John Bull originated as a creation of Dr John Arbuthnot, Queen Anne’s physician, who in 1712, wrote a collection of pamphlets entitled ‘The History of John Bull’ but wanted to remain anonymous. The term became a national personification of England, and in particular, Great Britain, especially in political cartoons. It sometimes refers to the whole of the United Kingdom, but …

The name honeymoon may have something to do with the date that weddings traditionally took place. Weddings once commonly took place upon the Summer solstice both for religious reasons earlier on and also for the practical reason that it was the time between the main planting and harvesting of crops. As it was at this time of year that honey …

The terms Bimmer, Beemer or Beamer refer to BMW vehicles. However, Bimmer is the correct term for BMW cars while Beemer and Beamer are used for BMW motorcycles. Why all these different terms? BMW started big in motorcycles and was very active in motor sports then. One of its biggest competitors at the racing track was BSA, which was also …

The mighty Himalayas are the highest mountain range in the world. They lie on the border between China and Nepal. The world’s highest peak of the range is Mount Everest, which is 29,028 ft (8,848 m). That is why it is know as the “roof of the world”.

कैलाश पर्वत को जहां भगवान शिव का वास कहा जाता है वहीं हिमाचल राजा की बेटी से उनके विवाह के चलते हिमाचल का नाम भी भगवान शिव के साथ आदर से लिया जाता है। यही वजह है कि हिमाचल प्रदेश में भगवान शिव के ऐसे कई स्थान हैं जिनके साथ भगवान शिव से संबंधित कोई न कोई घटना जुड़ी है। …

According to WHO, decaying of teeth is a localized, post-eruptive pathologic external process, involving hard tooth tissue and formation of cavities. There is demineralization of teeth by acids produced in the oral environment, due to action of oral acidogenic bacteria on carbohydrates found in cooked food and drinks. Animals are either herbivorous or carnivorous or both, and survive on uncooked, …

The tautara is the only survivor of the beak-headed order of reptiles, called Rhynchocephalia, that goes back to the time of the dinosaurs. It hunts by night and its prey are insects. Like the coelecanth, a prehistoric fish that still survives, the tautara is almost a living fossil. It can now be found only on some of the small islets …

Ages ago, people believed there was magic in the weaving of a spider’s web and the Greeks told a story about a girl, Arachne, who was to give all spiders the name of Arachnida. One day, Archne, who was skilled in the art of weaving, challenged the goddess to a contest. She proved herself better than Athene at the craft …

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a marble bell tower at Pisa, Italy. Even though the tower has been leaning since it was under construction, it has stood for hundreds of years, despite the fact that it looks as if it will fall any minute. The tower was begun over 800 years ago, in 1174, and completed in 1350. After …

The hermit Crab is soft-bodied and so would be extremely vulnerable to its enemies if it had no protection at all. For some reason it has become adapted over time to living within the old shells of mollusks, usually whelks but sometimes periwinkles and top shells. Only two pairs of legs are used for walking, the grip the shell and …