Author: Ilya

10 Remarkable and Unusual Facts About Iceland

Let’s dive into “10 Remarkable and Unusual Facts About Iceland”, a country known for its stunning landscapes and unique culture.

Northern light over Kirkjufell mountain in iceland
Northern light over Kirkjufell mountain in iceland
Photo by depositphotos.com

1. Contrary to popular belief, Norsemen were not the first humans to set foot on the Icelandic shores. That honor belongs to the Irish monks, known as the Papar, who ventured to the remote island before any others.

2. Amid the busy landscapes of cities worldwide, the familiar glow of the McDonald’s golden arches is conspicuously absent in Iceland. Following the Icelandic financial crisis of 2008-2011 and escalating import tariffs, McDonald’s exited the country in October 2009, never to return.

3. Iceland’s unique approach to fostering social interaction involved prohibiting TV broadcasts on Thursdays until 1987. This encouraged people to spend more time socializing, leading many Icelanders born before that year to jest that they were likely conceived on a Thursday.

4. In a testament to Iceland’s exceptional ecological niche, it stands as the only country devoid of mosquitoes. However, it does host blood-sucking insects known as Midges that display similar behaviors.

5. During the Cold War, a controversial move by the Icelandic government sought to restrict black American soldiers’ stationing on the island. The aim was to protect Icelandic women and maintain national homogeneity. This ban was only lifted in the late 1960s following US military pressure.

6. An astounding 70% of Icelanders are members of Costco, a remarkable statistic considering there is only one Costco branch in the entire country.

7. Reykjavík, the capital city, exhibits a unique kindness towards its feathered residents. A section of the city’s downtown pond is heated with hot water to provide birds with a consistent swimming area, even during the frosty winter months.

8. Iceland witnessed a powerful display of female solidarity on October 24, 1975, when 90% of its female population went on strike to demand equal rights. This collective action played a pivotal role in paving the way for Iceland’s first female president, who won the election in 1980.

9. The genetic tapestry of Iceland’s settlers is quite interesting. So many Irish women were taken captive by the Vikings that by the time they colonized Iceland, the population’s genetics were roughly 50% Irish.

10. Astonishingly, Iceland is home to Europe’s largest banana plantation. Taking advantage of geothermal energy, the country heats greenhouses allowing for the cultivation of tropical fruits such as bananas.

4 Astonishing Revelations About Bayer Pharmaceuticals

Let’s explore “4 Astonishing Revelations About Bayer Pharmaceuticals”, a journey into the surprising and sometimes dark history of this renowned pharmaceutical giant.

Package of Aspirin, brand of popular medication, the first and best-known product of Bayer, German multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Leverkusen
Photo by depositphotos.com

1. Known globally for its flagship product, aspirin, Bayer Pharmaceuticals also has a grim historical chapter associated with the Holocaust. The company purchased prisoners from the Auschwitz concentration camp to conduct drug testing. In its alliance with Nazi Germany, Bayer played an instrumental role, with thousands of victims succumbing during human experiments, including the testing of unknown vaccines.

2. Bayer’s ethical practices have also been questioned in a scandal involving blood products contaminated with HIV. Despite knowledge of the contamination, the company chose not to destroy the inventory, instead selling it worldwide, citing the financial investment in the product as too significant to dismiss.

3. An intriguing fact about Bayer involves the remarkable two-week period in the late 1880s during which Felix Hoffmann, a German chemist working for the company under Adolf Von Baeyer, invented both aspirin and heroin.

4. Aspirin, trademarked by Bayer in 1897, went on to become a staple of medicine cabinets worldwide. However, in a surprising twist following the Treaty of Versailles, which ended WW1, Bayer was forced to forfeit the trademark, rendering aspirin a generic drug. Similarly, Bayer also lost the trademark to “heroin,” originally marketed as a cough medicine under the company’s brand. This potent compound, known technically as diacetylmorphine, is now globally recognized by its once trademarked name, “heroin.”

8 Unexpected Facts About Instant Ramen

Immerse yourself in the whirlpool of fascinating revelations about a global pantry staple with “8 Unexpected Facts About Instant Ramen.”

Instant Ramen Noodles in a Cup with Beef Flavoring
Photo by depositphotos.com

1. Instant ramen noodles were created as a solution to the widespread hunger in Japan post-WW2. The brain behind this innovation, Momofuku Ando, envisioned his noodles as a cure for world hunger. Over the years, Ando often infused his workforce with his philosophies, famously exclaiming, “Mankind is noodlekind,” “What are you doing now?,” and “Peace will come when people have food.” These quotes found their way into the company’s employee handbook.

2. The birth of Cup Noodles occurred after Momofuku Ando observed American supermarket executives breaking his ramen to fit into styrofoam coffee cups. They poured boiling water over the broken ramen and enjoyed their meal using forks. This observation led Ando to innovate further and invent Cup Noodles.

3. The University of Chicago Burn Center conducted a retrospective study over ten years, revealing that instant ramen accidents account for over 30% of pediatric scald burns.

4. In 1958, when instant ramen first hit the market, it was deemed a luxury product. Surprisingly, fresh noodles were sold at a price as low as one-sixth of the price of instant ramen.

5. A survey involving 2,000 Japanese participants asked them to nominate the greatest invention of the 20th Century. The top two contenders? Ramen noodles and Karaoke.

6. Did you know that instant ramen noodles undergo a deep-frying process in palm oil before they reach the packaging stage?

