Everyone loves a good mystery! More than that, everyone loves to obsess over a mystery that hasn't been solved. What can be more fun than nose-diving into a hurried conclusion, looping around a bunch of far-fetched theories before eventually saying "Aliens"? There are some mysteries that make a perfect cut to that list.
But sadly, they have been solved. It is almost as if someone licked the cream out of a bourbon biscuit and left the bland, uninteresting crust behind. It is often heartbreaking to buy a simple logical explanation behind mysteries that managed to baffle geniuses for the longest time.
Here are some you might have thought were still not solved:
1. The Bermuda Triangle
Mystery: Also known as the Devil's Triangle, it is a loosely defined region in the North Atlantic Ocean, where many aircrafts and ships are said to have disappeared under mysterious circumstances, never to be seen again.
Solved: According to research, the average number of crafts disappearing here is the same as in any other well-traveled part of the ocean. What that implies is, take any other part of the ocean that has seen its fair share of traffic, and you'd end up with similar number of 'disappearances'. This story has survived on unnecessary hype. There have been no major disappearances since 1999.
2. The Bloop
Mystery: It is a mysterious ultra-low-frequency and an incredibly loud sound originating in the South Pacific that was heard by two stations which are separated by 5000 kilometres. People started to think it might be produced by an enormous animal that has never been seen before.
Solved: The NOAA Vents Program attributed the sound to that of a large icequake. Numerous icequakes share similar spectrograms with Bloop, as well as the amplitude necessary to spot them despite ranges exceeding 5000 km.
3. Egyptian Pyramids
Mystery: The world has been baffled for years about just how slave workers transported the massive blocks across the Valley of the Kings in around 2000 BC to build the majestic pyramids. It has often been called a work of the aliens.
Solved: Dutch researchers have figured that the Egyptians placed heavy objects on a sledge, pulled by hundreds of workers, and simply poured water on the sand in front of it, which made it easier for the sledges to glide over the sand.
It really did take us thousands and thousands of years to crack something this simple! Or, do you think it took us more years to believe it could have been this simple?
4. Ica Stones
Mystery: They are a collection of andesitic stones from the Inca Empire found in Ica Province that bear a variety of diagrams. Some of them supposedly have depictions of dinosaurs, and advanced technology. Wonder how people could predict it all, back in that age!
Solved: Javier Cabrera Darquea collected and popularized the stones, obtaining many of them from a farmer named Basilio Uschuya, who after claiming it to be real ancient artifacts, confessed that he produced a patina by baking the stone in cow dung to give it an authentic look, and, created the carvings using a knife.
5. The Iron Pillar, Delhi
Mystery: A major tourist attraction, it has successfully avoided rust for around 1600 years despite being in open air. Most people naturally leave the explaining to ancient supernatural elements.
Solved: Scientific analysis proves that the pillar is coated with iron containing phosphorous that prevents it from corrosion.
6. Side notes in Homer's Odyssey
Mystery: The notes in the margin of this edition baffled people for a very long time. Was it a clue to something more important or was there a message hidden in it?
Solved: Turns out the marginalia was nothing but scribbled translation of the book in an archaic French shorthand.
7. The crew of Mary Celeste
Mystery: The entire crew of Mary Celeste disappeared like poof! It was as if the whole ship just vanished in thin air without any explanation, leaving everyone confused and worried!
Solved: She was found later. It looks like the crew abandoned the ship when the alcohol on the board combusted. The crew, however, was never seen again. Scientists determined that a vapour based explosion would not damage anything, but it would still be a petrifying experience.
8. Loch Ness monster
Mystery: Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster, was the most well-known lake monster in the history of lake monsters. Some people believed it to be a living dinosaur or even a sea serpent that swam into the lake before it became landlocked. But Nessie became a reality for a lot of people and shot to stardom after a photograph of the monster showing his head and neck was published.
Solved: The image, taken by a surgeon from London, was later admitted as a hoax.
