WHY do people pay for movie minutes in Germany?
Cinema tickets in Germany are expensive, they can cost around €10. That's why it's a good deal for film lovers to buy a monthly pass for €23.
Yet you have to pay for extra minutes of film: a subscription includes films of 120 minutes, and time over this limit is paid separately. There is even a special term for this phenomenon: Überlängenzuschlag.
Cinema tickets in Germany are expensive, they can cost around €10. That's why it's a good deal for film lovers to buy a monthly pass for €23.
Yet you have to pay for extra minutes of film: a subscription includes films of 120 minutes, and time over this limit is paid separately. There is even a special term for this phenomenon: Überlängenzuschlag.
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WHY are hedgehogs depicted with apples?
The touching myth of the hedgehog hoarding apples and mushrooms for its babies was created by Pliny the Elder. According to him, the hedgehog is able to "deliberately" cling to grape berries, or, in some cases, to apples.
In reality, the hedgehog is not physically capable of riding on its back while piercing fruit with its needles. Moreover, most hedgehogs have no interest in apples. When you meet a hedgehog, treat him not with milk and fruit, but with earthworms, bird eggs, and canned dog meat.
Still, young hedgehogs do not mind peeking into the garden and eating grapes and overripe plums. A couple of rotten fruits may well fall on their backs and get caught in the needles.
The touching myth of the hedgehog hoarding apples and mushrooms for its babies was created by Pliny the Elder. According to him, the hedgehog is able to "deliberately" cling to grape berries, or, in some cases, to apples.
In reality, the hedgehog is not physically capable of riding on its back while piercing fruit with its needles. Moreover, most hedgehogs have no interest in apples. When you meet a hedgehog, treat him not with milk and fruit, but with earthworms, bird eggs, and canned dog meat.
Still, young hedgehogs do not mind peeking into the garden and eating grapes and overripe plums. A couple of rotten fruits may well fall on their backs and get caught in the needles.
WHY do skaters pull tights on skates?
First, it visually lengthens the legs. Yeah, still, there is a place for aesthetics here. So it's not a myth.
Secondly, the tights hide the damage on the skates. Shoes are the skater's workhorses, so they get badly scratched and battered over the season. To hide the shabby look, some people touch them up, and others pull tights over them.
Many skaters wear socks, sometimes even terry socks, to create some sort of comfort inside the shoe. The tights inside the shoe will slip, and if you put them on top, they can cover those very socks.
First, it visually lengthens the legs. Yeah, still, there is a place for aesthetics here. So it's not a myth.
Secondly, the tights hide the damage on the skates. Shoes are the skater's workhorses, so they get badly scratched and battered over the season. To hide the shabby look, some people touch them up, and others pull tights over them.
Many skaters wear socks, sometimes even terry socks, to create some sort of comfort inside the shoe. The tights inside the shoe will slip, and if you put them on top, they can cover those very socks.
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WHY do roosters wear a comb on their heads?
The comb not only shows the attractiveness of the male to the female, but also its state of health. Scientists have found that in healthy roosters the comb is large and has a bright color. In sick birds the comb is smaller and paler.
Perhaps the same property is characteristic of other birds. If this is true, then the decorations on the body of animals are not just for beauty, but show the state of health of the male.
The comb not only shows the attractiveness of the male to the female, but also its state of health. Scientists have found that in healthy roosters the comb is large and has a bright color. In sick birds the comb is smaller and paler.
Perhaps the same property is characteristic of other birds. If this is true, then the decorations on the body of animals are not just for beauty, but show the state of health of the male.
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WHY do dishwashing sponges vary in color?
The abrasive part is always a tougher material that is used to remove limescale or burnt product residue.
The glued layer has different colors, indicating the properties of the abrasive.
Green
It is assigned to the toughest materials. Therefore, the green color says that this sponge will help to cope with any dirt. But you should be more careful to clean dishes with it with enamel, so as not to damage it.
Red
The red color scotchbrite is less stiff. It freely removes dirt and dried-on food residue, but is still inferior in "strength" to green. Your dishes are not in danger of scratches and marks from intensive friction.
Yellow
This color is almost like a neutral color. That's why it was chosen as the lightest abrasive color, which has a neutral effect on the surface to be cleaned. It can be safely used for washing glasses and glassware.
The abrasive part is always a tougher material that is used to remove limescale or burnt product residue.
The glued layer has different colors, indicating the properties of the abrasive.
Green
It is assigned to the toughest materials. Therefore, the green color says that this sponge will help to cope with any dirt. But you should be more careful to clean dishes with it with enamel, so as not to damage it.
Red
The red color scotchbrite is less stiff. It freely removes dirt and dried-on food residue, but is still inferior in "strength" to green. Your dishes are not in danger of scratches and marks from intensive friction.
Yellow
This color is almost like a neutral color. That's why it was chosen as the lightest abrasive color, which has a neutral effect on the surface to be cleaned. It can be safely used for washing glasses and glassware.
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WHY don't bats get sick?
It's all about their immune system, in this respect bats are, one might say, unique. Their organism is a powerful machine for fighting the most dangerous viruses, although the immunity works just enough to keep the mouse from getting sick, but the virus itself in their organism never dies, rather adapts, mutating into more infectious forms. And so it turns out that a naive mouse lives and has no idea that inside it, as if in an incubator, there is an embittered virus, just waiting for an opportunity to take revenge.
As an example, 55 different viruses have been detected in the body of one large individual. And if one person gets sick, then everyone gets sick. After all, bats infect each other instantly, and all because such a popular nowadays phenomenon as "social distance" is unknown to them.
It's all about their immune system, in this respect bats are, one might say, unique. Their organism is a powerful machine for fighting the most dangerous viruses, although the immunity works just enough to keep the mouse from getting sick, but the virus itself in their organism never dies, rather adapts, mutating into more infectious forms. And so it turns out that a naive mouse lives and has no idea that inside it, as if in an incubator, there is an embittered virus, just waiting for an opportunity to take revenge.
As an example, 55 different viruses have been detected in the body of one large individual. And if one person gets sick, then everyone gets sick. After all, bats infect each other instantly, and all because such a popular nowadays phenomenon as "social distance" is unknown to them.
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WHY are there fewer cat breeds than dog ones?
Dogs were domesticated earlier, at least 15,000 years ago and spread all over the world, which was the prerequisite for local breeds. They were used for a variety of purposes, bred special breeds of hunting, shepherding, guarding...
Cats became domestic in the full sense much later, about 3.5 thousand years ago (the famous Egyptian cats were temple animals like monkeys in modern India), and were used for a single role: to exterminate domestic rodents.
Cat breeding was much less strict: people, of course, selected kittens they liked, but hardly engaged in purposeful crossbreeding.
Dogs were domesticated earlier, at least 15,000 years ago and spread all over the world, which was the prerequisite for local breeds. They were used for a variety of purposes, bred special breeds of hunting, shepherding, guarding...
Cats became domestic in the full sense much later, about 3.5 thousand years ago (the famous Egyptian cats were temple animals like monkeys in modern India), and were used for a single role: to exterminate domestic rodents.
Cat breeding was much less strict: people, of course, selected kittens they liked, but hardly engaged in purposeful crossbreeding.
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WHY do the hands of the clock run from left to right?
This tradition dates back to ancient Egypt, where the sundial was invented five thousand years ago. As the sun in the sky turns from east to west, the shadow of the pin in the center of the dial moves in a circle from left to right.
When mechanical clocks appeared in the Middle Ages, first tower clocks, craftsmen retained the "sundial principle". The first tower chimes had only one hour hand, which also moved from left to right. This has been the case with all clocks ever since.
This tradition dates back to ancient Egypt, where the sundial was invented five thousand years ago. As the sun in the sky turns from east to west, the shadow of the pin in the center of the dial moves in a circle from left to right.
When mechanical clocks appeared in the Middle Ages, first tower clocks, craftsmen retained the "sundial principle". The first tower chimes had only one hour hand, which also moved from left to right. This has been the case with all clocks ever since.
