Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in FYI.

10 Popular Use-cases of In-App Messaging for e-commerce Apps
In the present age of quick digital communication, in-app messaging is gaining a lot of popularity. It has also been attracting a lot of attention in the e-commerce industry. To put it clearly, in-app messaging tends to prompt and assure app users that you are there for their assistance all the time. Real-time engagement helps boost customer satisfaction.
By Parthiba5 years ago in FYI
That Time I Saw Jupiter's Moons Naked Eye
Jupiter's four largest moons are easy to see in my binoculars. They are familiar friends that I often look for when I spot Jupiter's golden light in the night sky. However, on October 24, 2012, in the wee hours of the night in Tokyo, I had an odd experience with Jupiter's moons that I still can't explain.
By Amethyst Qu5 years ago in FYI
How did Portugal and Spain plan to "conquer" the World
Start of Iberian land disputes can be traced back to Christopher Columbus’s expedition to the New World. Before he had left, Columbus had failed to receive sponsorship for the trip from the Portuguese king, John II. But, upon his return to Europe, having already sailed to the West Indies under the Spanish flag, Columbus decided to stop at the port in Lisbon. When King John met with the explorer and heard of his successful adventure and new discoveries, the monarch insisted that these newly found lands should belong to Portugal, and not Spain. Unexpectedly, King John actually had somewhat of a valid argument, despite having refused to sponsor the trip that brought about thediscovery of this new land. Back in 1479, the Treaty of Alcáçovas was signed between Portugal and the Monarchs of Castile and Aragon to wrap up the War of Castilian Succession. One part of this agreement had been focused on who could lay claim to which areas throughout the Atlantic Ocean. Firstly, aside from the Canary Islands, every territory that had been fought over by the Iberian powers would be incorporated under the Portuguese crown.This included Madeira, the Azores, Guinea, Cape Verde, and the right of conquering the Kingdom of Fez.Going even further in favor of Portugal, hegemony over the entire Atlantic Ocean south of the Canary Islands was granted to the Portuguese. Exploring, trading, conquering - all of this was allowed only for Portugal within the south of the Atlantic. Due to this specific portion of the prior treaty, it was actually a fair claim for King John to declare that all of the territories discovered by Christopher Columbus should belong to his own crown. Since the West Indies were, in fact, south of the Canary Islands, it would appear that there was no alternative… Nonetheless, the Spaniards were far from keen on giving up all of the opportunities the North and South American territories had to offer. The current monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, protested this request and argued that it was Spain who should possess authority over the lands found by Columbus. Neither side wanted to go to war over this matter, despite both passionately insisting upon their own claims, so all three leaders decided to come to an agreement. It would be Pope Alexander VI who would bring about a resolution. With the pope having been Spanish-born, Ferdinand and Isabella likely believed that he would support their argument and favor them in whatever agreement he settled on. For King John, he may have ended up feeling this way as well. When the Papal Bull was declared, it could surely be argued that Pope Alexander had given some preferential treatment to Spain. The solution that he had come up with was to draw a line across the map from north to south, 100 leagues off the Cape Verde Islands to the west. The Portuguese were meant to remain to the east of this line, and the Spanish could stay westward. The problem with this Papal Bull though was that it truly did show preference to Spain. It stripped the Portuguese of their hopes to seize the fresh land in the New World, and it extended so far to Portugal’s side that it would likely interfere with their other expeditions as well. Furthermore, it didn’t even mention Portugal in particular, so there was no actual agreement concerning what the Portuguese were allowed to do. Seeing this clear favor to Spain, King John requested to meet with the Spanish monarchs as opposed to accepting the Pope’s decision. Given the fact that, at this point in time, Portugal was the more powerful militarily of the two - and especially at sea - Spain agreed to discuss a new solution to avoid any potential conflict. King John made his wants immediately clear - Portugal was to be given explicit rights to more land and sea. The line, he suggested, should be moved 270 leagues toward the west, and the Portuguese should have the right to whatever activity they please in any area to the east of this new divider. This would allow Portugal to enter Brazil, as well as giving them more room to adventure wherever they wished around Africa.The Spanish, who possibly felt as though they were still being given the upper hand due to the difficulty in enforcing such a line, agreed to these changes. Additionally, even if the divider would be strictly enforced, the new treaty still gave the vast majority of the New World Spain, so there was not much to be given up on their end.Portugal’s monarch, on the other hand, was more concerned with the African continent, and therefore had no problems in settling only for Brazil - which was supposedly yet to be discovered - and part of Greenland…
By Sau Sal5 years ago in FYI
1896–1926: Claude Monet and the Water Lilies
There is perhaps no image more associated with the Impressionism Art Movement than that of Claude Monet’s water lilies. Comprising a series of roughly 250 oil paintings created between 1896 and his death in 1926, these beautiful, bright works were a triumph amidst personal lose and health issues. Monet’s second wife, Alice Hoschedé, died in 1911. His oldest son died in 1914 from tuberculosis. His younger son Michel was deployed to the front to serve in the French Army during World War I. Monet even developed cataracts which would eventually require two surgeries to remove them so that he might continue his painting.
