WHY is red considered the color of love?
According to one version, love first became associated with the color red after the appearance of a popular 13th-century French poem called The Romance of the Rose. It tells of the hero's allegorical search for a red rose, which symbolized his beloved.
And later, in the 19th century, French and English writers created the language of flowers, according to which the red rose means love. Subsequently, it was no longer only the red rose that was associated with love, but also the color itself.
According to one version, love first became associated with the color red after the appearance of a popular 13th-century French poem called The Romance of the Rose. It tells of the hero's allegorical search for a red rose, which symbolized his beloved.
And later, in the 19th century, French and English writers created the language of flowers, according to which the red rose means love. Subsequently, it was no longer only the red rose that was associated with love, but also the color itself.
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WHY do cats wallow in dust?
Wild cats, forced to find their own food, had to constantly worry about camouflage. Their prey, small rodents, wields a good sense of smell, thanks to which they can detect the approach of the hunter.
Rolling on the ground, the cat tries to blunt the vigilance of its potential prey by minimizing its own scent and masking it with the smell of plant pollen and mineral particles contained in dust. Although a domesticated cat no longer needs a disguise, instinct makes the animal behave as its ancestors did when they hunted game in ancient Egypt or Africa.
But we cannot rule out the possibility that whenever your pet defiantly rolls down on its back, showing its adorable tummy, it does it solely to attract attention. It is a peculiar request of your pet to give her a few minutes, to caress her, to play with her.
Wild cats, forced to find their own food, had to constantly worry about camouflage. Their prey, small rodents, wields a good sense of smell, thanks to which they can detect the approach of the hunter.
Rolling on the ground, the cat tries to blunt the vigilance of its potential prey by minimizing its own scent and masking it with the smell of plant pollen and mineral particles contained in dust. Although a domesticated cat no longer needs a disguise, instinct makes the animal behave as its ancestors did when they hunted game in ancient Egypt or Africa.
But we cannot rule out the possibility that whenever your pet defiantly rolls down on its back, showing its adorable tummy, it does it solely to attract attention. It is a peculiar request of your pet to give her a few minutes, to caress her, to play with her.
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WHY and how can one bite the tongue?
A powerful artery runs in the root of the tongue, in the lower part, and by biting it, in case of failure to provide some assistance, you can die of blood loss. True, death would not be quick. To do this, one must know the place of biting the tongue and master the technique of powerful strokes (bites).
As for the technical performance of this procedure, obviously, it will not work without special psychological and physical training. Japanese warriors were famous for such special training.
The Japanese, who were captured, would bite off their tongues and die without waiting for torture. When capturing Japanese warriors, they sometimes used a special device that was put over their mouths to prevent the captive from biting off his tongue.
A powerful artery runs in the root of the tongue, in the lower part, and by biting it, in case of failure to provide some assistance, you can die of blood loss. True, death would not be quick. To do this, one must know the place of biting the tongue and master the technique of powerful strokes (bites).
As for the technical performance of this procedure, obviously, it will not work without special psychological and physical training. Japanese warriors were famous for such special training.
The Japanese, who were captured, would bite off their tongues and die without waiting for torture. When capturing Japanese warriors, they sometimes used a special device that was put over their mouths to prevent the captive from biting off his tongue.
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WHY don't we remember being born?
A group of scientists believes that the loss of infant memories is related to the active process of new cell formation-neurogenesis. According to Paul Frankland, recent research has proven that neurogenesis can both shape and erase information about the past.
We don't remember the first years of life due to the fact that this is the most active period of neurogenesis. Then neurons begin to reproduce at a slower rate and cannot process some of the childhood memories.
A group of scientists believes that the loss of infant memories is related to the active process of new cell formation-neurogenesis. According to Paul Frankland, recent research has proven that neurogenesis can both shape and erase information about the past.
We don't remember the first years of life due to the fact that this is the most active period of neurogenesis. Then neurons begin to reproduce at a slower rate and cannot process some of the childhood memories.
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WHY are people trying to humiliate others insecure about themselves?
The desire to offend, insult, or humiliate another person does not come from a good life. The scandalous lady on the bus, the man calling his wife fat and stupid, the children at school bullying a classmate - all of them are absolutely self-doubting and are trying to increase their sense of importance through ostentatious aggression.
At the same time, these people are sincerely convinced that their negative attitude toward others has nothing to do with their inner sense of self.
