WHY doesn't the bottom button of a jacket get buttoned?
This etiquette has been observed since the beginning of the XX century. Historians assume that the rule of wearing a jacket appeared thanks to the English King Edward VII (1841-1910), who was obese. He used to leave the bottom button undone so that a tight vest would fit better.
As a sign of respect for his king, the British court, and after him all the inhabitants of England and the British colonies, no longer buttoned the bottom vest. This theory is not taken seriously by everyone, and some trendsetters have challenged it with other versions.
Fashion designer Hardy Amies explained the single-breasted suit was first introduced in 1906 and was later called the "leisure suit".
It became a casual garment, had a wide cut, and the three buttons gave the suit a proper fit. Over time, the jacket replaced traditional riding coats. And as the third button was below the waist, it was unbuttoned while sitting on a horse for comfort.
This etiquette has been observed since the beginning of the XX century. Historians assume that the rule of wearing a jacket appeared thanks to the English King Edward VII (1841-1910), who was obese. He used to leave the bottom button undone so that a tight vest would fit better.
As a sign of respect for his king, the British court, and after him all the inhabitants of England and the British colonies, no longer buttoned the bottom vest. This theory is not taken seriously by everyone, and some trendsetters have challenged it with other versions.
Fashion designer Hardy Amies explained the single-breasted suit was first introduced in 1906 and was later called the "leisure suit".
It became a casual garment, had a wide cut, and the three buttons gave the suit a proper fit. Over time, the jacket replaced traditional riding coats. And as the third button was below the waist, it was unbuttoned while sitting on a horse for comfort.
WHY does jetlag emerge?
Jetlag is a disruption of the daily biological rhythms of the body due to the change of time zones. According to the practice of experienced travelers, a flight from west to east is worse than a flight from east to west.
The main cause of Jetlag is the inability of the human body to adjust to the time in another zone as soon as it lands. Our biological clock has a certain mode that begins to conflict with the new routine, especially day/night light.
The biological clock is responsible not only for sleeping and waking times, but also for meal times, body temperature, hormone regulation and other body functions. For this reason, the body gets "uncomfortable" after a long flight.
Jetlag is a disruption of the daily biological rhythms of the body due to the change of time zones. According to the practice of experienced travelers, a flight from west to east is worse than a flight from east to west.
The main cause of Jetlag is the inability of the human body to adjust to the time in another zone as soon as it lands. Our biological clock has a certain mode that begins to conflict with the new routine, especially day/night light.
The biological clock is responsible not only for sleeping and waking times, but also for meal times, body temperature, hormone regulation and other body functions. For this reason, the body gets "uncomfortable" after a long flight.
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WHY shouldn't boiled water be used in an aquarium?
Boiling reduces the hardness of the water, eliminating oxygen and killing beneficial microorganisms.
Boiling makes the water "dead". If you immediately pour water into the aquarium, which boiled, you had time to cool it, most likely the fish will feel sick. The reason for this is that such a liquid lacks oxygen, so if the filter does not function well, it will take some time to saturate it with the vital element.
Boiling reduces the hardness of the water, eliminating oxygen and killing beneficial microorganisms.
Boiling makes the water "dead". If you immediately pour water into the aquarium, which boiled, you had time to cool it, most likely the fish will feel sick. The reason for this is that such a liquid lacks oxygen, so if the filter does not function well, it will take some time to saturate it with the vital element.
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WHY shouldn't everything in pain be heated?
Under the influence of heat, the walls of blood vessels expand and their permeability increases, resulting in an increased inflow of blood and blood flow. This causes germs and products of their metabolism to move beyond the original focus.
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True, the pain passes, but only due to the fact that the substances are not concentrated in one place, but migrate throughout the bloodstream. It is likely they will settle in another organ.
Under the influence of heat, the walls of blood vessels expand and their permeability increases, resulting in an increased inflow of blood and blood flow. This causes germs and products of their metabolism to move beyond the original focus.