9. People who believe in ghosts
Mystery: All of us have met at least one person would go to any extent to make us believe that he/she has seen a ghost (at least once). Most of us got carried away by their stories, restlessly fearing something similar might happen to us.
Solved: They probably have active left temporoparietal junctions. Scientists have found that a small electric shock in that part of the brain cause people to see someone else in the room. Keep that in mind the next time you meet someone instead of letting it make your blood run cold.
15th August, 1947: The country carefully listened to Jawaharlal Nehru's 'tryst with destiny', jubilant that the British were finally leaving. But let's not forget the price we paid to regain what was always ours. Even though we did get rid of the crown, it still has our jewel. India too was a jewel. It was known as the 'Golden Bird'. But after being grounded for 200 years by the British, could it soar again? More than 58 million died in famines alone, countless freedom fighters laid down their lives & so many innocent souls were forced to face unimaginable horrors, simply on the whims & fancies of the British rulers.
Yes, independence was a huge relief but being conquered was a terror. And how did it all begin? Well... The price of pepper went up by 5 Shillings and our fate was sealed! Confused? Read on as we rummage through the annals of history to bring you this intriguing story.
Back in the 16th century, the Dutch privateers were in control of the spice trade. In September of 1599, they decided to increase the price of pepper by 5 Shillings.
This angered the British merchants. So, on 24th September, 1599, at Leadenhall Street in London, 24 merchants held a meeting and decided to establish a new trading firm.
They roped in 125 shareholders who put together a total currency of 72,000 Pounds, which was used as the initial capital for the company.
Their motive was simple... profit. With that in mind, they moved forward to a future not even they could've predicted.
On 31st December, 1599, the firm was given the Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth I and the trading company commenced its business.
The company came to be known as The East India Company. And through expansion & transformation, it would ultimately become the most impactful creation of the age of imperialism.
On August 24th, 1600, East India Company docked its ships in Surat. The British had officially arrived in India.
Such was their foothold that the company eventually ruled over India from 1757 to 1857. After the first Indian Rebellion of 1857, the company was dissolved and the crown took control over our lands as they thought that the company alone did not have adequate resources to deal with an uprising.
'The British Raj' had officially begun. And it ended only after 9 decades of suffering. The Golden Bird was left battered & bruised.
5 Shillings was the price that led to our country being taken away from us. If the Dutch privateers hadn't decided on loading their pockets a little more or if the British merchants would've just loosened their purse strings a bit, India's history would've read differently.
5 Shillings. Imagine that! A quarrel over such a small amount and an entire country suffered for two whole centuries.
One of the most impactful events in history had such mundane beginnings, who would have thought?
Security personals sexually harassed and assaulted more that 40 women and gang-raped at least two during an anti-Maoists operation in the villages of Pegdapalli, Chinnagellur, Peddagellur, Burgicheru, and Gundam in Bijapur, South Chhattisgarh between October 20 and October 24, 2015.
THE GANGRAPE TEEN SURVIVOR WITH HER AUNT (RIGHT), IN THE COURTYARD OF THEIR HOME IN PEDDAGELLUR VILLAGE. (CHITRANGADA CHOUDHURY/HT PHOTO)
A fact finding team from Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS) visited the villages and submitted its report (Click to read complete fact finding report).
Some of the important facts of the situations based on the testimonies of the survivors and observations of fact finding team:
Rape: We are able to confirm rapes of two women of Peddagulur village. One was a fourteen year old girl and the other a pregnant woman. Both of them have been gang-raped. The young girl was grazing cattle with other women when she was chased by the security forces. Overpowered and blindfolded, she was raped by at least three people before she became unconscious. The four-months-pregnant woman was stripped by the security forces on the October 21, 2015 and repeatedly dunked in the stream, and then gang-raped. The security forces had also removed their clothing and gotten into the stream while raping her.
To add to these, there were some other incidents of rape as well which were being recounted but due to the paucity of time these could not be investigated further and they are pending further examination.
