Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, is an island and a territory of Chile located in the Pacific Ocean, extremely far from any other land. In fact, Easter Island is one of the most remote places on Earth, being over 2,000 km away from the nearest inhabited island, Pictairn Island (which only has around 50 residents)…
A supernova is one of the most dramatic and powerful phenomena in the universe. Supernovae occur during the final stages of the life of a massive star, and can cause the release of several solar masses of material. Because of this, supernovae can reach a luminosity comparable to that of an entire galaxy, before slowly…
For thousands of years, the ancient pre-Columbian people of Central America used to play a peculiar sport with ritual connotations, which was an important aspect of their culture. This sport is commonly known today as Mesoamerican ballgame, and it is called ōllamalīztli in Nahuatl languages and pitz in Mayan languages. Other names for the game…
Currently, the tallest structure ever built is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which stands at 829.8 meters tall. This skyscraper is just the most recent in a long series of structures that have held the title of the world’s tallest since ancient times. However, not all of these fit the modern definition…
Between the 17th and the 19th century, it was a custom for wealthy Europeans to take a trip around Europe, usually in their early 20s. This trip, known as the Grand Tour, was a popular rite of passage during which travelers studied the culture and history of Europe, especially the heritage of classical antiquity and…
Disturbances on the Sun can cause the expulsion of radiation and plasma in the form of solar storms, which can emanate outwards and impact the entire Solar System. One of the events associated with this type of solar activity is a coronal mass ejection (CME), which causes the release of massive quantities of matter and…
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia, hosting around a third of the entire population of the country. The city is located near the mouth of Daugava river, which flows into the Baltic Sea, and it is the main tourist destination of Latvia, as well as its most important economic and cultural center…
Opera is an art form that combines acting and music, and sometimes also dance, with performers taking on dramatic roles. Its name comes from the Latin and Italian word “opera”, meaning work, and indeed this form of theater originated in Italy and it is a key aspect of Italian tradition. Over time, opera evolved to…
While the world in the 21st century is extremely interconnected, and we can easily talk with someone on the other side of the world, there are still numerous tribes of indigenous peoples who remain completely outside our society. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the United Nations and the non-profit group Survival International estimate…
Throughout the Middle Ages, the Byzantine Empire dominated the production and commerce of silk in Europe. For centuries, silk contributed heavily to the Byzantine economy, while Costantinople was the main silk-weaving center in all of Europe. Byzantine silk was a prestigious commodity sold at high prices, and was known for its bright colors and complex…