Britain’s plethora of traditions and customs reflect the country’s rich cultural history. These celebrations are almost all tied to either the agricultural calendar, local folklore, religious festivals, historical events, or communal identity. However, the relatively recent past has seen Britain undergo major technological advances, rapid urbanisation and mass immigration. These developments have fuelled a tremendous…
A Curious Song I’ve always liked the popular swing number ‘Mack the Knife’ since I first heard it over 50 years ago. Since there are few songs out there that attempt to glorify murder, I was particularly drawn to its tale of gore. So, how did the song’s unusual lyrics come about and exactly who…
In 2001 the zircon crystal was unearthed at the Jack Hills sheep ranch in Western Australia. As it turned out, it was the oldest ‘thing’ ever discovered on Earth. Scientists dated the ancient crystal at about 4.4 billion years old. This is only around 150 million younger than the Earth itself. Here’s a brief rundown…
Did you know there are around one million known insect species on the planet? This easily makes the insect the most diverse animal in the world. All insects belong to the animal classification: Insecta, which defines them as a six-legged invertebrate with three body segments and an antenna. The beetle is the most abundant species…
Vegetables are part of a healthy, balanced diet so we must eat enough of them. Most vegetables are a great source of vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre and other nutrients. Additionally, they are almost always low in fat and calories. It’s universally recommended by various health organisations around the world that we eat at least 400g…
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