Belize is a small country located in Central America. The country covers just 22,966 km2 (8,867 sq mi) and is only about 290 km (280 mi) long and 110 km (68 mi) wide! It is bordered by Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the south and west. The area was originally claimed for Spain, but was settled by the British. The country eventually came under formal British control as British Honduras. The country was renamed in 1973 and achieved full independence on September 21, 1981. Let’s take a look at some more fun facts about Belize.
Audrey Hepburn was a famous actress and is often regarded as one of the best female on-screen performers of all time. She began her entertainment career on London’s West End as a chorus girl and not long after landed her first acting roles. She decided to move to the United States to try her luck and after a successful stint in the Broadway play “Gigi” she became a genuine star with an Academy Award winning role in the film “Roman Holiday.” She performed in a string of successful movies, including the hit “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, and was nominated for 4 more Academy Awards. She decided to take a step back from acting in 1967, although she did make a few more movies after this time. In 1993 she died from a rare form of cancer that had spread from her appendix aged 63. The following is a list of movies that Audrey Hepburn acted in during her distinguished career.
Zirconium is a gray-white metal with a similar appearance to titanium. It is a chemical element represented by the symbol Zr and atomic number 40. It is never found as a free metal because it reacts with water, but it is present in more than 140 minerals. The name zirconium comes from the mineral zircon, which is the most important source of the metal. The largest deposits of this mineral are found in Australia, Brazil, Russia, India, South Africa and the United States. Australia and South Africa are the largest miners of the mineral. The mineral zircon has been known since ancient times, it was even recorded in the bible, but the discovery of the pure metal didn’t occur until much later.
Hawaii is a group of islands located about 3,200 km (2,000 mi) from the North American continent. Hawaii is a state of the United States of America and it is the only state made up of only islands. Hawaii is a relatively small state in terms of area and population, but it has the fourth largest coastline of any U.S. state! Let’s take a look at a brief history of the region and find out how these islands became a state.
Michelangelo was a famous Italian artist, architect and poet and is considered to be one of the greatest artists of all time. He, along with fellow Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci, had a major influence in the development of Western art. Some of his most famous works include the Statue of David and the paintings on the Sistine Chapel ceiling and altar wall. He was also responsible for some of the architecture on famous buildings such as St Peter’s Basilica. If you have ever wondered where Michelangelo lived and worked, keep reading to find out.
The panda, also called giant panda, is a large animal that belongs to the bear family. The panda is native to central China where they live in a few select mountain ranges. These animals once occupied a much larger area, but there are now estimated to be only 1000-3000 left in the wild. This means that panda is now considered to be an endangered species and efforts are underway to protect this much loved animal. Let’s find out why the panda is listed as an endangered species.
Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness, is a medical condition that most commonly occurs above 2,400 m (8,000 ft). Most people are not affected by this condition and it is not understood why certain people are susceptible. Most cases of altitude sickness cause minor symptoms, which disappear when the person descends to a lower altitude. However, serious cases can cause high altitude pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) and high altitude cerebral edema (brain swelling) and these are often life threatening. Let’s find out what causes this potential fatal condition.
Nylon is a group of manmade polymers used for a number of products. Nylon was first invented to be a manmade replacement for silk, but today the fibers are used for many products such as fabric, rope, carpet, seatbelts, fishing line and much more. Solid nylon can also be used for a number of purposes such as mechanical parts. Since its invention in 1935 it has become one of the most commonly used polymers in the world. Let’s find out who invented this important material.
Saffron is an expensive spice most commonly used in cooking for its flavor, aroma and coloring properties. It is mostly used in the cuisines of Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The flavor of the spice is often described as sweet with a taste similar to hay. Saffron has been an important spice for many years and humans have been using it for more than 3,500 years. Let’s find out where it comes from.
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by a variety of strains of mycobacteria, most commonly Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In about 90% of cases the disease causes no symptoms and remains inactive. However, in 10% of cases the disease becomes active and can cause a variety of symptoms. The disease most commonly attacks the lungs and causes a long lasting cough sometimes with bloody mucus, fever and weight loss. The disease is usually diagnosed with a chest x-rays and treated with long term antibiotics. Unfortunately, the bacteria that cause tuberculosis are difficult to kill and have become resistant to the drugs. It is estimated that about a third of the people on Earth have been, or are, infected by mycobacteria known to cause tuberculosis. Let’s find out who discovered this serious disease.