pandemic, Europe started to change so significantly that the consequences of those events still have an impact on our lives today.
The world is beautiful because of its variety, but in Asia it seems to be even more so. Temples that venerate rats like gods, chicken-shaped churches, and restaurants where you eat out of mini-toilets... You can find this and much more in Asia.
China alone had approximately 60.74 million international tourist arrivals in 2017. And it’s no wonder! Asia has always attracted people with its architecture, nature, and culture. You feel like you’re in a totally different world where you can sometimes even lose yourself.
Asia is the largest and most populated continent on Earth. With a population of approximately 4.46 billion, the continent delivers the promise of diversity in culture, language, cuisine, and more — all of which are quite different from the rest of the world.
Experienced tourists know that it’s really hard to predict everything when it comes to traveling. Some hotels use different tricks to make their apartments look bigger and some puzzle us with their inventions, whether they’re placing hidden cameras, installing transparent bathrooms, and so on. Fortunately, Internet users shared recommendations that can help us stay away from unpleasant situations while being far away from home.
Asian countries like China, Japan, and Korea have been at the top position of education ratings according to the estimations of PISA. 15-year-old students from the East often show better performance in math, reading, and science than other students from around the world. Raising a talented and successful child who respects their elders, their culture, and is a well-rounded good person is the main goal in Eastern countries. But how do these countries achieve this?
These symbols were believed to have power by dozens of generations. But meanings of symbols change sometimes, and you may be quite surprised to learn that your pretty pendant has a whole mystical history. Bright Side has looked into the secrets of the most well-known symbols.
Today’s classical wedding dresses became popular only in the 19th century, thanks to Queen Victoria. She was the first woman to wear a white bridal gown. Before her, women would choose a traditional garment or a dress that fit the fashions of the day. Now it’s rare to find a wedding dress that isn’t white. However, in some cultures, especially in Asia and Africa, the young couples still prefer traditional wedding attire. We here at Bright Side have gathered together photos of brides and grooms wearing traditional clothing for their wedding ceremony. They look amazing, don’t they?
