Who created the smiley?

Research professor at the Carnegie Mellon University Scott E Fahlman is said to be the creator of the smiley, an emoticon used in internet parlance. It is believed that Fahlman sent an e-mail to his colleagues on September 19, 1982: “I propose the following character sequence for joke markers; :-). Read it sideways.’’ This year, the emoticon which has endeared itself the world over, turned 25. To celebrate its silver jubilee, an annual Smiley Award meant for CMU students was created. It carries a cash prize of $500. Prof Fahlman says that the Smiley Award is for ‘innovation in technology-assisted humanto-human communication’.

Why is World AIDS Day observed on December 1?

The first World AIDS Day came in the wake of the world summit of ministers of health on programmes for AIDS prevention in London in January 1988 which delegates from 148 countries attended. They emphasised the need for worldwide AIDS education, the free exchange of information, and the protection of human rights and dignity. The World Health Organisation recognised the event by declaring December 1 as World AIDS Day. In 1991, the red ribbon became the international symbol of HIV and AIDS awareness. It was created by the Visual AIDS Caucus in New York. It made its public debut at the 1991 Tony Awards on the lapel of host Jeremy Irons.

Which is the world’s first SEZ?

A Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is a region that has economic laws that are more liberal than a country’s typical economic laws. The goal of an SEZ is to increase foreign investment. One of the earliest and the most famous SEZs was founded by the government of the People’s Republic of China under Deng Xiaoping in the early 1980s. The most successful SEZ in China is in Shenzhen. Following this example, SEZs have been established in several countries, including Brazil, India, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine.

What is quantum tunnelling?

In Physics, quantum is the particle which obeys quantum mechanics. When a quantum particle has to cross a potential barrier which has more energy than the particle, then, according to classical physics, it cannot do so. But, in quantum mechanics, it can, however small it be. This phenomenon is known as quantum tunnelling. The best example of quantum tunnelling is the emission of alpha particles from a radioactive nucleus . Although the energy of alpha particles is less than nuclear potential, they can tunnel through it.

What’s the difference between a lawyer and a barrister?

A lawyer is a person who practises law; one who conducts lawsuits for clients or advises clients of their legal rights and obligations. A barrister is a legal practitioner whose main function is to practise advocacy in court. They often have less interaction with clients. Barristers spend their working hours in chambers where they prepare their cases.

What is medical narcissism?

Medical narcissism is defined as the need for health professionals not to disclose serious medical errors to their patients for fear of losing credibility and esteem in their eyes.

Why are the kilogram weights hexagonal?

Kilogram weights are hexagonal for stability, as volume is the surface area multiplied by height. For a hexagonal object, the surface area is maximum as compared to other angular shapes, plus the height is fixed for every weight. The higher the surface area, the better the stability.

What’s special about the Kew Gardens?

Kew Gardens in Thames, London, is best known for being the home of the Royal Botanical Gardens (now a world heritage site). Other points of interest include the Kew Palace and the National Archives (previously known as the Public Records Office). The Kew Gardens is special because it is an important international botanical research and education institution with a staff of over 700 people.

What are teepees made of ?

Long before the Indians from the plains moved from place to place throughout the year, taking their homes with them, they had lightweight, comfortable, collapsible structures which they called teepees (or tepees or tipis). Teepee is a tall, cone-shaped tent dwelling used by the plains’ Indians, and was made by stretching buffalo skin over a skeleton of 20-30 wooden poles, all slanted towards a central point and tied together near the top. A flap at the top allowed smoke to escape, and a flap at the bottom served as a doorway. Water-resistant and flame-retardant teepees are even produced from the best natural cotton canvas by marquee manufactures and have withstood hard commercial use for many years. The basic design and construction methods of the teepee have also been well established over many years to increase the life of the teepee.

Why are domestic LPG cylinders red?

