There are many facts about the world, science, history, and geography, which appear to people to be misunderstood. Or things they never thought about. See some interesting facts that will enrich your knowledge.
- The Wives of Henry VIII
How many wives did the English monarch Henry VIII have? Most people will answer six, because that's the figure he became famous in history. The truth is, however, that the King had only two wives. Henry's fourth marriage to Anna is canceled because it is never consumed. Besides, Anna was already betrothed to another person, and that means she can not marry another. The monarch's second marriage to Ann Boleyn was declared illegal by the Pope, as the king was still married to his first wife, Katerina Aragonskaya. But Henry has declared his first marriage invalid, as he did with his fifth wife, Catherine Howard. This leads to the conclusion that the two officially recognized marriages of the monarch are those with Jane Seymour and Catherine Par.
- The largest living organism
Who is the largest living organism? Many people will say that this is the elephant, the white whale, or some dinosaur. The truth is, however, that the record is set not by an animal but by a sponge. This sponge is quite widespread - Armillaria ostoyae, the largest representative being in a forest in the Malher area, in the American state of Oregon. The mushroom covers an area of 890 hectares and is between 2000 and 8000 years old. Although it is hardly noticeable from above, the main part of the body is under the surface, forming huge masses of mycelium that play roots for mushrooms.
- Colors of chameleons
Why do chameleons change the color of their skin? To hide? To merge with the surroundings? This is one of the most common misconceptions about the world around us. Chameleons change their color to their emotional state, and since shifting is quite common, sometimes it turns out that the color coincides with that of the leaves or bark of the trees. Colors change when the animal is frightened when courting when aggression towards another animal and so on. In addition, the chameleons do not have any benefit from merging with the surrounding area - their main prey, the insects, can not distinguish them anyway, and natural enemies in nature do not.
- Medieval people and the Earth
Did people think that Earth is flat? The answer is no - in the 4th century before the new era, there are hardly any people who believe that the Earth is a plane from which one can fail to reach its end. This misunderstanding is probably created by the text of the book, The Life and Travels of Christopher Columbus, "written in the early 19th century, which incorrectly states that the seafarer set out on a legendary journey to prove that the Earth is round. In fact, nobody at that time challenged the round shape of the planet, but on the contrary, almost all civilizations at some stage of their development have demonstrated through mathematical calculations and observations that the Earth is spherical.
- The most dry place on earth
Which is the driest place on earth? Sahara desert? Nevada desert? No, Antarctica. In some parts of the southernmost continent there has not been rain for two million years. The wilderness is not always a region full of hot sand and dunes - this is an area where rain falls less than 254 mm per year. The Sahara falls 25 mm, and in the Atacama desert - 1 mm. Besides the driest, the desert regions of Antarctica are also the most windy in the world.
- The camel and its cams
What do camels store in their humpbacks? No, it's not water, it's fat. Grease is used not for cooling or for water, but for energy. We know camels can live without water in the wilderness for a whole week, but drink water over 200 liters of water. It is not stored in the muscles but in the circulatory system all over their body.
- The capital of Thailand
How is the capital of Thailand called? Yes, we call this city Bangkok, but the original name of the Thai capital is Kron Tep Mahanakon Amon Ratanakosin Mahinara Utah Mahadilock Pop Nopparat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchanivet Mahashan Ammon Piman Avan Satit Sakattia Vitsanukam Prasit. "Krun" means "capital" in Thai, and the other part translates as "The City of the Angels, the Great City, the Evergreen City, the Immaculate City of God Indra, the great capital of the world endowed with nine precious stones, Rich with a huge royal palace, reminiscent of the heavenly dwelling, where the renamed god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnu Karma, reigns. " In this paragraph, Bangkok resembles Los Angeles, which is also the "City of Angels". The Thai name is written in 152 letters as a single word.