Taj Mahal - Unknown Fact

Prof. P.N Oak's had done a extensive research on the Taj Mahal decades ago and had found evidence that it was never a Tomb. He found a number of design and architectural inconsistencies. He had even written a book which, under Indira Gandhi’s government, was withdrawn from publication, due to fear of political backlash.

In his book, Oak had pointed out that at the Pinnacle of Taj Mahal, you can clearly see the motif of a Kalash with bent mango leaves and a coconut on top of it, which are things use in Hindu prayer. The crescent moon shape a addition made by Shah Jahan. Another Hindu motif for auspicious beginnings is a Lotus which can be seen at the Apex at the Entrance of Taj Mahal. Lotus was used at that time in Indian architecture. 

Taj Mahal has a water well and 22 rooms (which still remained locked). Of what use are either of these things in a Tomb? These sealed up rooms are said to contain headless statues and other objects used for worship in Hindu rituals. The marble on the first floor seems to have been uprooted and used to add the Islamic scriptures on the walls. 

Where else would Shah Jahan have found the exact same marble to make it a Muslim monument? There are residential apartments on the river side of the complex. There are typical Vedic Style Corridors. And there is a Music House within the complex. ‘Om’ designs can be seen in the flowers that decorate the wall and in one of the sealed rooms; Prof. Oak found Vedic design on the ceiling. 

A ventilation area that faces the river has been sealed with bricks. Taj Mahal was in fact an ancient Hindu Temple that was built by Rajput’s for Lord Shiva. It was then known as Tejo Mahalya aka Lord Shiva’s Palace.The most compelling proof of them all is that Carbon Dating tests have shown that the Taj predates Shah Jahans era by 300 years.

I think that closes all scope for argument. Don’t you?Mumtaz is said to have died in Barhanpur in 1631 AD and buried there. (Her actual place of burial, shown in the picture below). Oak discovered that Shah Jahan had taken Taj Mahal from Maharaja Jai Sing of Jaipur for Mumtaz’s burial. ‘Mahal’ was never used for buildings for any Muslim Countries. 

The love story is a fairy tale made by blundering historians. Mumtaz was just ONE of his 7 wives. There are a lot more things that prove this theory if you wish to search online. It is a interesting read. There are also evidences of other monuments that Shah Jahan took over and redid into Muslim structures.This is NOT to question the religion, but the person who claimed to be a great builder...who clearly wasn't.

Source Credit : http://www.stephen-knapp.com/true_story_of_the_taj_mahal.htm

Animal Superpowers

Among the very many I came across.... I am mentioning the Hulk, the Mystique (from x-men) and the Superman of the animal kingdom.

The Mimic Octopus - One of the smarter species living underwater. this octopus has the ability and intelligence to change it's look depending on what it thinks will scare it's attacker. Reminded me of a chameleon and somewhat of a Boggart from the Harry Potter books. It is currently known to be able to look like 15 separate species. 

The Mantis Shrimp - It has one of the most unique biology among living creatures. Beginning with its eyes, it can see 12 wavelengths compared to the human eye which can see only 3. The second most fascinating thing about them is how they hunt their pray. They are known to have the fastest punch in the world, which can be compared to a 22 caliber bullet. 

The Tardigrade - A microscopic creature that is known to survive all extremes of temperatures and pressures. Also known as 'water bear'. The biggest size they reach is about 1.5mm. When it does not get any sustenance, the tardigrades simply retract into themselves and wait out the unfriendly conditions. They can wait for over a century. Just another example of natures ability to provide creatures with their best chance of survival.

Source Credit - www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5FEj9U-CJMwww.youtube.com/watch?v=t-LTWFnGmegwww.youtube.com/watch?v=2GPv8CwU0Ls

Flames are Blue and Round in Space

Flames are essentially hot gases. Hot gases rise because they are less dense than their surroundings. The gravitational pull of the earth makes things more dense close to the ground. Winds can also effect flames.But in space, we have neither gravity or winds. 

Flames are basically stream of particles escaping from the burning item, at the same time, there are other particles moving towards it. For a flame that is lit on earth, oxygen gets consumed. We also get heat and light (energy). Because it generates this energy, it is hotter than the environment.

The reason the flame moves upward on earth is because the gases that are released when fire burns move upward to make more oxygen available to them so they can continue to burn.So that is why a flame in space will appear blue and round , due to lack of gravity.

Source Credit : www.space.com/13766-international-space-station-flex-fire-research.html

Copy Pasting People

A new research in the science community that is supported by some and rejected by others is the cellular memory theory.In simple terms, this theory states that the nerve cells in our organs store memories, like our individual habits, cravings, etc. and when a donor's organ is transplanted into the person receiving the organ, some parts of the donors trates also get transferred. 

The organ that is seen to change a person most is the heart transplant, where the recipient has said to be craving things that the donor had liked when they were alive.Quite a fascinating theory. A fine example of continuing to live in some form even after death.Being an organ donor might after all be a way to let some part of us live on.....a bit longer.

Source Credit : www.medicaldaily.com/can-organ-transplant-change-recipients-personality-cell-memory-theory-affirms-yes-247498

Skeleton Flower

To be able to see a human through and through...we sure need a whole lot of machinery and gadgets.Nature, however, has found the simplest was to do that.... not for humans....for a flower.

Known as Skeleton Flower that becomes transparenton contact with water. A very pretty sight in rainfalls. They are only found in 3 places around the world; Japan, China and the Appalachian Mountains in the U.S.These white flowers turn back to their original state when they are dry.One of the prettiest flowers ever... don't you think?

Source Credit: boredpanda.com/skeleton-flower-clear-see-through-rain-wet-diphylleia-grayi

Blue Lava - Kawah Ijen Volcano

The one thing we all know about fire is that blue is hotter than red. But when we see hot molten lava we always see warmer colours of red, orange and yellow....we usually do not see anything burning in blue flames near a volcano. 

But the Kawah Ijen Volcano in Indonesia emits hot flammable sulphurous gases that ignite with a electric blue flame when they come in contact with earths oxygen rich air. 

They are quite a sight in the darkness of the night. Right next to this volcano is a turquoise-blue lake that is very acidic due to the high concentration of dissolved metals in its waters.Nature giving us every reason to believe things can be different then what we believe them to be.

Source Credit: geology.com/volcanoes/kawah-ijen

Fun Facts

Coca-cola would be green if no colour was added to it. 

Music has the ability to repair brain damage and return lost memories.

There is a difference between a graveyard and a cemetery. Graveyards have a adjoining church , and you can also bury ashes in a cemetery. 

People who stay awake till late nights are more intelligent than the people who go to bed early and rise early for the day. 

Study suggests.You are more likely to achieve your goals if you keep them to yourself.

Cherries can cause cancer cells to commit suicide.We are born afraid of only 2 things - falling and loud noises. 

All our other fears are learned and influenced by our environments and cultures. 

Humans start lying by the age of 4. 

Scientists have created blue strawberries that can withstand freezing temperatures. 

You naturally hold your breath when you casually stretch.

Source Credit : Google Search

Pink Waters - Lake Hillier

A lake that looks like someone poured gallons of strawberry milk into one huge hole in the ground. Lake Hillier stands in Western Australia at 600 meters in length. One might wonder if there is something wrong in the waters of this lake but life does flourish in these pink waters.
Scientists have suspected that the unique colour could be due to the reaction between the salt and the presence of the Dunaliella Salina Microalga, which is a pigment found in carrots too. There doesn't seem to be anything harmful in these waters and it is used as a tourist attraction.

Source Credit : http://hillierlake.com/

Handshakes Types

The origin of a handshake came into being to make sure that the person that you were meting, did not have a concealed weapon up their sleeve. Clasping the hand confirmed that the hands were empty and if any weapons were hidden up the sleeve, the process of a handshake would dislodge it. It came to be a gesture of 'we come in peace'.

There are a few different types of handshakes these days which imply some small things in their personality that you could pick up. A few of them are:

Dead Fish- When you shake someones hand but there is no response from the other person. No shake, no squeeze, no movement from them of any kind. It feels like you are holding a dead fish. This shows low self- esteem. 

Brush Off- The clasp of the hand and immediate release. Shows that the person does not think you are important enough to give a proper handshake. Shows that they feel more superior to you.

Two Handed Shake-This handshake is toconvey that the person is trying to be warm andfriendly. 

