Amazing Facts About our Life

Empire State Building Facts

2014-06-28T05:17:00.002-07:00

The Empire State Building is a skyscraper in Manhattan, New York City, USA.
The building has 103 floors and at roof height is 1250 ft (381 m) tall. The height when including the antenna spire is 1454 ft (443.2 m).
The Empire State Building was designed by William Lamb of the architect firm Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates.
The contracting construction firm was Starrett Brothers and Eken.
Around 3,400 workers were involved in the construction of the Empire State Building, with official records showing five workers died.
It took just 410 days for the Empire State Building to be constructed, quicker than anticipated.
The building was officially opened on May 1, 1931 when President Herbert Hoover turned the lights on with a push of a button from Washington, D.C.
For 41 years between 1931 and 1972 the Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world.
There are 6,514 windows in the Empire State Building.
From street level to the 103rd floor there are 1,872 steps. A race up the stairs to the 86th floor is held annually, the athletes must climb a total of 1,576 steps.
There are 73 elevators in the building, including 6 freight elevators.
Because so many businesses are housed in the building the Empire State has its own zip code, 10118.
The building itself cost $24,718,000 to build, when the cost of the land is included this figure climbs to $40,948,900. This cost was less than half of the total anticipated cost due to the Great Depression.
The Empire State Building has a lightning rod near the top which is struck by lightning around 23 times every year.
There are observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors. These tourist attractions are visited by around 4 million people annually.
The Empire State Building became the tallest building in New York City again after the collapse of the World Trade Center in 2001. In April 2012 the new One World Trade Center surpassed the Empire State Building in height.

Leaning Tower Of Pisa Facts

2014-06-28T05:13:00.001-07:00

- The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Torre pendente di Pisa) is a bell tower in Pisa, Italy.
- The Tower of Pisa is world famous for its prominent tilt to one side.
- The tower's foundations were built on soft subsoil which had difficulty supporting the tower's weight (14,500 ton). When the second storey was started the lean became noticeable and only got worse as construction continued.
- Originally the tower leaned at an angle of 5.5 degrees. After restoration work between 1990 and 2001 this angle was reduced to 3.97 degrees.
- The tower is 8 stories high, 55.86 m (183.27 ft) on the low side and 56.67 m (185.93 ft) on the high side.
- Construction of the Tower of Pisa started in the year 1173 and was completed in 1372. Construction stopped and restarted twice over those 199 years due to wars.
- War stopped construction the first time for almost a century which gave the underlying soil time to settle and compact. If construction had not halted, the tower would most likely have toppled.
- As well as the tower, Pisa's Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo or Piazza dei Miracoli) also has a cathedral, a baptistery and a cemetery.
- The entire Cathedral Square was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
- There are 294 steps on the north side of the tower and 296 steps on the south side.
- Seven bells sit in the bell-chamber at the top of the tower, one bell for each note of the musical major scale.
- The tower's design has widely been attributed to Guglielmo and Bonanno Pisano however recent studies suggest the architect Diotisalvi may have been involved in the design.
- While the original architect of the tower has never been verified many are known to have worked on it including: Bonanno Pisano and Gerardo di Gerardo in phase 1, Giovanni Pisano and Giovanni di Simone during phase 2 before Tommaso di Andrea Pisano oversaw its completion.
- Because of the marshy underlying subsoil there are several other towers in Pisa with less prominent tilting issues.
- Germans used the tower as a lookout during World War II. The Allies new this but decided against bombing the area due to the impressive beauty of the tower and cathedral.
- To demonstrate that speed of descent is independent of an object's mass Galileo Galilei is said to have dropped two cannonballs of differing mass from the tower. However, this is believed to be an old wives' tale.

Building Facts

2014-06-28T05:10:00.000-07:00

The word skyscraper originally referred to a type of sail on a sailing
ship.
A skyscraper is held together by a steel skeleton of vertical columns, horizontal girder beams and often
diagonal beams for extra support. This structure distributes the
immense weight in a way that ensures the
integrity and safety of the building.
Restoration work in 1990 and 2001 shifted the Leaning Tower of Pisa
back to an angle of 4 degrees after
it was previously leaning at an angle of 5.5 degrees.
The roofs of the Sydney Opera House are covered in a total of 1056006 tiles.
The Colosseum in Rome, Italy, is an elliptical amphitheatre that was completed in 80 AD. It held around
50000 spectators and was used for a variety of events including gladiator contests, animal hunts and
mythology based dramas.
Around 20000 workers helped build the Taj Mahal, a famous mausoleum and landmark in Agra, India, that
attracts millions of visitors every year.
The world’s largest office building by floor size is the Pentagon in Virginia, USA, with over half of its
6500000 square foot (604000 square metre) floor area used as offices.
The Empire State Building in New York was the first building to have over 100 floors and was the tallest
building in the world from 1931 until 1972.
The Chrysler Building in New York was built at a time when there was a strong desire to build the world’s
tallest skyscraper, before being overtaken by the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building was the
world’s tallest for around 11 months. During the construction, floors were being completed at a staggering
four per week. Despite the rush, no workers
died during its construction.
The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, are the world’s tallest twin buildings, standing at a heigh
t of 452 metres (1483 feet).
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE, is the tallest building in the world. It reaches an amazing 828 metres
(2717 feet) in height. Check out our top ten list of thetallest buildings in the world.
Tall buildings need fast elevators, recent developments have led to elevators that can travel up to, and
sometimes over, 1000 metres a minute (3280 feet a minute).