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True, the pain passes, but only due to the fact that the substances are not concentrated in one place, but migrate throughout the bloodstream. It is likely they will settle in another organ.
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WHY shouldn't we use the phone before going to bed?
Experts suggest that the main reason why it's hard to fall asleep after using your phone is that you don't have time to settle down. Lots of people play right in bed, some read the news, others flip through their social media feeds. All of these activities can excite you both mentally and physically.
Curiously, many of these actions cause your body to produce cortisol, the stress hormone. Such as if you've read the disturbing news, or if an online game has a monster chasing you. Cortisol doesn't let you sleep, on the contrary, it wakes you up, since you can't sleep under conditions of "anxiety and danger"!
Experts suggest that the main reason why it's hard to fall asleep after using your phone is that you don't have time to settle down. Lots of people play right in bed, some read the news, others flip through their social media feeds. All of these activities can excite you both mentally and physically.
Curiously, many of these actions cause your body to produce cortisol, the stress hormone. Such as if you've read the disturbing news, or if an online game has a monster chasing you. Cortisol doesn't let you sleep, on the contrary, it wakes you up, since you can't sleep under conditions of "anxiety and danger"!
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WHY do insects survive falls from great heights?
It turns out that it's about the shape of the bugs body and air resistance.
Under the first factor is the surface area of the insect's body. As you know, with increasing area, the frontal resistance of the body to the flow of air also grows. When the body falls, gravity acts on it, which is determined by the mass and acceleration of free fall.
The mass of insects, as a rule, is several tens of grams, so the gravity acting on their body is quite small. In this case, the frontal resistance to air flow is significant, due to which the resultant force, which determines the acceleration with which it moves, is relatively small.
It turns out that it's about the shape of the bugs body and air resistance.
Under the first factor is the surface area of the insect's body. As you know, with increasing area, the frontal resistance of the body to the flow of air also grows. When the body falls, gravity acts on it, which is determined by the mass and acceleration of free fall.
The mass of insects, as a rule, is several tens of grams, so the gravity acting on their body is quite small. In this case, the frontal resistance to air flow is significant, due to which the resultant force, which determines the acceleration with which it moves, is relatively small.
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WHY is the gas tank on the left side of some cars and the right side of others?
In European automakers, the gas tank is mostly located on the right side of left-hand drive cars. So the driver doesn't have to worry about the door hitting the gas tank, and it takes longer for fuel vapors to enter the cabin through the open driver's door.
Some Asian brands ship left-handed cars to foreign markets with left-handed throats. This is most likely due to the fact that an additional change in design will increase the cost of manufacturing the car, and the position of the neck, by and large, is not that big of a deal.
In European automakers, the gas tank is mostly located on the right side of left-hand drive cars. So the driver doesn't have to worry about the door hitting the gas tank, and it takes longer for fuel vapors to enter the cabin through the open driver's door.
Some Asian brands ship left-handed cars to foreign markets with left-handed throats. This is most likely due to the fact that an additional change in design will increase the cost of manufacturing the car, and the position of the neck, by and large, is not that big of a deal.
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WHY is walking in a coniferous forest healthy?
Scientists have proven that the air in a coniferous forest is practically sterile (no more than 200-300 harmful bacteria per cubic meter). A walk in the coniferous forest relieves stress and nervous tension, tones the body by activating gas exchange in the lungs and, consequently, improves breathing.
Such walks are vital for heavy smokers and office workers.
Scientists have proven that the air in a coniferous forest is practically sterile (no more than 200-300 harmful bacteria per cubic meter). A walk in the coniferous forest relieves stress and nervous tension, tones the body by activating gas exchange in the lungs and, consequently, improves breathing.
Such walks are vital for heavy smokers and office workers.
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WHY do ancient sculptures appear with "empty" eyes?
Previously, it was thought that ancient sculpture had come down to us in its original form. Yet later it was revealed that ancient Greek sculptors did not leave the eyes of their statues lifeless and the marble creations themselves were not white and cold, they were painted.
Acropolis bark (statues of girls) were found in the 19th century, preserving the paint: dark hair, red lips and multi-colored eyes.