The desire to offend, insult, or humiliate another person does not come from a good life. The scandalous lady on the bus, the man calling his wife fat and stupid, the children at school bullying a classmate - all of them are absolutely self-doubting and are trying to increase their sense of importance through ostentatious aggression.
At the same time, these people are sincerely convinced that their negative attitude toward others has nothing to do with their inner sense of self.
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WHY do people with hearing loss put the palm of their hand to their ear?
The inside of the palm acts as a concave mirror that concentrates sound waves coming from the front. The back side weakens the noises coming from behind.
However, such an effect is only clearly expressed for sounds with a frequency of more than 800 Hz, due to the small size of the palm. It is much higher than the human voice, but the palm enhances overtones with a frequency up to several kilohertz, which may slightly improve speech perception.
Still, if your hand is constantly reaching for your ear, better consult a doctor.
The inside of the palm acts as a concave mirror that concentrates sound waves coming from the front. The back side weakens the noises coming from behind.
However, such an effect is only clearly expressed for sounds with a frequency of more than 800 Hz, due to the small size of the palm. It is much higher than the human voice, but the palm enhances overtones with a frequency up to several kilohertz, which may slightly improve speech perception.
Still, if your hand is constantly reaching for your ear, better consult a doctor.
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WHY are ladybugs sold by weight?
Beetles and their larvae are predators, and they are extremely voracious. The seven-point ladybug we know kills up to 150 aphids a day, while the smaller species kill up to 60. As larvae, the beetles destroy up to 800 aphids during the whole period and more than 4,000 aphids during the whole life cycle.
When touched, coccinellids secrete droplets of caustic orange hemolymph from their knee joints, burning the throat of their attackers and rendering them inedible to most insectivores and vertebrates. Even tarantulas leave ladybugs untouched.
Ladybugs are highly useful in pest control, so the bugs collected in the fall are sold by weight to gardeners and vegetable growers reluctant to use chemicals for this purpose.
Beetles and their larvae are predators, and they are extremely voracious. The seven-point ladybug we know kills up to 150 aphids a day, while the smaller species kill up to 60. As larvae, the beetles destroy up to 800 aphids during the whole period and more than 4,000 aphids during the whole life cycle.
When touched, coccinellids secrete droplets of caustic orange hemolymph from their knee joints, burning the throat of their attackers and rendering them inedible to most insectivores and vertebrates. Even tarantulas leave ladybugs untouched.
Ladybugs are highly useful in pest control, so the bugs collected in the fall are sold by weight to gardeners and vegetable growers reluctant to use chemicals for this purpose.
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WHY is butter yellow when milk is white?
Butter consists of more fat. Dairy fat is given its color by carotenoids, the red-yellow pigments, particularly vitamin A. Fat is present in both milk and butter. Still in milk it is in the form of an emulsion, a suspension of droplets the size of 3-4 microns.
Each droplet is surrounded by the thinnest protein-lecithin shell. Liquids of this structure look whitish because of light scattering on the surface of the droplets, regardless of the color of their contents.
In butter, the proportion of fat is higher, causing many of the emulsion droplets to merge with each other. The light scattered on them is worse, and the natural color of the fat appears stronger. Ghee, which is almost pure milk fat, looks even more yellow.
Butter consists of more fat. Dairy fat is given its color by carotenoids, the red-yellow pigments, particularly vitamin A. Fat is present in both milk and butter. Still in milk it is in the form of an emulsion, a suspension of droplets the size of 3-4 microns.
Each droplet is surrounded by the thinnest protein-lecithin shell. Liquids of this structure look whitish because of light scattering on the surface of the droplets, regardless of the color of their contents.
In butter, the proportion of fat is higher, causing many of the emulsion droplets to merge with each other. The light scattered on them is worse, and the natural color of the fat appears stronger. Ghee, which is almost pure milk fat, looks even more yellow.
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WHY do dogs twist in one place before lying down?
Lots of dog owners notice that their pets twist in one place before they go to sleep. Experts say that such a strange and somewhat funny ritual is most likely related to the habits of their canine ancestors, who lived in the wild. A full turn in one place is the animal's subconscious way of mowing down grass and leaves to get a sort of nest to sleep in.
The wild ancestors of domestic dogs slept outdoors, so they weren't always warm and safe. If you tuck grass, leaves, or snow in, you get a much cozier and more comfortable place to sleep. Perhaps the dog makes a circle before going to sleep to feel safer.