Finger Vice - When someone either grabs just your fingers instead of the whole palm or receives you with just their fingers. This usually shows insecurity. 

Bone Crusher- Squeezing the hand to hard with intent to intimidate. 

The Top-Handed Shake - A proper handshake is supposed to be vertical, when someone holds the handshake horizontally with their hand on the top, it is a sign of dominance.

 Try notice these things the next time someone shakes your hand, you might find you know something about them that they haven't realized themselves.

Source Credit : http://www.way-of-the-mind.com/types-of-handshakes.html

Secret Behind Long Hair

A research/study that was done at the time of the Vietnam War, is still not very known. The study that happened at that time was not directly related to long hair. They happen to stumble across this information. 

It happened something like this;The Americans had sent some men to track and look for the best scouts on the Native American Reservations. They were to study and observe the best and most talented among them. When they found them, they managed to entice them into joining the forces.

 However, after being processed, the same best trackers had now somehow lost their abilities. There were a lot of casualties.So on further analysis, what they found out, from one of the older recruits, was that after they had all received their military haircuts they had difficulty 'sensing' the enemy. Somehow their intuition was hindered and they couldn't 'read' the signs anymore. 

It was decided to let the Native Americans grow their hair. On further tests to compare their performance with the others who had a military cut, the ones with long hair kept scoring high.Scientists now believe that the hair is an extension of the nervous system and have highly evolved what they call 'feelers'. It is also said to provide a electromagnetic energy to the outside body by the brain. 

Source Credit : www.sott.net/article/234783-The-Truth-About-Hair-and-Why-Indians-Would-Keep-Their-Hair-Long

What do her eyes say?

The eyes will tell how genuine the smile is. The key to distinguish between a fake smile and a genuine one, is that, when forming a real smile, the eyes narrow and create lines at the outer corners.Pupil Dilation is a sign of interest and can make you look sexy. Mutual Gaze is a sign of love.Eye contact can tell if a person is attempting deception. 

It is said that a person who lies can't look you in the eye. However that is untrue. Someone who is trying to convince you of a lie will go the extra mile to hold eye contact.So here is some free dating advice. How to tell if a girl is interested in you or wishes to know you, just by her eyes?

- If a girl looks at you, look away and looks back in the next 30 seconds.

- If you catch a girl staring at you but when she sees you looking she looks down and away, kind of embarrassed, she is probably just shy but she is interested.

- If you are both looking at each other for a longer period than a quick glance, even if it is just 2-3 seconds, she is most probably interested.

When you talk to a women. Keep a steady gaze. It will make you look more confident and help create the feeling of attraction in her.When a women catches you looking at her, most men tend to look away in embarrassment. Try not to do that, it shows lack of confidence. There is nothing wrong in letting a girl/women know you think she is pretty enough to have caught your attention. 

It's flattering.Just try not to be creepy. If she catches you looking, maintain eye contact and give her a warm smile.Even if she looks away, she would have understood your compliment.Give it a try the next time you are trying to read a women. The eyes speak volumes.

"When I saw you, I fell in love. And you smiled because you knew." - William Shakespeare

Source Credit : theartofcharm.com/flirting-and-attraction/reading-her-signs-of-interest-eye-contactwww.mensxp.com/dating/flirting-a-attraction/450-eye-contact-secrets.html

Butterflies in Stomach

The feeling you get when you see someone you like, is actually a stress response caused by adrenaline. This feeling also comes when you are nervous.Speaking in ways of evolution, this happens when we are unsure if we should run away or stay. 

The stress of the situation causes our adrenaline to rush through our blood stream thus putting us in 'action mode'.In such a time, the nervous system diverts the blood to the muscle and brain and diverts it from non-essential systems like the stomach and intestines.Our stomach function slows down and our heart-rate picks up.

Due to these sudden changes, the stomach sends different signals to the brain..and that's when you feel like there is some weird movement going on in the stomach. So the next time you feel this, at least you know what is going on in your body. Even though knowing this won't make the feeling go away. But when it is about a crush, it's kinda cute anyway. ;D

Source Credit : https://www.howitworksdaily.com/what-causes-the-butterflies-in-my-stomach-feeling

Most Isolated & Unwelcome Place on Earth - North Sentinel Island

One among the 572 island of Andaman & Nicobar, in the Bay of Bengal between Myanmar & Indonesia. The North Sentinel Island is closed to all outsiders. Why? Because in this island live a small tribe that are very hostile to any contact from the outside world. 

