Archive · Books · Science · Humour

Why is it coldest at dawn and before morning, of all the hours of the day?

Why is it coldest at dawn and before morning, of all the hours of the day? So an unknown inquirer asks Paul Taverner, Rector of the University of Lyon, in 1597. But we already know that the darkest hour is just before the dawn. Thanks be to Benjamin Disraeli or

Black-and-white photograph of an elderly man in a dark suit and tie standing beside a large round disc on a stand, with bookshelves behind him.

Observations · Science · People

Nikola Tesla on intuition that runs ahead of exact knowledge

“Intuition is something that goes ahead of exact knowledge. Our brain undoubtedly possesses extremely sensitive nerve cells, which allow us to sense the truth even when it is not yet accessible to logical deduction or other mental effort.” Nikola Tesla (1856-1943)

Observations · Science · Education · Humour

The Minister of Education and Science Has Turned to Nature-Like Technologies

The Minister of Education and Science has decided to turn to nature-like technologies. Though, to be fair, Da Vinci was at it more than five hundred years ago. It used to be called bionics, bioengineering, biomimetics and biomimicry. Now it is "nature-likeness" (prirodopodobiye), presumably under the

Monarchies · Science · Education · Paris

Charles V, the College of Maître Gervais and astrology teaching at the University of Paris

Charles V of France reads, seated on his throne; beside the books on the table stands an armillary sphere, an astronomical instrument for determining the coordinates of celestial bodies. Charles V made a considerable contribution to the development of astrology. He opened a faculty at the University of Paris to

Archaeology · In the Press · The East · Science

In 1913 a number of English-language newspapers carried an article claiming that several temple-like chambers had been discovered inside the Great Sphinx

In 1913 a number of English-language newspapers carried an article claiming that several temple-like chambers had been discovered inside the Great Sphinx. The text reported that there was a fairly large room both inside the head and inside the body, and that in one of these chambers small

Geography · Maps · Science · Society

Cancellation of Mulovsky's 1787 expedition and transfer of its tasks to the Billings and Sarychev expedition

The "Glory of Russia" Medal Instituted by Catherine the Great Is Linked to the First Russian Circumnavigation. The expedition was conceived "on the occasion of the attempt by English trading entrepreneurs upon the conduct of trade and the hunting of beasts in the Eastern Sea" and

Art · Books · Science

Paintings of Reading as an Illustration to a Bookmate Article on the Benefits of Fiction

Epochs change, but the wish of artists to capture people's rapture in reading remains unchanged. Paintings of people reading are an excellent illustration to an account of an important article from Bookmate, the book service of Yandex Plus. The neurophysiologist who serves as the article's expert

Medieval-style miniature of a black steam locomotive by castle gates, with a crowd in colourful robes beside the rails.

Geography · Art · Science · Humour

The building of the first steam locomotive is dated to 1803

Artificial Intelligence Imagines How Medieval Miniatures Would Look Had They Depicted Trains. A reminder that the first steam locomotive was built in 1803

NB! · Aristocracy · London · Monarchies · Science · Mores · Humour

The Sixteenth-Century Poet and Courtier Sir John Harington, Ancestor of Kit Harington, Who Played Jon Snow in "Game of Thrones", Invented the First Flushing Lavatory for the Ageing Queen Elizabeth I

Archaeology · Heritage · Science

Like other sensational news, the Mexican apparition of aliens from Peru was fairly quickly exposed by scientists

Like other sensational news, the Mexican apparition of aliens from Peru was fairly quickly exposed by scientists. Even without seeing the remains at close quarters, anthropologists from various countries point to the spurious character of the finds presented. Most probably, the objects billed as alien skeletons and mummies of humanoids

NB! · Geography · Maps · Science

Map of the World According to Hecataeus of Miletus, the Father of Geography, Who Lived in the 6th Century BC

Black-and-white photograph of an elderly grey-haired man with a moustache, in a short-sleeved shirt and braces, standing in front of bookshelves.

Observations · Science

Albert Einstein on intuition and the rational mind in society

Intuition is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is its faithful servant. We have created a society that honours the servant and has forgotten the gift. Albert Enstein