Sometimes you may also notice the dog starting to make "digging motions." In extreme heat, it is simply necessary to dig a small hole that is cooler to escape from overheating. In cold weather, a hole can also protect.
Lots of dog owners notice that their pets twist in one place before they go to sleep. Experts say that such a strange and somewhat funny ritual is most likely related to the habits of their canine ancestors, who lived in the wild. A full turn in one place is the animal's subconscious way of mowing down grass and leaves to get a sort of nest to sleep in.
The wild ancestors of domestic dogs slept outdoors, so they weren't always warm and safe. If you tuck grass, leaves, or snow in, you get a much cozier and more comfortable place to sleep. Perhaps the dog makes a circle before going to sleep to feel safer.
Sometimes you may also notice the dog starting to make "digging motions." In extreme heat, it is simply necessary to dig a small hole that is cooler to escape from overheating. In cold weather, a hole can also protect.
WHY shouldn't alcohol be used to keep warm?
Alcohol affects the vascular center of the brain, causing blood vessels throughout the body and head to dilate. This creates a deceptive sensation of warmth, while in fact the temperature of the human body decreases, mainly due to heat transfer to the environment.
First of all, alcohol promotes expansion of peripheral capillaries and vessels, creating a feeling of a rush of heat, thereby reducing the vigilance of citizens, as cold and frost they are no longer afraid of.
This insidious property of alcohol can significantly harm you on a frosty day. Drinking alcohol and stepping out into the cold, you can get very hypothermia and get sick, since the body is forced to consume more heat than in a sober state. Moreover, the stronger the alcoholic beverage, the stronger and faster comes this feeling of pseudo warmth and relaxation, which is soon replaced by chills.
Alcohol affects the vascular center of the brain, causing blood vessels throughout the body and head to dilate. This creates a deceptive sensation of warmth, while in fact the temperature of the human body decreases, mainly due to heat transfer to the environment.
First of all, alcohol promotes expansion of peripheral capillaries and vessels, creating a feeling of a rush of heat, thereby reducing the vigilance of citizens, as cold and frost they are no longer afraid of.
This insidious property of alcohol can significantly harm you on a frosty day. Drinking alcohol and stepping out into the cold, you can get very hypothermia and get sick, since the body is forced to consume more heat than in a sober state. Moreover, the stronger the alcoholic beverage, the stronger and faster comes this feeling of pseudo warmth and relaxation, which is soon replaced by chills.
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WHY is the watch worn on the left hand?
In 1904 Cartier's friend, the aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, asked Cartier to make a watch for flying. Cartier invented the Santos, the first wristwatch for men (mechanical). The Santos was an extremely wearable wristwatch. During the First World War the wristwatch replaced the pocket watch and became popular among officers.
The Santos wristwatch appeared as a tool to be worn on the left hand, as most people were more handy with their right arm than with their left. When working, the main actions are performed with the right hand. To avoid damage, the watch was worn on the left hand.
Besides, a wristwatch had to be wound and the crown was on the right hand.
In 1904 Cartier's friend, the aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, asked Cartier to make a watch for flying. Cartier invented the Santos, the first wristwatch for men (mechanical). The Santos was an extremely wearable wristwatch. During the First World War the wristwatch replaced the pocket watch and became popular among officers.
The Santos wristwatch appeared as a tool to be worn on the left hand, as most people were more handy with their right arm than with their left. When working, the main actions are performed with the right hand. To avoid damage, the watch was worn on the left hand.
Besides, a wristwatch had to be wound and the crown was on the right hand.
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WHY can some fish be treated as hermaphrodites?
For instance, gubans and parrotfish can change from females to males. From the eggs of these fish, mostly females hatch. They mature, lay eggs one or more times, and then turn into males. Ladies generally do not like to grow old, so in the case of these fish species, nature meets them halfway.
Young fish are mostly females; experienced fish are males. In clownfish families, there is a strict hierarchy. The female becomes the largest individual, followed by the male and juveniles. One coral polyp can live only one dominant pair.
The female bites the male by the fins, reminding him who the master of the house, and the parents together mushtet young. If the female dies, the male gets a "higher social status" and becomes the female. The role of the male begins to be played by the largest of the remaining "in the house" juveniles.
Thus, in one lifetime, many reef fish manage to try themselves in two hypostasis at once.
