Month: September 2016
What Would Happen If You Fired A Gun In Space?
The absence of air resistance and gravity would make a speeding bullet travel very differently in space. Although there would be no oxygen, bullets contain their own oxidiser, which would allow the gunpowder to ignite and fire the gun. With no air to slow it down, a bullet could in theory travel forever through deep …
How Did Pilots Navigate In The Dark Before GPS?
It was extremely difficult. The street lighting of towns and major roads would have provided some clues but during World War II, with blackouts over Europe, night bombers flew with a navigator who used the airspeed and compass bearing to plot a course on a map. Over water, some planes were fitted with a calibrated …
What Are The Oldest Words In English?
English borrows many words from the Romans and the ancient Greeks but these were only added to the English language in the middle ages. The oldest words are for the most basic ideas. The word ‘water’ for example is essentially the same as the ancient Hittite word ‘watar’ or ‘wadar’ and probably dates back to …
Why Are There Seven Days In A Week?
A seven-day week first became ‘official’ by decree of the Roman Emperor Constantine in 321 BCE, but it had already been in use since ancient times, by the Sumerians and Babylonias. One theory is that the week was based on the seven visible celestial bodies from Earth: the Moon, the Sun, Mercury, Mars, Venus, …
How Long Have Tattoos Been Around?
Present day – Permanent body art is now socially acceptable in most parts of the world; in the United States, roughly a quarter of people aged between 18 and 50 have tattoos, and this number is on the rise. 1891 – Samuel O’Reilly patented the rotary tattoo machine. It was the first tattooing device to …
What Are The Origins Of Kissing?
Several theories explain the origins of kissing; although the fact that not all human cultures kiss suggests that it is a learned, rather than an innate behaviour. One idea is that kissing stems from our early ancestors’ practice of feeding babies directly from the mother’s mouth. Another theory sees kissing as a means of evaluating …
How Was Mount Everest First Climbed?
With just enough room for them to stand together side by side, Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay looked out at a view no one else had ever seen before. It was 11:30am on 29 May 1953 and they had just become the first people to ever reach the summit of Mount Everest. Their journey …
Why Do Bats Tend To Live In Caves?
Caves provide bats with a shelter where they can sleep or hibernate with minimal disturbance. Hanging from high ceilings and walls, bats are beyond the reach of most predators but also able to immediately launch into flight if needed. Large caves provide space for whole colonies to roost side-by-side, conserving energy. Caves’ stable temperature and …