Annegret Raunigk, a mother of 17, astonished the world with her announcement last year that she had undergone fertility treatment and was expecting four children at the age of 65. However, people have divided between admiration for her resilience and bewilderment regarding how she would manage to raise the children at her advanced age.
Beauty standards have been influencing women for centuries, but they vary from country to country. For instance, thinness is the ideal in Thailand, while the “hourglass” figure is preferred in India. In this article, we will explore how different cultures define a “beautiful woman”.
Nowadays, bringing up kids is a crazy hard thing. But imagine that you have to look after three little ones all at the same time. It might seem a handful, to say the least. But one witty mom from the UK found a nifty small parenting hack to keep her children away from trouble.
We’d like to introduce the couple who shared 47 years of life together before embracing the arrival of a joyful and thriving baby boy into their family. This incredible occurrence marked the woman as India’s oldest woman to give birth. While medical experts had strong reservations, she chose to go ahead anyway.
Benedict Cumberbatch, a name synonymous with charisma and talent, stands as one of the most captivating figures hailing from Britain’s rich artistic tradition. He has left an indelible mark on both the small and big screens with his iconic portrayals of characters like Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Strange. These roles have propelled him into the global spotlight, solidifying his status as a remarkable actor of our time.Cumberbatch’s portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in the hit BBC series Sherlock has redefined the way audiences perceive the iconic detective. His interpretation brought Holmes into the 21st century, emphasizing the character’s unmatched intelligence, eccentricity, and sharp wit. It’s no exaggeration to say that Cumberbatch’s portrayal has become the definitive modern-day version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s beloved detective.In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Benedict Cumberbatch embraced the enigmatic role of Dr. Stephen Strange, a brilliant and arrogant neurosurgeon turned mystical sorcerer. His transformation into the Sorcerer Supreme in Doctor Strange and his subsequent appearances in the MCU have captivated audiences worldwide. Cumberbatch effortlessly embodies the character’s complexity, seamlessly transitioning from a skeptical scientist to a guardian of the mystical realms.Beyond his iconic roles, Benedict Cumberbatch is celebrated for his ability to bring intelligence and depth to a wide array of upper-class and sophisticated characters. His performances exude a certain refinement and elegance, whether he’s portraying Alan Turing in The Imitation Game or Julian Assange in The Fifth Estate. This versatility is a testament to his acting prowess, showcasing his ability to inhabit diverse characters with authenticity.One cannot discuss Benedict Cumberbatch without mentioning his distinctive, deep, and resonant voice. Often described as “sonorous” and “melodic,” his voice is a unique instrument that adds an extra layer of depth to his performances. Whether he’s narrating documentaries, lending his voice to animated characters, or delivering powerful monologues on screen, Cumberbatch’s voice has become an unmistakable and unforgettable part of his artistic identity.
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.
Now before somebody gets married in India, they get a thorough shall we say “snooping” — sometimes without even being aware of that. There are pre-matrimonial detective agencies in India that provide the services of private investigators.
In a frosty Canadian park, hidden deep beneath layers of thick ice, scientists discovered a bizarre skeleton they named the “frozen dragon”. The skeleton had been in the frozen ice for millions of years. It took experts decades to work out the species of this strange fossil. It was identified as a new genus of pterosaur. Pterosaurs were massive flying reptiles with wingspans of over 16 feet. Their heads were 3.5 times the size of their bodies. Pterosaurs lived 76 million years ago when they soared above the dinosaurs. Scientists described them as the “biggest, meanest, and most bizarre animals that ever flew.” The new genus has been named Cryodrakon Boreas, which translates to “frozen dragon of the north winds.”
Despite India’s efforts to eliminate poverty, a significant portion of the population, approximately 10.2%, continues to live below the poverty line. This backdrop sets the stage for the inspiring story of Maleesha Kharwa, a determined teenager from a slum in Mumbai, whose life took a remarkable turn which helped her and her family to emerge from the slums.
Good food should never go to waste, and KitKat manufacturers stick to this rule. It was spotted once that messed up KitKats ended up in a large blue bin. Then they go through a “reworking” process. The candy is first combined with cocoa liquor, then some sugar is added there. And in the end, the manufacturer gets the paste that’s used to glue the waffles inside each KitKat bar. So the KitKat filling is made of messed up KitKats.
The concept of an ideal man’s appearance differs from country to country. Like women, many men strive to adhere to popular beauty trends to enhance their attractiveness. Discovering the cultural variations in what is considered universally beautiful can be surprising.