This tribe has inhabited this island for thousands of years. They have never greeted anyone who came to them with anything but hostility. The people who have tried have been killed by them. No one has ever left the island without being chased and slaughtered by the Sentinelese upon arrival. They drive people away by their spears and arrows. 

They are said to be direct descendants of the first human population to emerge from Africa and have said to have been on the island for upto 60,000 years.Their population is estimated to be between 50-400 individuals. They seem to have maintained the lifestyle of hunter-gathering society by hunting, fishing and collecting wild plants. 

There is no evidence of agricultural practices.There have been intentional and unintentional contacts with the Sentinelese but have all ended in either failure or death. They prefer to be left alone and the Indian authorities have declared North Sentinel Island closed to all outsiders.And why not? If they want to be left alone, they have the right to be.

Source Credit : www.unbelievable-facts.com/2013/08/the-north-sentinel-island-one-of-most.html

Moai - Walking Stone Giants of Easter Island

One of the most isolated islands on earth, yet hold one of the most fascinating creations of man. The people who once lived there are known to have carved over a thousand statues that they believe held the spirits of their ancestors.The myth around these statues, as said by the locals, is that after the statues were carved, they simply "walked into place", onto the sacred platforms called ahou. 

This was believed to be true since there were no other way that people had at that time to move statues that weighed up to 32 tons. There were no proper carving tools and no wheels. The statues were carved out of rocks that had formed over centuries by compressed volcanic ash. The statues were carved on the mountain itself and moved after it was complete. 

The mystery around them circles around the transportation of these giant statues. Archaeologists have tried several methods to try understand how the ancestors did it. Since the statues coming to life and walking into place was out of the question.In the process they discovered a few key differences in the Moai that were on the platforms and those that got damaged along the way. 

The ones that were damaged and fell on the way to the transportation did not have the eyes carved in, the shape was heavier at the bottom so it looked like the statues were leaning forward, There was a slant at the bottom which changed the center of gravity of the statues. The completed statues at the platforms did not lean forward, they had been reshaped at the bottom so they now stood straight and the eyes had been carved in. 

After extensive experimentation it was figured out how the ancestors must have transported the statues so it looked like they were walking. It needed 3 teams of manpower who would be controlling the movement of the statues with ropes. A group was at the back holding the statue upright, and a group on each side of the statue holding ropes and alternatively tugging on the rope so the statue would sway from left to right, and moving forward. 

It was like this that the people made roads through the island and "walked" the Moai from one side of the island to another.Here is a link of the methods tried and the one that finally made sense.

Source Credit : www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4CGTDFEJh4

Legend of the Dreamcatcher

The dreamcatcher has been a part of the Native American culture for centuries. One of the main element of the dreamcatcher is the hoop, which was held in high esteem since it was believed to symbolise unity and strength.The origin and legend of the dreamcatchers goes something like this....A long time ago, an old spiritual leader, Lakota, has a vision. Iktomi, who was known as a searcher of great wisdom, appeared to Lakota in the form of a spider. 

He spoke to Lakota in their sacred language. As he spoke he picked up Lakotas willow hoop, which had feathers, horsehair, beads and offerings on it and began to spin a web.As he wove, he spoke of life, from infants to old age. He spoke of the good and bad forces that are present all around us and how they can steer us to good and bad paths. He spoke of how the forces can help or interfere with the harmony in nature.

When he finished speaking, he handed the completed web to Lakota and explained how it could help people reach their goals by making use of their good ideas, dreams and visions. If they believed in the great spirit, the web would filter the good ideas and the bad one's would be trapped and will perish in the light of the morning sun. It is said the best place to hang a dreamcatcher is somewhere the morning light can touch it. It will filter the energy and thoughts around you and your family.So dream on .... ;D

Source Credit : www.dream-catchers.org/lakota-dream-catcher-history

Jacob's Well

Located in Wimberley, Texas, Jacob's Well has become a dangerous place for exploring divers to venture into.It doesn't seem to be dangerous for divers who jump in and swim right out. But so far 8 exploring divers have lost their lives in this place.

