Bright Side

A regular lack of sleep makes us feel exhausted right after waking up. Moreover, it's one of the main reasons for gaining weight. Around 15% of the human population suffers from insomnia. People need about 8 hours of good sleep every night to support the normal state of physiological and psychological health. We have studied the reasons for insomnia and found effective methods to get rid of it. But first of all, do you know why some people put a glass of water under their bed? Well, in feng shui, water symbolizes wealth and perfection. It transforms from liquid to solid form and gas quickly and flows freely. Many believe that water helps in new beginnings and carries some coded information in it. And, it helps you sleep safe and sound because it absorbs negative energy. You can check to see if you have trouble falling asleep because of negative vibes with a simple test. Feel a bit skeptical about this ritual? But why not try? By following our simple recommendations, you will be able to forget about insomnia forever and enjoy nice dreams every night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why cats are afraid of cucumbers? You’ve seen all the memes, gifs, and videos of cats literally leaping into the air in fright at the sight of a cucumber. So what’s the deal anyway? Well, we’re as puzzled as you are, so let’s see what the experts have to say about this “cat vs cucumber” phenomenon! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re used to thinking everything has its purpose. However, many items we use every day were once used quite differently. Bright Side suggests looking into the history of ordinary things to see what purpose they served before becoming what we know them to be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

16 amazing facts about the human body only a few people know about. Our bodies are being constantly analyzed, and scientists keep making incredible findings almost every day! Superpowers? Isn't it something that only superheroes are supposed to have? Typically, it is. But a human being is one of the greatest wonders. Did you know that Monday is the most dangerous day for your body? How much information can you remember during your life? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are a lot of people out there who are not satisfied with their office work. However, there is also a small group of people who are doing jobs you will never believe exist — and all this for some serious cash. Get ready to see the jobs that obliterate the 9 to 5 concept. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the difference between a tornado and a hurricane? And what about typhoon? First, let’s get it straight: all these weather phenomena have to do with strong winds. Not my-umbrella-got-torn-from-my-hands strong, mind you, but rather my-house-got-blown-away-to-the-Land-of-Oz kind of thing. Yet before we get to the actual difference between hurricanes and typhoons, we must understand that they’re one and the same thing called a tropical cyclone. If you live in moderate or colder climates, there’s nothing for you to worry about, even if your house is right by the seaside, because you’ll only hear about cyclones from the news. After all, they’re called tropical for a reason: they only form in tropical or subtropical areas, because they need warm water to get things going. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Being with mom is always better than not being with her. So pass on our regards to yours from us. We love all of you moms out there! We don’t tell our moms often enough that we love and appreciate them. The right moment to do so is now. Because moms are truly the best in the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You are stuck in your car in what seems like an endless flow of other vehicles. You get stuck in traffic jams on your way to work or to the airport to pick up your friends. That crazy nerve-wracking time is called “rush hour,” and you wish you could fly away to the other side of the world to escape it. Do you want to see how the world looks during the busiest hours of the day? Some of the contrasts are truly fascinating! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are more than 250 cat breeds in the world: hairless and furry, wayward and friendly, tender and freedom loving. How much do the most expensive breeds cost? Do you know? To tell the truth, you’ll be really surprised to discover the prices of the most exotic cats in the world. Do you know which one is the most expensive? That cat is crazy-expensive but incredibly awesome. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

14 of the most vivid differences and created illustrations showing nostalgia and love of childhood. In the end, you’ll find a surprise — a memory that unites both generations. "We didn’t have this when we were kids!" You hear such sighs from those who belong to the generation that grew up in the ’90s more and more often. And it’s true! If you look at how modern children live, you can find many differences. We used to have different toys, different attitude to life, different concerns and problems and so many other differences in little things that mean a lot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it safe to microwave your food? Let's imagine you went out to dinner last night. Chances are you brought home the leftovers and they’re sitting in your fridge right now. But before you break out the styrofoam carton, pop it in the microwave, and chow down, you should know that there are some foods that actually turn poisonous when reheated! No matter how tasty and healthy your freshly prepared meal is, it can lose its health benefits and even cause food poisoning if you reheat it in a microwave. Bright Side introduces to you a list of foods that you should eat as soon as they’re cooked. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to get rid of annoying stubborn fat? How to get the body of your dreams in no time? There are 6 different types of body fat based on where on the body it is mainly accumulated. Here are the most effective ways to make fat disappear for every body type. Running or swimming at least 30 minutes every day will help you burn full upper body fat right off. If it seems impossible for you to fit any of those in your busy schedule, try brisk walking. Drink green tea. It’s a great natural fat burner because it’s loaded with antioxidants that can boost metabolism. Plus, if you’re doing some physical exercise, green tea will also enhance its effect. If you don’t eat breakfast to kick start your metabolism in the morning, you’ll feel hungrier, more tired and just groggy throughout the day, which will trick your body into eating more in an attempt to get energy. Find out how many calories you need on a daily basis using an online calorie calculator. It’ll take into account your gender, age, height, weight, level of activity, and your weight-loss goals. Then, you can just divide all the daily calorie intake number by 5 to figure out how many calories each meal should give you. Make sure that you’re getting enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can lead to hormonal imbalances, an increased appetite, and weight gain, which will result in fat being stored mostly in your belly and back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The useful properties of chicken eggs have been questioned repeatedly. People slandered eggs which have now been proven to be unique in many ways. It turned out that 2-3 eggs are the optimal daily dose. Here are the results of recent studies on the most incredible benefits of chicken eggs for our bodies. Don’t like the plain taste of eggs? We prepared a little surprise for you as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Check out 17 historical shots that represent different eras and manage to perfectly capture life at that time. We’ve found some rare pictures of stunning Audrey Hepburn, young Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway boxing and the creators of The Simpsons themselves. Believe it or not, someone even managed to capture a woman born in the first half of the 18th century on a real photograph. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it bad for you to stay in swimming pool water for too long? Imagine being stuck in a public pool, unable to get out of the water. “Eh, no biggie,” you say? Well, you might have a change of heart after watching this video! You might have noticed how, after a good long bath, some of your old skin peels away. If that happens after just an hour or so, what will come of being in the water for a much longer time? After a day or two in the water, your skin will start to form vesicles that will erupt eventually, and your epidermis will literally start to peel away. Definitely doesn’t sound like a good place to be in, right? And believe it or not, it gets worse! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine: you’re flying! But wait, where’s the plane? A wingsuit? Parachute? Anything! Uh-oh, looks like you’re 6 miles high and free-falling! So, is this it or is there a way to hack yourself out of this dire situation? A person’s chances of survival when falling from a height of 35,000 feet (10,000 m) are slim. Anyway, despite this poor outlook, you still have a glimmer of hope! You’ll be surprised to know that if you were to stumble from the top of a tall building, you’d be in a much worse situation! Actually, there is a book that lists over 200 cases of people falling from a plane without a parachute and living to tell the tale. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Could the dinosaurs ever come back? The idea that people could bring dinosaurs back someday is both exciting and scary. But it's no joke. Your childhood dream of a real-life Jurassic Park could actually come true in 30 years! And, yes, scientists were initially inspired by the famous movie. They wanted to find a mosquito stuck in amber and extract dinosaur DNA from it. But real-world scientists came across a big problem: the oldest DNA sample they were able to get was only 1 million years old. “Only” because all the dinosaurs went extinct some 65 million years ago! So instead of looking for dinosaur DNA hanging out in the belly of an ancient mosquito, they decided to take DNA from the closest descendants of these reptilian giants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many people, history is just a boring subject. However, it can be really interesting if you find unusual ways to study it. Here are 22 amazing rare historical photos that will leave you speechless. You won't find them in textbooks or easily available, but they are definitely worth seeing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get ready to see some white lights joining the red, yellow, and green party on the traffic lights! It would signal to drivers of autonomous vehicles (AVs). The white light should help them manage the upcoming intersection of traffic flow intelligently. The thinking is that both traffic congestion levels and overall fuel consumption could be reduced. The cars and trucks that are driving themselves won't need to 'look' at the white traffic light, because they'll be communicating with it wirelessly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever heard a story and thought, “No way is that actually possible!” Well, some people have lived through the most impossible and extreme situations that it’s kinda hard to wrap your head around it! Take, for instance, the story of Jean Hilliard. This 19-year-old woman was found frozen solid, and (get this) she managed to survive! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Each couple has their own life and love story, before and after marriage. Nevertheless, here’s what we at Bright Side think is a list of typical everyday situations that you and your partner might find familiar! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your feet can say a lot about you and your true character than you think. Bright Side invites you to take a look at these illustrations proving that. We all have different feet and toes, but we hardly think what it might mean and how it connects to our personalities. However, it does! You might be very surprised to learn that your feet can say far more about you than you think. Take a closer look at the shape of your feet to learn something surprising about yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine you’re going on a hike with a few of your friends to the Grand Canyon. You’ve planned to spend the night, camp like boy scouts, and most importantly, have fun. As you’re on the trail towards your destination, your fastest buddy is a few hundred feet ahead. Suddenly, you see him tripping, and just as he’s about to hit the ground, he vanishes into thin air, right in front of your eyes. What would you do? Would you trust your eyes, or think of it as a hallucination? That's exactly what happened to James Burne Worson 126 years ago. He simply vanished. Nobody could explain this incident using logic. His friends were in utter shock... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's so special about Japan? Anyone who visits Japan will be amazed by something, like robots working as hotel staff or vending machines on every corner! We’ve collected 20 outstanding innovations proving that Japan must be living in 3018! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Long-haul flights. You know, those marathon adventures that fly you half-way around the world, are terrifyingly boring, and tire you to no end. But nowadays, long-distance travel is nothing like it was years ago! And the experience of flying 20 hours straight might turn out to be much more enjoyable than you expected! Let's say you need to get from Singapore to New York, which usually takes about 19 hours. Chances are, you'll travel the distance of almost 10,000 miles on a plane that has been designed specifically for flying super-long routes. Travelers have more space between armrests, more head and shoulder room, as well as more legroom. On top of that, the air circulation and lighting in the cabin are adjusted in a way that’s supposed to help passengers deal with jet lag more easily! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some people consider the rules of etiquette to be outdated and old-fashioned. However, good manners never go out of style. If you want to be taken seriously, you should know there are things that can ruin your image of a true lady. We at Bright Side have come up with a list of typical etiquette mistakes a lady would never make. Keep them in mind, and you'll always make a great first impression. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered if there are things an airplane simply can’t or won’t do? It turns out that airplanes have strict rules regarding their pathways in the sky – for safety reasons, and for the sake of staying friendly with continental neighbors. Some of the places they’re not allowed to fly over might surprise you! For example, planes won’t fly directly over the Earth’s poles and over the Pacific Ocean. You can't see planes over Tibet and over the City of Mecca. The airspace over Walt Disney World and Disneyland is also a no-fly zone. The same applies to Area 51 but we don't know why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’ve probably heard scary stories about the lives of the 25 million people in the reclusive and isolated nation of North Korea. If things are so rough for ordinary people, imagine how hard it must be for those serving in the military! Let’s see what it’s like to be a soldier in the North Korean army. Terrible nutrition, uniforms that injure soldiers, no way to escape and even worse conditions for women who suffer emotionally and physically - things get really tough and even more horrible you could imagine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sea travel is safer today than at any point in history. But still, how worried should we be? Could a Titanic-like disaster happen today? Before we can answer our main question, we need to know what led to the sinking of the Titanic becoming one of the worst maritime disasters in history. Everyone knows the basic story: the ship hit an iceberg and there weren’t enough lifeboats. The first big issue contributing to the ship's demise had to do with the culture of early twentieth-century ocean liners. The captains of these ships were under constant pressure to keep a tight schedule of arrivals and departures. Additionally, it was widely believed that icebergs didn’t pose any significant danger to ships. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to know if your house is being watched by burglars? Many people protect their homes. Some choose alarms; others rely on strong doors with complex locks. Some go even further by installing security cameras, LED lights, smart locks, and high-tech security gadgets. But even the most observant people don’t always notice that robbers have already started to watch their home and are waiting for the right moment to make a move. Pay attention to details that can be connected with theft, even if they seem trivial at first sight. In today’s video, we’ve prepared a list of signs that should help you stay alert. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So you’re at home, enjoying your evening tea under a warm blanket, when all of a sudden you see a huge — no, enormous! — mosquito. Its long and gangling legs have a span of your palm, and it clumsily bumps into all the obstacles it meets. Despite its awkward appearance, it’s still terrifying! What if it carries malaria? Slowly, not to draw the monster’s attention to yourself, you get out from your soft chair and run for it into the bathroom, lock yourself in there, and open the browser on your phone. While googling, you get engrossed with reading up on some other weird and crazy bugs. For example, here’s the human-faced stinkbug. No, they don’t really stink, at least for humans. Here's a titan beetle next! It's the largest beetle in the whole world: it can grow as long as your entire palm, complete with fingers! Here's an Atlas moth that looks like they have three heads, two of which are serpent’s. They’re sometimes called cobra moths. There are 10 quintillion insects on Earth at all times and the critters on this list can fight to be named the “Strangest Bug Ever”. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When was the last time you felt terrified? Maybe you were walking in the dark and heard a strange noise right behind you. We all fear something. Our hearts start beating like crazy, we sweat and tremble, run out of breath and sometimes even have a full-blown panic attack. Hit “thumbs up” if you are afraid of something. It is okay to admit it. Here's a list of 25 bizarre and unique phobias you won’t believe exist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to strengthen the connection between your partner and you? What is vital for a happy relationship of a couple? Here’s a list of 11 simple but very effective recommendations from well-known psychologists. They speak about how to behave toward your partner before calling it a night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not many survival stories can rival the miracle that happened to Marine Lt. Col. William Henry Rankin in 1959. See for yourself: one bad day, this man nearly drowned -- falling from the sky! Um, are you saying that it sounds too paradoxical to be true? So, it was a high-altitude flight, and Rankin, together with his wingman were flying at the height of more than 47,000 ft. The only thing that could cause some trouble was a storm that was raging far beneath the planes, but now, it didn't present any threat. However, the pilots were supposed to pass through this storm on their way to the Marine air base in Beaufort, South Carolina... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever dreamed about living in a palace? Like Buckingham Palace, for example? Well, it’s a nice place, so why not? This ostentatious home is pretty old and huge, but the location is close to schools and shopping! And besides that, it’s got a lot of interesting secrets. When you learn about them you'll get a glimpse of what it's like to live there. Did you know, for example, that the Royal family can receive treatment without leaving the palace? Or that the River Tyburn flows under the south wing of the palace, revealing the fact that the building was set up on swampland? Or that the site where the royal residence is located now was once occupied by a monastery. And some believe that’s the reason why the place is haunted by the ghost of a monk who used to live in that monastery... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What could you buy with $1 around the world? We at Bright Side asked our friends what a dollar can buy them in their countries. Their answers might surprise you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Get the Most out of Your Flight. Maybe you love to travel by plane, or maybe just the idea makes you clench your teeth in terror, but we bet you didn’t know all of this. It’s time to ask the experts who fly all the time: flight attendants to reveal their secrets and tips on how to make your flight more comfortable and safe. Many of us consider ourselves experts at navigating departures, flights, and takeoffs almost as naturally as we get out of bed in the morning or take a walk around the block. But however experienced you are, learning some of these insights about airplanes can make your flights more pleasant. It might also make the experience better for the pilot and crew of flight attendants who have to do this all day, every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wondered why airplanes would not always fly in a straight line from one point to another? After all, they’re in the air, what could possibly stop them? Well, there are plenty of reasons for that, and while some are common, others might be harder to explain. Did you know, for example, that planes can't fly over Paris? It seems surprising that the capital of France, despite having four airports within its city limits, has prohibited airspace but it's true! Moscow is another big city over which all flights were prohibited from the 1960s. However, in 2013, a new law was issued that finally allowed commercial airplanes to cross the sky over the Russian capital. Let's find out what the reasons are! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And here we go again: the great game of optical illusions is about to begin. How well do you trust your mind? We can’t even imagine how often our sight, hearing, or smell cheat us. Our past experiences, hidden desires, and influences are responsible for making optical illusions work. Our brain is always in search of patterns so don’t trust your eyes. Sometimes we see what we want to see rather than reality. Today, we'll show you some optical illusions which can prove that things are not as simple as they seem. It's gonna be really cool because this is a 360-degree video! And if you're a Minecraft fan, you'll definitely like it! Strap in your seat belts and hold on to something — we’re rolling! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered where our habits and vices come from? An Aries can be pretty impatient, moody, and impulsive, Geminis are affectionate, adaptable, and quite curious about life and the world around them, Leos have natural charisma and charm instantly make them the life of the party anywhere they go! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some natural phenomena are fascinating and spooky at the same time! For example, hikers in California were surprised to witness giant shadow creatures in the mountains. What are those? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How many layers does the Earth have? Have you ever wondered what lies beneath Earth's crust? Well, our planet is like an onion - with loads of different layers. The Earth's crust is like a hard-boiled egg's shell - thin and tough. It takes up less than 1% of the planet's size. At a depth of 3,300 ft, the pressure reaches 330 atmospheres. That's like four elephants piled up on your head or two pandas balanced on your thumbnail. About 6,500 ft below the surface, you still can meet some living creatures! Those are springtails - teeny eyeless insects that live in super-deep Krubera Cave. The deepest multicellular animal people know about lives at a depth of 11,800 ft in the TauTona mine in South Africa. This may sound strange, but a lot of interesting things happen underground. For example, 510 ft underground, you find the world's deepest hotel, and in 2020, the world's deepest concert took place at a depth of 6,200 ft! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

India is undoubtedly one of the most interesting countries in the world. For outsiders, it’s a country of mystery, with an exotic culture and tradition of ancient wisdom we never encounter at home. It strikes us with its contrasts. It’s a place full of odd customs and curiosities. Bright Side gathered 12 amazing facts about this country of spices that will show India from a completely different side. I bet you never thought that India is the birthplace of all plastic surgery! Yup, among India’s most sacred texts, there’s one that baffles surgeons and medical experts to this day. It was written by the ancient Indian surgeon Sushruta somewhere between 1000 BCE and 500 BCE. The text describes tons of unbelievably complex surgical procedures! Can you imagine that? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“So many countries, so many customs.” Any jet-setter will agree this good old proverb is true. In the age of globalization, going places has become an essential part of our life. We’re all well aware of the fact that while visiting a foreign country, we must obey certain local traditions and common rules. What would you do if you walked into a bathroom and instead of toilet paper, you found a bowl of water? And no instructions either! Or, what if warding off bad luck meant talking to birds at the park? Sure, these things may seem wacky to you, but they’re pretty normal customs in other countries. And some actually sound pretty fun! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey, do you have any plans for your next vacation? How about seeing India? Hold on now! Just because it might feel like it’s a world away (both figuratively and literally!), that doesn’t mean it isn’t a tourist-friendly country. And more importantly, a trip to India won’t cost you nearly as much as you’d think! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Raise Kids. Some parents can’t stop worrying that they’re gonna mess it up or that their kid’s gonna have it tough. According to some statistics, though, most parents are confident in their skills. However, parents often teach their kids the wrong lessons that influence them in the worst way. We’ve checked with the best psychologists to come up with a list of 8 bad lessons a lot of parents unknowingly teach their kids. We’ve also provided some healthy alternatives that’ll help you raise your kids to become strong, confident, and self-sufficient adults. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Almost all of us want to look younger than we are and live as long as possible. Your genetic inheritance gives you a head start, but your diet also plays a vital part in helping you increase your lifespan. Today, we're going to reveal the 10 anti-aging foods that make your skin look glowing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to prevent mosquito bites? In the summer, we all want to spend more time out in the fresh air, take walks in the park, and enjoy the greenery and flowers. But mosquitoes can ruin even the most wonderful vacations. Btw, research has proven that mosquitoes can rapidly learn and remember the smells of hosts, and that’s what makes some people more preferable than others. Did you know, for example, that mosquitoes just hate the lavender smell? This is an herb that’s super easy to get ahold of. You can also just set small bushels of lavender around your backyard living area. So if you taste especially sweet, here's the list of the recipes for natural fragrances that will scare the mosquitoes away, so you can enjoy the pleasures of summer. Try them instead of reaching for more chemical sprays! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every country has its own laws, traditions, rules, and specific features that might seem strange and even shocking to the people of other cultures. For example, did you know that women in India can marry a tree? And it’s not because they are crazy about nature. Or that in South Korea babies are considered to be one year old at birth? Or that Australia fines its citizens that don’t show up to elections? Our world is amazing and unique and that’s what Bright Side keeps reminding our readers. The following 16 facts confirm this statement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes your body special? Well, everything! Every human body has features that're unique and sophisticated. Your body can even do tricks: about 1/3 of all people can raise one eyebrow! Very few people can manage to lick their elbows. What if you're among those who can do mirror writing with no effort? Take a look at this list of rare body tricks and maybe you'll recognize yourself in one of them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices