Santa Claus Wasn’t Always Red, and That’s the Real Christmas Story!

During my school days I loved the red and white colors that Santa Claus wears To me those colors meant happiness excitement and celebration Santa looked cool friendly and magical someone who arrived once a year only to spread joy Christmas felt incomplete without his red suit white beard and cheerful ho ho ho Back then I never questioned why Santa looked the way he did I simply believed that this was how Santa had always been Years later a casual conversation changed that belief My uncle who works in advertising smiled when I spoke about Santa s red outfit and told me You know Santa wasn t always like this That single line opened the door to a fascinating story one where faith folklore art and marketing came together to create the Santa Claus we know today The Saint Behind the SantaThe roots of Santa Claus lie not in

25 Dec 2025

The Whys and Hows

124 Years in the Air: The Story of the Wuppertal Hanging Railway

At first glance the Wuppertal Schwebebahn looks like something straight out of a futuristic sci-fi film a sleek blue train hanging from its tracks gliding gently above a river and weaving through a compact German city But this marvel is not new at all It has been operating continuously since making it the world s oldest suspension railway More than a century later it still carries thousands of daily commuters while travellers from around the world visit just to experience the easy floating sensation of riding a train that hangs rather than rolls Hop On the Spectacular Wuppertal SchwebebahnLocated in the lively city of Wuppertal the Schwebebahn glides along tall iron arches giving passengers the feeling of flying through the air As the train passes above roads neighbourhoods and busy market squares the scenery slowly opens into stunning views of the Wupper River For tourists this bird s-eye view alone

2 Dec 2025

The Whys and Hows

Captured Against the Sun: How The Fall of Icarus Made History!

In an age where millions of photos are clicked every second only a few manage to leave the world speechless One such image titled The Fall of Icarus has taken the internet by storm Shot by Arizona-based astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy the photograph shows skydiver Gabriel Brown appearing to free-fall directly in front of the glowing surface of the Sun Perfectly aligned perfectly timed and almost unbelievable to the eye this image has become a global sensation overnight But behind this breathtaking masterpiece lie months of planning precise calculations extreme conditions and a story of human passion and collaboration A Shot That Defies ImaginationMcCarthy captured the photograph on November in a desert using a series of high-powered telescopes Brown a musician YouTuber pilot and experienced skydiver jumped from a paramotor aircraft at an altitude of about feet meters At the same time McCarthy was stationed roughly feet meters away with his

24 Nov 2025

The Whys and Hows

The Himalayan Ritual You’ve Never Heard Of: Raulane’s Sacred Bride and Groom Ceremony

In the remote valleys of Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh the Raulane Festival stands as one of the region s most fascinating winter traditions According to local folklore the festival is nearly years old rooted in the belief that protective mountain spirits known as Sauni descend during the harsh winter months These spirits are believed to safeguard villagers when the region is cut off by snow offering comfort and protection Kinnaur s geographical isolation for centuries helped preserve this ritual in its original form allowing the community to carry forward a tradition that remains deeply spiritual and culturally intact even today Raula and Raulane The Ritual Bride and GroomAt the centre of the festival are two men chosen to play the symbolic roles of Raula groom and Raulane bride Though the roles resemble a wedding the ritual has no connection to marriage Both performers completely cover their faces with masks of

17 Nov 2025

The Whys and Hows

France Powers Ahead: World’s First Wireless EV-Charging Road Near Paris

Imagine driving your electric car on a highway that silently powers your vehicle without ever needing to stop for a charge That s no longer science fiction it s happening right now in France In a remarkable leap toward sustainable mobility France has unveiled the world s first wireless EV charging highway near the A motorway just outside Paris This -kilometer stretch can charge multiple electric cars buses and trucks while they re in motion marking a historic first for the world Independently verified by the Gustave Eiffel University the system can deliver a continuous power output of over kW with peaks reaching kW comparable to Tesla s fastest V Supercharger stations It s not just a technological win it s a vision of the future where transportation becomes cleaner more efficient and more human-centered How Does the Wireless Road Work Beneath the asphalt lies a hidden network of copper

5 Nov 2025

The Whys and Hows

Seeing Again: The Microchip That Restores Vision

For many people living with advanced dry age-related macular degeneration AMD life gradually dims as central vision fades In its most severe form called geographic atrophy GA cells in a small area of the retina die leaving sufferers with blurred or distorted central vision Color perception and fine detail are often lost making everyday tasks like reading writing and recognizing faces impossible nbsp Worldwide GA affects around five million people including over in the UK alone Now a groundbreaking technology is changing lives Patients fitted with a tiny microchip implant at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London are regaining some of the vision they lost In a pioneering international trial of participants experienced meaningful sight enabling them to read complete crosswords and engage in daily activities that were previously unimaginable How the Implant WorksThe innovative procedure involves inserting a photovoltaic microchip just mm square and as thin as a human hair

1 Nov 2025

The Whys and Hows

The Secret Story of Gold and Silver on Indian Sweets

As a kid I remember staring at a piece of kaju katli glittering with silver and asking my mother Mom can I eat this silver She chuckled at my innocent curiosity her eyes twinkling with amusement and gently replied Yes it s completely safe That moment stayed with me sparking a fascination not just for sweets but for the delicate silver and gold leaf vark that has adorned Indian mithai for centuries carrying stories of tradition craft and celebration in every shimmer nbsp There is something magnetic about stepping into an Indian sweet shop during festive seasons Glass counters overflow with kaju katli barfi laddoos and more each delicately coated with silver or gold so fine it almost floats on air At first glance it seems purely decorative but vark carries far deeper significance It embodies centuries of history medicine faith and craftsmanship For many Indians a sweet without its

24 Oct 2025

The Whys and Hows

Tracing the Spark: The Fascinating History Behind Diwali’s Firecrackers

Diwali the festival of lights is often remembered for its glowing diyas colorful rangolis and the dazzling display of fireworks lighting up the night sky But few pause to ask where did this sparkling tradition come from Interestingly firecrackers were not originally a part of ancient Diwali celebrations Historical evidence suggests that the early festivities focused more on lighting oil lamps exchanging sweets and worshipping Goddess Lakshmi for prosperity nbsp The bursting of crackers came much later a fusion of Indian traditions with Chinese invention and Mughal-era luxury Gunpowder which was first invented in China found its way to India through trade routes and military exchanges By the th or th century Indian kings and emperors began experimenting with fireworks as symbols of power and celebration Over time these royal displays of light became associated with major festivals especially Diwali symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and good over

18 Oct 2025

The Whys and Hows

The Joy of Discovery: Citizen Scientists Unearth Rare Pink and Purple Fungi, Painting a New Picture of Biodiversity

In a discovery as magical as it sounds citizen scientists across the United Kingdom have unearthed hundreds of new sites hosting rare pink and purple fungi species so vibrant that they seem almost otherworldly From quiet graveyards to misty sheep pastures and backyard lawns these dazzling mushrooms the pink waxcap and violet coral are rewriting what we know about Britain s hidden biodiversity The discoveries were made as part of Plantlife s Waxcap Watch an annual citizen science survey that encourages people to spot and record grassland fungi What began as a simple autumn activity has now blossomed into one of the UK s largest biodiversity projects bringing together ordinary nature lovers to protect extraordinary species Citizen Science When Communities Become ScientistsThe success of this initiative highlights a growing trend in citizen science where everyday people join hands with experts to collect and analyze data For Plantlife s fungi survey

15 Oct 2025

The Whys and Hows