Sexual Assault : Many women, at least 15 in Chinnagelur and Pedagelur alone, and many others from the other neighbouring villages (Gundam, Burgichheru etc) reported being stripped, beaten on their thighs and buttocks, their lower clothing was lifted up and they were threatened with further sexual violence (e.g. pushing chillies up their vaginas). Their blouses were torn. At least two women who were breast feeding said that their breasts were pinched and squeezed for milk. Other women also mentioned that their breasts were grabbed, pulled and squeezed.
Sexual Harassment: Women were chased out of their homes which were then occupied by the forces for their stay. In some cases, the policemen removed their clothing and invited the women to come and sleep with them if they wanted to sleep in their own homes, as the village men had run away into the jungles.
Physical Assault: Severe beatings were reported by many women. In some cases they were holding their infants when they were hit at from behind. Their hair was pulled out, they were dragged, their heads were banged on the ground, and they were poked at with guns and batons (dande). The bruises of this violence were still evident on many women when we met them. Many of them were still unable to walk. They mentioned that they had used hot compresses to relieve the pain in the absence of any medical service in the area.
Infants and small children were also brutally beaten by the security forces. While trying to save them, the women got further beaten.
Looting of Property: Food items like rice, oil, salt, masala, chilly etc; life stock such as chicken, pigs; clothes, torches, soap were looted from the houses by the security forces. They cooked and ate many of the food items, took some with them and destroyed the rest. They also took away money wherever they could find it in the houses. Much of these were the life savings of the people which they have collected over time. Some of these are in notes, most are in coins. They keep these with them since they have no other place to deposit these. Some of the bigger amounts that people mentioned ranged from Rs 2800/- to a maximum of Rs. 10000/-. Several of the women indicated their amounts by showing the size of the coin pouch they had.
Destruction of Property: One house in Burgicheru was destroyed and burnt by the security forces. They entered the house and broke all the vessels. The rice was also taken.
Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS) demanded
We demand that strict action be taken against these individuals and they be booked for the crimes committed by them directly and for those who may not have been directly a part of the crimes, action taken against them as abettors to the same.
We demand that a free and independent enquiry be conducted into these incidents. To ensure that there is no bias and the local police or officer who has been part of or responsible for the operations in any way should not be a part of this investigation.
We also demand that the state ensures the safety and security of the women who have come forward to speak out and the people of their village. It should be ensured that no further intimidation or violence is inflicted on them.
Chitrangada Choudhury wrote a series of articles (1,2,3) in Hindustan Times and few other national media took this up (1, 2), still not a single person has been arrested in this case more that 50 days after the FIR was registered by the Bijapur police against ‘suraksha bal’ on November 1. NHRC have asked government to submit report in 4 weeks. Official investigators are yet to visit incident site to collect evidences forget about protection and fate of the people living there.
This is how Indian democracy is working in deep forests in the heart of the country quite similar to Kashmir and NE India where security personals are empowered to commit such crimes under impunity of AFSPA. (1, 2). State has declared war against its own most underprivileged population (1).
Recently, NASA’s Kepler space telescope discovered the most Earth-like planet yet! Should we prepare to move there, or do we need to tone down our excitement ? Should We Be Excited For 'Earth 2.0'?
Learning a new language takes time and effort. But why grind away at a textbook when you can find ways to integrate language learning into everyday life? This not only avoids the long dark tea time of grammar books and practice exercises, it makes your learning process more interesting and relevant. Go after the vocabulary you want, pick up real expressions, and absorb the textures and details of language in a way that traditional textbooks simply cannot provide. Here are a few tips to make language learning a habitual, integrated part of your life.
1. Embrace authentic language
We’ve all heard that watching films is a great way to learn a language. You don’t have to limit yourself to films shot in that language; watching your favorite film with subtitles can be a revelation, particularly as you may already be very familiar with the dialogue. Watching dubbed films can also be fun. (Or, as the case may be, about as much fun as slamming your finger in a car door.)
But what about all those other excellent sources that the digital age is waving tantalizingly under your nose? What about audiobooks and podcasts? TV series? Online comics and graphic novels? For those of you who watch illegal sports streams (YES WE KNOW YOU’RE OUT THERE), have you ever tried watching a Portuguese stream, or a Spanish one?