7. While preparing your instant noodles, heating the styrofoam cup in the microwave is discouraged. This process releases more of the BPA chemical found in styrofoam, which could pose health risks.

8. Shifting dynamics in prison currency have seen ramen noodles surpass cigarettes as the most popular form of exchange. In a creative culinary twist, prisoners concoct a snack known as a “swole.” This involves blending hot water with a mix of crushed Doritos or Cheetos and ramen. The mixture is then allowed to expand, resulting in a burrito-like delicacy. It seems that the versatility of ramen knows no bounds!

11 Unbelievable Facts About Peru

Venture into the intriguing depths of Peru with ’11 Unbelievable Facts About Peru.’ You’re about to discover some truly fascinating aspects of this South American gem.

Tourist woman in rainbow hat and brown poncho holding man by hand and going to the lake in the mountains
Photo by depositphotos.com

1. Every December 25th, a tradition known as ‘Takanakuy‘ takes center stage in a Peruvian town. This unique practice involves community members — children, women, and men — settling the year’s disputes through fistfights. The ritual ends with communal drinking, numbing any pain and ushering in the New Year on a clean slate.

2. In an interesting twist, Peru’s president from 1990 to 2000 was of pure Japanese descent. Alberto Fujimori fled to Japan in 2008 amidst his prosecution for crimes against humanity. He even tried to resign via a fax machine! In 2009, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison, pardoned in 2017, only for the Peruvian Supreme Court to annul the pardon.

3. The world’s highest permanent settlement is La Rinconada, Peru, standing over 16,000 feet above sea level. This gold-mining town of 30,000 residents lacks running water, a sewage system, and significant government presence.

4. Welcome to Iquitos, Peru’s city only accessible by plane or boat, making it the largest city in the world unreachable by road.

5. Would you believe that both the potato and tomato hail from Peru? These staples of Eurasian cuisine were unknown to the Eastern Hemisphere until about 500 years ago. Even tomatoes, initially dubbed “Pomidoro” (golden apple), seemed too exotic for Italian palates for nearly 300 years.

6. Amid World War II, Peru and Ecuador clashed in a separate international conflict in 1941, unaffiliated with the Axis or Allies.

7. In the heart of the Peruvian jungles, there’s a German settlement named Pozuzo, established by roughly 150 German and Austrian settlers in 1859. Isolated from their homeland and the rest of Peru for 120 years, they became entirely self-sufficient.

8. Machu Picchu, Peru’s crown jewel, escaped the destructive hands of the Spanish conquistadors due to its hidden location, invisible from below. Local communities aware of the site kept it secret to protect it from Spanish invasion.

9. The Potato Park in Peru is an indigenous-managed seed bank specializing in Andean crops, particularly potatoes. This agricultural haven houses 2,300 out of the world’s 4,000 potato varieties.

10. La Rinconada, aside from its status as the highest elevated city globally, hosts a unique gold mining practice. Miners work for 30 days without pay, but on the 31st day, they can take home as much ore as they can shoulder.

11. Incans practiced intentional cranial deformation on infants, leading to elongated skulls among the nobility. This peculiar custom was a marker of social status within their communities.

10 Incredible Insights About Missouri

Peel back the curtains on the fascinating state of Missouri, and you’ll discover a host of intriguing facts that may astound you. Welcome to ’10 Incredible Insights About Missouri’.

Image of St. Louis downtown with Gateway Arch at twilight.
Photo by depositphotos.com

1. In an impressive ecological milestone, Missouri emerged as the pioneering US state to embed wildlife conservation into its constitution. Established through a statewide referendum, this move aimed to shield it from easy repeal. Eighty-one years later, Missouri’s wildlife conservation framework is recognized and respected worldwide.

2. In the quest to recall all 50 states of the US, it seems ‘Missouri’ is the one most likely to be overlooked. So next time you take on that challenge, don’t forget the ‘Show-Me State’.

3. Thanks to industrial influence, Missouri boasts some of the most lenient alcohol laws in the nation. Everything from hard liquor retailing in grocery stores and gas stations, to bars doubling up as liquor stores, and even public intoxication, is permissible. Most areas even allow open containers, including passengers in vehicles.

4. In a startling episode, a Missourian intentionally damaged a Mississippi River levee to hinder his wife’s return home, thereby extending his party time. The resulting flood covered 14,000 acres. This man was subsequently arrested, convicted of instigating a catastrophe, and sentenced to life imprisonment.

5. Did you know that the United States safeguards a mammoth cheese stockpile of 1.4 billion pounds in Missouri’s caves? Now that’s a lot of cheese!

6. In a dark chapter of Missouri’s history, Governor Lilburn Boggs issued Executive Order 44 in 1838, mandating all Mormons to exit the state or face execution. Disturbingly, this decree remained in effect until 1976, making it legal to murder Mormons in Missouri.

7. In a bizarre twist of fate, due to a communication mishap, Missouri authorities assumed Michael Anderson was serving his 13-year sentence for armed robbery in prison. The error was only discovered as his supposed release date approached, revealing they had forgotten to incarcerate him.

8. The Mormon community holds the belief that the original Garden of Eden is located in Jackson County, Missouri. A truly divine location!

9. Walt Disney, before his death, had envisioned creating a Disney park in his birthplace of Marceline, Missouri. This quaint city, with a population slightly over 2,000, inspired the iconic “Main Street, USA” in Disneyland.

10. Missouri also claims the sweet accolade of being the birthplace of the ice cream cone, which is believed to have debuted at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1904.