Bridge Facts

2014-06-28T05:03:00.000-07:00

Common types of bridges include beam bridges, arch bridges, suspension bridges, cantilever bridges, truss bridges, and cable-stayed bridges.
Bridge designs depend on their intended function, financial resources and also the type of terrain where they are constructed. While an arch bridge might be suited in one situation, a suspension bridge might be suited in another.
The Zhaozhou Bridge is the oldest standing bridge in China and the world’s oldest stone segmental arch bridge. Built in 605 AD, it is still standing strong today, over 1400 years later.
The Inca civilization in South America made use of rope bridges in the Andes Mountains before the Europeans colonized in the 1500’s. These rope bridges spanned canyons and gorges, allowing easy access to otherwise difficult to reach areas. While they were strong and reliable, repairing the bridges was a dangerous job that often ended in death.
During the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century wrought iron was introduced into the design of large bridges. Wrought iron was later replaced by steel because it has a higher tensile strength.
The first welded road bridge was designed by Polish engineer Stefan Bryla in 1927.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia can rise or fall up to 18 cm (7.1 inches) depending on the temperature due to the steel expanding or contracting. It also features 6 million rivets and weighs 39006 tonnes.
The Brooklyn Bridge in New York, USA joins Manhattan and Brooklyn over the East River. When completed in 1883, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world (remaining so until 1903). It features average daily traffic of around 145000 vehicles.
The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, USA is a well known suspension bridge that was completed in 1937. It has a total length of 8981 feet (2737 metres) and features 80000 miles (129000 kilometres) of wire in its two main cables.
The longest suspension bridge in the world (as of 2010) is the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Kobe, Japan. It opened in 1998 and spans an incredible 1991 metres (6529 feet).

Statue Of Liberty Facts

2014-06-27T09:24:00.003-07:00

The Statue of Liberty is located on Liberty Island, in the New York harbor, USA.
The Statue of Liberty commemorates the American Declaration of Independence and was a gift from the people of France.
The statue was assembled on its pedestal after being constructed in France and sent to the US in crates.
It was dedicated on October 28, 1886.
The Statue of Liberty was designed by French sculptor Frederic Bartholdi.
The female form represented by the sculpture is based on Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty. She holds a torch and a tabula ansata (tablet) that has the date of the American Declaration of Independence inscribed in it (July 4, 1776).
A broken chain also lies at the feet of the statue which is hard to see from the ground.
The official name of the Statue of Liberty is ‘Liberty Enlightening the World’.
The statue has been closed for renovation a number of times, including between 1984 and 1986 when the torch and much of the internal structure was replaced.
The Statue of Liberty stands 151 feet (46 metres) in height, and 305 feet (93 metres) from the ground to the torch.
The head of the statue was displayed at the World's Fair in Paris, 1878.
There was difficulty in the United States finding money to fund the project, especially after a financial crisis in 1873. A fundraising drive led by newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer was embraced by New Yorkers and helped push work forward. 80% of the donations were of less than $1.
Liberty Island was previously called Bledloe's Island.
There are replicas of the Statue of Liberty found in Paris, Las Vegas and many other cities around the world.

Tunnel Facts

2014-06-27T09:22:00.004-07:00

The Channel Tunnel is an undersea rail tunnel that links the United Kingdom and France. Opened in 1994, it carries both passenger and freight trains. The tunnel stretches 50.5 kilometres (31.4 miles) in length and is 75 metres (246 feet) deep at its lowest point.
The first ever proposal for a tunnel between the UK and France was put forward by a French mining engineer named Albert Mathieu back in 1802.
As well as being built for human use, tunnels can also be built for the safety and convenience of animals. More than 600 tunnels have been built under roads in the Netherlands to help increase the population numbers of endangered animals such as the European Badger.
Tunnel boring machines are often used to excavate major tunnels. These huge machines can bore through all kinds of sand, clay and hard rocks. The largest tunnel boring machines feature diameters of over 14 metres (46 feet).
When dealing with water crossings, building a tunnel is usually more expensive than building a bridge. Tunnels however preserve the above water scenery, are unaffected by weather conditions, and require less land on the shore.
The Lincoln Tunnel is a well known tunnel in the USA, it connects Weehawken, New Jersey and Manhattan, New York. Stretching 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometres) under the Hudson River, the Lincoln Tunnel has an average daily traffic of around 110000 vehicles.
At 137 kilometres (85 miles) in length, the Delaware Aqueduct in New York, USA, is the longest tunnel in the world.
The longest undersea tunnel in the world (as of 2010) is the Seikan Tunnel in Japan. Connecting the Japanese islands of Honshu and Hokkaido, the tunnel is 53.85 kilometres (33.46 miles) in length.
The Cu Chi tunnels found under the Cu Chi district of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam are a complex network of connecting tunnels that form part of an even larger network that spread throughout Vietnam. The tunnels were used frequently during the Vietnam War by Viet Cong to store food and weapons, hide, communicate, and provide sheltered areas for medical attention.
Aware of the Viet Cong’s strategic use of the tunnels, the US tried to destroy them. The tunnels however featured a range of booby traps and explosives that, combined with the difficulty in navigating the caves, made it too dangerous for the US to be very successful in their attempts to destroy the tunnels.