For instance, gubans and parrotfish can change from females to males. From the eggs of these fish, mostly females hatch. They mature, lay eggs one or more times, and then turn into males. Ladies generally do not like to grow old, so in the case of these fish species, nature meets them halfway.
Young fish are mostly females; experienced fish are males. In clownfish families, there is a strict hierarchy. The female becomes the largest individual, followed by the male and juveniles. One coral polyp can live only one dominant pair.
The female bites the male by the fins, reminding him who the master of the house, and the parents together mushtet young. If the female dies, the male gets a "higher social status" and becomes the female. The role of the male begins to be played by the largest of the remaining "in the house" juveniles.
Thus, in one lifetime, many reef fish manage to try themselves in two hypostasis at once.
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WHY are clams used as live sensors?
The water supply systems in Warsaw and some other Polish cities use clams as live sensors.
They are connected to water that needs to enter the city's water supply, and if it contains any contaminants such as heavy metals or pesticides, the clam shells close.
The computer system monitors this thanks to the coils and magnets installed on the flaps and automatically shuts off the water supply until specialists can conduct the necessary tests.
The water supply systems in Warsaw and some other Polish cities use clams as live sensors.
They are connected to water that needs to enter the city's water supply, and if it contains any contaminants such as heavy metals or pesticides, the clam shells close.
The computer system monitors this thanks to the coils and magnets installed on the flaps and automatically shuts off the water supply until specialists can conduct the necessary tests.
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WHY do hedgehogs stomp around at night?
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Hedgehogs are nocturnal predators and sleep most of the day, coming out of hiding only at dusk. In the wild, animals spend their nights searching for food: slugs, snails, worms, bugs, millipedes, and insect larvae.
Even though their owners leave them food, the hedgehogs still try to find their prey in the closet, behind the couch, under the sink, and in other secluded places.
Their long claws result in a stomping sound.
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Hedgehogs are nocturnal predators and sleep most of the day, coming out of hiding only at dusk. In the wild, animals spend their nights searching for food: slugs, snails, worms, bugs, millipedes, and insect larvae.
Even though their owners leave them food, the hedgehogs still try to find their prey in the closet, behind the couch, under the sink, and in other secluded places.
Their long claws result in a stomping sound.
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WHY does an unripe fruit get ripe?
Since it produces its own ripening hormone without the involvement of the mother plant
Ripening of fruits and vegetables is driven by ethylene. This natural plant hormone was discovered in 1912 by Russian botanist Dmitri Nelyubov. Since the gas is produced by the fruit itself, the fruit does not need to hang on the branch.
The plucked fruit can ripen even faster than the unplucked, since the release of ethylene increases with a lack of moisture. And if you put at least one ripe fruit or vegetable among unripe ones, it will ripen even faster - it produces more ethylene than the unripe fruit.
Since it produces its own ripening hormone without the involvement of the mother plant
Ripening of fruits and vegetables is driven by ethylene. This natural plant hormone was discovered in 1912 by Russian botanist Dmitri Nelyubov. Since the gas is produced by the fruit itself, the fruit does not need to hang on the branch.
The plucked fruit can ripen even faster than the unplucked, since the release of ethylene increases with a lack of moisture. And if you put at least one ripe fruit or vegetable among unripe ones, it will ripen even faster - it produces more ethylene than the unripe fruit.
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WHY is our brain detecting pain but not feeling it?
Let's say you sprained your ankle or burned your finger. Nerve fibers immediately send a signal to your brain, which decodes the sensation as pain.
No wonder modern surgery is only possible after the discovery of anesthesia. However, if it is the brain itself that is the object of surgery, it has no need for anesthetics.
Nerve cells of the brain send themselves the same signals as in the case of a broken limb, but there is no data processing center for them. The brain, used to be in charge of the whole organism, has no idea when it should be in pain itself.
Here's the creepy part, but patients are often fully conscious during brain surgery, allowing the surgeons to see if they've gone too deep into our body's main processor.
Let's say you sprained your ankle or burned your finger. Nerve fibers immediately send a signal to your brain, which decodes the sensation as pain.
No wonder modern surgery is only possible after the discovery of anesthesia. However, if it is the brain itself that is the object of surgery, it has no need for anesthetics.
Nerve cells of the brain send themselves the same signals as in the case of a broken limb, but there is no data processing center for them. The brain, used to be in charge of the whole organism, has no idea when it should be in pain itself.