By Charles Beuck5 years ago in FYI
Steampunk VS Goth
Some say that Steampunk is Goths discovering brown. This, however, is an oversimplification and inaccurate. Although there are similarities to the Victorian Gothic subculture Steampunk has its own origin story.
By Lucifer Divinitas5 years ago in FYI
Tabloid Scientific Journals : A Growing Concern
The relationship between large pharmaceutical companies and publishers of scientific literature can be downright perilous. Elsevier, one of the largest publishers of credible and legitimate scientific publications, finds itself in the midst of a serious controversy after it has been revealed that they have created at least six pseudo-scientific journals. Outrageously, these publications are entirely paid for by pharmaceutical companies.
By Dominic Dauphinais5 years ago in FYI
Flour Sacks: a Message for Today
Ninety-year-old George Reier is ready. Always. His car is gassed up, his frig full, and his garden weeds pulled. As a farm boy in Cranberry Prairie, Ohio, he learned to take care of things. Later, in the Marines, George was in charge of supplies. I was not surprised this week that when I mentioned flour sacks to George, he ferreted out one from the bottom of his cedar chest in five minutes flat. Pristine and clean as the day it was made, the red, white, and blue ribbon pattern reflect Depression aesthetics. The bright cotton bag also reflects Depression ingenuity and a partnership between industry and a suffering people.
By Diane Helentjaris5 years ago in FYI
Do You Believe In Ghosts?
Recently, a local publication assigned me to write a story on a historic hotel, built in 1889. But the focus of my story was not on the architecture or genealogy of the building. No, my angle honed in on the permanent residents of the hotel. The ones who never truly left, even after death.
By MaryRose Denton5 years ago in FYI
Flowers — the Artist’s Favorite Muse
Scientists are just now cottoning onto what the Hippies understood a half-century ago: flowers have power. Florists have been thrilled to tout Rutgers University’s research findings. Jeannette Haviland-Jones, psychology professor, working with her genetics professor husband, Terry R. McGuire, was amazed. Flowers garnered an immediate positive effect on happiness in one hundred percent of her study subjects. They also had a long-term positive effect on mood and promoted increased social contact. Dutch researchers found flowers promoted positive feelings about others. Research has repeatedly documented direct, healthful effects on cognition, heart rate, blood pressure and healing.
By Diane Helentjaris5 years ago in FYI
The Girl Power Behind Antique Embroidered Samplers
Girl power! What can giggle-box girls do? Turns out, a lot. Growing up in Ohio, at four, I embroidered. My mother taught me. I outline stitched orange poppies with black French-knot anthers atop stamens. At around the same age, up north in Detroit, Carol Huber also learned to embroider. A favorite treat for Carol was a trip to Kresge’s topped off with the reward of an embroidery kit. Once home, she’d embroider the blue lines of the pattern stamped on the heavy fabric. I grew up to use my needle skills as a physician. Carol grew up to own, with her husband Stephen Huber, The Huber Gallery in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. The preeminent antique shop is dedicated to samplers and other school girl embroideries. The Hubers are sought-after by museums, collectors, auction houses, and historical associations for their expertise. I recently enjoyed speaking with Carol.
By Diane Helentjaris5 years ago in FYI
Greatest Physicists of All Time Sir Albert Einstein
When Einstein encountered many miraculous years in 1905, his first four works appeared in the Annals of Physics, one of the most popular physics journals of the time.
By Radha Karki5 years ago in FYI
First Person To Walk On The Moon Neil Arm Armstrong
One of the reasons I wanted to study Hansen's compelling biography was approaching the 50th anniversary of the mission - one of the reasons I wanted to read about Hansen's compelling history of one of America's greatest achievements in the 20th century, the first arrival of the month on July 20, 1969. in the moon and in the back, and it gives a very in-depth look at the person in charge of the project, Neil A. Armstrong.
By Radha Karki5 years ago in FYI