Showing posts with label Bizarre Facts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bizarre Facts. Show all posts
Blue Eyes, A Genetic Mutation?
What is Genetic Mutation?
“Originally, we all had brown eyes”, said Professor Eiberg from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. “But a genetic mutation affecting the OCA2 gene in our chromosomes resulted in the creation of a “switch”, which literally “turned off” the ability to produce brown eyes”. The OCA2 gene codes for the so-called P protein, which is involved in the production of melanin, the pigment that gives colour to our hair, eyes and skin. The “switch”, which is located in the gene adjacent to OCA2 does not, however, turn off the gene entirely, but rather limits its action to reducing the production of melanin in the iris – effectively “diluting” brown eyes to blue. The switch’s effect on OCA2 is very specific therefore. If the OCA2 gene had been completely destroyed or turned off, human beings would be without melanin in their hair, eyes or skin colour – a condition known as albinism.
Limited Genetic Variation
Variation in the colour of the eyes from brown to green can all be explained by the amount of melanin in the iris, but blue-eyed individuals only have a small degree of variation in the amount of melanin in their eyes. “From this we can conclude that all blue-eyed individuals are linked to the same ancestor,” says Professor Eiberg. “They have all inherited the same switch at exactly the same spot in their DNA.” Brown-eyed individuals, by contrast, have considerable individual variation in the area of their DNA that controls melanin production.
Professor Eiberg and his team examined mitochondrial DNA and compared the eye colour of blue-eyed individuals in countries as diverse as Jordan, Denmark and Turkey. His findings are the latest in a decade of genetic research, which began in 1996, when Professor Eiberg first implicated the OCA2 gene as being responsible for eye colour.
Nature Shuffles Our Genes
The mutation of brown eyes to blue represents neither a positive nor a negative mutation. It is one of several mutations such as hair colour, baldness, freckles and beauty spots, which neither increases nor reduces a human’s chance of survival. As Professor Eiberg says, “it simply shows that nature is constantly shuffling the human genome, creating a genetic cocktail of human chromosomes and trying out different changes as it does so.”
Hidden Subway Station in NYC
Opened in 1904, this crowning glory of the New York subway system lies deep in the city. A beautiful untouched station resides that has been forgotten for years with only a limited few knowing of its existence. Stunning decoration with tall tiled arches, brass fixtures and skylights run across the entire curve of the station, which also can be thought of as a miniature imitation of Grand Central Station. It is an elegant architecture and a place for commemorative plaques to honour the work that had resulted in such a successful underground mass transit system. It was to be the original southern terminus of the first ‘Manhattan Main Line’; however the station was closed and boarded up in 1945. The gem of the underground began gathering dust, forgotten by the general public, as passengers were forced off at the Brooklyn Bridge Stop before the train continued on to the terminus to make its turnaround.
The reason for its closure was that newer longer cars were required to match the demand of passengers that passed through the system. But as the stations tracks were severely curved, a dangerous gap between the train doors and the platform was formed making it an unsafe area. This combined with the fact that only about 600 people used it, resulted in its closure with only mythical plans of turning it into a transit museum. But this was never followed through.
However, now you don’t have to take my word that the secret City Hall Station exists, as the 6 Train will now allow the passengers who have been enlightened with the knowledge of its whereabouts to stay on the train during its turnaround and see the Station. You won’t be able to get off, but you’ll be taken for a slow tour of the platform and see what a beauty it was in its heyday!
References: [Travelettes]
A Pre-Nuptial Agreement
Three years earlier, when a Bangalore-based investment banker refused to marry as her boyfriend wanted to enter into a prenuptial contract. Six months before, when her marriage was being fixed with another person, he insisted on a prenuptial pact, too. With more working couples getting married, and both having accumulated a certain amount of wealth, the fear of losing the already-created and future wealth in case of a separation is driving most of them for such contracts.According to legal experts, as many as 20 per cent of marriages in metros have couples insisting there be some protection of their wealth before they say, 'I do'.
This is more common among wealthy business families, as they want to demarcate the rights of the couples in terms of property.
"Yes, it has become common in India. But, mostly, people are just following the US norm blindly. What they don't understand is the fact that there is no such law in India,"
That is, a prenuptial agreement comes under the Contract Act. In case of a legal dispute, the Marriage Act would supersede it.