Later traces of the coloring were found on other ancient sculptures as well. A few years ago German scholars attempted to reconstruct the original appearance of 12 ancient marble sculptures. The result is an exhibition with the cleverly titled "The motley gods". The bronze Greek sculptures had not painted, but inlaid eyes.
Previously, it was thought that ancient sculpture had come down to us in its original form. Yet later it was revealed that ancient Greek sculptors did not leave the eyes of their statues lifeless and the marble creations themselves were not white and cold, they were painted.
Acropolis bark (statues of girls) were found in the 19th century, preserving the paint: dark hair, red lips and multi-colored eyes.
Later traces of the coloring were found on other ancient sculptures as well. A few years ago German scholars attempted to reconstruct the original appearance of 12 ancient marble sculptures. The result is an exhibition with the cleverly titled "The motley gods". The bronze Greek sculptures had not painted, but inlaid eyes.
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WHY do the batteries in a flashlight run out on their own?
The same law applies everywhere, that the accumulated charge cannot last forever, and as a consequence, batteries and accumulators have an expiration date not only when they are lying on the shelf in the store, but also when they are inserted into some device which may be a consumer.
Frequently, the current consumption is so low that the components of the circuitry warm up only slightly. However, this consumes the battery, and as a consequence, one gets a dead battery sooner than one expects.
Conductors run from the contacts of the battery to the flashlight switch. Even if the circuit is open, the distance between the switch contacts is about a millimeter. A weak current can flow through this gap and discharge the batteries.
The same law applies everywhere, that the accumulated charge cannot last forever, and as a consequence, batteries and accumulators have an expiration date not only when they are lying on the shelf in the store, but also when they are inserted into some device which may be a consumer.
Frequently, the current consumption is so low that the components of the circuitry warm up only slightly. However, this consumes the battery, and as a consequence, one gets a dead battery sooner than one expects.
Conductors run from the contacts of the battery to the flashlight switch. Even if the circuit is open, the distance between the switch contacts is about a millimeter. A weak current can flow through this gap and discharge the batteries.
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WHY can sound be heard at a great distance on a rainy day?
There is a state of sound refraction caused by temperature inversion. When the ground and air near the ground is colder than the air above, sound travels faster at altitude than it does over the ground.
A sound wave, angled upward relative to the earth's surface, is gradually deflected backward so that it hits the ground a mile or more from where it began. On a rainy day, rain cools the ground, but the air above the clouds remains warm.
The temperature inversion effect was the bane of outdoor rock concerts. They needed a roof to stop the celestial wave. No amount of walls would help.
There is a state of sound refraction caused by temperature inversion. When the ground and air near the ground is colder than the air above, sound travels faster at altitude than it does over the ground.
A sound wave, angled upward relative to the earth's surface, is gradually deflected backward so that it hits the ground a mile or more from where it began. On a rainy day, rain cools the ground, but the air above the clouds remains warm.
The temperature inversion effect was the bane of outdoor rock concerts. They needed a roof to stop the celestial wave. No amount of walls would help.
WHY does snow glisten in the sun?
Snowflakes are ice crystals with many flat facets which act as microscopic mirrors. Those that reflect sunlight directly into the eye give a bright point. And if you move a little bit, the rays of other snowflakes hit your eye.
Therefore, when you keep moving, the shiny dots alternate with each other. Freshly fallen snow is shinier than lain snow, as flat edges of snowflakes are scratched, broken, and melted with time.
Snowflakes are ice crystals with many flat facets which act as microscopic mirrors. Those that reflect sunlight directly into the eye give a bright point. And if you move a little bit, the rays of other snowflakes hit your eye.
Therefore, when you keep moving, the shiny dots alternate with each other. Freshly fallen snow is shinier than lain snow, as flat edges of snowflakes are scratched, broken, and melted with time.
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WHY can sound be heard at a great distance on a rainy day?
There is a state of sound refraction caused by temperature inversion. When the ground and air near the ground is colder than the air above, sound travels faster at altitude than it does over the ground.