And we haven’t even touched on music; such a powerful conveyor of spoken rhythm, cultural sensibility, and soul. Go beyond the obvious choices – say, the French predilection for accordion music and Edith Piaf – to find the genres that you love.
Or travel back in time to find your favorite childhood Disney songs in German, Spanish or Italian. You may find that you even want to sing along with them. Take a deep breath, make sure only consenting adults are within earshot, and go for it. Jingles and songs learned in any language stick in the mind for decades, long after the grammatical nuts and bolts have faded.
Language teachers call these “authentic texts,” which is simply another way to say that this is real, living, breathing language. Whether it’s Hindi rap or the ingredients on a packet of Finnish cornflakes, there’s no better way to discover the true character of a language.
2. Use your devices
Think of the technology you use on a daily basis. How about changing the display language? Your computer, your smartphone, your browser, your apps, Facebook, your GPS, and of course any games you play.
It might be worth making a mental note of how to change the language back though, just in case.
3. Build associations with your environment
Your environment is full of vocabulary. Sticky notes are your friends when it comes to labeling every object in your house, and this has the added side benefit of driving your housemates or loved ones crazy.
Handy tip: Don’t just label stuff, build associations with useful vocabulary. For example, if you’re learning Italian, don’t just write l’interruttore della luce (the light switch) but also accendere (to turn on), spegnere (to turn off), luminoso (bright) and scuro (dark). Reading these associations regularly will help solidify them in your mind. Try making little sentences with them as you go about your day – talking to yourself can be invaluable.
4. Less is more – when you do it regularly
You’ve got a lot on your plate. Make it a habit to learn as much as you can every day – and can is the operative word here. You’ve got half an hour? Great. Only 15 minutes today? No problem. It’s still better than cramming for a weekend and then doing nothing for a couple of weeks.
What’s important is that you learn regularly, and that you find time for it in your daily routine. If you’re able to integrate language learning into your day instead of trying to set aside “extra” time for it, the chances of it becoming a habit are much better.
5. Use those little spare minutes
Anyone who’s quit smoking knows how often we make little pockets of space and time for ourselves, during which one’s hand wanders invariably to a pack of cigarettes. They are easily filled with a dose of language learning. When you’re waiting for the bus, whip out your notepad. While you’re walking the dog, listen to that foreign language podcast. Waiting at a cafe? Scan the headlines on Der Spiegel or Le Monde instead of Huffington Post.
6. Find someone to talk to, even if it’s you
Finding a native speaker to talk to is an absolute must if you want to learn a language. A tandem partner, i.e. somebody who wants to practice your language, is a great way to do it. Can’t find one? Get someone else who’s learning the language, a classmate or colleague. Practice can be as small as a few words here and there: You can help that Russian tourist in their own language, or insult the other soccer team in Spanish. If there’s really nobody around who speaks the language you’re learning, check out remote options via Skype, a chatroom or forum, or join a Facebook group that uses the language.
And don’t be afraid to chat to yourself in the language you’re learning: everybody who’s ever learned a language has done this at one stage or another. It’s perfect for building your confidence, trying out new words, or practicing a structure so it becomes second nature.
7. Pursue your hobby in your new language
Hobbies may not necessarily lend themselves to language learning at first glance, but if you dig a little deeper you will find opportunities. If you like yoga and live in a big city, there’s a good chance that there’s a class in your language. Gourmands will find a wealth of terrific recipes in other languages. And if you’re more a fan of carpentry, do-it-yourself home improvement, or the intricacies of a good French knead, you can be quite sure there’s a Youtube video out there for you.
Time to get lazy, productively...
Speaking of Youtube: It’s a fabulous way to lose hours of your life. So next time you’re bored at work and need a distraction, at least waste time in the language you want to learn. Cat videos are highly advisable, and available in every language.
