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Why some creepy crawlies give you the creeps

A large number of people count snakes and spiders among their fears. Now, a new study claims to have unlocked the psychology of the common phobias. Researchers have found that contrary to assumptions that humans possess an evolutionary predisposition to fear the creepy creatures, it is the exposure to negative information about snakes and spiders, which causes phobias. “Previous research …

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Teesta Setalvad

Teesta Setalvad — Journalist-activist Teesta Setalvad won the Nuremberg International Human Rights Award 2003, and a thumping victory over hostile witness Zahira Sheikh in the Best Bakery case. She’s yet another example of those who’ll stick out their neck and challenge the system, making her an icon for the youth. We have a glorious past. Preserve it. We have grown …

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Why should we wash our hands before meals?

We should wash our hands before meals as a protection against infections. We live in a world full of germs (micro-organisms or microbes) and those, which are dangerous to us, prefer to live and multiply in organic material. So it is wise to remove as many as possible before coming into contact with food, which provides an ideal breeding ground. …

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Why men are better navigators, and women have better memory

Scientists may have an explanation for why men may be better drivers than women, and why women have better attention span and memory. A new brain connectivity study from the US published on Tuesday in the peer-reviewed Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences journal found remarkable differences in the neural wiring of men and women that could give evidence for …

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Why is there usually a yew in many old churchyards?

Yews have long been associated with religious worship. So it is likely that churches were originally built near the sacred trees rather than the other way round. These trees live longer than any other species in Europe and can grow to an enormous size. Many are thought to be well over 1,000 years old. Yews were revered by the druids …

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