WHY are we ashamed of someone else?
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Empathy is an amazing mechanism. Two neural zones in the sympathetic person's head are activated at once. The first one transfers into the other person's thinking. The second creates a neural map of that state. We end up imagining ourselves in someone else's body.
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When a speaker forgets the words of a speech in front of a hundred eyes, we experience discomfort along with him. That's how empathy works. The brain automatically turns on the emotion that a person in an awkward situation is supposed to feel. But sometimes we don't even have to witness someone else's gaffe firsthand. And we experience what is popularly called "Spanish shame": someone else does something stupid, but we feel ashamed.
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Empathy is an amazing mechanism. Two neural zones in the sympathetic person's head are activated at once. The first one transfers into the other person's thinking. The second creates a neural map of that state. We end up imagining ourselves in someone else's body.
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When a speaker forgets the words of a speech in front of a hundred eyes, we experience discomfort along with him. That's how empathy works. The brain automatically turns on the emotion that a person in an awkward situation is supposed to feel. But sometimes we don't even have to witness someone else's gaffe firsthand. And we experience what is popularly called "Spanish shame": someone else does something stupid, but we feel ashamed.
WHY are ancient statues white?
Since their paint has come off.
Several factors influenced the modern look of the statues. First, the natural, non-persistent paint was being erased by weather conditions.
Second, there was no technology in the Classical era that could show the true color of the sculptures, so the architecture and sculpture of the Classical era, as a follower and imitator of antiquity, deprived their works of art of fun patterns and drawings.
Since their paint has come off.
Several factors influenced the modern look of the statues. First, the natural, non-persistent paint was being erased by weather conditions.
Second, there was no technology in the Classical era that could show the true color of the sculptures, so the architecture and sculpture of the Classical era, as a follower and imitator of antiquity, deprived their works of art of fun patterns and drawings.
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WHY do obese people feel hungry when they have lots of calories to spare?
Hunger is mainly triggered by receptors in the hypothalamus that are triggered when blood glucose concentrations drop.
They are triggered regardless of the amount of fat in the body. The feeling of hunger is also triggered by special mechanoreceptors that "follow" the stretching and squeezing of the stomach walls.
Hunger is mainly triggered by receptors in the hypothalamus that are triggered when blood glucose concentrations drop.
They are triggered regardless of the amount of fat in the body. The feeling of hunger is also triggered by special mechanoreceptors that "follow" the stretching and squeezing of the stomach walls.
WHY is already exhausted air bringing a person to their senses during artificial respiration?
As we know, if you stay in an airtight room for a long time, you can suffocate, since during breathing the amount of oxygen in the air decreases and the amount of carbon dioxide increases.
However, contrary to popular belief, a person does not exhale pure carbon dioxide but a mixture of gases that contains 16-17% oxygen and about 4% carbon dioxide. (For comparison: atmospheric air, which is 21% oxygen, contains a negligible amount of carbon dioxide - 0.04%.)
This oxygen is enough to bring a person back to life by artificial respiration - from mouth to mouth or from mouth to nose. Such stimulation sometimes takes a long time, up to an hour and a half.
As we know, if you stay in an airtight room for a long time, you can suffocate, since during breathing the amount of oxygen in the air decreases and the amount of carbon dioxide increases.
However, contrary to popular belief, a person does not exhale pure carbon dioxide but a mixture of gases that contains 16-17% oxygen and about 4% carbon dioxide. (For comparison: atmospheric air, which is 21% oxygen, contains a negligible amount of carbon dioxide - 0.04%.)
This oxygen is enough to bring a person back to life by artificial respiration - from mouth to mouth or from mouth to nose. Such stimulation sometimes takes a long time, up to an hour and a half.
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WHY don't missing dogs find homes by smell?
Animals with good instincts have little sensitivity to their own scent because their bodies smell much stronger than even a fresh trail. Also, during a walk the dog trotts around, crossing the trail he's done, which makes it difficult for him to follow it back. Finally, not only do you need to smell well, but you also need to realize that if you follow your own tracks in the opposite direction, you will get home.
Such an intellectual operation is beyond the capabilities of many dogs. Lost on the walk with their owners, they start looking for their owners first of all. And, rushing from side to side, they confuse their trail even more.