The well is just 4 meters wide at it's mouth and it's entire caving systems have been divided into 4 different chambers. The first, and most accessible part is a 30 feet drop. It then angles and tunnels in another 55 feet. The 2nd chamber is 80 feet deep and opens to the 3rd chamber from a very small opening. The 3rd chamber is just like a small room with gravel flooring.To get to the 4th chamber, the divers have to navigate through a very tight passage. 

The 4th chamber is very difficult to get into and is also called "Virgin Cave". People who get thrills out of adrenaline rushes have made video's of how deep they can go into the 1st chamber. It's quite a risky game people like to play at this place.But if we keep diving aside. The water at Jacob's Well is quite clear and it is water from this well that feeds the Cypress Creek.

Source Credit : www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2521271/Jacobs-Well-Wimberley-Texas-dangerous-places-dive-Earth.htmlwww.youtube.com/watch?v=zVBYRKSu-Po

Pirates Story - Davy Jones Locker

It seems to be a common nautical term for the pirate sailors. The furthest the term can be dated back is 1751.Davy Jones was used as a slang to refer to the evil spirits that were believed to be in the ocean...or another word for the Devil.

Davy Jones Locker was a reference to the bottom of the ocean. Meaning that if someone died at sea....he had gone to Davy Jones Locker. If someone was to be sent to Davy's Locker, it meat that he/she was to be killed. 

The term was used in many other ways that referenced to being in a position close to death, when in a storm or even as a threat.As pirates died out, the term seem to have just been left in stories. 

It was rediscovered with the many people researching the pirates and new stories were made....mostly to suit Hollywood.So yeah....Davy Jones Locker was just another way to say someone was 'sleeping with the fishes'.

Source Credit : www.famous-pirates.com/pirates-facts/davy-jones/

Rodinia - The Island that dissapeared

About 50-100 million years ago, there was a small strip of continent between what is now India & Madagascar. Scientists have found proof of this continent from beaches of Mauritius. Rodinia is said to have existed around the time when the tectonic plates were breaking apart. This is how Seychelles came to be. Over time, it has disappeared underwater.  

India was an Island

The first time I heard this fact I was just watching a documentary on continental drifts. I found it quite intriguing when I saw how India moved quite a distance to reach where it is now.It is believed that all the continents of the earth were once one big connected piece of land referred to as Gondwanaland (an ancient super continent).

More than 100 million years ago, most of the land that is now India was an island. This was the time when dinosaurs roamed the earth. The island of India was then slowly moving north. It was around 50 million years ago that India’s continental plate collided with Asia. This collision resulted in what are now the Himalayas. By this time dinosaurs were extinct. 

A big part of India when it was an Island is now said to be under Asia’s plate. This overlapping happened at the time of collision.One proof of this is the fossilized sea shells that are found on the high mountains.India was initially connected to Madagascar. Many similar fossils have been found in both places that are now very far apart.I think we would have much less problems if India was still an island. But it looks like we are still moving 10cm northward every year.

Source Credit : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-25881705https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Plate(Reposted from another site I wrote it for but deleted.)

Strange Jobs

Most jobs that everyone have is heard of... even if the designation is complicated... when we understand the main function of the job... it usually makes sense right?

1- Pet Food Tester - There are actually humans testing out animal food to see how it tastes. The owner of a dog food manufacturer says that if it is not tasty to humans, why would it taste good to the dog? 

2- Professional Cuddler - Yes this is a person who would come to your house and cuddle with you. They charge clients on a hourly bases. Quite a lonely world we live in huh?...for such a job to exist...?

3- Ethical Computer Hackers - As contradictory as it might sound...this is actually a legit job. Company hire hackers to try break into their systems to find if there are any flaws or loopholes in their systems. It pays quite well. 

4- IMAX Screen Cleaner - This job pays surprisingly well.. about $40K. This is a time consuming job, and is quite demanding. 

5- Water Slide Tester - This sure sounds like a really fun job right? The people who do this spend all day testing water slides. 

6- Teddy Bear Repair Technician - You might have heard of the Build A Bear Workshops right? They have these people who's job is to fix old bears that might have worn ot torn. This is a job since children tend to get attached to their toys. Interestingly these jobs all pay surprisingly well.