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WHY are electric car manufacturers being forced to artificially increase the noise level?
Today's electric and hybrid cars are virtually silent. This, according to a number of researchers, poses a safety risk for pedestrians, who are used to the hum of the car's engine, and especially for the blind.
Japan and the European Union have already passed laws requiring the manufacturers of such cars to install artificial noise systems.
In the USA, the compulsory installation of such systems with automatic activation of noise when driving at speeds up to 30 km/h has been introduced in 2021.
Today's electric and hybrid cars are virtually silent. This, according to a number of researchers, poses a safety risk for pedestrians, who are used to the hum of the car's engine, and especially for the blind.
Japan and the European Union have already passed laws requiring the manufacturers of such cars to install artificial noise systems.
In the USA, the compulsory installation of such systems with automatic activation of noise when driving at speeds up to 30 km/h has been introduced in 2021.
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WHY do plants signal each other underground?
Plants can "communicate" with each other via chemical signals, but their ability to transmit signals is not limited to airborne communication.
Warnings from one plant to another, such as pest infestation, can be transmitted through mycorrhiza, symbiotic fungi whose structures braid the roots of plants and allow them to get much more nutrients and water from the soil.
When an uninfested plant receives an alert, it begins to secrete repellents against specific pests or other substances in advance that attract the enemies of those pests.
Plants can "communicate" with each other via chemical signals, but their ability to transmit signals is not limited to airborne communication.
Warnings from one plant to another, such as pest infestation, can be transmitted through mycorrhiza, symbiotic fungi whose structures braid the roots of plants and allow them to get much more nutrients and water from the soil.
When an uninfested plant receives an alert, it begins to secrete repellents against specific pests or other substances in advance that attract the enemies of those pests.
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WHY do we frequently pour water into a cup and spill it on the table?
You can thank the Coanda effect for that: when we pour liquid from a vessel, it tends to follow the curve of its edge. If the liquid flow is strong, the jet comes off the edge and everything passes without incident. But if the flow is too weak, the tea will run along the side of the teapot and end up on the tablecloth.
So you should pour liquids confidently, not just a little bit at a time.
You can thank the Coanda effect for that: when we pour liquid from a vessel, it tends to follow the curve of its edge. If the liquid flow is strong, the jet comes off the edge and everything passes without incident. But if the flow is too weak, the tea will run along the side of the teapot and end up on the tablecloth.
So you should pour liquids confidently, not just a little bit at a time.
WHY are extrovert and introvert perfect life partners?
Extroverts tend to be active, sociable. They easily establish contact with others. Also able to inspire and inspire optimism.
And introverts are calm, deep thinkers. Reflect for a long time decisions, analyze all options. They are able to avoid problems. Therefore, the calm introvert keeps from making rash decisions, and temperament extrovert rouse the other half.
Precisely owing to the fact that they have different strengths, they complement each other perfectly.
Extroverts tend to be active, sociable. They easily establish contact with others. Also able to inspire and inspire optimism.
And introverts are calm, deep thinkers. Reflect for a long time decisions, analyze all options. They are able to avoid problems. Therefore, the calm introvert keeps from making rash decisions, and temperament extrovert rouse the other half.
Precisely owing to the fact that they have different strengths, they complement each other perfectly.
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WHY are people called barbarians?
The word barbaros, in Greek, means a meaningless and completely untranslatable set of sounds. The ancient Greeks called barbarians those who did not know their language. Originally, the term "barbarian" did not have any negative meaning. Only much later, in the fifth century BC, during the Greco-Persian Wars, did the Greeks become aware of the spiritual inferiority of their non-speakers, and the term took on a different meaning.
The Romans considered barbaric those peoples who did not live "according to the rules," that is, who did not observe the laws of the empire.
The word barbaros, in Greek, means a meaningless and completely untranslatable set of sounds. The ancient Greeks called barbarians those who did not know their language. Originally, the term "barbarian" did not have any negative meaning. Only much later, in the fifth century BC, during the Greco-Persian Wars, did the Greeks become aware of the spiritual inferiority of their non-speakers, and the term took on a different meaning.