Animals with good instincts have little sensitivity to their own scent because their bodies smell much stronger than even a fresh trail. Also, during a walk the dog trotts around, crossing the trail he's done, which makes it difficult for him to follow it back. Finally, not only do you need to smell well, but you also need to realize that if you follow your own tracks in the opposite direction, you will get home.
Such an intellectual operation is beyond the capabilities of many dogs. Lost on the walk with their owners, they start looking for their owners first of all. And, rushing from side to side, they confuse their trail even more.
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WHY was the "@" sign invented?
The "@" sign, so common in email addresses nowadays, wasn't invented especially for the Internet, as it may seem. The "@" sign has been around since the Renaissance, in the 15th and 16th centuries. In Spanish, Portuguese and French the symbol traditionally meant an arroba, a weight measure of 12-13 kilograms.
The @ symbol then became a variant of the preposition "at" in cursive letters, as it helped to condense notes. Since it was used in accounting documents, it naturally appeared on the keyboards of the first typewriters.
That's where Ray Tomlinson, a researcher at the American company BBN Technology, saw it when he was developing an email program that allowed messages to be sent to a remote computer. That's how the sign became a symbol of e-mail.
The "@" sign, so common in email addresses nowadays, wasn't invented especially for the Internet, as it may seem. The "@" sign has been around since the Renaissance, in the 15th and 16th centuries. In Spanish, Portuguese and French the symbol traditionally meant an arroba, a weight measure of 12-13 kilograms.
The @ symbol then became a variant of the preposition "at" in cursive letters, as it helped to condense notes. Since it was used in accounting documents, it naturally appeared on the keyboards of the first typewriters.
That's where Ray Tomlinson, a researcher at the American company BBN Technology, saw it when he was developing an email program that allowed messages to be sent to a remote computer. That's how the sign became a symbol of e-mail.
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WHY is the axis of Uranus "horizontal"?
Unlike the other planets of the solar system, Uranus "lies on its side" relative to the plane of orbit around the Sun. If the Earth is commonly compared to a spinning, slightly inclined wolf, which moves around the Sun, the movement of Uranus resembles that of a rolling orbital ball.
The reasons for this position of the axis of Uranus remain unknown, but the main hypothesis suggests that during the formation of the solar system (3-4 billion years ago) Uranus collided with a protoplanet the size of the Earth, which led to a change in the tilt of the axis of Uranus.
Unlike the other planets of the solar system, Uranus "lies on its side" relative to the plane of orbit around the Sun. If the Earth is commonly compared to a spinning, slightly inclined wolf, which moves around the Sun, the movement of Uranus resembles that of a rolling orbital ball.
The reasons for this position of the axis of Uranus remain unknown, but the main hypothesis suggests that during the formation of the solar system (3-4 billion years ago) Uranus collided with a protoplanet the size of the Earth, which led to a change in the tilt of the axis of Uranus.
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WHY cannot migratory birds travel across the ocean?
For most birds, a flight of many hours is extremely difficult. And flying across the ocean would require them to stay in the air for several days at a time. Therefore, even relatively small seas birds prefer to fly around the coastline or cross in the narrowest places, such as the Mediterranean between Sicily and Tunisia. Among other things, away from the coast, birds cannot check their course against landmarks. Nevertheless, oceans are not an absolute barrier for birds.
The Little Ruff is a record-breaking species, whose breeding population in Alaska crosses most of the Pacific Ocean to reach its wintering grounds in New Zealand.
For most birds, a flight of many hours is extremely difficult. And flying across the ocean would require them to stay in the air for several days at a time. Therefore, even relatively small seas birds prefer to fly around the coastline or cross in the narrowest places, such as the Mediterranean between Sicily and Tunisia. Among other things, away from the coast, birds cannot check their course against landmarks. Nevertheless, oceans are not an absolute barrier for birds.
The Little Ruff is a record-breaking species, whose breeding population in Alaska crosses most of the Pacific Ocean to reach its wintering grounds in New Zealand.
WHY do espresso and other drinks made from coffee beans bear Italian names?
