Orville Wright is considered as the ‘father of modern aviation’. Together with his brother Wilbur, he invented the first airplane. He developed flight technology for the United States Army. Mahatma Gandhi, an international figure symbolizing peace, the Father of the Indian Nation, ushered in the Indian independence through non-violent means. Both Orville Wright and Mahatma Gandhi died …
‘Triskaidekaphobia’ is a word that arises from the greek tris meaning three, and deka meaning ten, i.e. thirteen, and phobia meaning fear. Triskaidekaphobia thus means the fear of the ‘number thirteen’. In western culture, the number thirteen is often associated with ill luck. Many hotels in the western countries have no thirteenth floor, and many streets are avoided being given the number …
Badminton is a popular sport played with lightweight racquets and a shuttlecock. It is said to have been originated in Poona, now Pune, where the British army officers picked it up in the 1860s. The sport was called Poona. It was introduced in England in about 1873 at the country estate of the Duke of Beaufort …
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and the largest pyramid in Egypt. It was built for the Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops in Greek) and took 20 years to complete. The length of each side at the base averages 755.75 feet (230 metres). Its original height was 481.4 feet (147 metres) and present height is …
The bar code was invented by Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver in 1948. It was designed as a ‘bulls eye’ symbol comprising concentric circles. The initial idea of the bar code was to use it as a method for classifying grocery products. In 1970 a standard was set for all products and the Universal Grocery Products …
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States of America. At 43 he became one of the youngest Presidents of the USA. He is the only US President to have won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize. The notable events during his tenure were the Cuban missile crisis, building of Berlin War and the beginning of …
