In the spring of 2000, it was reported that a 25-year-old Tehran transsexual, who had just undergone extensive surgery to become a woman, said he wanted to change back to a man after realizing just how poorly women are treated in Iran.

Scientists at Oxford University's Imperial Cancer Research Fund found that people who eat fresh fruit daily had 24 percent fewer heart attacks and 32 percent fewer strokes.

If the Earth's axis was not tilted, there would be 12-hour days everywhere, and no seasons. At the poles, the sun would always be on the horizon.

"Diddle for the middle" is a slang expression used for the start of a darts game. Opposing players each throw a single dart at the bull's eye. The person who is closest starts the game.

In Jewish folklore, a dybbuk was a demon, or the soul of a dead person that entered the body of a living person and directed the person’s conduct, exorcism being possible only by a religious ceremony.

Since the spice saffron is so expensive, knowledgeable chefs don't want to waste it. They never use wooden utensils when mixing saffron. Wood tends to absorb it easily.

The average weight of a turkey purchased at Thanksgiving is 15 pounds. The heaviest turkey ever raised was 86 pounds, about the size of a large dog. A 15 pound turkey usually has about 70 percent white meat and 30 percent dark meat.

No, it wasn't a fear that Superman was roaming the streets of London. When the X-ray machine was first developed in 1895, it (like almost any new technology) was a bit feared. One of the fears was that the machine would be used primarily by "peeping Toms" to look through people's clothes. Thus, London merchants sold "X-ray" proof underwear to ...Read more

The Associated Press reported in December 1985, in Eugene, Oregon, a 6-month-old kitten set a Christmas tree on fire while batting at the lighted bulbs. The heat of the fire cracked a nearby fishbowl, and water from the bowl doused some of the fire. Firefighters arrived within minutes of the fire starting and put out the fire, which had spread ...Read more

Le Tour de France (Tour of France), often referred to as La Grande Boucle, Le Tour or The Tour, is the most famous and prestigious road bicycle race in the world. With the exception of interruptions for World War I and World War II, it has been held annually since 1903. It is a long-distance stage race competition for professional cycling teams,...Read more

Sort of -- Merlin saved his own neck by determining the root of Vortigern's troubles, showing him that a red and white dragon were battling beneath the foundation of his castle. He predicted that the red dragon would be the victor and only then the fighting would stop. Of course, this wasn't a literal analysis, as the red dragon represented ...Read more

On the average, to maintain desirable weight, men need about 2,700 calories per day and women need about 2,000 calories per day. It is not well understood why some people can eat much more than others and still maintain a desirable weight. However, one thing is certain — to lose weight, you must take in fewer calories than you burn. This means...Read more

In the 1850s, Ohio was the nation's largest wine producer. Although its remaining 3,000 acres of vineyards are but a fraction of what they once were, Ohio remains the largest wine producer in the Midwest.

The Pringles saddle shape chip surface was modeled after, and can be described mathematically by, a hyperbolic paraboloid, which is a form of quadric. This shape is distinctive in that it is curved at all points along its surface; there are no flat planes or lines. This design characteristic is beneficial as it helps keep the chips from breaking...Read more

A typical breakfast in South China would likely include rice porridge with slivers of fish, frog, or preserved egg. Also a breakfast favorite is hot soybean milk with onions.

Both the American Revolution and the infamous French Revolution were born in coffee houses. The American Revolution grew from roots planted by patriots in the Green Dragon (some say it was the Green Lion) Public House in the Lloyd's District of London. The infamous French Revolution happened in 1789 when the Parisians, spurred on by Camille ...Read more

The jewel-studded St. Edward's Crown, worn only at coronations, weighs about seven pounds.

Winking at women, even to express friendship, is considered bad manners in Australia.

Glamorous sex kitten during the 1950s, starring in movies such as Trapeze and Solomon and Sheba, Gina Lollobridgida retired from films in the 1970s to become a professional photographer.

Lassie is the favorite movie dog of animal experts, beating out Benji and Beethoven, according to a survey of Humane Society directors conducted by stuffed animal manufacturer Dakin, Inc.