What is a Pre-Nuptial Agreement?
A prenuptial agreement is a contract that would-be marrying partners sign, laying out terms and conditions for distribution of financial assets, property, alimony or maintenance, monthly compensation and so on, in the event of a divorce.
A big advantage of a prenuptial pact is it forces couples to have that all-important financial discussion before marriage.
Issues that can be efficiently dealt with in a prenuptial pact range from divorce settlements and prevention of disputes, regarding joint accounts and custody issues of children after the dissolution of a marriage. Another important benefit is that the agreements offer protection from the spouse's debts, if any.
How is it done?
For making a prenuptial contract, both partners need to set out all their assets and liabilities clearly on paper. They could also add the assets and debt they might create after marriage.
Then, they could discuss how all or joint assets and liabilities be divided if the marriage dissolves. Once the separation and share is mutually decided, both parties can sign and approve the same and maintain it. This will involve zero cost, unless the lawyer charges a fee.
If you want sanctity to it, the individuals could get it verified and signed by their own lawyers or together get it stamped and certified by a notary. Here, stamp duty will apply depending on the state you are in and a small fee for the notary.
In India?
In India, prenuptial agreements are not governed by the marriage laws, says Sandeep Nerlekar, managing director & chief executive officer (CEO), Warmond Trustees & Executives, as marriages here are not considered agreements.
However, under Section 10 of the Indian Contract Act, prenuptial agreements have as much sanctity as any other contract, oral or written.
Experts say, India has various laws governing marriages and so for a contract to hold good will be possible only under statutory provisions. Therefore, such contracts might not be binding in the Indian context.
For instance, if the wife says she will have no right over the husband's property, according to the Stamp Duty and Registration Act, for properties costing over Rs 100, she will have to file a relinquishment of property with the sub registrar only then can she not claim her share in the property later, explains Gupta.
Courts do take cognizance of a prenuptial agreement if both parties had agreed. For instance, if you take the marriage discord to court and request that assets be divided according to the contract you made, the court may agree.
Otherwise, divorce norms override prenuptial contracts, says Delhi-based lawyer P S Dhingra, consultant & CEO, Dhingra Group of Consultants.
Additionally, children born from such marriages have right over the father's assets even if the wife has agreed to not have any right over the husband's assets.
There are no cases as yet, say experts, where contracts have been upheld as there are cases where partners disagree to comply by the contract.
And, there are cases where women earn more than the men and still ask for compensation, which men do not agree to.
"Yes, it has become common in India. But, mostly, people are just following the US norm blindly. What they don't understand is the fact that there is no such law in India,"
That is, a prenuptial agreement comes under the Contract Act. In case of a legal dispute, the Marriage Act would supersede it.
What is a Pre-Nuptial Agreement?
A prenuptial agreement is a contract that would-be marrying partners sign, laying out terms and conditions for distribution of financial assets, property, alimony or maintenance, monthly compensation and so on, in the event of a divorce.A big advantage of a prenuptial pact is it forces couples to have that all-important financial discussion before marriage.
Issues that can be efficiently dealt with in a prenuptial pact range from divorce settlements and prevention of disputes, regarding joint accounts and custody issues of children after the dissolution of a marriage. Another important benefit is that the agreements offer protection from the spouse's debts, if any.
For making a prenuptial contract, both partners need to set out all their assets and liabilities clearly on paper. They could also add the assets and debt they might create after marriage.
Then, they could discuss how all or joint assets and liabilities be divided if the marriage dissolves. Once the separation and share is mutually decided, both parties can sign and approve the same and maintain it. This will involve zero cost, unless the lawyer charges a fee.
If you want sanctity to it, the individuals could get it verified and signed by their own lawyers or together get it stamped and certified by a notary. Here, stamp duty will apply depending on the state you are in and a small fee for the notary.
In India?
In India, prenuptial agreements are not governed by the marriage laws, says Sandeep Nerlekar, managing director & chief executive officer (CEO), Warmond Trustees & Executives, as marriages here are not considered agreements.
However, under Section 10 of the Indian Contract Act, prenuptial agreements have as much sanctity as any other contract, oral or written.
Experts say, India has various laws governing marriages and so for a contract to hold good will be possible only under statutory provisions. Therefore, such contracts might not be binding in the Indian context.