A sound wave, angled upward relative to the earth's surface, is gradually deflected backward so that it hits the ground a mile or more from where it began. On a rainy day, rain cools the ground, but the air above the clouds remains warm.
The temperature inversion effect was the bane of outdoor rock concerts. They needed a roof to stop the celestial wave. No amount of walls would help.
There is a state of sound refraction caused by temperature inversion. When the ground and air near the ground is colder than the air above, sound travels faster at altitude than it does over the ground.
A sound wave, angled upward relative to the earth's surface, is gradually deflected backward so that it hits the ground a mile or more from where it began. On a rainy day, rain cools the ground, but the air above the clouds remains warm.
The temperature inversion effect was the bane of outdoor rock concerts. They needed a roof to stop the celestial wave. No amount of walls would help.
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WHY shouldn't trash be burned in volcanoes?
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The reason is that dumping trash into the lava lakes of volcanoes can trigger an eruption. Lava lakes are volatile, so if you pierce their surfaces with something cold, like garbage, you cause a chain reaction of explosions with compressed and acidic vapor.
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Also, all the moisture accumulated in the debris instantly evaporates, the steam expands, comes out, rips the debris and creates bursts of molten rock.
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The reason is that dumping trash into the lava lakes of volcanoes can trigger an eruption. Lava lakes are volatile, so if you pierce their surfaces with something cold, like garbage, you cause a chain reaction of explosions with compressed and acidic vapor.
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Also, all the moisture accumulated in the debris instantly evaporates, the steam expands, comes out, rips the debris and creates bursts of molten rock.
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WHY does tea leave a stain on the cup?
Tea leaves contain phenolic compounds, tannins, giving the strong drink an astringent taste, and alkaloids, primarily thein. When the tea is brewed, these come out in solution and react with each other. As it cools, the solubility of this compound drops and it is partially released on the surface of the liquid as a film.
When the cup is tilted and sipped from it, this film ends up on the walls and dries out. Plaque is not harmful to health, but its regular occurrence is a reason to wonder if the tea you drink is too strong.
Tea leaves contain phenolic compounds, tannins, giving the strong drink an astringent taste, and alkaloids, primarily thein. When the tea is brewed, these come out in solution and react with each other. As it cools, the solubility of this compound drops and it is partially released on the surface of the liquid as a film.
When the cup is tilted and sipped from it, this film ends up on the walls and dries out. Plaque is not harmful to health, but its regular occurrence is a reason to wonder if the tea you drink is too strong.
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WHY are nuclear powered spaceships not made?
Nuclear fuel contains hundreds of thousands of times more energy than chemical fuel, but it is inefficient to heat the working body with it. The limited thermal stability of the materials makes it impractical to raise the temperature higher than in chemical engines. Thus, the jet velocity cannot be boosted either.
Another thing is to use non-thermal acceleration of the working body, as in ion engines, where ions dispersed by the electric field fly an order of magnitude faster than the thermal exhaust. However, the power of such engines is still small, and they have enough energy from solar panels.
Considering the high cost and hazards of nuclear power sources, they serve so far only for power and heating of vehicles exploring the outer part of the solar system.
Nuclear fuel contains hundreds of thousands of times more energy than chemical fuel, but it is inefficient to heat the working body with it. The limited thermal stability of the materials makes it impractical to raise the temperature higher than in chemical engines. Thus, the jet velocity cannot be boosted either.
Another thing is to use non-thermal acceleration of the working body, as in ion engines, where ions dispersed by the electric field fly an order of magnitude faster than the thermal exhaust. However, the power of such engines is still small, and they have enough energy from solar panels.
Considering the high cost and hazards of nuclear power sources, they serve so far only for power and heating of vehicles exploring the outer part of the solar system.
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WHY is the prison uniform striped?
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The striped uniform allowed a fugitive to be found quickly. It did not blend in with the surroundings and helped search for the prisoner. Also, such a color of clothing immediately singled out a fugitive from the crowd of people. The uniforms of modern colors - red, orange and yellow - also do an excellent job of these functions.
