Monosodium glutamate (MSG, Vetsin) is a monosodium salt (with one sodium ion) of glutamic acid. Chemically, it is HOOC-CH2-CH2-CH(NH2)-COONa. It’s widely used as a taste enhancer in place of vinegar derivatives in soups, sauces, etc. because of its pleasantly tangy taste. Recent scientific studies have shown that this salt does a lot more stimulate the taste bud. Excess consumption is known to cause a disorder called as Chinese restaurant syndrome.
According to the book of Genesis in the Bible, the world was created in six days and the seventh day (Saturday) was a day of rest and worship. The ancient Egyptians also considered this day a day of rest and play. Saturday is the Sabbath among the Jews and the only day named after a Roman God, Saturn. In support of this historical belief, across cultures, most employers give their workers either a half day or a full holiday on this day. Saturn is the second largest planet in the Solar system and hence second Saturday is a holiday.
Skimming is the unauthorized copying of information stored on the magnetic strip of a credit card. This information is used to create a cloned card, which is then used for fraudulent transactions in retail outlets or on the internet. The stolen details can also be used for identity theft. Credit card skimming occurs when someone uses a hand-held device called a skimmer, which resembles an ATM keyboard. The credit card is swiped through the device, and the device reads the magnetic strips on your credit cards. Now the thief has the information needed to make a counterfeit card.
Barbie’s creator Ruth Handler named the doll after her daughter Barbara. It made its debut at the New York International American Toy Fair on March 9, 1959, which is widely celebrated as Barbie’s birthday. Handler fashioned Barbie after she noticed that her daughter quite enjoyed playing with adult-looking dolls rather than then prevalent models of dolls made to resemble infants. Her husband Elliot Handler was the co-founder of the Mattel Toy Company.
The first bicycle was invented by Comte Mede de Sivrac of France around 1790. It was a wooden scooter-like contraption called celerifere. The modern form was developed by a French father and son team of carriage makers, Pierre and Ernst Michaux in 1860s which had metal tires instead of wooden ones. Later, these were replaced by air filled rubber tires in 1880s.
The Greeks are credited with putting map making on a sound mathematical footing. The earliest Greek known to have made a map of the world was Anaximander. In 6th century BC, he drew a map of the then known world, assuming that the earth was cylindrical. The first Greek to draw a world map using the assumption of a spherical earth was Eratosthenes. Ptolomey first drew maps of the world using latitudes and longitudes and conic projection. In 150 AD he produced a six-volume atlas called geographia containing several maps of the world known during his time.
The home lizard or gecko, found in most homes, is not poisonous at all. It only checks insect population. The only poisonous lizard in the world is the Heloderma, also called as Gila monster and beaded lizard. It’s found in large numbers near Gila River in South-western United States.
The Magnetic Hill is located on the Leh-Kargil-Batalik National Highway, about 30 kms from Leh, at a height of 14,000 ft above sea level. The hill supposedly has magnetic properties which attracts metallic objects, making vehicles move up at a speed of about 20 kmph with their engines off. However, many feel that it’s a mere optical illusion and nothing to do with magnetic fields, electricity or unknown forces working along mysterious lines.
Milk is not a simple liquid–it contains tiny globules of fat and casein which are not dissolved but suspended in water. On heating milk, there occurs a separation of constituents and some other elements like cream, being lighter, and float up. After sometime, a membrane-like film containing cream and casein is formed. When milk begins to boil, the heat energy is used for conversion of water into steam. As a result, the pressure below the film increases suddenly and the rising bubbles of steam makes the milk overflow. On heating water, no such film is formed and the bubbles of steam formed by boiling escape easily without resistance. Hence, water does not overflow on boiling.
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