What is it?
It is an artificial sweetener.
How was it discovered?
In 1879 Constantin Fahlberg, a chemist trying to find alternative uses
for coal tar, came home after a long day of work only to notice that his
wife’s biscuits tasted a lot sweeter. After asking her about it he
realized he hadn’t washed his hands after work, and voila.
Intriguing facts
- Saccharin is unstable when heated but it does not react chemically with other food ingredients. Hence it stores well.
- Saccharin derives its name from the word "saccharine", meaning of, relating to, or resembling sugar.
- In the United States, its daily use as a sugar substitute.
What is it?
It is one of the most controversial goals in football history.
When did it happen?
1986 World cup quarter final(Argentina vs England)
Intriguing Facts :
- Six minutes into the second-half, Maradona passed the ball to Jorge
Valdano and continued his run from the left into the England penalty
area.
- The pass was intercepted by Steve Hodge but in trying to clear the ball
he skewed it into the penalty area where Maradona had continued his run
and England goalkeeper Peter Shilton had come out to meet it.
- Shilton was favorite to punch the ball clear, however, Maradona reached
it first and with the outside of his left fist, knocked it beyond
Shilton and into the net.
- Referee Ali Bin Nasser and his linesman did not see the infringement and the goal stood.
- Argentina won the match 2-1.
What is it?
Bermuda Triangle is an undefined region in the in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean.
Why is it popular?
Many ships and aircrafts have gone missing in this region under mysterious circumstances.
Intriguing facts :
- The term was first coined in 1964 by writer Vincent Gaddis in the Argosy.
- The earliest allegation of unusual disappearances in the Bermuda area appeared in a September 17, 1950 article published in The Miami Herald.
- According to the US Navy, Bermuda Triangle does not exist.
Born : 24 October 1985
Place of birth : Croxteth, Liverpool, England
First Club : Everton
First Big Club : Manchester United
Celebration : Extends both hands and looks up to the sky
Achievements :
- Scored the match-winning goal against Aresnal in the Premier League(October 2002) which ended their 30-match unbeaten run.
- Youngest player to score a goal for England(6 September 2003 against Macedonia)
- England's top goal scorer in Euro 2004
- Signed by Manchester United at the age of 18 with the highest fee ever paid for a teenager.
- Youngest player to score a hat-trick in the Champions League
- Named FIFPro World Young Player of the Year (2004/2005)
- 5 Premier League Titles
- PFA Player of the year (09\10)
- Youngest player ever to score 150 Premier League Goals
- Scored 200 United goals
Intriguing Facts :
- Rooney has scored maximum number of goals in the second half(114). He has scored 86 in the first half.
- He has scored maximum goals for United in April.
- He has scored 11 goals against Aston Villa.
- Of the 200 United goals, 107 took place at Old Trafford, 83 away and 10 at neutral grounds.
Born : 24 June 1987
Roots : born and brought up in Rosario, Argentina
First Club : Grandoli
First Big Club : FC Barcelona
Celebration : Rise of both hands in the air. This gesture is to thank and pay tribute to his grandmother.
Achievements :
Argentina : FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1 - 2005
Olympic Gold Medal: 1- 2008
FC Barcelona :
La Liga: 5
2004-05, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11
- Copa del Rey: 1
2008-09
- Supercopa de Espana: 5
2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011
- UEFA Champions League: 3
2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11
- UEFA Super Cup: 2
2009, 2011
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2
2009, 2011
Intriguing facts -
- He was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency which was stopping his normal growth rate at a tender age of 11.
- Leo has been a very shy person right from his childhood.Most the important messages that have to be delivered to him and received from him take place through SMS.
- Messi used to be a food lover and addict in his initial days at Barcelona and his unbalanced diet resulted in the lack of his regular presence at the highest level.
- Messi established the Leo Messi Foundation in 2007. It deals with taking care of underprivileged and unhealthy children and funding them for their travel, treatment and other expenses.
Born : 20 April 1889
Died : 30 April 1945
Achievements :
- Soldier during World War I who later became the dictator of Germany.
- Overcame chaos in Germany, restored order.
- Enormously raised production in all fields after "The Great Depression".
- Provided over 7 million job opportunities.
- Gave order to develop Volkswagen Beetle.
Demerits :
- Started World War II
- He wanted to kill Jewish people, the disabled, Travelers ("Gypsies,") homosexuals and other people who he considered imperfect.
- Concentration camps to execute Jews.
- Passed a law that unmarried women should have children.
- Invasion of Soviet Union which was one of the reasons Germany lost World War II.
Intriguing facts :
- Born in Austria and became dictator of Germany
- Used conventional methods of warfare during World War II.
- Awarded two Iron Crosses for bravery during World War I.
- Allowed to break the terms of Treaty of Versailles.
Born : 15 August 1769
Died : 5 May 1821
Achievements :
- He was Emperor of the France from 1804 to 1814.
- He undertook many reforms across Europe, ending feudalism for example
- He won the great majority of his battles and seized control of most
of continental Europe.
- Napoleon was forced to go in exile to the Italian island of Elba
after losing in the invasion by Russia.
- He escaped the prison but, was
defeated in the battle of waterloo.
- He spent the last six years of his life in confinement by the British on the island of Saint Helena.
Intriguing facts :
- Napoleon had a photographic memory and could instantly recall vast
amounts of information, such as troop numbers and map details.
- Despite being characterized as short at 1.67 metres tall, Napoleon
may have been slightly taller than the average European at the time he
lived.
- Often credited with originating the phrase “a picture is worth 1,000
words,” what Napoleon actually said was: “A good sketch is better than a
long speech.”
Duration : September 1 1939 - September 2 1945
Countries participated :
The Axis(German, Italy, Japan) and The Allies(Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, India, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Africa,US ,UK, USSR)
Reason : Failure of Treaty of Versailles, The League of Nations failed to keep the peace, Hitler's method of expansion.
Result :
millions homeless, European economy collapsed, European industrial infrastructure destroyed. Soviet Union heavily affected.
Intriguing factor :
- Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were conducted by the US. (Aug 6 and Aug 9, 1945)
- In 1942, American radio DJs were prohibited from taking listener requests. The government feared that enemy spies would embed secret messages.
- Russia and Japan have never signed an official peace treaty with each other to end World War II.
Duration : July 28 1914 - November 11 1918
Countries participated :
Allies(France, Great Britain and Russia) and Triple Alliance(Germany and Austria-Hungary)
Reason : Imperialism, Militarism, Nationalism and conflicts between the great European powers
Result :
- Allies maintained the naval blockade of Germany
- Treaty of Versailles was signed
- Influenza epidemic in Europe and America
Intriguing factor :
- 500,000 pigeons were regularly dropped into enemy lines by parachute, and then sent back with messages.
- Explosives used to destroy a bridge in France could be be heard over 130 miles away in London.
- 9 million soldiers had been killed and 21 million wounded.
- Established : The main complex was constructed between 1896 and 1906.
- Location : Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Purpose : It was a prison used by the British especially to exile political prisoners to the remote group of islands. The famous political leaders were tortured mercilessly in this confinement.
- Intriguing facts :
- It is called cellular as it is made of individual cells for solitary confinement.
- It has been declared as a national memorial.
- Subash Chandra Bose hoisted the national flag near the cellular jail on December 30, 1943 and proclaimed independence from British rule.
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| Kalapani |