Domestic LPG cylinders are not always red in colour. For example, blue-coloured cylinders are used in Singapore. Red colour light has the highest wavelength in the visible spectrum. So, it is visible even from a long distance. Red colour is used for anything which is dangerous or urgent. As we know that LPG is highly inflammable, it is painted red for the safety of the consumer.

What is the difference between a notification and a circular?

A notification is issued by a government (central/ state) to exercise the power of a legislative enactment (Parlimentary/ Assembly). These powers are in abundance in taxation (direct/ indirect) legislations. These notifications generally lay down the law taking care of some procedural aspects of the enactment. The circulars are issued by the chief executive in charge of the taxation hierarchy, and are normally explanatory/ interpretative or relax the rigours of the law administered.

Who was the first man in Hindu mythology?

According to the Matsya Purana, sage Manu was the first man (and the first human) created by God. In the above Purana it was mentioned that Lord Brahma created, using his divine powers, the Goddess Shatrupa (as Saraswati was first called) and out of the union of Brahma and Shatrupa was born Manu. Manu obtained through long penance his wife Ananti. The rest of the human race originated from Manu and Ananti. Details about the children of Manu and Ananti are found in the Bhagavata Purana. Manu is also considered to be the author of the ancient Sanskrit code of law, Manu Smriti, which was the summary of a discourse given by Manu to several rishis. The English noun man and the sanskrit verb mun, meaning to think, are supposed to have evolved from the word Manu. Rigveda has a different account of the origin of the human race, which was born from the five children (four male, and one female) of Lord Prajapati, as Brahma was earlier called. Of the two versions, the Matsya Purana is more popular and complete.

How is ink manufactured?

All inks contain two rudimentary components: a pigment or dye called a colourant, and a vehicle which is the liquid into which the colourant is dispersed. Printing inks are more like paints than writing inks — they consist of solid pigments dispersed in an oil. They are, therefore, less fluid. Manufacturing ink is a complicated process, involving the mixture of a pigment with a vehicle, the grinding of the mixture in a mill between rollers, the addition of driers, and, when using chemicallyproduced rather than natural pigments, a filtering process.

What is the pH level of a snake’s poison?

Firstly, a snake has venom and not poison. The pH level of a snake’s venom indicates the concentration level of the poison. The term pH stands for ‘potential of hydrogen’. This is the measure of how acidic or alkaline a substance is. Acids have pH values that are under 7 and alkalies have pH values over 7. If a substance has a pH value of 7, it is neutral — neither acidic nor alkaline.

Where was the first roller coaster set up?

The earliest roller coaster was the Russian winter sled ride, set up in specially constructed hills of ice around Petersburg. It was built in the 17th century. The slides were built to a height of 70 to 80 feet and consisted of a 50-degree drop duly reinforced by wooden supports. The first roller coaster per se was created in Paris in 1804 which was named ‘The Russian Mountains’.

Who are called cosers?

A section of youth in Taiwan who dress up like Japanese animation characters are called cosers. They emulate not just the costumes but even the roles of the characters. Experts view this trend as a way in which these youths try to break out of strict traditions of Chinese society. The act of imitating these characters is called cosplay. The cosers exhibited their flamboyant sense of style during the recently held expo of Japanese manga animation in Taiwan.

How is a country’s GDP measured?

GDP or Gross Domestic Product is the monetary value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country’s borders in a specific time period. GDP is customarily reported on an annual basis. It is the nation’s broadest gauge of economic health. It includes all of private and public consumption, government outlays, investments and exports and imports that occur within a defined territory. The most common approach to measuring GDP is the expenditure method: GDP = consumption + investment (government spending) + (exports - imports). Another way of measuring GDP is to measure the total income payable in the GDP income accounts. This should provide the same figure as the expenditure method. Another formula is: GDP = rent + interests + profits + statistical adjustments (like corporate income taxes, dividends, undistributed corporate profits) + wages.

What is special about University of Toulouse?

