Countries of the World

The original word for bear has been lost. In the medieval period, people believed that simply uttering the animal’s name would summon it, so they used a euphemism that meant “the brown one” and the original word, which had never been recorded, soon disappeared.

Fires can't burn in the oxygen-free vacuum of space, but guns can shoot. Modern ammunition contains its own oxidizer, a chemical that will trigger the explosion of gunpowder, and thus the firing of a bullet, wherever you are in the universe. No atmospheric oxygen required.

If you’d like to improve your memory, you should cut down on the all-nighters and get a good night’s sleep. Sleep will also help you with learning new things, particularly those that involve motor skills. Your piano performance will improve after you have hit the hay.