Great Wall of China Facts

2014-06-27T09:20:00.004-07:00

Rather than being one long continuous wall, the Great Wall of China is made up of a number of different sections. These sections were built by various dynasties over a long period of time from stone and other materials.
Its main purpose was protection against attacks and invasions from the north.
The Great Wall of China stretches around 6300 kilometres (3915 miles) in length. If you measure the length of all the different sections of wall, the distance is more like 22000 kilometres (13670 miles).
The Great Wall of China is the longest structure ever built by humans.
The widest section of the wall is around 9 metres (30 ft).
The highest point of the wall is around 8 metres (26 ft)
The first parts of the wall were built over 2000 years ago.
A large number of workers have lost their lives while building the wall.
Major rebuilding of the Great Wall of China took place during the Ming Dynasty that began in the 14th century. Construction during this time was strong due to the use of stone and brick.
Earlier sections of the wall were made from stone, wood and compacted earth.
Some of the well maintained areas of the wall, such as those near Beijing, are popular tourist destinations.
While some parts of the wall have been preserved or renovated, other parts have been vandalised or destroyed to make way for construction.
Rumours that astronauts can see the Great Wall of China from the Moon with the naked eye are untrue.

Eiffel Tower Facts

2014-06-27T09:18:00.000-07:00

Located on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most well known structures in the world.
The Eiffel Tower was originally built as the entrance arch for the World's Fair in 1889.
It is named after Gustave Eiffel, whose company was in charge of the project.
The Eiffel Tower is 320 metres (1050 feet) in height and was the tallest man made structure in the world for 41 years before being surpassed by the Chrysler Building in New York.
The Eiffel Tower is made of iron and weighs around 10000 tonnes.
Around 50 tonnes of paint are added to the Eiffel Tower every 7 years to protect it from rust.
Despite its height, the Eiffel Tower was designed to be wind resistant, swaying only a few inches in the wind. It actually moves further when the iron on the sun facing side heats and expands, moving the top up to 7 inches (18 centimetres) away from the sun.
Temperature also alters the height of the Eiffel Tower by up to 6 inches (15 centimetres).
Millions of people climb the Eiffel Tower every year and it has had over 250 million visitors since its opening.
Visitors can climb up stairs to the first two levels or take a lift which also has access to the third and highest level.
Being so popular, the Eiffel Tower design has been recreated around the world, including the half scale replica at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel in Nevada, USA and the full scale Tokyo Tower in Japan.
Not everyone liked the Eiffel Tower when it was first built, with many criticizing its bold design.
The French name for the Eiffel Tower is La Tour Eiffel, it also has the nickname La dame de fer which means the iron lady.

Facts Of England

2014-06-27T05:23:00.000-07:00

England is the most populated country in the United Kingdom. The other countries that make up the United Kingdom are Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
England is bordered by Wales to the west and Scotland to the north.
The population of England in 2011 was around 53 million.
The capital city of England is London. Other major cities include Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool, Newcastle and Leeds.
England includes many small islands such as the Isle of Wight and Hayling Island.
There is only a 34 kilometre (21 mile) gap between England and France and the countries are connected by the Channel Tunnel which opened in 1994.
England was the first industrialized nation after the industrial revolution that began around 1760.
Famous English scientists include Charles Darwin, Michael Faraday, Isaac Newtonand Stephen Hawking among many others.
The longest river in the United Kingdom is the River Severn. Located in England and Wales, it stretches around 354 kilometres (220 miles) in length.
The longest river found entirely in England is the River Thames, it flows through London and is slightly shorter than the River Severn at around 346 kilometres (215 miles) in length.
The largest lake in England is named Windermere.
The highest mountain in England is Scafell Pike, which stands at around 978 metres (3,209 ft) in height.
England has a large economy and uses the pound sterling as its currency.
English computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee is credited with inventing the World Wide Web.
There have been a number of influential English authors but perhaps the most well known is William Shakespeare, who wrote classics such as Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and Hamlet.
Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in England but others such as cricket and rugby have large followings.
The Summer Olympic Games have been held in London 3 times, in 1908, 1948 and 2012.
The official London home of the British monarch (king or queen) is Buckingham Palace.