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Quite simply: because it is their country of origin. Espresso is a method of coffee making invented in Italy at the end of the 19th century, gaining enormous popularity all over the world, especially in the United States.
Drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos also originated in Italy as different ways to add milk to espresso.
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Quite simply: because it is their country of origin. Espresso is a method of coffee making invented in Italy at the end of the 19th century, gaining enormous popularity all over the world, especially in the United States.
Drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos also originated in Italy as different ways to add milk to espresso.
WHY can't you compare the megapixels of cameras with the sensitivity of the human eye?
You have probably seen many factual pictures comparing the human eye to a camera. In fact, scientifically speaking, the eye cannot be equated with a camera. It has about 120 million visual cells, but they don't capture the picture pixel by pixel.
The eye perceives an object with all cells at once, with some cells being responsible for colors and others for lightness. However, according to the latest data, the human visual acuity factor is 1.7. Accordingly, the radius at which the eye distinguishes pixels is -0.39 arcminutes.
If we take the angle of view as 90 degrees horizontally and vertically, it turns out that the resolution of the eye is 324 megapixels. And if you add peripheral vision, you get 576 megapixels.
You have probably seen many factual pictures comparing the human eye to a camera. In fact, scientifically speaking, the eye cannot be equated with a camera. It has about 120 million visual cells, but they don't capture the picture pixel by pixel.
The eye perceives an object with all cells at once, with some cells being responsible for colors and others for lightness. However, according to the latest data, the human visual acuity factor is 1.7. Accordingly, the radius at which the eye distinguishes pixels is -0.39 arcminutes.
If we take the angle of view as 90 degrees horizontally and vertically, it turns out that the resolution of the eye is 324 megapixels. And if you add peripheral vision, you get 576 megapixels.
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WHY do dogs mark trees already marked by other dogs?
By leaving a mark, a dog communicates its presence to its kin and gets an indication of what sex, size and physiological condition dogs have been here. In neutral territory, it is a message that the individual is also using it.
On the borders of the pack territory, the mark means that the area is occupied; the tag of a dog from another pack on the same object is a sort of "boundary post." On someone else's territory, it is a challenge to its owners, a claim on it. Marks are sometimes associated with the assertion of social status and with the search for a sexual partner.
By leaving a mark, a dog communicates its presence to its kin and gets an indication of what sex, size and physiological condition dogs have been here. In neutral territory, it is a message that the individual is also using it.
On the borders of the pack territory, the mark means that the area is occupied; the tag of a dog from another pack on the same object is a sort of "boundary post." On someone else's territory, it is a challenge to its owners, a claim on it. Marks are sometimes associated with the assertion of social status and with the search for a sexual partner.
WHY do cucumbers feature bumps?
Numerous species of wild cucumbers are covered with impressive spines. They prevent animals from eating the fruit before the seeds ripen in them; then the spines dry out and break off.
Still in the ancestors of the cultivated cucumber, which grew in humid tropical climates, the spines were transformed into organs through which excess water drips off. Thus, only tubercles remained of the spikes.
Numerous species of wild cucumbers are covered with impressive spines. They prevent animals from eating the fruit before the seeds ripen in them; then the spines dry out and break off.
Still in the ancestors of the cultivated cucumber, which grew in humid tropical climates, the spines were transformed into organs through which excess water drips off. Thus, only tubercles remained of the spikes.
WHY would the compass fail to work on Mars?
Mars lacks a complete planetary magnetic field. There are only small magnetic anomalies, where the field is about 500 times weaker than on Earth. They are generated by magnetized rocks in the crust of Mars, not by the magnetic dynamo in the planet's core, as in the case of Earth.
Zones of magnetic anomalies are located irregularly, so that even a very sensitive compass capable of picking up their weak fields will not indicate a certain geographic direction.
Mars lacks a complete planetary magnetic field. There are only small magnetic anomalies, where the field is about 500 times weaker than on Earth. They are generated by magnetized rocks in the crust of Mars, not by the magnetic dynamo in the planet's core, as in the case of Earth.
Zones of magnetic anomalies are located irregularly, so that even a very sensitive compass capable of picking up their weak fields will not indicate a certain geographic direction.
