The name of Sergei Korolev is known to the whole world. This man was not just at the origins of Russian cosmonautics. He actually opened the space era of world history. As a "secret citizen" on duty, he had to go through many trials and obstacles. Korolev was peculiar: he hated gold, did not launch rockets on Mondays, and in the rank of the country's chief rocket designer was going to personally fly into space
The first and largest cosmodrome in the world "Baikonur" today is located on the territory of Kazakhstan. From it, the world's first manned flight into space was carried out. Until recently, Baikonur remained the world leader in the number of launches. For 50 years, more than 1,500 different spacecraft and up to 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles have been launched from here. And its name, known to the whole world, the object owes to the Soviet secret services, seeking to confuse the enemy's intelligence at the time of construction
The already amazing nature of Australia tens of thousands of years ago was even more incredible. The continent was inhabited by giant kangaroos, twice the height of an ordinary person, and huge goannas, similar to dragons. But why did the megafauna disappear on this earth? Previously, it was believed that people were to blame. Now scientists are sure: it was climate change that led Australia's megafauna to extinction. The land that we now call Australia, 40-60 thousand years ago, was inhabited by giant creatures sa
It's amazing how strong the spirit of competition is in people and even entire countries. In late spring 2020, it became known about the work of NASA together with filmmakers on a new film, which will be filmed in space. In the fall, information appeared that the Roscosmos corporation had also begun work on a similar project. It seems that now the two countries will compete in the right to be the first to release a feature film shot in outer space
When detailed information about the upcoming film Mulan appeared on the Internet a few months ago, especially sarcastic viewers joked: "How did the creators miss the opportunity to make the main character black?" There are grounds for such humor: Hermione, the Nutcracker Prince, the Little Mermaid, the new "Charmed" - over the past couple of years, such surprises as a change in the race of long-established characters are happening more and more often. And if earlier the audience simply did not understand where they came from, for example, dark-skinned knights at
Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin wrote a huge number of works, which they get to know in childhood. In the biography of this great classic, which is studied in educational institutions, far from all the facts of his biography are revealed. But some of them are quite interesting
Calling her just a doll doesn’t dare. Barbie immediately became popular and in demand, and during her existence she had a plastic family, home, spouse, children, friends, and various professions. However, the world of pink plastic is forced to react to all changes in the real world, since the Barbie doll has too much of a serious influence on the minds of the younger generation, so serious that toy manufacturers are now and then criticized, and their doll is still being bought up all new
Epiphany became one of the most significant cultural and political events in Russia. The Kiev prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich in the 10th century decided to baptize Russia. But the process of Christianization with a gradual departure from the pagan religion was initiated earlier by Princess Olga. By the decision of one ruler, the direction of development of a large state was determined for thousands of years ahead. It should be noted that the prince did not immediately decide on the transition to Christianity. He spent a lot of time analyzing all available on
At the meeting place of the great rivers Tigris and Euphrates, the great ancient city of Babylon once stood. A small territorial community grew into an incredibly powerful Babylonian kingdom. Babylon was repeatedly raided and destroyed, it ceased to exist in the 2nd century, but the glory of this great state is still alive today. Babylon owes its greatness in almost everything to the most famous of its kings - Hammurabi. This man managed to turn Babylon into the most important economic and ku
In the 20th century, the Chinese Russian community was represented not only in Harbin, but also in Shanghai. After the Civil War, the ranks of the emigrants were replenished with the White Guards. Participants of the White movement were forced to leave Russia, dispersed around the world. The Chinese land has also become one of the new places of service for the experienced military. To guard and protect the European representatives who inhabited Shanghai, the Russian community supplied the best soldiers and police
People will probably never know if the legendary Excalibur actually existed. Historians still argue: was there really King Arthur, his legendary city of Camelot and the noble knights of the Round Table. But people need legends. Therefore, when archaeologists recently discovered a medieval sword stuck in a stone at the bottom of the Vrbas River, it was instantly dubbed the lost sword of King Arthur
In Game of Thrones, young Ned Stark meets the Targaryen swordsmen in front of an impressive castle that bears an equally impressive name - the Tower of Joy. This beautiful structure looks so fantastic that it’s hard to believe that it’s not a decoration. Nevertheless, it is a real castle in Spain, called Zafra (Castillo de Zafra). The history of this fortress, unique in its architecture, is even more amazing and fascinating than the plot of the fantasy saga "Game of Thrones"
The fact of the Ryan Air plane landing in Minsk is hotly discussed all over the world. The international community is outraged, condemned and threatened with new sanctions, as no explosive devices were found as a result of the verification of the message that the airliner was mined, but a detained passenger appeared. It has been suggested that the false mining report was fabricated, and that the detained person was the real target. However, this was far from the first landing
This year is incredibly rich in various anniversaries. In 1871, exactly 150 years ago, Rosa Luxemburg (March 5) and Karl Liebknecht (August 13) were born, who became the leaders of the German Communist Party. They brought workers to the streets of Berlin because of the economic crisis, demanding the establishment of Soviet power in Germany. Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht were killed by right-wing soldiers. In Germany, representatives of left-wing parties and anti-fascist organizations still honor their memory