Here's the creepy part, but patients are often fully conscious during brain surgery, allowing the surgeons to see if they've gone too deep into our body's main processor.
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WHY can chess increase IQ?
They mostly refer to schoolchildren and students who have higher IQs without chess. Some studies have shown that subjects who played chess had a greater increase in IQ than those who did not play chess.
On the other hand, studies by the British Institute of Education showed no significant effect of chess on cognitive ability. In any case, the positive effect of this game is small and is probably related to the training of attention and concentration.
They mostly refer to schoolchildren and students who have higher IQs without chess. Some studies have shown that subjects who played chess had a greater increase in IQ than those who did not play chess.
On the other hand, studies by the British Institute of Education showed no significant effect of chess on cognitive ability. In any case, the positive effect of this game is small and is probably related to the training of attention and concentration.
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WHY does the first second on the clock seem longer after a quick eye movement?
Here is an illusion called chronostasis. Its essence is that the first impression after a saccade (rapid eye movement) seems to us stretched out in time.
The most common example of chronostasis is the analog watch with a second hand: if you look at the dial, the first movement of the hand appears to be longer than its subsequent movements.
Here is an illusion called chronostasis. Its essence is that the first impression after a saccade (rapid eye movement) seems to us stretched out in time.
The most common example of chronostasis is the analog watch with a second hand: if you look at the dial, the first movement of the hand appears to be longer than its subsequent movements.
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WHY is the Earth spinning faster?
July 19, 2020 was the shortest day since observations began - the Earth made a revolution around its axis by 1.4602 milliseconds less than the usual 86,400 seconds. Scientists claim that in the year of 2021, each day is 0.5 milliseconds shorter on average due to the acceleration of the planet's rotation.
In recent decades, the average speed of Earth's rotation has steadily decreased, and timekeepers have had to add 27 extra seconds to atomic time since the 1970s to synchronize clocks with the slowing planet. On New Year's Eve 2016, clocks around the world even stopped for a second to allow the Earth's rotation to catch up.
July 19, 2020 was the shortest day since observations began - the Earth made a revolution around its axis by 1.4602 milliseconds less than the usual 86,400 seconds. Scientists claim that in the year of 2021, each day is 0.5 milliseconds shorter on average due to the acceleration of the planet's rotation.
In recent decades, the average speed of Earth's rotation has steadily decreased, and timekeepers have had to add 27 extra seconds to atomic time since the 1970s to synchronize clocks with the slowing planet. On New Year's Eve 2016, clocks around the world even stopped for a second to allow the Earth's rotation to catch up.
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WHY is Mars the Red Planet?
Mars, or the "bloody planet," derived its name from the Roman god of war, has always occupied human minds. In ancient times, people were afraid of Mars, considering it a "bad" planet, and modern man studies this mysterious planet, sending rovers to it and observing it from Earth.
Soil samples of the planet collected by rovers show that it has a high content of iron oxide, or simply put - rust.
Tornadoes constantly rage on the planet's surface, lifting red dust into the atmosphere of Mars, and even in calm weather the dust is suspended in the air - so the planet looks red.
Mars, or the "bloody planet," derived its name from the Roman god of war, has always occupied human minds. In ancient times, people were afraid of Mars, considering it a "bad" planet, and modern man studies this mysterious planet, sending rovers to it and observing it from Earth.
Soil samples of the planet collected by rovers show that it has a high content of iron oxide, or simply put - rust.
Tornadoes constantly rage on the planet's surface, lifting red dust into the atmosphere of Mars, and even in calm weather the dust is suspended in the air - so the planet looks red.
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WHY do we forget dreams?
All of us know about such an interesting property of dreams as the feeling of realism. That is, 99.9% of people don't perceive the non-reality of what's going on while dreaming, feeling confident that everything around them is reality.
So, at the expense of this realism, we run the risk of confusing what was a dream and what was reality while awake.
That's where this very forgetfulness comes in to help us, saving us from mental illness.
All of us know about such an interesting property of dreams as the feeling of realism. That is, 99.9% of people don't perceive the non-reality of what's going on while dreaming, feeling confident that everything around them is reality.
So, at the expense of this realism, we run the risk of confusing what was a dream and what was reality while awake.
That's where this very forgetfulness comes in to help us, saving us from mental illness.
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