For instance, if the wife says she will have no right over the husband's property, according to the Stamp Duty and Registration Act, for properties costing over Rs 100, she will have to file a relinquishment of property with the sub registrar only then can she not claim her share in the property later, explains Gupta.
Courts do take cognizance of a prenuptial agreement if both parties had agreed. For instance, if you take the marriage discord to court and request that assets be divided according to the contract you made, the court may agree.
Otherwise, divorce norms override prenuptial contracts, says Delhi-based lawyer P S Dhingra, consultant & CEO, Dhingra Group of Consultants.
Additionally, children born from such marriages have right over the father's assets even if the wife has agreed to not have any right over the husband's assets.
There are no cases as yet, say experts, where contracts have been upheld as there are cases where partners disagree to comply by the contract.
And, there are cases where women earn more than the men and still ask for compensation, which men do not agree to.
7 Biggest Holes on Earth's Surface
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Top 10 Scariest Travel Destinations in World
While some people think all things supernatural are unreal, others truly believe in the existence of ghosts, haunted buildings, and simply creepy existences. All around the world you’ll find creepy places littered with deserted buildings and haunted memories - and you don’t have to wait until Halloween to hunt them down.Here are some of our favorite creepy crawly and simply strange destinations. They’re not meant for the skittish, so be prepared.
To this day you won’t find a boat captain or airplane pilot willing to travel through the Bermuda Triangle. The triangle itself is comprised of a piece of ocean that ranges from Southern Florida, to Bermuda, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and back to Florida again.
Dozens of travelers simply disappeared, presumed dead, while traveling through this eerie spot on the globe. Rumors still circulate regarding their fates - some say it was aliens while others believe there’s some sort of time warp. Regardless of the true reason, no one who enters seems to come back out the other side.
The Tower of London is over 900 years old and served as both a prison and execution hall before it became a tourist attraction. The tower is the location where Henry the VIII had Anne Boleyn’s head chopped off, and several other infamous characters throughout history lost there lives there as well. Many have reported hearing chains and howling winds and seeing ghosts there. It’s up to you to decide if you believe the tower is haunted.
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (not to be confused with Gettysburg, Virginia) was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. Legend has it that the Union soldiers were losing the battle to the Confederates when, out of nowhere, George Washington’s ghost rode up and told them to keep fighting. Locals claim George still visits the area regularly.
Abigail Williams, Betty Parris, and Tituba are to thank for sparking the gruesome Salem Witch Trials back in 1691 and 1692. The hysteria they started by practicing magic in the woods led to the deaths of over 20 presumably innocent women and their ghosts are believed to continuously haunt the town of Salem.
Why? She believed that constant noise caused by construction workers would somehow make the ghosts of her husband and daughter happy. No one knows what she was thinking when she had doors installed that would open to blank walls or when she decided to construct a set of stairs leading nowhere.
The movies we see are only the end results of the goings on in Hollywood. What we don’t see are the places the rich and famous actors spend their time and, in some cases, die. The next time you’re in the area consider taking one of Tourland’s Haunted Hearse rides. You’ll get to see some of the famous places where the ghosts of some of Hollywood’s most popular stars still hang out.
The regular exhibits are disturbing enough on their own, but the upcoming collections should prove interesting as well. Make sure you stop by if you’re interested in seeing a collection of shrunken heads from South America or the 1876 Philadelphia Exposition collection of temporal ear bones.
No matter where you go in New Orleans you’re bound to bump into some sort of oddity. The city is known for being the home of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, where the famous voodoo queen Marie Laveau is buried. Rumor has it that Laveau had such powerful voodoo strengths she could make your enemies die - for a fee of $1,000 that is. Visitors to the tomb claim to see ghosts dancing at night!
Back in 1947 a local to Roswell, New Mexico found what he believed to be pieces of a UFO. He wasn’t the only one who believed aliens had visited the area, and at the International UFO Museum you’ll find information alleging that the government and town covered up the truth about the occurrence.
One day in 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were brutally murdered. While their daughter, Lizzie, was acquitted, she was ultimately accused of the crime and the majority of historians still believe she was guilty. Today the house they lived in is a Bed and Breakfast and, if you’re daring, you can top off your stay with a reenactment of the exact meal the Borden’s ate the morning they perished.
