If you are in London at this time of year, there is a rather large reminder of Norway firmly planted in the city’s heart. Every year, Norway sends a 50 or 60-year-old Norwegian spruce Christmas tree to be decorated and used as the focal point of the Trafalgar Square Christmas festivities. But do you know […]
Santa Claus or Father Christmas originated in Western Christian culture. He is known to bring gifts during the night on Christmas eve. The modern figure of Santa is based on the folklore traditions of Saint Nicholas. But did you know Santa has a pilot’s license? According to the Library of Congress, Santa Claus obtained a
According to the Library of Congress, Santa Claus Got a Pilot’s License in 1927. Read More »
Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s Ready Room on the USS Enterprise-D. A ready room is a room located adjacent to or near the bridge on Federation Starships and Installations in the Star Trek science fiction universe. This room serves as the commanding officer’s office. But did you know the actor that plays Picard, Patrick Stewart, disapproves of
In October 2017, the Northern California region experienced the Tubbs Fire. At the time, the fire burned through portions of the counties of Napa, Sonoma, and Lake while wreaking the most havoc in Santa Rosa, was the most destructive wildfire in California history. Its destructiveness was quickly surpassed by the 2018 Campfire only one year
Valentine’s Day is widely recognized in the West as a chance to declare your love for that particular person in your life and show them how much you care by giving them gifts or making plans to go on the ideal date. Typically, the man is expected to do all the work and buy their
Black widow spiders are well-known for the colored, hourglass-shaped mark on their abdomens. Several species respond to the name and can be found in temperate regions worldwide. But did you know how male black widow spiders choose their mates? To avoid being eaten, male black-widow spiders choose their mates by determining if the female has
She was the world’s best female paraglider, defying the odds to compete for the world champion title. However, when German national team member Ewa Wisnierska became engulfed in a massive, violent thunderstorm in the Australian savanna. But do you know what happened when the paraglider Ewa Wisnierska flew right into a storm cloud? Ewa Winierska,
Pfeilstorch Migrating stork which has been hit by an arrow The Rostocker Pfeilstorch, found in 1822, demonstrated that birds migrated rather than hibernating or changing form in winter. The term Pfeilstorch (German for ‘arrow stork’, pronounced [ˈpfaɪ̯l.ˌʃtɔɐ̯ç]; plural Pfeilstörche, [-ˌʃtœɐ̯.çə]) is given to storks injured by an arrow while wintering in Africa, before returning to
Dolphins and fishermen in Laguna, Brazil, enjoy the same food, plump silver mullets. But instead of competing with each other, they actually collaborate. But did you know that dolphins have been collaborating with humans since 1847? Bottlenose dolphins actively herd fish towards local fishermen in Laguna, Brazil, and then signal with tail slaps for the
If you’ve ever come close to accomplishing something but fell short, you’ve probably heard the phrase close, but no cigar. You probably accept defeat and move on. But have you ever given this commonly used phrase any thought? Why the cigar? Who even requested a cigar? Did you know where the saying “Close, but No
