Showing results by author "iMinds" in All Categories

Instantly recognisable, rising out of New York Harbour, she stands like an ancient goddess guarding the gates to the city. For many she is the symbol of freedom, welcoming outcasts to the shores of a new land. But who is Lady Liberty? And how did she come to be a symbol of hope for so many? The Statue of Liberty is a masterpiece of art and engineering. It is one of the few enduring symbols of America. But did you know that this statue was actually a gift from the people of France?

The Empire State Building towers above the midtown district of New York City. Its solitary spire now stands out on the city skyline, no longer matched by the twin towers of the World Trade Centre. It is once again the tallest building in the city. But it is no longer the tallest in the world, a title it held for an unmatched 40 years. Its quiet elegance reflects the functionality of its form as well as the distinctive Art Deco style. It is a symbol of American commercial ambition and it is a symbol of the American Dream.

In the lonely expanse of Northern Australia lies the second biggest national park in the world. It is a place where fire transforms landscapes, floods drown flatlands, and ancient writing haunts cliffs. In this tropical wilderness, ancient fish spit water at passing insects, unnamed waterfalls tumble into vast gorges, and giant crocodiles rule the dark rivers. This is Kakadu National Park - Australia’s natural and cultural treasure.

Uluru is the indigenous Australian name for an enormous rock formation found in central Australia. Made from sandstone, Uluru is a rock monolith or an ‘island mountain’, a formation that geologists refer to as a monadnock. It stands 318 m (986 ft) high and has a circumference of 8 km (5 miles). It is located 335 km (208 mi) south west of the nearest rural centre, the large town of Alice Springs.

Rome is a city of fountains. As you wind your way down narrow lanes and through busy streets, you are sure to pass many a piazza graced with a fountain spread out before you. These unique works of architecture couple grandiose designs with the refreshing presence of cascading water. For those who have visited Rome, it may not surprise you to learn that there are in fact an impressive 280 fountains in the Eternal City. And the most famous of all is the Trevi Fountain.

Easter Island lies 3,700 km, or 2,299 from the nearest continent and is one of the most isolated places on the planet. Though it is so far removed from the rest of the world, Easter Island has more than its fair share of local history. Also commonly known as Rapa Nui, the island is probably most famous for the giant statues called Moai that populate the island, mainly near the shores. Mystery surrounds these enormous monoliths and they continue to baffle archaeologists trying to piece together the story of the Island.

Learn about the development of the Electric Car with iMinds insightful knowledge series. Imagine never having to go to the service station to fill up your car. And imagine owning a car that doesn’t pollute the planet. Such notions may seem fanciful, but to eco-conscious manufacturers they are goals to strive for!Electric vehicles, or EVs, are those which are powered by an electric motor that receives its current either from rechargeable storage batteries or other sources of electrical energy.

Learn about the history of the Railroads with iMinds insightful knowledge series. They are the fastest paths to travel on land and in many places they are the most convenient way to travel from country to country. Railroads are a cornerstone of the modern world! The story of railroads really begins with a look at transport. The wheel has been called one of the greatest inventions in the history of the world.

According to most economics textbooks, human beings are super-rational creatures who know what is in their own best interests and always act accordingly. When making a decision to purchase, the rational consumer would not buy something on the spur of the moment, or on the recommendation of a friend. Sound realistic?

Learn about the World Bank with iMinds Money's insightful fast knowledge series. The World Bank is an international financial institution of the UN whose purpose is the alleviation of poverty through providing leveraged loans and technical assistance to the world’s poorest countries. The World Bank was created at the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944 with the primary role of financing the post-war reconstruction of European and Asian countries devastated in World War II.

Learn about Reverse Swaps with iMinds Money's insightful fast knowledge series. A reverse swap is a secondary swap agreement entered into by a party to an existing swap contract. The secondary swap will offset, or reverse, the position held in the original agreement. In other words, it is a new swap with the exact opposite terms to a pre-existing swap contract is made. A reverse swap can therefore simply be thought of as the undoing, without the cancellation, of a previous swap agreement.

When Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, it was a lucky accident. He didn't realize at the time that penicillin would dramatically change the face of medicine and the pharmaceutical industry. Fleming was a researcher studying the natural antibacterial substances produced by the body. He had been working with the bacteria that caused boils. To study the bacteria he grew colonies of it on plates.

The Champs Elysées is the main boulevard of Paris in France. Over the years, it has been a popular rallying point in times of national crisis and celebration. In 1998, for example, the people of Paris assembled here to party all night in celebration of France's soccer win in the World Cup. And every year in July people flock to the Champs Elysées to witness the end of the famous Tour de France bicycle race.

Learn about the development of In Vitro Fertization with iMinds insightful audio knowledge series. "In Vitro Fertilisation", also known as IVF, is concerned with enabling infertile couples to have children. As a result of IVF, thousands of couples and individuals have been able to fulfil their dream of procreating. To fully appreciate the complexities of IVF it is important to know the history of experiments in reproduction.

Learn about the history of Prohibition with iMinds insightful audio knowledge series. Imagine not being able to have a beer at the baseball. Or not being allowed to have a wine at the theatre. Imagine it was illegal to offer your guests a drink at your next dinner party. This is what life would be like under prohibition. Prohibition is a law that forbids the manufacturing, transportation and sale of alcoholic beverages.

Learn about the history of the Louvre in Paris with iMinds Travel's insightful audio-knowledge series. The Louvre is situated in the centre of France's capital city, Paris, on the northern banks of the river Seine. Although it is based in France, it contains masterpieces from most time periods and cultures throughout the world. In fact, the building that houses this incredible collection of art has an interesting history all of its own.

Learn about Foreign Currency Exchange with iMinds Money's insightful fast knowledge series. Foreign currency exchange is the transaction of monetary business between two different countries. When conducting any business, participants must eventually be paid in the currency of their own country, regardless off whether the business is domestic or international.

Learn about the history of the National Gallery in London with iMinds Travel's insightful audio knowledge series. The National Gallery of England, situated in the capital city of London, houses an impressive 2,300 works of art. With such an expansive collection, many connoisseurs of fine art rank it as second only to the Louvre in terms of the world’s great galleries.

Learn about the history of cricket's greatest contest, The Ashes, with iMinds insightful audio knowledge series. The Ashes is a test-cricket series played between England and Australia. Throughout its long history, winning the Ashes has been seen as a matter of national pride for the two sporting rivals. Today, there is an Ashes series in both men's cricket and women's cricket. But the men's Ashes series is more widely known.

Learn about the idea that everyone has 15 minutes of fame with iMinds insightful audio knowledge series.

Commenting on the increasingly fleeting nature of celebrity, in 1968 artist Andy Warhol quipped: "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes." In a 21st-century world of reality TV and youtube, it appears Warhol's prediction has come true. The changing nature of celebrity over time is an interesting backdrop to today's short-lived fame.