Sleep difficulties are a really common issue, which can be extremely tiring and substantial time – wasting before finally managing to fall asleep. If you are one of those who constantly struggle to fall asleep for more than an hour each night, you need to know that you’re spending more than nine 40-hour weeks on that pointless activity every year.
Therefore, you need to find a way to slove it.
Luckily, Dr. Andrew Weil has found the solution for you. His trick can save you from the countless sleepless nights. In fact, it will help you fall asleep in a matter of seconds!
Dr. Weil Yoga was inspired by yoga and its breathing practices, so he produced an extremely efficient method, called “The 4-7-8 Breathing Exercise”.
This exercise can be done everywhere and it is extremely easy. Moreover, it won’t take long and you don’t need any equipment.
Here is all you need to do:
1) Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound.
2) Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of 4.
3) Hold your breath for a count of 7.
4) Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of 8.
5) This is one breath. Now inhale again and repeat the cycle three more times for a total of four breaths.
According to Dr. Weil, you need to focus on keeping the ratio correct and inhaling/exhaling deeply every time.
The productivity of this exercise lies in its ability to lower the heart pulse and calm the mind. Even though it may sound too easy to work, do not hesitate to try it, and you will see for yourself that it really works!
He said people used to taunt him that being a young man he was begging and not trying to find work but the truth was that his hands did not work which was why he could not even be a laborer but his reason to live a better life is so strong that he found a way to achieve his goals rather than an Excuse.
Shiv Singh is a 48-year-old law student at the Rajasthan University. Till 3 in the afternoon, he begs at shops and houses in the region. As soon as the clock strikes 3, he can be spotted in the college campus carrying some books in an old, torn bag.
According to the college administration, he has never taken a leave. The day there is no class, he is found sitting and studying in the library hall. His teachers and fellow classmates say that it is hard to believe that Shiv Singh begs as he is always seen sincerely studying in the college.
Shiv Singh told that he too had a family and his parents paid for his studies even after working as laborers. He pursued his graduation from Government College in Gangapur City. Thereafter, he got married and had kids but could not get a job as his hands did not work. His wife and kids left him alone and he had no option left but to beg
He saw the advertisement for law college in the newspaper and filled in the form. He saved the money he begged from people to buy books. Shiv said all he wants is to complete his studies after which he will hopefully get a job in the court.
Women have been beautifying themselves since the dawn of time. Throughout the ages, women have conformed to what society has deemed attractive. Some cultures required women to completely change their appearance while others have celebrated natural beauty.
In the following video, a creative team of make-up artists create popular looks throughout the ages going back to ancient Egypt. Some of the looks had me wondering how these standards were created and who was in the position of power to set these standards, was it men or women? By the time the video is over, you may find yourself asking what drastic trends will we see in the coming years.
Ever wanted to change out of your sweaty gym clothes or swimwear in public without the inconvenience or the hassle of using a towel? Well, your prayers might just have been answered. The Undress v2.0 brings to life the concept of a "fashionable and functional mobile changing room".
Watch this video of a simple yet brilliantly innovative product that'll amaze you:
Today i'm pouring molten copper inside a coconut that i got from the store. I made a hole on top so the copper can go inside. I have many more great videos coming up. Don't forget to subscribe so you wont miss out and if you like this video hit the like button.
The story of Reliance Industries (RIL) is almost folklore in India. It was founded in the late 1950s by the late Dhirubhai Ambani, a former petrol-pump attendant, who even in the 1960s lived in a one-room chawl in Mumbai with his wife and children.
The group’s interests now include the manufacture of synthetic fibres, textiles and petrochemical products, oil and gas exploration, petroleum refining, besides telecommunications, media, retail and financial services.
Dhirubhai showed he had that street smarts and a nose for profit early. While working in Aden, he spotted that local coins had a face value less than the value of the silver from which they were made. So he bought every coin he could, melted them down and pocketed the difference. “I don't believe in not taking opportunities,” he said, according to his unofficial biographer, Hamish McDonald.
Published in 1998, the book is still not available in Indian bookshops because the Ambanis have threatened legal action for anything they perceive as defamatory in the book.