Henna has a rich history spanning over 5000 years in Pakistan, India, Africa, and the Middle East. Originally used for its cooling properties in hot desert regions, a paste made from henna was applied to the palms and soles. Later on, henna’s temporary staining effect led to its widespread use as a decorative art accessible to people from various socioeconomic backgrounds. And it wasn’t long until this form of art became popular amongst the western world and our favorite stars.
17-year-old Lalit Patidar from Central India has been diagnosed with hypertrichosis, a rare medical condition that causes excessive hair growth all over the body, including the face. For this reason, Lalit has been called “monkey boy” by his peers and wasn’t able to make any friends. But that’s all in the past: now he has a normal social life and he’s even started vlogging.
Let us play a little guessing game, shall we? Can you name the sixth-largest river on Earth in terms of volume? That’s the amount of water that flows through a waterway. The first couple of rivers are easy to list. Number one is, of course, the Amazon River [South America]. Then we have the Congo [Africa] and the Ganges [India]. Feel free to name all the rivers on the planet. You won’t get any closer to the answer. Why? Because this river is not on the surface but underneath the waves of the Black Sea.
When Carolyne Ness was denied IVF in her own country for being ’’too old’’ at 58, she decided to go to India and adopt an embryo. This is how she got pregnant and gave birth to her son, Javed, by C-section in 2017. Today, the 64-year-old single mama is so grateful for her unique motherhood journey, and she explains why becoming a mom at a later stage in life has worked well for her.
It’s safe to say humans do their share of attempting the impossible, right? I mean, we’ve landed on the Moon, built underground cities, and for some time now, we’ve been fascinated with building stuff on the water. Let’s take a look at some of these masterpieces, shall we?
How long does it take for a package to get to you? A day? A week? A month? How about over 3 years? A similar story happened in India.
Meet “Ötzi” or “The Iceman” — a natural mummy. He lived sometime between 3350 and 3105 BCE. He was discovered in 1991 in the Ötztal Alps, near the borders of Austria and Italy. And yes, the nickname derives from the name of the mountain. Ötzi is Europe’s oldest known naturally mummified human. Ötzi was 40 something when it happened. Science is awesome. We now even know that he was left-handed and lactose intolerant! He was wearing shoes stuffed with grass and laced with aurochs leather. He also had a fur hat and carried a backpack with everything he needed to quickly make a fire. His body is now kept in a special room at a constant temperature of around −21˚ Fahrenheit. These days, Ötzi is kinda a celebrity, featuring in numerous documentaries and books.
Meghan has caused a lot of commotion since she started dating and then married Prince Harry. Some criticize her choices in life or fashion, but others have taken the time to get to know her better: who she is, what she believes in, and how she’s a new role model for women nowadays. It’s fascinating how she broke down barriers that we didn’t even know existed until now, changing the world in the process.
I bet that’s not what you imagine when you think of cashews, but a Redditor found them like this in a store in Brazil. It turns out they’re not “true” nuts. Cashews emerge at the tip of a cashew apple. There’s a special word for a fruit with a seed inside — “a drupe.” So, cashews are drupes, just like almonds and pistachios. Brazil is the homeland of cashews. The tree was brought to India by the Portuguese in the middle of the 16th century. And from there, it spread further to Asia and then to West Africa. Today, these regions are the largest producers of cashews. The biggest consumer is the USA — they get 90% of the world’s harvest.
They used to call this island the Paris of the East. Mostly because it had beautiful buildings with large gardens and impressive stone archways. But now it’s nothing like it used to be, with all the architecture almost entirely covered in tree roots and vines. Ross Island is a small territory [0.12 sq miles] in the Indian Ocean. It’s located East of the Indian city of Port Blair. Though initially thought of as a jail, Ross Island eventually became a luxurious resort for the local administrators. They called this island a real treat for its more privileged residents. It boasted opulent bungalows, stained-glass window panels brought all the way from Italy, neatly kept gardens, tennis courts, and even swimming pools. Soon after the complex was closed in 1937, a powerful earthquake hit the island. It caused a lot of damage, making it even more uninhabitable. The island is now in the administration of India and has become a tourist attraction for people interested in abandoned towns.
It’s raining cats and dogs! Literally! Things falling down from the sky can be pretty unexpected, so here are some examples.Residents of Texarkana, Texas, once had light rain and fish shower. No need to go fishing out in the sea — the fish literally falls down on your head! In fact, animal rains are not uncommon: waterspouts or updrafts occurring in different corners of the Earth sometimes carry small creatures up with them. Those could be crabs, frogs, or indeed fish. A waterspout is generally a whirlwind that picks up water and grows in size until it connects the surface of the water and the clouds. Lightweight critters living close to the water surface often get caught in the vortex and carried up and away. Thunderstorm clouds are constant companions of waterspouts, too.