WHY do movie theaters sell popcorn?
For every popcorn eater, the owner of the buffet earns about 400 to 700% profit. Also, keep in mind that popcorn makes people thirsty and makes them buy more drinks. And another significant fact is that it can be stored for a really long time.
Therefore, buffet owners decided long ago that this product would be the most profitable.
For every popcorn eater, the owner of the buffet earns about 400 to 700% profit. Also, keep in mind that popcorn makes people thirsty and makes them buy more drinks. And another significant fact is that it can be stored for a really long time.
Therefore, buffet owners decided long ago that this product would be the most profitable.
WHY is the thumb called the "big finger" if it is the shortest of all?
The thumb is opposed to the others; such a position allows us to make varied and precise movements. Only humans are capable of grasping, holding, and masterfully manipulating both large and tiny implements, from a punching machine to a pin. Such diverse functions might be impossible if the thumb were longer or shorter than its actual size.
Despite the thumb's seemingly small size - it appears to consist of only two phalanges - it fully lives up to its name, both in importance and size.
The muscle responsible for the thumb is the most massive in the palm of the hand. Besides, a special part of the brain, unrelated to the one that controls the actions of the other fingers, coordinates its movements.
The thumb is opposed to the others; such a position allows us to make varied and precise movements. Only humans are capable of grasping, holding, and masterfully manipulating both large and tiny implements, from a punching machine to a pin. Such diverse functions might be impossible if the thumb were longer or shorter than its actual size.
Despite the thumb's seemingly small size - it appears to consist of only two phalanges - it fully lives up to its name, both in importance and size.
The muscle responsible for the thumb is the most massive in the palm of the hand. Besides, a special part of the brain, unrelated to the one that controls the actions of the other fingers, coordinates its movements.
WHY did the propensity for concision give rise to the word "laconism"?
The term "laconism" was derived from the name of the ancient Greek region of Laconia, whose inhabitants were noted for their brevity and brevity. Laconia was also the location of the city of Sparta.
A classic example of Spartan brevity relates to the legend of a letter written by Philip II, king of Macedonia, who conquered many Greek cities. In this letter Philip urged the Spartans to surrender immediately, since "if I take Sparta by force, I will mercilessly destroy the entire population and flatten the city to the ground!"
The term "laconism" was derived from the name of the ancient Greek region of Laconia, whose inhabitants were noted for their brevity and brevity. Laconia was also the location of the city of Sparta.
A classic example of Spartan brevity relates to the legend of a letter written by Philip II, king of Macedonia, who conquered many Greek cities. In this letter Philip urged the Spartans to surrender immediately, since "if I take Sparta by force, I will mercilessly destroy the entire population and flatten the city to the ground!"
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WHY is Wikipedia called that?
One of the world's most popular resources is owned by the nonprofit organization Wikimedia Foundation, which has 19 regional offices around the world. The site's name was not chosen by chance: it is based on the Hawaiian word Wiki (the technology of the site, translated as "quickly") and Encyclopedia.
The distinctive feature of Wikipedia is that the technology, on which the site is based, allows any user to create and edit articles - it is enough to register on the site, although in some cases it is possible without registration. Any change to the text immediately becomes available to readers.
One of the world's most popular resources is owned by the nonprofit organization Wikimedia Foundation, which has 19 regional offices around the world. The site's name was not chosen by chance: it is based on the Hawaiian word Wiki (the technology of the site, translated as "quickly") and Encyclopedia.
The distinctive feature of Wikipedia is that the technology, on which the site is based, allows any user to create and edit articles - it is enough to register on the site, although in some cases it is possible without registration. Any change to the text immediately becomes available to readers.
WHY is any Wikipedia article eventually leading you to the "Philosophy" article?
One theory is that every Wikipedia article in the chain leads to the Philosophy article. For this, you have to click on the first link in each article in the chain. Note: the link must not be in parentheses or italics. If a link is repeated, you must click the next one after it, otherwise you will go around in circles.
There is even a Wikipedia article devoted to this theory: Wikipedia: Getting to Philosophy. It says that 97% of all articles are getting to philosophy, the rest simply contain unworkable links. The explanation for this phenomenon is quite simple: Wikipedia tends to move up the classification chain, which becomes wider and wider and eventually leads to philosophy.