University of Toulouse is one of the oldest universities of France and is located in Toulouse, a city in Southern France on the banks of the Garonne river. It was found ed in 1229 AD as a result of the Paris Treaty marking the end of the battle between the Roman Catholic Church and its oppo nents. Foulques de Toulouse, the then bishop of Toulouse, played a major role in the setting up of the university. Now, the universi ty has an enrolment exceeding 1,00,000, and is the second largest university in France. The sixteenth century philosopher and astronomer Bruno and the Chemistry Nobel Laureate Sabatier, and the artist Dulac were some of its most illustrious faculty members.

Which is the oldest civilisation in the world?

This has long been a subject of much debate and to this day no one is absolutely sure which is the oldest civilisation. This is mostly because people cannot agree on the definition of the word civilisation. The most common definition of the word is ‘an advanced state of development in human society, marked by progress in the arts and sciences, the extensive use of writing, and complex political and social institutions’. Mesopotamia is considered as the most likely answer to the question, based on archaeological evidence and the above definition. It is believed that Mesopotamian history starts from the emergence of urban societies in Southern Iraq in the 4th millennium.

What is steaming distance?

Steaming distance is the shortest distance between two ports, which a ship traverses while sailing from one port to another. It need not be along a straight line as, due to various physical and political constraints, it may not be always be desirable to sail along straight route.

Why is the alphabet written in a specific order?

The alphabet has often been described as an arbitrary collection of symbols representing an arbitrary collection of sounds. Its order is equally random. The word alphabet comes from alpha and beta, the first two words in the Greek alphabet.

What is a hypercube?

Hypercube is the generalisation in n-dimensions of a square in two dimensions and a cube in three dimensions. A square has four vertices (22), a cube, 8 vertices (23). Similarly, an n-dimensional hypercube has 2n vertices. In the famous painting ‘Christus Hypercubus’, Salvador Dali depicted Christ crucified on an unfolded four-dimensional hypercube. Examining the shadow of a cube reveals a square within a square. Similarly, the shadow of a four-dimensional hypercube will be a cube within a cube.

What is the difference between Marxism and Socialism?

Socialism is a modern doctrine and is Western in origin, emerging with the development of industrial capitalism at the start of the nineteenth century. Socialism denotes a broad system of ideas. Marxism is a materialistic conception of history which seeks to explain the development of all societies and furthermore, make predictions about future social change. Marxists consider the material world, nature and society as constantly moving. Whereas, the socialists emphasise the organic unity of society. Marxists consider the material world as an integrated whole in which all things and phenomena are interconnected and interdependent. Whereas, socialists believe in equality and abolition of private enterprise. Marxism provides a scientific explanation of nature and society and hence, was a powerful instrument for revolutionary transformation. The society envisaged by socialists rests on certain values: redistribution of wealth to get rid of inequality, cooperative production to get rid of selfish competitors and new patterns of work and education to promote the growth of wellrounded individuals.

Where was the first spa?

The word spa originates from the Belgian town of Spa, where since mediaeval times, those with iron deficiency illnesses were given iron-rich spring water. This was perhaps the world’s first spa. The concept of medicinal bathing later made its way to England, most notably to the town of Bath. An Englishman William Slingsby discovered a spring in Yorkshire, in which he created an enclosed well. It came to known as Harrogate, which was the UK’s first resort for medicinal water. Later, another Englishman named Timothy Bright called his resort ‘The English Spaw’ (after the Belgian town), which was when the word became synonymous with a place for medicinal treatments and relaxation.

What are the Special Olympics?

Special Olympics is an international organisation created to help people with intellectual disabilities develop self-confidence, social skills and a sense of personal accomplishment through sports training and competition. Among their other activities, Special Olympics conducts the Special Olympics World Games every four years. This year it is taking place in China.

What does the acronym Scuba stand for?

Scuba stands for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus: the word has become an adjective to describe the popular aquatic sport scuba diving. By carrying a source of compressed air, the scuba diver is able to stay underwater longer than with the simple breathholding techniques used in snorkelling and free diving, and is not hindered by airlines to a remote air source.

Which is the smallest and largest city in the world by area and population?