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Another purpose of striped uniforms is uniformity. In prisons absolutely all prisoners wore robes with black and white stripes. Such uniformity and identical clothing had a psychological effect, reducing the inmate's initiative.
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The striped uniform allowed a fugitive to be found quickly. It did not blend in with the surroundings and helped search for the prisoner. Also, such a color of clothing immediately singled out a fugitive from the crowd of people. The uniforms of modern colors - red, orange and yellow - also do an excellent job of these functions.
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Another purpose of striped uniforms is uniformity. In prisons absolutely all prisoners wore robes with black and white stripes. Such uniformity and identical clothing had a psychological effect, reducing the inmate's initiative.
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WHY are sewer manholes round?
The greater ratio of the cross-sectional area of the round manhole hole to the length of the circumference of its body than in a square or rectangular. As a result, you can reduce the cost of production by reducing the consumption of materials without compromising performance.
Round shape allows you to ensure that the cover itself will not fall through the hatch during its assembly or disassembly. In principle, this problem can be solved by using a hatch, repeating the shape of any curve of constant width, but the circle of all possible such figures is the most technologically advanced.
The greater ratio of the cross-sectional area of the round manhole hole to the length of the circumference of its body than in a square or rectangular. As a result, you can reduce the cost of production by reducing the consumption of materials without compromising performance.
Round shape allows you to ensure that the cover itself will not fall through the hatch during its assembly or disassembly. In principle, this problem can be solved by using a hatch, repeating the shape of any curve of constant width, but the circle of all possible such figures is the most technologically advanced.
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WHY do crab sticks have nothing to do with crabs?
The recipe for this snack originated in 1973 in Japan and hasn't changed much since then. The need for crab sticks was born out of the fact that at some point the number of crabs, a terribly essential attribute of Japanese cuisine, began to dwindle rapidly.
Ingenious Japanese came up with a replacement. They took as the basis a dish called "Kamaboko" - for its cooking cod fish fillets are used - it is pure white color. These fish fillets are crushed, then ground, and in this way they obtain surimi meat. Potatoes, soy sauce, starch, egg powder and flavorings are added. Then the resulting mass is made into oblong sticks and evaporated to get rid of the fat.
Completing the process is the application of food coloring red or orange.
The recipe for this snack originated in 1973 in Japan and hasn't changed much since then. The need for crab sticks was born out of the fact that at some point the number of crabs, a terribly essential attribute of Japanese cuisine, began to dwindle rapidly.
Ingenious Japanese came up with a replacement. They took as the basis a dish called "Kamaboko" - for its cooking cod fish fillets are used - it is pure white color. These fish fillets are crushed, then ground, and in this way they obtain surimi meat. Potatoes, soy sauce, starch, egg powder and flavorings are added. Then the resulting mass is made into oblong sticks and evaporated to get rid of the fat.
Completing the process is the application of food coloring red or orange.
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WHY is it so hard to win from a toy machine?
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Anyone who has tried to get a toy out of a grabber knows that it's much harder than it appears. Vox explains that it's not the skill of the players, but the machines themselves, which are set up to cheat.
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The edition has studied the manual to one of these machines and found that the "paw" of the manipulator is programmed to only sometimes squeeze the toys with full force. The owner can set the probability of the paw squeezing the toy hard enough and when it only grabs it a little.
The machine also has a "reset" parameter - the owner can set how frequently the "paw" will drop a toy that has already been grabbed.
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Anyone who has tried to get a toy out of a grabber knows that it's much harder than it appears. Vox explains that it's not the skill of the players, but the machines themselves, which are set up to cheat.
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The edition has studied the manual to one of these machines and found that the "paw" of the manipulator is programmed to only sometimes squeeze the toys with full force. The owner can set the probability of the paw squeezing the toy hard enough and when it only grabs it a little.
The machine also has a "reset" parameter - the owner can set how frequently the "paw" will drop a toy that has already been grabbed.