One theory is that every Wikipedia article in the chain leads to the Philosophy article. For this, you have to click on the first link in each article in the chain. Note: the link must not be in parentheses or italics. If a link is repeated, you must click the next one after it, otherwise you will go around in circles.
There is even a Wikipedia article devoted to this theory: Wikipedia: Getting to Philosophy. It says that 97% of all articles are getting to philosophy, the rest simply contain unworkable links. The explanation for this phenomenon is quite simple: Wikipedia tends to move up the classification chain, which becomes wider and wider and eventually leads to philosophy.
WHY is Lake McKenzie one of the cleanest on Earth?
Lake McKenzie is a unique and wonderful piece of nature located on Fraser Island in Australia. The amazing thing about it is that it is considered one of the cleanest bodies of water on the planet.
It lies 100 meters above sea level, rendering it inaccessible to groundwater. And the only source of water in the lake is precipitation. The sand around the lake is also wonderful - clean and naturally white. The crystal clear water and high level of acidity make the lake uninhabitable for any freshwater macro- and microorganisms.
Lake McKenzie is a unique and wonderful piece of nature located on Fraser Island in Australia. The amazing thing about it is that it is considered one of the cleanest bodies of water on the planet.
It lies 100 meters above sea level, rendering it inaccessible to groundwater. And the only source of water in the lake is precipitation. The sand around the lake is also wonderful - clean and naturally white. The crystal clear water and high level of acidity make the lake uninhabitable for any freshwater macro- and microorganisms.
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WHY are some eucalyptus and pine trees found to be shy?
Some tree species have what is known as crown shyness. It manifests itself in the fact that their crowns in a dense forest do not touch, forming zigzag gaps. No single explanation for the cause of this phenomenon exists, but there are several versions, among them the prevention of the spread of insect pests or the avoidance of collision damage from wind exposure.
Trees with revealed crown shyness include Dryobalanops aromaticus, twisted pine, and several species of eucalyptus.
Some tree species have what is known as crown shyness. It manifests itself in the fact that their crowns in a dense forest do not touch, forming zigzag gaps. No single explanation for the cause of this phenomenon exists, but there are several versions, among them the prevention of the spread of insect pests or the avoidance of collision damage from wind exposure.
Trees with revealed crown shyness include Dryobalanops aromaticus, twisted pine, and several species of eucalyptus.
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WHY are foxes cunning?
The fox is indeed quite a sly animal - when it comes to saving its life or getting its food, it can outsmart many predators. Foxes have a keen sense of smell and great eyesight, and they're smart and inquisitive. They know how to avoid poorly hidden traps, understand when a yard dog is leashed and when not. Foxes can tell hunters from unarmed humans and can go through yard scraps in broad daylight.
But the fox is not as cunning as it seems. Curiosity often serves her up, and she won't be lazy to make a detour to get a closer look at an unfamiliar object or scent. It is the way you can lure a weasel into a trap - it is noticed that the fox is not indifferent to the smell of brine from herring and ... lipstick.
Otherwise it is ready to surprise us with its habits. For example, her way of getting mice from under the snow is very interesting. When the fox hears where a mouse is scratching, she speeds up and throws herself upside down into the white blanket, like a diver.
The fox is indeed quite a sly animal - when it comes to saving its life or getting its food, it can outsmart many predators. Foxes have a keen sense of smell and great eyesight, and they're smart and inquisitive. They know how to avoid poorly hidden traps, understand when a yard dog is leashed and when not. Foxes can tell hunters from unarmed humans and can go through yard scraps in broad daylight.
But the fox is not as cunning as it seems. Curiosity often serves her up, and she won't be lazy to make a detour to get a closer look at an unfamiliar object or scent. It is the way you can lure a weasel into a trap - it is noticed that the fox is not indifferent to the smell of brine from herring and ... lipstick.
Otherwise it is ready to surprise us with its habits. For example, her way of getting mice from under the snow is very interesting. When the fox hears where a mouse is scratching, she speeds up and throws herself upside down into the white blanket, like a diver.
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