Facts Of Brasil

2014-06-27T05:20:00.002-07:00

Brazil is the largest country in South America.
The name Brazil comes from a tree named brazilwood.
It is called Brasil in Portuguese, the official language spoken in Brazil.
Brazil is the only country in South America that speaks Portuguese.
Portugal claimed the land of Brazil in the year 1500. Independence was declared in
1822.
Brazil is the 5th largest country in the world by both land area and population.
The population in 2012 was around 194 million people.
The capital city is Brasilia, while the largest city is Sao Paulo.
Other major cities include Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Fortaleza.
In Brazil they drive on the right-hand side of the road.
Brazil has a large coastline on the eastern side of South America, stretching 7491 kilometres (4655 miles)
in length.
Brazil shares a border with all South American countries except for Chile and Ecuador.
Brazil covers 3 time zones.
Brazil has one of the largest economies in the world.
Brazil is one of the 77 founding members of the United Nations.
The Amazon River flows through Brazil, it is the 2nd longest river in the
world (after the Nile).
Around 60% of the Amazon Rainforest is located in Brazil.
The climate in the majority of Brazil is tropical.
Brazil is home to a wide range of animals, including armadillo, tapirs,
jaguars and pumas.
Human activities such as logging, mining fishing and agriculture are
important to the Brazilian economy
but are also a serious threat to Brazil's diverse environment.
Millions of tourists visit Brazil every year.
There are around 2500 airports in Brazil.
Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Brazil with the national team
consistently among the best in
the world, winning the World Cup a record 5 times.

Facts Of USA

2014-06-27T05:15:00.001-07:00

The United States of America is also called the USA, US, United States or sometimes America.
On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was issued, establishing the United States of America.
The US is the 4th largest country in the world by land area and 3rd by population.
On February 25, 2013, the estimated population of the US was 315,568,000.
The US is a diverse country with a multicultural society.
The US has the world's largest economy.
The US developed the first nuclear weapons, using them on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
near the end of World War 2.
The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers combine to form the longest river system in the US and the fourth
longest river in the world.
The tallest mountain the US is Mt McKinley, located in the state of Alaska it reaches 20,320 ft (6,194 m)
above sea level.

Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867 and is the largest state in
the US by land area.
Hawaii is the most recent of the 50 states in the US (joining in 1959)
and is the only one made up entirely
of islands.
Most of the world's tornadoes occur in the Midwest region of the US
known as Tornado Alley.
The most populated city in the US is New York City, followed by Los
Angeles and Chicago.
English is the most commonly spoken language in the US, followed
by Spanish.
The first man to walk on the moon was American Neil Armstrong (July 21, 1969).
The US was the leading force behind the development of the Internet.
The US consumes more petroleum than any other country in the world.
The most popular team sports in the US are American football, baseball, basketball and ice hockey.
For more information, check out maps of the United States or take a closer look at the US flag.

Facts Of India

2014-06-27T05:09:00.002-07:00

India is officially known as the Republic of India.
India has the second largest population in the world, with over 1.2 billion people (1,205,073,612 as of July 2012).
India is the seventh largest country by total area.
India belongs to the continent of Asia, it is bordered by the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, China, Nepal, and Pakistan.
The highest mountain in India is Kanchenjunga, standing at 8,598m (28,209 ft), which it shares with Nepal. Kanchenjunga is the third highest mountain in the world.
Many different languages are spoken in India. The main ones are Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, and Urdu.
The capital city is New Delhi, while the most populated city is Mumbai. Other major cities include Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore.
Because of India's location, it experiences periods of heavy rain called Monsoon.
The Taj Mahal (a famous mausoleum and popular tourist attraction) is located in the region of Agra.
India became an independent nation in 1947 after ending British rule that began in 1858.
Mahatma Gandhi is famous for the important part he played in gaining India's independence.
Once British rule was over, India was split into the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Later, an area between India and Pakistan became the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
The national symbol of India is the endangered Bengal Tiger.
The most popular sport in India is cricket, with the Indian team being the first to win the Cricket World Cup on home soil when they were victorious in 2011.
India hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, but has never hosted the Olympic Games.
For more information, check out maps of India or take a closer look at the Indian flag.

Dam facts

2014-06-04T10:14:00.002-07:00

A dam is a barrier designed and constructed to contain the flow of water. It is often built in conjunction with a hydroelectric power station to provide electricity.
Dams are built for purposes such as generating hydroelectricity, creating recreational areas, minimizing flood risks, diverting water for irrigation, and providing water for towns and cities.
The type of dam built in any given situation depends on factors such as the intended purpose, environmental considerations, available finances and the location.
Different types of dams include masonry dams, embankment dams and arch-gravity dams.
Beavers create their own dams from sticks and mud as protection from predators and also to help provide easy access to food.
Dams are huge engineering projects that require vast financial resources. For example, the construction of the Itaipu Dam on the border of Brazil and Paraguay (completed in 1984) cost around US$20 billion.
Built along the Colorado River between 1931 and 1936, The Hoover Dam reaches 726 feet in height (221 metres).
When the Hoover Dam was completed it was both the world’s largest concrete structure and largest hydroelectric power station.
The Hoover Dam is made of enough concrete to make a two lane highway from New York to San Francisco, that’s around 4000 miles (2500 kilometres).
As of 2010, the tallest dam in the world is Nurek Dam in Tajikistan. Completed in 1980, it reaches 300 metres (984 feet) in height.
Many dam failures have occurred in the past, these disasters can cause significant damage and threaten lives.
In 1889 a failure of the South Fork Dam near Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA, killed over 2200 people.
In 1975, the Banqiao Dam in China was among many dams that were destroyed after the extreme rains of Typhoon Nina. It is estimated that between 90000 and 230000 lives were lost as a result of the Banqiao Dam breaking.

Taj Mahal Facts

2014-06-04T10:11:00.003-07:00

The Taj Mahal is a famous mausoleum in India.
A mausoleum is a building that contains burial chambers (tombs) for the deceased, they can be large or
small and are often created in honor of influential people.
The Taj Mahal is located in Agra, a city in the Uttar Pradesh region of northern India.
It was built as the final resting place for Mumtaz Mahal, the third wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
The name Taj Mahal means “crown of palaces”.
Construction of the Taj Mahal took around 20 years, beginning around 1632 and finishing around 1653.
The Taj Mahal is made of white marble.
One of the Taj Mahal’s most recognizable features is a large white dome that is often called an ‘onion dome’
due to its shape. It has a height of around 35 metres (115 feet) and is surrounded by 4 smaller domes.
The full height of the Taj Mahal is 171 metres (561 feet).
The Taj Mahal is considered to be one of India’s most admired works of art, as well as a famous landmark and
a tourist attraction that draws millions of visitors every year.
The Taj Mahal complex includes a large garden, a reflecting pool, a mosque and other mausoleums.

Pyramid Facts

2014-06-04T10:08:00.001-07:00

Pyramids in Geometry

In geometry, pyramids have triangular sides that come together at the top (apex).
If they have 4 sides and a square base they are called a square pyramid.
If they have 3 sides and a triangular base they are called a tetrahedron.

Early Pyramids

Humans have been building structures using pyramid shapes for thousands of years.
The first pyramid type structures are believed to have been built by the Mesopotamians around 5000 years
ago. These structures were called ziggurats. Pyramid type structures found in Caral, Peru also date back
to around this time.

Ancient Egyptian Pyramids

Ancient Egyptian pyramids are the most well known pyramid structures.
Most Ancient Egyptian pyramids were built as tombs for Pharaohs and their families.
Over 130 pyramids have been discovered in Egypt.
The first Egyptian pyramid is believed to be the Pyramid of Djoser, it was built in Saqqara around 4650 years
ago (2640 BC).
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and largest of three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis.
Also known as the Pyramid of Khufu, it is the oldest of the Ancient Wonders of the World and the last one
still largely intact.
Enjoy more facts about Ancient Egyptian pyramids.

Aztec and Mayan Pyramids

Most Aztec and Mayan pyramids were step pyramids with temples on top.
The Mayan civilization stretched from Southern Mexico the northern part of Central America.
Mayan pyramids date back to around 3000 years ago.
Aztec pyramids in central Mexico date back to around 600 years ago.
El Castillo (also known as the Temple of Kukulkan) is perhaps the most famous Mayan pyramid. Located
in the archaeological site of Chichen Itza, in the Mexican state of Yucatan, it is a popular tourist destination
with over 1 million visitors every year.
The world’s largest pyramid by volume is the Great Pyramid of Cholula in Puebla, Mexico.

Other Regions

Sudan is home to a large number of Nubian pyramids which are smaller and steeper than those found in
Egypt.
Although Greeks aren’t known for their pyramid building, a number of pyramid like structures do exist,
with the best known being the Pyramid of Hellinikon.
Pyramids were built in China to house the remains of some early Chinese emperors.
The Roman Empire built a number of pyramids including the Pyramid of Cestius in Rome, Italy which
still stands today.

Modern Pyramids

Not all pyramids are ancient, there are also a large number of modern structures that share the famous
pyramid shape.
The Louvre in Paris is home to a large glass pyramid.
The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation in Astana, Kazakhstan is a 62 metre (203 feet) high pyramid.
The 30 story Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas is a large pyramid that holds over 4000 rooms.
The Slovak Radio Building in Bratislava, Slovakia is shaped like an inverted (upside down) pyramid.

Titanic Facts

2014-06-04T10:01:00.001-07:00

The Titanic was built between 1909 and 1911.
It was 882 feet (269 metres) in length and 175 feet (53 metres) in height.
The Titanic had a crew of around 900 people.
The Titanic’s engines were powered by pressurized steam from burning coal.
It was a luxury passenger liner that carried some of the world’s richest people as well as others looking for a new life in North America.
The Titanic's intended course was from Southampton, England to New York City, USA.
It left Southampton on April 10, 1912 and stopped at destinations in France and Ireland before heading west towards New York.
It collided with an iceberg and sank on April 15, 1912.
While the Titanic carried over 2200 people, there were only enough life boats for around 1200 of them.
Over 1500 people died because of the sinking.
The remains of the Titanic wreck sit on the sea bed over 12400 feet (3780 metres) beneath the surface.

Water cycle Facts

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Evaporation:

Heat from the Sun causes water on Earth (in oceans, lakes etc) to evaporate (turn from liquid into gas) and rise into the sky. This water vapor collects in the sky in the form of clouds.

Condensation:

As water vapor in the clouds cools down it becomes water again, this process is called condensation.

Precipitation:

Water falls from the sky in the form of rain, snow, hail, or sleet, this process is called precipitation.

Collection:

Oceans and lakes collect water that has fallen. Water evaporates into the sky again and the cycle continues.

Transpiration:

In a process similar to sweating, plants lose water which is absorbed into the atmosphere much like evaporation. The combination of evaporation and transpiration is known as evapotranspiration.

Sublimation:

It is possible for a solid to transform into a gas directly (without becoming a liquid). The most common example of sublimation is dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) which sublimes at normal air temperature. Under certain conditions snow and ice can also sublime.

Alexander Graham Bell Facts

2014-04-28T06:28:00.000-07:00

Alexander Graham Bell was an influential scientist, engineer and inventor.
He was born on March 3, 1847 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He died on August 2, 1922 at the age of 75.
He is widely credited with the invention of the first practical telephone.
Bell’s mother and wife were both deaf, this had a major influence on his work.
He didn’t have the middle name “Graham” until he turned 11 when his father gave it to him as a birthday present. He’d earlier asked to have a middle name like his two brothers.
Bell became an excellent piano player at a young age.
When he was 23, Bell and his parents moved to Canada.
Bell studied the human voice and worked with various schools for the deaf.
Bell experimented with sound, working with devices such as a ‘harmonic telegraph’ (used to send multiple messages over a single wire) and a ‘phonautograph’ (used to record sound).
He worked on acoustic telegraphy with his assistant, an electrical designer named Thomas Watson.
On February 14, 1876, Bell and an American electrical engineer named Elisha Gray both filed patents with the U.S. Patent Office covering the transmission of sounds telegraphically. There is debate about who got there first but the patent was awarded to Bell. A few days later he succeeded in getting his telephone to work using elements similar to those of Gray’s water transmitter.
Bell’s first words with the working telephone were spoken to his assistant Watson and were along the lines of “Mr Watson, come here. I want to see you.”
Bell improved on the design and by 1886 more than 150000 people owned telephones in the United States.
Bell also had a strong interest in other scientific fields, conducting medical research, searching for alternative fuel sources, experimenting with metal detectors, developing hydrofoil watercraft and much more.
Famous Alexander Graham Bell quotes include: "Before anything else, preparation is the key to success."
"A man, as a general rule, owes very little to what he is born with - a man is what he makes of himself."
"The day will come when the man at the telephone will be able to see the distant person to whom he is speaking."
"The inventor looks upon the world and is not contented with things as they are. He wants to improve whatever he sees, he wants to benefit the world; he is haunted by an idea. The spirit of invention possesses him, seeking materialization."

Leonardo Da Vinci Facts

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Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452 and died on May 2, 1519. He was Italian.
Different to a typical surname you might think of today, "da Vinci" simply means "of Vinci", the Tuscan town where he was born.
He lived during the Renaissance, a cultural movement that led to important developments in areas such as art and science.
Leonardo d Vinci is perhaps best known as a painter, with his legendary works including the Mona Lisa, the Vitruvian Man and the Last Supper, among others.
Leonardo da Vinci wasn't just an incredible artist, he was an inventor, scientist, mathematician, engineer, writer, musician and much more. Talk about talented!
His conceptual drawings included plans for musical instruments, war machines, calculators, boats and other ideas. Many of these plans were limited by the level of technology at the time.
Flight was of particular interest to da Vinci. He studied the flight of birds and created plans for flying machines that resemble hang gliders and helicopters.
Many of Leonardo da Vinci’s machines have since been built and tested, to varying levels of success.
He became an expert in the anatomy of the human body, studying it in detail and creating hundreds of drawings to help explain his thoughts.
The Vitruvian Man is a drawing by Leonardo da Vinci that describes the relationship between human proportions and geometry.
Da Vinci wrote in the opposite direction to what is normal, meaning you’d need a mirror to read it properly.
The Mona Lisa is perhaps the most well known painting in the world. It is a half-length portrait of a woman who, along with the composition, background and other details, has been the subject of much speculation and discussion. It is believed that Leonardo da Vinci began painting the Mona Lisa around 1503. It has been on permanent display at the Louvre Museum in Paris for over 200 years.
In 1994 Microsoft founder Bill Gates purchased perhaps Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous scientific writings, the ‘Codex Leicester’. It contains explanations of water movement, fossils and the moon among other things.
Famous Leonardo da Vinci quotes include: "He who thinks little, errs much."
"Movement will cease before we are weary of being useful."
"What is fair in men, passes away, but not so in art."
"Drawing is based upon perspective, which is nothing else than a thorough knowledge of the function of the eye."
"Good culture is born of a good disposition; and since the cause is more to be praised than the effect, I will rather praise a good disposition without culture, than good culture without the disposition."
"I know that many will call this useless work."