But, truth to be told, it took a lot more than just opportunity to turn Reliance into a Rs 75,000-crore (Rs 750-billion) colossus by the time Dhirubhai passed away in 2002. It took a rare kind of genius to succeed where so many others have tried and failed.
Humble Beginnings
Dhirubhai, born on 28 December, 1932, was the the third son of a school teacher in Gujarat. No one could have imagined then that the student of Junagadh’s Bahadur Kanji High School – who stopped studying after the tenth standard to join his elder brother, Ramniklal in Aden – would one day claim a rightful place among the richest men in the world.
In 1957, Dhirubhai arrived in Mumbai after spending 8 years in Aden (Yemen), he had only Rs 500 in his pocket. Now Rs 500 wasn't a pricely sum even back then but it had value and it allowed Dhirubhai to take his first steps in the world of business.
By 1958, when he started his first small trading venture, his family used to reside in a one room apartment at Jaihind Estate in Bhuleshwar. After trading in a range of products, primarily spices and fabrics, for eight years, Dhirubhai managed to become the owner of a small spinning mill at Naroda, near Ahmedabad. This was a turning point for him.
By 1976-77, Reliance had an annual turnover of Rs 70 crore (Rs 700 million). For many that would have been enough. But Dhirubhai was just getting started.
In 1977, Reliance Industries went public and raised equity capital from 58,000 investors, many of them located in small towns. From then onwards, Dhirubhai started extensively promoting his company’s textile brand name, Vimal. The story goes that on one particular day, the Reliance group chairman inaugurated the retail outlets of as many as 100 franchises.
But the deal-breaker in the eyes of his critics was how he managed to cultivate favours among the politicians. Indira Gandhi returned to power in the 1980 general elections and Dhirubhai shared a platform with the then prime minister of India at a victory rally. He had also allegedly become very close to the then finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, not to mention the prime minister’s principal aide R.K. Dhawan.
Negotiating Success
If you want to succeed in business, especially in India, your networking skills need to be simply superb. You need to have the right contacts to push your projects through and Dhirubhai had them.
His admirers say that Ambani’s success came down to his financial acumen, innovations in marketing and technology, and project execution skills. But his critics will say that the consummate skills with which he could win friends and influence people were just as criticial. They say, that is what allowed him to bend and twist the license-permit system to his advantage.
As Dhirubhai once said: “We cannot change our rulers, but we can change the way they rule us.”
His rivals
Of course, success is never a one-way street. Dhirubhai Ambani had his rivals and they tried to bring him down in every way possible. This Rediff article sheds light on the rivalries:
“There is the fight-to-the-finish battle with Ramnath Goenka -- the fiery and fearless proprietor of the Indian Express; then the war with industrialist Nusli Wadia of Bombay Dyeing; the much publicised allegations against some Ambani staffers over a plot to murder Wadia; Reliance's travails during the V P Singh government, which almost brought the business house to its knees, and sundry other controversies over licensed capacities, export manipulation and share switching.”
But he survived all that – despite suffering a stroke in 1986 – and his company continued to grow. In the 1990s he turned aggressively toward petrochemicals, oil refining, telecommunications and financial services. When he breathed his last in 2002 – he was ranked by Forbes as the world’s 138th-richest person, with an estimated net worth of $2.9 billion.
How big are Reliance now?
India is home to 56 of the world’s 2,000 largest and most powerful public companies, according to the Forbes’s annual list and the Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd leads the pack with a rank of 142 -- with a market value of $42.9 billion and $71.7 billion in sales. Their revenues are roughly equal to 2.8% of India’s GDP. It also contributes 8.2% of India’s total exports, 8% of the Government of India’s Indirect tax revenues. RIL is India’s largest exporter with exports constituting nearly 37% of its revenues.
Dhirubhai had a dream; he dreamt of India becoming a great economic superpower and through his life, he showed the country that nothing was impossible if you set your mind to it. If that isn't inspiration then nothing ever will be.
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