Source Credit : ijr.com/2014/10/179079-221-odd-jobs-probably-never-hear-make-surprising-amount-money

Book With Real Secrets

Ever wish to go on a real puzzle solving treasure hunt? Then you might want to get your hands on the book 'The Secret-A Treasure Hunt' published in 1982. The book holds 12 poems and paintings that have to first be matched together and then solve the riddle that leads to a key hidden somewhere in the U.S. The key has to be mailed to the publisher of the book (Byron.C.Preiss) in exchange for the reward which is a real jewel. 

Of the 12 hidden treasures, only 2 have been found in the past 30 years.The riddles are quite difficult, which explains why the treasure haven't been found yet.There is a free PDF of the book available online....if you would like to give it a read.

Source Credit : unicornbooty.com/the-true-story-about-the-people-hunting-for-buried-fairy-treasuresthesecret.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/69009390/The%20Secret_OCR.pdf

Busting Myths

Here are some of the Myths that some currently believe to be true that actually are not.

1- Myth : Alcohol keeps you warm. 
Fact: As much as it provides you with temporary heat from inside towards your skin. Using only alcohol to keep you warm can impair the body’s ability to generate it’s own heat.

2- Myth: We use only a fraction of our brains. 
Fact :This is actually a myth that originated by a journalist misquoting a psychologist William James who claimed, “We are making use of only a small part of our possible mental and physical resources.”

3- Myth: Mice love cheese. 
Fact: This myth has grown because of the cartoons that we watched as kids. Mice in fact prefer grains and seeds.

4- Myth: Sugar makes children hyperactive. 
Fact: As much as sugar is a quick source for energy, it does not cause hyperactivity. This has been disproved by experiments.

5- Myth : The reason for the changing seasons is the earth’s distance from the sun. 
Fact: It is the 23.5 degree tilt in the axis of the earth that causes this change.

6- Myth: Caffeine dehydrates you. 
Fact: Dietician Dr Carrie Ruxton’s has studied that drinking a moderate amount of coffee does not have any significant impact on the hydration of our body.

Source Credit : Pinterest

Quotes to Inspire

- In Japan, broken objects are often repowered with gold. The flaw is seen as a unique piece of the object's history, which adds to it's beauty.

- Wrinkles mean you laughed, gray hair means you cared and scars mean you lived.

- Be a Pineapple: stand tall, wear a crown and be sweet on the inside.

- You are allowed to scream, you are allowed to cry, but do not give up.

- Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.

- Be a voice not an echo.

- Don't call it a dream...call it a plan.

- People who wonder whether the glass is half empty or half full are missing the point. The glass is Refillable.

- Nomatter what they tell you.... you don't have to stay within the lines.

- The expert in anything was once a beginner.

- You got this.

- :(: You decide.

Source Credit : Google search.L

Tree of Life

You have heard of things that have managed to survive in the desert right? Well this tree which is more than 400 years old, pushes those survival boundaries to the next level.This tree is said to have been planted in 1583 and survived up to this day. There is no other sign of vegetation or water near this tree for miles.As incredible as this sounds, there seems to be an explanation.

The species of this 'Tree of Life' is said to be found in dry climates. These trees also have roots that can stretch far underground in search of water, and it turns out the place where the tree grows is only 9-12m above sea level. So chances are the roots of the tree has gone down that far, which is incredible in itself. So we can't entirely discount the survival of this tree though centuries.

This tree definitely looks majestic when viewed with the unforgiving environment which it lives in. It receives approximately 50,000 visitors every year.In anyway, it is at the very least a fine example of resilience in nature.

Source Credit : www.amusingplanet.com/2013/11/tree-of-life-bahrain-miraculous.html

Shapeshifters - Origins

One of the most famous mythologies. Everyone has heard of them in some story or another right? So what we already know about them is that shapeshifters transform into any animal, at will.It's origins however, take us back thousands of years. We find references in various mythologies, the Greek, the Norse, the Egyptians, the Indian and even in Fairy Tales written in the 19th century.

Werewolves seem to have been the most extensively written about shifters. Though others would debate that the werewolves are impacted by the moon and can't transform at will, and thus can't be referred to as shapeshifters and are a diffrent category of creatures. 

Either way, they do change shape. The shapeshifters that have been given the highest value have been the Shamans. They were known to have healing abilities and much wisdom which was believed to have come from their dual form. It was believed that they could alter their state of consciousness. Their transformations occurred in many stories at a supernatural state. 