Some of these places are simply strange while others will send shivers up and down your spine. It’s up to you to determine which ones you find authentic and which you think are a scam, but we have a feeling that a trip to most of these locations will leave you feeling just as creeped out as we were!
10. Bermuda Triangle
To this day you won’t find a boat captain or airplane pilot willing to travel through the Bermuda Triangle. The triangle itself is comprised of a piece of ocean that ranges from Southern Florida, to Bermuda, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and back to Florida again.
Dozens of travelers simply disappeared, presumed dead, while traveling through this eerie spot on the globe. Rumors still circulate regarding their fates - some say it was aliens while others believe there’s some sort of time warp. Regardless of the true reason, no one who enters seems to come back out the other side.
9. Tower of London
The Tower of London is over 900 years old and served as both a prison and execution hall before it became a tourist attraction. The tower is the location where Henry the VIII had Anne Boleyn’s head chopped off, and several other infamous characters throughout history lost there lives there as well. Many have reported hearing chains and howling winds and seeing ghosts there. It’s up to you to decide if you believe the tower is haunted.
8. Gettysburg
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (not to be confused with Gettysburg, Virginia) was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. Legend has it that the Union soldiers were losing the battle to the Confederates when, out of nowhere, George Washington’s ghost rode up and told them to keep fighting. Locals claim George still visits the area regularly.
7. Salem
Abigail Williams, Betty Parris, and Tituba are to thank for sparking the gruesome Salem Witch Trials back in 1691 and 1692. The hysteria they started by practicing magic in the woods led to the deaths of over 20 presumably innocent women and their ghosts are believed to continuously haunt the town of Salem.
6. Winchester Mystery House
The Winchester Mystery House is truly a mystery. Sarah Winchester started building the house in 1884 and decided that as long as she was alive there would always be some sort of construction happening on the premise.Why? She believed that constant noise caused by construction workers would somehow make the ghosts of her husband and daughter happy. No one knows what she was thinking when she had doors installed that would open to blank walls or when she decided to construct a set of stairs leading nowhere.
5. Haunted Hollywood
The movies we see are only the end results of the goings on in Hollywood. What we don’t see are the places the rich and famous actors spend their time and, in some cases, die. The next time you’re in the area consider taking one of Tourland’s Haunted Hearse rides. You’ll get to see some of the famous places where the ghosts of some of Hollywood’s most popular stars still hang out.
4. Mutter Museum of Medical History
The Mutter Museum of Medical History itself isn’t as creepy as the things you’ll find inside. If you thought today’s medical advances were off the wall, consider what doctors and scientists were thinking years ago when they started this incredible collection of skulls and pathological oddities.The regular exhibits are disturbing enough on their own, but the upcoming collections should prove interesting as well. Make sure you stop by if you’re interested in seeing a collection of shrunken heads from South America or the 1876 Philadelphia Exposition collection of temporal ear bones.
3. New Orleans
No matter where you go in New Orleans you’re bound to bump into some sort of oddity. The city is known for being the home of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, where the famous voodoo queen Marie Laveau is buried. Rumor has it that Laveau had such powerful voodoo strengths she could make your enemies die - for a fee of $1,000 that is. Visitors to the tomb claim to see ghosts dancing at night!
2. Roswell
Back in 1947 a local to Roswell, New Mexico found what he believed to be pieces of a UFO. He wasn’t the only one who believed aliens had visited the area, and at the International UFO Museum you’ll find information alleging that the government and town covered up the truth about the occurrence.
1. Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast
One day in 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were brutally murdered. While their daughter, Lizzie, was acquitted, she was ultimately accused of the crime and the majority of historians still believe she was guilty. Today the house they lived in is a Bed and Breakfast and, if you’re daring, you can top off your stay with a reenactment of the exact meal the Borden’s ate the morning they perished.
Some of these places are simply strange while others will send shivers up and down your spine. It’s up to you to determine which ones you find authentic and which you think are a scam, but we have a feeling that a trip to most of these locations will leave you feeling just as creeped out as we were!
Bloody Entertainment in China
In China a live cow was fed to tigers to entertain tourists. A witness says that a tourist can order a cow for tigers for $200.