Nikola Tesla Facts

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Tesla was born to Serbian parents on the 10th of July, 1856 in the village of Smiljan, part of the Austrian Empire (now Croatia). He died on the 7th of January, 1947 in room 3327 of the New Yorker Hotel.
After an eventful upbringing and education, Tesla moved to France in 1882 where he worked on electrical equipment at the Continental Edison Company.
He immigrated to the USA in 1884 where he worked for Thomas Edison before resigning a year later to work on his own projects.
Tesla went on to patent many of his inventions, including his AC induction motor and transformer which he licensed to George Westinghouse.
Tesla, Westinghouse and Edison were at the heart of the so called ‘war of the currents’ between alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) as a means of distributing electrical power.
Tesla was known for high voltage experiments and demonstrations, including displays of his famous Tesla Coil which produces high voltage, low current electricity.
In 1891, Tesla became a citizen of the United States.
Tesla was the vice president of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers between 1892 and 1894.
Tesla experimented with X-rays and radio waves, developing important ideas and even making a few accidental discoveries thanks to his extravagant experiments.
Tesla moved his lab to Colorado Springs in 1899 where he proved the Earth was a conductor, produced artificial lightning and became well known to his neighbors with ambitious electrical experiments that caused booming thunder, rogue sparks and the occasional power outage.
Tesla later worked on the Wardenclyffe Tower (or Tesla Tower), a wireless transmission tower that was never completed.
Tesla moved to the New Yorker Hotel in 1934 where he continued his research and spent the remaining years of his life before dying in 1943 at the age of 86.
Famous Nikola Tesla quotes include: “Nature may reach the same result in many ways.”
“Money does not represent such a value as men have placed upon it. All my money has been invested into experiments with which I have made new discoveries enabling mankind to have a little easier life.”
“The scientific man does not aim at an immediate result. He does not expect that his advanced ideas will be readily taken up. His work is like that of the planter - for the future. His duty is to lay the foundation for those who are to come, and point the way. He lives and labors and hopes.”
“Of all things I liked books best.”

Stephen Hawking Facts

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Stephen Hawking is a British theoretical physicist, he was born on January the 8th, 1942.
Hawking has made many important contributions to the fields of cosmology and quantum gravity. He is also well known for his bestselling book ‘A Brief History of Time’.
Helped by the success of his book ‘A Brief History of Time’, Hawking has released other books aimed at making his work accessible to a wide range of people, these include ‘The Universe in a Nutshell’, ‘A Briefer History of Time’ and ‘George's Secret Key to the Universe’, a children’s book with a strong focus on science.
Hawking has worked extensively on the subject of black holes, providing theories for their behavior, including the idea that they emit radiation.
Hawking suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a type of motor neuron disease that has left him almost completely paralyzed.
Some of the awards Hawking has received for his work include the 1979 Albert Einstein Medal, the Order of the British Empire (Commander) in 1982 and the 1988 Wolf Prize in Physics.
Famous Stephen Hawking quotes include: “There ought to be something very special about the boundary conditions of the universe and what can be more special than that there is no boundary?”
“I don't believe that the ultimate theory will come by steady work along existing lines. We need something new. We can't predict what that will be or when we will find it because if we knew that, we would have found it already!”
“For millions of years, mankind lived just like the animals. Then something happened which unleashed the power of our imagination. We learned to talk and we learned to listen.”
“It is a waste of time to be angry about my disability. One has to get on with life and I haven't done badly. People won't have time for you if you are always angry or complaining.”
“I don't think the human race will survive the next thousand years, unless we spread into space. There are too many accidents that can befall life on a single planet. But I'm an optimist. We will reach out to the stars.”

James Maxwell Facts

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James Maxwell was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on the 13th of June 1831 and died on the 5th of November
1879.
He produced a set of equations, known as ‘Maxwell’s Equations’ that explain the properties of magnetic
and electric fields and help show that light is an electromagnetic wave.
His impressive work was described in papers such as ‘On Physical Lines of Force’, ‘A Dynamic Theory of
the Electromagnetic Field’ and ‘A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism’.
Maxwell’s contributions played an important role in the advances made in 20th century physics and his
work was often admired by fellow physicist Albert Einstein.
Maxwell attended Edinburgh University from 1847 to 1850. He also spent a large amount of time at his
home studying and undertaking various experiments.
After his time at Edinburgh University, Maxwell moved on to Cambridge University where he remained from
1850 to 1856. He further developed his mathematical skills and other ideas before accepting a professorship
at Aberdeen University in 1856.
Maxwell was awarded a prize in1859 for his essay ‘On the Stability of Saturn's Rings’, which described the
nature of Saturn’s rings as numerous small particles rather than a solid or fluid ring.
A large amount of Maxwell’s research was based on the work of Michael Faraday, and although Maxwell
was 40 years younger, the two meet each other on many occasions.
Maxwell also made numerous contributions in the fields of color analysis, kinetic theory and thermodynamics. He is even attributed with creating the first true color photograph.
Famous James Maxwell quotes include: “Aye, I suppose I could stay up that late.” – Said after being
informed of a compulsory 6 a.m. church service at Cambridge University.
“In every branch of knowledge the progress is proportional to the amount of facts on which to build, and
therefore to the facility of obtaining data.”

