Mississippi river continues to grow along the border between Illinois and Iowa, photos

How would the world change if mountains did not exist? Earthly travel would undoubtedly be easier, but without mountains, for example, so many natural boundaries that have divided peoples for centuries would disappear, helping them also to define their own culture and, not secondary, to defend themselves against enemies.

Although the number of mountains in the world is virtually incalculable, only 14 exceed 8,000 meters, and they have been a land of conquest for the most fearless climbers in recent decades.

But what are these 14 magnificent 8,000-meter peaks? And where in the world are they located? Let's find out together, referring to measurements made by the magazine Focus.

Gold is undoubtedly one of the world's most important natural resources, a refuge asset par excellence and one of the world's rarest metals. Its importance within our economy is crucial, although many reservoirs are slowly beginning to deplete.

According to US Geological Survey, China remains the world's largest producer of gold, followed by Australia and Russia. Forget the gold rush of the old American West, today gold is mined mechanically in huge mines, open-pit basins in which many other metals besides gold are found.

In this short article, we will show you what are currently the 6 largest gold mines in the world according to data collected by Forbes, which cites the World Gold Council.

In 2018, an incredible event shook the Indian city of Tinsukia: a group of rats destroyed banknotes inside an ATM machine, causing significant economic damage.

The incident sparked wonder and curiosity around the world, leading to speculation about the behaviour of rats and the safety of ATMs. In this article, we will take a closer look at this incredible story and try to understand what could have prompted the rats to act in this way.

We will also look at the wider implications of the event, highlighting the vulnerabilities of financial technologies and the challenges society faces in preventing threats from wild animals and natural environments. (source BBC)

Humanity is rapidly expanding and conquering virtually every single corner of the globe. Specifically, our cities are becoming veritable megacities, destined to accommodate more and more people in the near future.

Research published by Daniel Hoornweg and Kevin Pope in 2016 predicted which will be the 10 most populous cities in the world in 2100, i.e. at the end of the century. Surprisingly, the list did not include a single European or North American city. 

The data on the currently most populous cities were updated to those reported by the UN in 2021, and again, not a single European or North American city. The trend is therefore clear, the future will be shifted between Asia and Africa in the near future, with Western society set to lose its political hegemony.

A meteorite crater (also called astroblem, impact crater or basin) is a circular-shaped depression formed by the impact of a meteorite, asteroid, and in general a celestial body, on the surface of a planet.

Evidence of many of these craters, which have impacted our planet over geological eras, can be found on planet Earth. One of the most famous, for example, is the one believed to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs (called the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction).

Some of these craters can be found underground today, or at least the traces they left behind. Others have become beautiful lakes, others are still desolate and remote places today. But which are the largest in the world by diameter?

We are all realising that our way of life, the one our parents, who were born and raised especially after the Second World War, taught us, is no longer sustainable. There are too many of us in this world now, and nature can no longer provide us with everything we need.

Capitalism, or consumerism for short, is forcing us to submit to environmentally worn-out logics that would not be sustainable even in the long run, but are even less so in the short time we have left before everything falls apart. Our way of life must change radically if we are to allow the survival of mankind. For example, the introduction of the law in Europe allowing the sale of insect meal aims at exactly that, at sustainability.

Therefore, it is necessary for all of us, while there is still time, to change certain behaviours to help the world. Here, then, are some tips for leading a greener and more sustainable life.

Europe is historically a continent where we do not see extreme natural events, such as tornadoes, massive floods and earthquakes. However, events happen every now and then that are so strong and destructive that they go down in history.

Some of these disasters, which occurred even several centuries ago, are still remembered today for the number of victims claimed and the destruction wrought among the population. Weather, it is known, is unpredictable, and even in a relatively calm region like Europe, it can do damage.

The magazine Focus has listed the 10 worst natural disasters in the history of the Old Continent, some of them very recent, others dating back many centuries as well.

According to theMain Streets Across the World 2022report, which analyzes the main shopping areas of 92 cities around the world, New York Fifth Avenue is the most expensive route in the world followed by Hong Kong's Tsim Sha Tsui. Post pandemic, the most expensive street in Hong Kong loses the top of the ranking and records the worst drop ever, -41%.

In detail, with an average annual fee of 14,547 euros per square meter, the Via Montenapoleone in Milan ranks ahead of New Bond Street in London and Avenue des Champs Élysées in Paris, respectively in fourth and fifth place in the global ranking of the most expensive streets in the world.

Via Montenapoleone in Milan, has earned the title of the most expensive shopping street in Europe and the third overall worldwide, with a jump of two positions compared to the last research of 2019.

Based on the annual Mindbody + ClassPass wellness index, this ranking represents an accurate overview of the top 10 (of the 50 most populous) healthiest US cities.

Using a wide range of criteria, the level of well-being of residents was assessed by considering various factors, such as the amount of exercise taken, the amount of sleep at night, and the adoption of healthy lifestyles such as quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption.

Factors such as the importance of social relationships, the closeness of friends and family and the spiritual aspect of personal achievement were also taken into account. The complete ranking can be found at mindbodyonline.com

This is a list of the most populous cities in the world, defined based on 2018 United Nations estimates, official census estimates, and the 2021 "Demographia World Urban Areas" report.

"World Urbanization Prospects," a publication by theONU, defines the population of a real city as "the population living within the administrative boundaries of a city." For many of the metropolises, however, the metropolitan area is administratively distinct from the urban agglomeration proper. For this reason, ONU recent estimates distinguish three definitions of cities: cities proper, urban areas and metropolitan areas.

According to the definition of "city proper", based on administrative uniqueness, the Chinese city of Chongqing is the largest in the world.

According to the other two definitions, Tokyo, despite being divided into several administrative units, is the most populous "urban agglomeration" (i.e. the agglomeration without rural areas) in the world, while the Chinese city of Shanghai is the most populous "metropolitan city" (i.e. the area interconnected by common infrastructure and frequent transport).

The data in this gallery include the total population of agglomerations in their highest estimates, thus also including metropolitan areas.

The lonely house on the Icelandic island of Elliðaey has generated numerous theories and speculations, including a refuge for billionaires in the event of an apocalypse or the abode of a religious fanatic.

However, these stories have been disproved. The real story behind the isolated mansion dates back to the 1950s, when it was built by the Elliðaey Hunting Association as a refuge for puffin hunters. The island of Elliðaey, uninhabited for about 90 years, is an ideal nesting habitat for these endangered birds.

Environmentalists visit the island and use the lodge to monitor and protect puffins during their summer breeding season.

Carnival is one of those festivals that have united people through folklore for centuries. It is usually celebrated following the Christian calendar, and comes before the period called Lent (the 40 days before Easter). Its history originates from some pagan holidays, such as the Roman Saturnalia or the Greek Dionysia.

Each country, over the centuries, has come to celebrate it in different ways, but in general you can find, everywhere, some things in common: the floats, the masks, the flowers, the dancing and the parties. It is a time when anyone can be whoever they want, and it once served to subvert, momentarily, existing social orders.

The magazine Forbes has compiled a ranking of what are the 8 best carnivals in the world to take part in. Alongside the most famous, we also find lesser-known but equally beautiful festivals.