Hum, Smallest


Tokyo, Largest

The largest city in the world by population is Tokyo with over 35 million people. It was the world’s most populous urban area between 1965 and 1970. However, despite Japan’s declining population, it is still growing. The smallest city in the world by population is Hum. It has a population of only 23 people. It is a tiny town in the central part of Istria, North-West Croatia, 7 km from Roh, 14 km South-East of Buzet on a hill above the Mirna Valley. The largest city in the world by area is Hulun Buir, encompassing 263,953 km. The smallest city in the world by area is Vatican City with an area of 44 hectares (108.7 acre). It is a landlocked sovereign city state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome. It is officially called State of the Vatican City.

What is red corner notice?

Certain requests used by Interpol are sent in the forms of notices. The colour of each notice determines the type of information being sent or received by Interpol and its members. A red corner notice is issued at the request of a country’s law enforcement authority. The requesting country asks for a red notice to be issued when a criminal evades arrest and escapes from the country.

What is the origin of the term ‘rule of thumb’ ?

One theory about the phrase’s origin lies in the misplaced public belief that the English law allowed man to beat his wife with a stick measuring no longer than his thumb. There was actually no such English law enacted at any time This phrase has been in circulation since the 17th century. This phrase commonly refers to any means of estimation based on a practical and ready method but not on scientific measurement. Another theory concerning the phrase’s origin involves the numerous ways in which thumbs have been used for estimation. Some examples are — measurement of distance based on an estimated inch which is about the length of a thumb; judging the alignment or distance of an object by holding the thumb at eye level etc.

What is an atlas called so?

Atlas is the term used to refer to collection of maps, printed in a set order: world map, maps of the con tinents, each followed by maps the several regions within that con tinent, and with an alphabetical gazetteer or list of place names giving coordinates for various places, rivers, regions etc. The first use of the term atlas dates back 1595 with the publication in Duis burg of the Atlas Sive Cosmo graphicae Meditationes de Fabri ca Mundi Et Fabricati Figura by Gerard Mercator (1512-94). It was named after King Atlas, a mythi cal King of Mauretania in Libya who was, according to legend, wise philosopher, mathematician and astronomer and who suppos edly made the first celestial globe However, the more widely known Atlas is a figure from Greek mythology. He is the son of the Ti tan Iapetus and Clymene (or Asia) and brother of Prometheus. Atlas was punished by Zeus and made bear the weight of the heavens and Earth on his back.

In ancient times, why were pigeons used for sending messages?

Pigeons were used for sending mes sages not only in ancient times, but as recently as early the 1900s, dur ing World War I. A particular breed of pigeons called homing pigeons are specially suited for carrying messages, because they possess the uncanny ability of flying back their home over long distances high speeds. According to some re ports, a homing pigeon flew back to its home after flying over 1600 miles at the peak speed of 60 miles per hour. Exactly how such birds navigate themselves is still not clear. Scientists hypothesise that the pigeon uses a variety sources like the direction of the Sun, Earth’s magnetism, and odours associated with different places for finding its direction. Be fore the advent of telegraph, tele phone and radio, using pigeons for sending messages was quite pop ular among the military, newspa pers, and stock brokers. Such messaging system was known as pigeon post.

What is a ‘Vocal Joystick’?

The ‘Vocal Joystick’ has been developed by researchers at the University of Washington. It is a computer software which allows the disabled, who can use their voice but not their hands or arms, to control a cursor using sounds. This joystick detects sounds 100 times a second and converts it into movement on screen.

Who designed the Lincoln Memorial?

The Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. is a United States presidential memorial built to honour its 16th President Abraham Lincoln. The architect is Henry Bacon (an American Beaux-Arts architect), the sculptor is Daniel Chester French, and the painter of the murals inside is Jules Guerin. The building is in the form of a Greek Doric temple and contains a large, seated sculpture of Abraham Lincoln and inscriptions of two wellknown speeches by Lincoln.

What are tachyons?