Marie And Pierre Curie Facts

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Pierre Curie

Pierre Curie was a French physicist who made many breakthrough discoveries in radioactivity, crystallography and magnetism.
Some of his contributions to science include: The Curie Point – a temperature level where ferromagnetic substances lost their ferromagnetic behavior, Curie’s Law – the effect of temperature on paramagnetism, demonstrating the electric potential of crystals when compressed, designing an extremely accurate torsion balance for measuring magnetic coefficients and his combined work on radiation, isolating polonium and radium with his wife Marie Curie.

Marie Curie

Marie Curie was a chemist and physicist famous for becoming the first person to be awarded two Nobel Prizes. She was brought up in Poland before eventually moving to France and obtaining French citizenship.
After French physicist Henri Becquerel first discovered a strange source of energy coming from uranium (radioactivity), Marie Curie decided that this would make a good field for research. With the help of her husband and his vital electrometer, she made numerous scientific discoveries including showing that radiation did indeed come from the atom itself rather than an interaction between molecules.
In 1911 Marie Curie was awarded another Nobel Prize, this time in Chemistry, for her discovery of radium and polonium and subsequent research.
In 1932 Marie Curie founded the ‘Radium Institute’ in Warsaw, Poland. The name was changed after World War II to the ‘Maria Skłodowska-Curie Institute of Oncology’. The institute carries out specialized cancer research and treatment.
Famous Marie Curie quotes include: “We must not forget that when radium was discovered no one knew that it would prove useful in hospitals. The work was one of pure science. And this is a proof that scientific work must not be considered from the point of view of the direct usefulness of it. It must be done for itself, for the beauty of science, and then there is always the chance that a scientific discovery may become like the radium a benefit for humanity.”
“One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done.”

Michael Faraday Facts

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Michael Faraday was born in England on the 22nd of September 1791 and died on the 25th of August 1867.
His work on electrochemistry and electromagnetism laid the foundation for many areas of science. He formed the basis of the electromagnetic field concept in physics, discovered the laws of electrolysis, invented electromagnetic rotary devices that were vital in the creation of electric motors and played a key role in the development of electricity for use in technology.
Not limited to physics and electromagnetism, Faraday also invented a simple Bunsen burner, coined terms such as electrode, cathode, anode and ion, discovered benzene and investigated the nature of chlorine.
Faraday had only a basic education in a family that was not well off. He had only a minimal understanding of technical mathematical concepts but was still able to produce some of the most important scientific concepts in history and did so in a language that was clear and easily understood.
Faraday was a man of honor who was strong in his convictions. He rejected both a knighthood and an offer to become President of the Royal Society as well turning down a burial in Westminster Abbey. He also refused to assist the British government in the production of chemical weapons for use in war.
Famous Michael Faraday quotes include: “But still try, for who knows what is possible”
“Nothing is too wonderful to be true, if it be consistent with the laws of nature”
“There is no more open door by which you can enter into the study of natural philosophy than by considering the physical phenomena of a candle”
“I was at first almost frightened when I saw such mathematical force made to bear upon the subject, and then wondered to see that the subject stood it so well.”

Ernest Rutherford Facts

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Ernest Rutherford lived from the 30th of August 1871 to the 19th of October 1937.
Rutherford studied at Canterbury College, University of New Zealand before moving to England in 1895 for post graduate study at Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge.
Rutherford worked on radioactivity, coining the terms ‘alpha’ and ‘beta’ to describe the two different types of radiation emitted by uranium and thorium. He also observed that radioactive material took the same amount of time for half of it to decay, known as its “half life”.
In 1907, Rutherford, Hans Geiger and Ernest Marsden carried out the Geiger-Marsden experiment, an attempt to examine the structure of the atom. The surprising results of this experiment demonstrated the existence of the atomic nucleus and became an integral part of the Rutherford model of the atom.
The Rutherford model of the atom was simplified in a well known symbol showing electrons circling around the nucleus like planets orbiting the sun. This symbol became popular and has been used by various organizations around the world as a symbol for atoms and atomic energy in general.
In 1908, Rutherford was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on the transmutation of elements and the chemistry of radioactive material.
The element 'rutherfordium' was named in Rutherford’s honor.
Famous Ernest Rutherford quotes include: “If you can't explain your physics to a barmaid it is probably not very good physics.”
“All science is either physics or stamp collecting.”
“Radioactivity is shown to be accompanied by chemical changes in which new types of matter are being continually produced. .... The conclusion is drawn that these chemical changes must be sub-atomic in character.”