Clearly there are many forms and stories of shapeshifters as there have been cultures. Always an intriguing debate will be if these references were meant to be literal or metaphorical?
Source Credit : www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/evolving-forms-intriguing-look-shapeshifting-003491

Money Is Made Of Cotton

So it turns out, money indeed doesn't grow on trees....it grows in farms.The paper money we use on a everyday basis is a unique blend of 75% cotton and 25% linen. There is also a special polymer security thread in the notes that can only be seen in light and as the name suggests, it is embedded in the notes for security reasons. 
This fiber can not be copied or duplicated.Even the inks used to print money are different since they can't have the notes smug out on the initial contact with moisture and water. Paper notes are made in such a way as to ensure maximum durability.The design process is diffrent for each country obviously and the manufacturing process involves quite a few steps as well. It goes through a lot before it is even distributed, so making them with cotton fibers makes complete sense.
The future is anyway heading towards electronic money....so hopefully issues with durability of paper money can altogether be avoided.
Source Credit : www.madehow.com/Volume-3/Paper-Currency.html

A Diamond Mine For The People

Also known as the Crater of Diamonds and located in Arkansas and discovered in the late 1800's, it was not found to be bearing any precious gems. The 40 acres changed many hands over the years but it was in 1949, that this field was open to the general public to try their hand on diamond mining.From 1924, many diamonds of great value have been found here. Most of the diamonds have been white, however brown, yellow and canary colours have also been found. The last recorded dimond found there was in 1990. 
The Crater of Diamonds now has a site which helps people know how one can dig for diamonds there and what they might require. They even provide camping sites for people who wish to stay a while.However if you don't wish to dig for diamonds, the Crater of Diamonds is now a State Park which provides with other recreational activities, like wildlife observation, fishing, walking trails and even nearby dining options. Considering that there hasn't been any diamond found since 1990....one might not want to spend all the time there digging through dirt.
Source Credit : www.craterofdiamondsstatepark.com/Default.aspxL

The Center of the Universe

Located in Tulsa is a very peculiar place. Nothing much by the looks of it, since all it really is a circle of concrete that is surrounded by circles on circles of bricks.On the first look, it would seem like a brick design that is generally done on sidewalks. But there is something very peculiar about this one particularspot. Built in the 80's and measuring just 8 feet in diameter, the reason this place is referred to as the 'Center of the Universe' is because a curious acoustic phenomenonthat takes place here.Apparently, if you stand in the center of the circle and say something, it echo's back much louder to the person standing in the center of the circle, at the same time the person standing outside the circle hears either nothing....or a distorted version of what was said. The circle is almost like an unusual echo chamber. It is also called 'Whisper Chamber'. Weird huh?So far, from all the studies on it, no one has been able to explain it. An interesting place to check out either way.
Source Credit: www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-center-of-the-universe

Older than Dinosaurs and Still Alive

Every time we think of the oldest creatures alive, our mind tends to jump right to dinosaurs. Which is not wrong since they are ONE of the oldestcreatures we know of. However, unlike the dinosaurs, we have a creature that is still among us that has been alive since before dinosaurs existed.It's the octopus.Finding fossils of octopuses are for a start....quite difficultsince they are made mostly of soft tissue and muscles, they tend to decompose quite quickly...as compared to a creature with bones. So it was more like a miracle when scientist found 3 well-preservedoctopus fossils(in Lebanon) that lived millions of years ago.Dinosaurs are known to roamthe earth 231 million years ago and the octopus is now said to have existed about 296 million years ago.
Source Credit:ohmygodfacts.com/8-amazing-cool-octopus-facts

Life Within Death

Another very interesting addition to the curiously spectacular plant life that we have on earth. The Chinese Lantern Plant are usually used in Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations since they have orange pods.What is interesting about this plant however is that it is seen as a symbol of 'life within death'. It blooms in the winter season. That is when it looks orange, and when it drys up in the spring, the outer lantern shape pod becomes skeletally transparent, revealing the bright red fruit that lives inside. It is very apparent why this plant is used for decorative purposes. It is quite unique in it's design.
Source Credit : gardenersnet.com/flower/chineselanterns.htm