Nature »

[18 Nov 2008 | No Comment | 12 views]
U know why ‘you cry cutting the onion’ ?

In onion there are molecules that contain one or more of sulfur atoms: the organic sulphides. When cutting the onion these sulphides are combined with another substance present in different layers, “the allinasi enzyme”, which degrades amino acids and volatile odorless. These amino acids, reacting with water covering the cornea, are transformed into acids, mainly sulfuric and sulphide. As corrosive substances, the eye tries to rid activating the lacrimal glands. From the’90 in different parts of the world  , it attracts the attention of scientists, agronomists and geneticists. How …

Science »

[18 Nov 2008 | No Comment | 282 views]
U know why the “fractals” are called so ?

The history of fractals in the strict sense is fairly recent. Suddenly opened in 1975 with the revolutionary publication “A Theory of Fractal Sets” of mathematician Benoît Mandelbrot, which became the basis of its fundamental text and manifest.

In “The Fractal Geometry of Nature” Mandelbrot, has coined the term fractal which derives from the Latin word “Fractus” (split), because the size of a fractal is not whole. The fractal geometric figures are characterized by repeated indefinitely until the same reason on an ever smaller scale.

The characteristic of these figures, a feat …

Uncategorized »

[18 Nov 2008 | No Comment | 25 views]
U know why one minute has 60 seconds?

With the birth of mechanical watches, around the thirteenth century, it was established the habit of splitting time in 60 smaller parts, all equal, each of which was called in Latin “pars minuta prima” which means “first small part” then cut short ‘minutes’, and these in turn were divided into 60 shares still other smaller, each of which was called, in Latin, secunda pars minuta (second small part), then cut short’ second ‘.
The choice of the number 60 is traced back to Sumerian, which had divided the circle in 360 …

Society »

[18 Nov 2008 | No Comment | 0 views]
U know why it is used to give “Easter eggs”?

The eggs, perhaps because of their shape and substance very particular, have always played a unique role, the symbol of life itself, but also the mystery, almost sacred. Already at the time of paganism in certain beliefs, Heaven and Earth were considered two halves of the same egg, and eggs were the symbol of the return of life. The birds in fact were preparing the nest used to contain the eggs: then everyone knew that the winter and the cold had passed. The Greeks, Chinese and Persians exchanged them as …

Curiosity »

[18 Nov 2008 | No Comment | 0 views]
U know why we say: “Salted Prices”?

Salzburg, as you know, is the city of Mozart. But you never thought to the meaning of the name Salzburg? “Burgo” comes from the German Burg, namely fortress city, and “salis” from the Latin word that means the salt. Ie: the city of salt. In fact the whole region of Salzburg is rich in salt. Austria, a country, with no sea borders, paradoxically possessed in the past some of the richest (and profitable) deposits of sea salt. Even today, moreover, its mines are active, and also visited. But why there …