We’ve all grown up learning that the Earth is a smooth blue marble floating in space.But if you might have caught your eye on NASA’s latest adaptation model of the blue planet, it looks more or less like a potato!Sounds bizarre, right?But the image isn’t a mistake, and it isn’t showing you what Earth actually…
Garlic can transform a simple dal, sabzi or curry, but peeling it is rarely the part anyone looks forward to. The papery skin sticks to your fingers, tiny pieces get everywhere and, before you know it, the kitchen smells strongly of garlic. If you are peeling an entire bulb for a big batch of cooking,…
For every venomous species that grabs headlines and horror-movie cameos, there are dozens of snake species quietly going about their business without a single drop of dangerous venom to their name, roughly 85 percent of the world’s snakes fall into this harmless category. These non-venomous snakes still play a genuinely important ecological role, keeping rodent,…
A routine trip to a field in Uttar Pradesh’s Hardoi turned frightening for 21-year-old Arun after a snake hiding inside a sack of grass bit him.What happened next was even more dramatic. As Arun’s condition began to worsen, his elder brother Akash rushed him to hospital and, following instructions from doctors, kept trying to stop…
Karpaka Vinayakar temple (Wiki) A visit to Tamil Nadu’s famous temples may soon look very different for travellers and devotees from September 1, 2026. The state’s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department has put a complete ban on the use of mobile phones inside temple premises. The move is aimed at protecting the sanctity…
Indian vegetarian food is hardly limited to dal, sabzi and paneer. Across the world, other cuisines have built equally comforting dishes around lentils, chickpeas, potatoes, aubergines, beans, rice and plenty of spice. Many of these dishes use familiar ingredients but bring them together in completely different ways. The surprise is how easily some of these…
Spain’s Environment Ministry has ordered an investigation into the likely shooting of a rare Iberian orca that was filmed swimming with wounds to its dorsal fin, Deputy Prime Minister Sara Aagesen said on Friday. “The oldest orca in the Strait of Gibraltar has appeared with marks compatible with pellets” fired from a shotgun this week,…
You can, but you don’t have to. If you like your dal looking clear and smooth, skim the foam during the first few minutes of boiling. If you are cooking dal for an everyday meal and don’t mind the appearance, you can simply let it cook.The more important steps are washing the dal properly, using…
How to clean greasy oven racks naturally: Easy ways to remove stubborn grime There’s a particular moment of dread that hits when you finally pull your oven racks out for a proper clean and realise just how much baked-on grease, burnt cheese, and general grime has been quietly building up on them for months. Oven…
Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh (Photo via Canva) We live in a world that loves big moments that often fascinate us, like overnight success stories and sudden breakthroughs. It’s easy to believe that all of it comes from just one powerful idea, one burst of energy, or one perfect day. But Vincent van Gogh,…