When did Greenwich become the centre of every world map?
Most atlases put Britain at the centre of the world, with the Greenwich Prime Meridian running through the grounds of the Royal Observatory in south London. This line officially separates west from east. But how did this come about?
Why does our hair go grey or white when we get old?
Some people get grey (or white) hairs in their twenties, and others still have dark hair well into their seventies and eighties. The process of greying can occur gradually over many years as individual hair follicles stop producing colour, or it can happen within a matter of months or a few years. How long depends a lot on genetics.
Why Guiness is Less Irish than you Think
St Patrick’s Day, on March 17th, is an annual celebration of all things Irish – and of one thing in particular. Around Ireland, and all over the world, people celebrate with a pint or two (or more !) of Guinness, Ireland’s unofficial national intoxicant. But how Irish is it really?
What is Computer Code?
From lifts to cars to airliners to smartphones, modern civilisation is powered by software, the digital instructions that allow computers, and the devices they control, to perform calculations and respond to their surroundings. Bute … “What is Computer Code?”
More than Just a Funny Word – The Meaning behind and Origin of Abracadabra
You might be tempted to think that the word ‘Abracadabra’, beloved of magicians and children’s party entertainers, is just a silly made up word – but you’d be wrong. It’s a very real and very ancient word with some sinister connotations.
The Guernsey Markets – Was it always in Town and What existed prior to the “New Market Building” ?
In recent years the Guernsey Market buildings have undergone something of a grand transformation from the covered markets it was originally built for in the 19th century. They are certainly one of Guernsey’s most iconic landmarks, but its history has not always been as obvious. So, what was here before then and were Guernsey’s Markets always here ?
What Makes us Right-Handed or Left-Handed?
In a Nutshell – Researchers say it is in the genes.
It’s the same reason some people are brown-eyed and some are blue-eyed. The Human Genome Project tends to support the theory that a single gene is responsible for handedness
Can People’s Past Injuries Predict When a Storm is Coming?
There are many people who often claim to have an arthritic joint with the power to tell the future, at least meteorologically. The idea that certain painful health conditions are affected by the weather is an ancient claim, dating back to at least Hippocrates in the 4th century B.C and no even doubt earlier. But can this phenomenon be explained?
Wacky-pedia : Weird Questions, that you never even asked, Answered – What does Space Smell Like?
In this article we present you with some wacky facts as well as answering some of the more weird questions – questions that you never even knew you should’ve asked!
Weird Questions, that you never even asked, Answered – What does Space Smell Like?
Why Does Water Freeze?
Why Does Water Freeze?
In a Nutshell … Water freezes because water molecules stick to one another when they get cold and slow down.
The History of the Christmas Pud
The “Christmas Pud” – in our opinion the most delicious of all the scrumptious winter fayre that helps make up the traditional British Christmas. However what we think of as Christmas Pudding, is not what it was originally like! In this article we look at “The History of the Christmas Pud”
Did you Know – Christmas tree lights were invented just 4 years after they the light bulb was invented ?
The idea for electric lights on Christmas trees is credited to a man named Edward Hibberd. It was in 1882 – just 4 years after the invention of the bulb. At the time he was working for the “Edison Lamp Company.”
English Words that Used To Have Vastly Different Meanings To What We Understand Today
How would you rate your vocabulary ? Average; Better than Average ; Exceptional ?
It may not matter how good you think your command of English is because in this article we reveal some surprising revelations about some of the words, you may have thought you had a thorough understanding of, had, in point of fact, some VERY different meanings in the past.
Did You Know … Guy Fawkes was not Executed for Masterminding the Gun Powder Plot
Did You Know … Guy Fawkes was not Executed for Masterminding the Gun Powder Plot
When an animal looks in a mirror, does it realise that it is looking at itself?
When an animal looks in a mirror, does it realise that it is looking at itself? – this is really a question of self-awareness. So if any animals, apart from ourselves, do actually know this we then have to ask – Which, if any, animals successfully make this connection?