The Romans considered barbaric those peoples who did not live "according to the rules," that is, who did not observe the laws of the empire.
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WHY are there lots of cats in Turkey?
Street cats have long held an essential place in the ecosystem of Turkish port cities, where rodents have always been plentiful.
In the 8th century, tireless hunters saved Istanbul from the plague by exterminating the hordes of rats that swarmed the port docks and streets. To this day, cats still control the population of mice and rats in cities
Street cats have long held an essential place in the ecosystem of Turkish port cities, where rodents have always been plentiful.
In the 8th century, tireless hunters saved Istanbul from the plague by exterminating the hordes of rats that swarmed the port docks and streets. To this day, cats still control the population of mice and rats in cities
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WHY is walking healthy?
Walking outdoors activates blood flow, strengthens the heart and bones, tones muscles, improves sleep and lung function.
Moreover, it helps to relieve stress and fight stress. To get the best results, you need to practice walking for 30-60 minutes every day. Exactly exercise.
Walking outdoors activates blood flow, strengthens the heart and bones, tones muscles, improves sleep and lung function.
Moreover, it helps to relieve stress and fight stress. To get the best results, you need to practice walking for 30-60 minutes every day. Exactly exercise.
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WHY does a regular chair have four legs while an office seat is fitted with five?
The laws of statics indicate that the chair is stable as long as its center of gravity with the person is above the contour described around its supports. Therefore the less the supports are, the more they have to be spread out. However, each successive support makes the structure more expensive, giving less and less contribution to stability.
Ordinary chairs are limited to four legs, for the sake of simplicity of rectangular connections and ease of storage. A swivel chair with a center post, on the other hand, gets important advantages from a fifth leg. Not only does it retain stability with smaller legs, but it's safer if one of the wheels breaks. It's also less likely to wobble on an uneven floor.
The laws of statics indicate that the chair is stable as long as its center of gravity with the person is above the contour described around its supports. Therefore the less the supports are, the more they have to be spread out. However, each successive support makes the structure more expensive, giving less and less contribution to stability.
Ordinary chairs are limited to four legs, for the sake of simplicity of rectangular connections and ease of storage. A swivel chair with a center post, on the other hand, gets important advantages from a fifth leg. Not only does it retain stability with smaller legs, but it's safer if one of the wheels breaks. It's also less likely to wobble on an uneven floor.
WHY is Facebook designed in blue?
In the mid-twenties, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg took a color-blindness test and realized that he was color blind. He had trouble distinguishing between shades of red and green. This is one of the reasons why Facebook is designed in blue - all variations of blue are available to Zuckerberg.
Thus, one man's peculiarity has influenced the color scheme of one of the most visited sites in the world, and probably set a whole trend in the field of social media design. Later, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram used shades of blue and blue in their design.
In the mid-twenties, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg took a color-blindness test and realized that he was color blind. He had trouble distinguishing between shades of red and green. This is one of the reasons why Facebook is designed in blue - all variations of blue are available to Zuckerberg.
Thus, one man's peculiarity has influenced the color scheme of one of the most visited sites in the world, and probably set a whole trend in the field of social media design. Later, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram used shades of blue and blue in their design.
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WHY do you sometimes hear yourself echoing when talking on your cell phone?
The words you say on the phone are played back by the speaker on the other person's handset, from where the sound echoes back into the handset's microphone and echoes back to you.
With wired telephony, the echo normally returns after just a few milliseconds and doesn't interfere with the conversation. In cellular and Internet telephony, the signals take longer to process, and the echo can lag noticeably behind your voice, making communication difficult.
Echo cancellation algorithms are used to combat this: they memorize the sounds spoken, look for them in the response signal, and if they are found, subtract your voice from it.
The words you say on the phone are played back by the speaker on the other person's handset, from where the sound echoes back into the handset's microphone and echoes back to you.