Let’s start our journey with one of the most famous and scary vanished villages. It’s located in India, in the district of Rajasthan. This is Kuldhara Village. Unlike other abandoned places, this one is difficult to get to because the locals won’t want to take you there.
There are many doors all around the world that have no keys! Maybe you can guess how to open them.
I’m about to introduce you to a place where the laws of physics take a vacation. Welcome to the Mystery Spot, where you can witness all kinds of implausible things that will leave you scratching your head in disbelief.Don’t worry; it’s not sorcery or witchcraft. It’s just some clever optical illusions that mess with your brain and make you question reality. Back in the day when the Great Depression was hitting hard, people needed some fun distractions. That’s how the entertainment industry gave birth to the concept of mystery spots.
Whoosh! Debris “runs” through outer space all the time, often heading toward our planet. We’re mostly not aware of it. Most of that debris burns up when it enters our atmosphere anyway. We DO get to enjoy the bright blaze in the clear night sky because, from time to time, we see it as fleeting meteor showers.
Artificial intelligence was used to study about 50,000 living rooms across the globe to see how other cultures decorate their homes. Some cultural preferences were expected, but some surprised the researchers. There were a lot of rich colors in India and Morocco. In Europe, North America, and South America, people like to put books on display. Living rooms in Europe (in Italy, especially) were filled with wall art. Interestingly, a lot of indoor plants were found in cold areas, particularly in Scandinavia.We bet your home designs reflect your taste in the best possible way. And in case you were looking for some new accents, here is our list of bright and original products that can do the trick.
Hi there! Do you want to check out some unexplainable phenomena and mysterious events people witness? Sure you do — let’s go!Hummm... Imagine constantly hearing a humming sound that no one can trace. If you do hear it, you’re among 4% of the world’s population. “The Hum” is described as a low-frequency noise that feels almost like a vibration. It’s just on the threshold of human hearing. People hear it less clearly when they’re outside, and it gets louder indoors, especially at night. Imagine you’re in the comfort of your bed, but you keep hearing the hum. Once you hear it, you can’t “unhear” it. Scary.
As you know, all the continents on Earth have different climates, ecosystems, and cultures... But it wasn’t always like this. In fact, this will also change in the future. Someday, our world will change beyond recognition. All continents will become one great land. What will it look like? Well, I won’t be around for this, but let’s find out, shall we? Let’s peek at the world map. There are 7 continents: North and South America, Africa, Australia, Antarctica, Europe, and Asia. If you know this, congrats — you still remember something from elementary school!
Let’s play a little guessing game: I’m going to name the sights you have on your bucket list. Machu Picchu, The Colosseum, Petra, Taj Mahal — did I get at least one of them right? I have to confess I was just taking them off the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World.It was officially finished in 2007 after a worldwide vote. What happened to the old list? Well, it was put together in the 2nd century BCE, and there is just one sight currently still standing: the Pyramids of Giza.
You’re dining in Paris, with a full belly of French onion soup and a mouthful of double chocolate soufflé. The waiter approaches asking how your meal was and, mouth full, you give a satisfied expression and make the A-OK gesture. You expect to see happiness on the waiter’s face, but he looks at you with irritation.
The Statue of Liberty is 305 ft (93 m) tall and stands on Liberty Island in New York. It’s one of the most famous tourist attractions that The Big Apple has to offer. It was given to America as a gift from France in 1886. The statue was designed by a French sculptor called Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi.
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.
There’s a heavy snowstorm. The cold penetrates his bones. His legs are almost knee-deep in snow. Experienced hunter Joe Labelle makes his way through the forest, covering his face from the headwind. Any other person would have already fallen and screamed in despair, but not Joe Labelle. He can survive in any circumstances and always knows what to do. Right now, he’s heading to one of the villages in the far north of Canada.
In 2015, an ROV [Remotely Operated Vehicle] descended into the depths of the Caribbean Sea. It belonged to Columbia, and it was searching for a long-lost treasure ship. At the depth of 9,000 feet, the operators could see their goal, a Spanish galleon [San José] that sank in 1708. The rumor has it that the ship was transporting 200 tons of treasure onboard. For more than three hundred years, no one knew its exact location. Yes, in the 21st century, we are still finding lost treasure ships.
Have you ever noticed you sometimes make choices you can hardly explain? Well, psychology did all the work for you. But before we jump into the world of mind traps, how about a short, one-question quiz?