Tachyons (a Greek word meaning swift) are hypothetical particles which travel with a velocity greater than the speed of light in vacuum (or superluminal velocity) and represent the instability of the system. The first description of tachyons was given by German physicist Arnold Sommerfeld. But George Sudarshan, Olexa-Myron Bilaniuk and Gerald Feinberg (who originally coined the term) in the 1960s advanced a theoretical framework for their study. In terms of Einstein’s special relativity theory, these particles have space-like four momentum (momentum in four-dimensional coordinate system) and imaginary proper time. These particles generate Cherenkov radiation (the light equivalent of a sonic boom) when they cross the light barrier. However, according to special relativity such particles don’t exist in reality and even if they did they wouldn’t be able to transmit information or signals.

Who is Lady Justice?

The origin may be Themis, a Greek mythological goddess, who advised Zeus after his purge of the old pantheon. A daughter of Themis and Zeus, Dike, known as a goddess of justice but not divine justice, presided over the apportionment of things among mortals, the protection of individuals and the social and political order. At times, Dike is said to be the same as (or is confused with) Astraea. Astraea is also a daughter of Themis and Zeus and is known as a goddess of justice. In western tradition, Lady Justice sometimes wears a blindfold and carries a sword and scales. She symbolises the fair and equal administration of the law, without corruption, avarice, prejudice, or favour.

When was the Battle of Los Angeles?

The Battle of Los Angeles took place during the night of February 24/25, 1942 in Los Angeles, California. The battle involved heavy firing of anti-aircraft shells by the US forces aimed at several mysterious flying objects reportedly sighted in the sky over Los Angeles. These objects were thought to be Japanese military aircraft. However, even till today, their identity has not convincingly established. Even though six civilians lost their lives in the bombardment, there was no evidence that the firing destroyed any flying object. The firing was preceded by a blackout and sounding of air raid sirens. Now, many believe that the battle was the result of a false alarm, triggered by weather balloons, or Japanese blimps. Some even think the source of the alarm could be a flying object of extraterrestrial origin

When and where was the first newspaper published?

Acta Diurna’ was the first newspaper published in Rome, around 59 BC. In 1605, the first printed weekly newspaper to be published in Antwerp was called Relation. Johann Carolus (1575-1634) was the publisher of the Relation aller Furnemmen und gedenckwurdigen Historien (Collection of all Distinguished and Commemorable News). The `Relation’ is recognised by the World Association of Newspapers, as well as many authors, as the world’s first newspaper. The German Relation was published in Strasbourg, which had the status of an imperial free city in the holy Roman empire of the German nation.

What is securitisation?

Securitisation is the process through which existing assets or future cash flows are converted into marketable securities. Those assets or cash flows are, inherently, not marketable. There are two types of securitisation — assetbacked securitisation and futureflows securitisation. Some of the assets that can be securitised are loans and future cash flows like credit card payments, car rentals or any other form of future receivables. Securitisation is common in the US and Europe, but in India it is in a nascent stage.

Will creating two time zones for India save energy?

There is no statistical evidence of two time zones being economically beneficial other than restoring a sense of normalcy to the area that follows its local meridian time zone. India geographically extends from 68 degrees East to 97 degrees East (29 degrees) from Gujarat to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, thereby encompassing two time zones. However, it has adopted the Allahabad meridian of 72 degrees, which makes it convenient for the railways, airlines and media. This leads to weird experiences for travelers from Central India who visit the North-Eastern states which receive daylight before 5 am. This entails an extra cost to the economy in terms of industrial and office lighting spent in these regions, since daybreak here doesn’t coincide with the rest of the country. Also, there tends to be more traffic when it is dark.

What is interplanetary internet?

If the internet allowed users to get information from any corner of the world, then the interplanetary internet will allow users to access information and even control experiments taking place far away from Earth. Vinton Cerf, considered the founding father of the internet and a co-creator of the interplanetary internet, is currently working on standards to guide internet communications in the space era.

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