With wired telephony, the echo normally returns after just a few milliseconds and doesn't interfere with the conversation. In cellular and Internet telephony, the signals take longer to process, and the echo can lag noticeably behind your voice, making communication difficult.
Echo cancellation algorithms are used to combat this: they memorize the sounds spoken, look for them in the response signal, and if they are found, subtract your voice from it.
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WHY is the Moon receding away from the Earth?
The Moon creates tidal waves on Earth, not only in the ocean, but also in the Earth's crust. As a result of the Earth's rotation, tidal waves are not located strictly on the planet-satellite line, but somewhat ahead of it. The tidal wave near the moon is attracted by it a little stronger than the one on the other side of the Earth.
Therefore, a torque acts on the Earth from the side of the Moon, which gradually slows down the planet's rotation. But as action equals counteraction, the moon receives an equal and opposite effect and accelerates its motion. And this corresponds to moving to a higher orbit, that is, moving away from the Earth.
So the Moon is moving away from us due to the energy of the Earth's rotation at a rate of 4 cm per year.
The Moon creates tidal waves on Earth, not only in the ocean, but also in the Earth's crust. As a result of the Earth's rotation, tidal waves are not located strictly on the planet-satellite line, but somewhat ahead of it. The tidal wave near the moon is attracted by it a little stronger than the one on the other side of the Earth.
Therefore, a torque acts on the Earth from the side of the Moon, which gradually slows down the planet's rotation. But as action equals counteraction, the moon receives an equal and opposite effect and accelerates its motion. And this corresponds to moving to a higher orbit, that is, moving away from the Earth.
So the Moon is moving away from us due to the energy of the Earth's rotation at a rate of 4 cm per year.
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WHY do children resemble their parents?
Owing to the transfer of information stored in the nuclei of cells. The existence of discrete carriers of hereditary properties was discovered by the Austrian monk Gregor Mendel in 1865. He called them "hereditary germs". Yet his findings were ignored.
They were rediscovered only in the 1900s. Their material nature remained unclear until 1944, when it was discovered that the carrier of hereditary information is a molecule of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
In 1953, a model of its structure was proposed, and soon the genetic code was deciphered. Now the genomes of many species, including humans, have been fully read. But how exactly this or that sequence of genetic "letters" determines the characteristics of organisms will be studied for a long time to come.
Owing to the transfer of information stored in the nuclei of cells. The existence of discrete carriers of hereditary properties was discovered by the Austrian monk Gregor Mendel in 1865. He called them "hereditary germs". Yet his findings were ignored.
They were rediscovered only in the 1900s. Their material nature remained unclear until 1944, when it was discovered that the carrier of hereditary information is a molecule of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
In 1953, a model of its structure was proposed, and soon the genetic code was deciphered. Now the genomes of many species, including humans, have been fully read. But how exactly this or that sequence of genetic "letters" determines the characteristics of organisms will be studied for a long time to come.
WHY shouldn't cats be given milk?
Most cats, like many adult mammals, are lactose intolerant.
Kittens, contrary to popular belief, should not be fed cow's milk either. They are able to digest lactose, but the amount of lactose in cow's milk is almost three times the amount of lactose in the mother cat's milk.
If young kittens are growing up without their mother, it's a bad idea to feed them cow's milk. "Orphans" will not get enough nutrients, and may even die from exhaustion.
It is better to buy special "milk formula for kittens" at a pet store. Substitutes contain the necessary amount of proteins, fats and vitamins that contribute to the normal growth of small pets.
Most cats, like many adult mammals, are lactose intolerant.
Kittens, contrary to popular belief, should not be fed cow's milk either. They are able to digest lactose, but the amount of lactose in cow's milk is almost three times the amount of lactose in the mother cat's milk.
If young kittens are growing up without their mother, it's a bad idea to feed them cow's milk. "Orphans" will not get enough nutrients, and may even die from exhaustion.
It is better to buy special "milk formula for kittens" at a pet store. Substitutes contain the necessary amount of proteins, fats and vitamins that contribute to the normal growth of small pets.