More than a hundred years have passed since the last Viking ship was excavated in Norway. In 2018, almost by accident, a ship was discovered by GPR, the age of which is about 1200 years. The huge funerary boat seems to be the last refuge for the Viking warriors. This is a very rare find and a great fortune for archaeologists. Researchers faced something this year that caused them to sound the alarm and ask the government for help. If not by
During the era of Queen Victoria, an increased interest in mysticism, occultism, spiritualism and death reigned in society. Mediums and psychics roamed around England, receiving decent profits from simple-minded citizens who believed in mysticism much more than in science. Why are there ordinary citizens! Pundits organized ghost hunting and studied the behavior of ghosts and spirits. And it seems that every first person could talk to the dead at that time
For many generations of children, the adventures of the girl Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass were the best, or at least some of the most beloved fairy tales. But childhood passes, and instead of fairy tales, we start reading about the storyteller. For the past few decades, what has been written about Lewis Carroll has been confusing and disappointing. But, perhaps, Carroll's love for girls is a myth behind which a more shameful (by the standards of his time) secret was hidden. And it's not even just possible, but there is all the evidence for that. What's on with
Queen Victoria, who is still called the "Grandmother of All Europe", was, of course, the heir to the many jewels of the British crown. However, being very sentimental, the great ruler most of all appreciated not gold and diamonds, but memorabilia that reminded her of children or her beloved husband. True, some of these jewelry may seem too extravagant today
In 1737, a Danish naval captain, Frederic Ludwig Norden, while traveling through Egypt, documented and sketched the fourth great pyramid of Giza. Norden argued that along with the three main pyramids we know of today, there was another one. Scientists have been trying to solve this riddle for many years. Today, researchers may be on the cusp of a great discovery, and the mystery of this lost fourth pyramid will finally be revealed
Do rulers use doubles? Ever since the days of Ancient Rome and Byzantium, few have doubted the positive answer. But how far can the “role” of the ruler's double go and where does the copy go if the original dies? Here is the question that raises many conspiracy theories
It seems that the very atmosphere of the official residence of British monarchs contributes to the fact that visitors involuntarily straighten their backs and behave almost perfectly. But sometimes even celebrities who visit Buckingham Palace have an irresistible urge to "play pranks". Later, with a certain amount of pride, they admit that they allowed themselves to violate decency in this particular place
Royal families, despite their special status, are almost never immune from ordinary human problems and misfortunes. So, in the 20s, two girls with mental disabilities were born in the family of the beloved brother of the Queen Mother. The parents were so afraid to tarnish the honor of the royal family that they even concealed the fact of the birth of children. All their lives, Nerissa and Catherine Bowes-Lyon lived in secret, they were carefully hidden, first in the family, and then in a special hospital. When, in 1987, journalists revealed
The powerful and mysterious Egyptian civilization, so ancient that it is even difficult for a person who is far from history to imagine how much. Attempts to unravel all its secrets have long been undertaken by various scientists and for the most part unsuccessfully. After all, the key to unraveling many secrets is the ability to read Egyptian texts, which was lost in antiquity. In these incomprehensible symbols, researchers saw astrological, kabbalistic signs. Some even suggested
The past has always attracted a person, because it contains an infinite amount of information about everyday life, beliefs and even about the environment that was long before us. From the remains of wild animals to works of art, all the discoveries made by scientists amaze us year after year. What interesting things did 2019 bring and what finds surprised the whole world?
Soviet troops occupied the Austrian capital on April 13, 1945. A little later, the country was divided into 4 occupation zones - Soviet, British, French and American. After the withdrawal of units of the Red Army in 1955, it was discovered: in 10 years from the Soviet military, local women gave birth, according to rough estimates, from 10 to 30 thousand children. What happened to these people, and how did they live in their homeland?
During the entire existence of the state security organs of the USSR, there are more than one case when employees of this organization went over to the enemy side. The Western press enthusiastically told about them and the Soviet Union kept a deaf silence, preferring to hide the truth about the traitor from the public. One of these "undisclosed" defectors was Genrikh Lyushkov: the third-rank commissar, who had served in the authorities for more than one year, went over to the side of the hostile at that time in 1938
It is known that in Soviet times, chefs employed by the Kremlin not only underwent a thorough, months-long inspection, but also had military shoulder straps. This was explained by the fact that the special services were responsible for the food of the first persons of the Land of the Soviets, and all the cooks automatically became KGB officers. Each leader had his own preferences and requirements for the dishes served, and there was always something special prepared for the receptions
The Great Patriotic War is remembered for many grandiose battles in which Soviet soldiers defended the independence of their Motherland. But in the history of confrontations between the USSR and Nazi Germany, there is one unique battle that took place not on the battlefield, but on the football field. This is a match between the Ukrainian team "Start" and the German anti-aircraft gunners "Flakelf", later called the "death match". The event took place in August 1942 in occupied Kiev and over time it was overgrown with fictions and legends
The art of the word has existed in various forms since ancient times. Whole eras were recreated with the help of brilliant images created by writers and poets on paper. The power of the printed word works wonders for influencing our values, worldview and understanding of the foundations of the world as a whole. Literary greatness is certainly a form of immortality, but the sad truth is that even great works sometimes get lost. About eight irrevocably lost greatest works of all time and the people
Japanese culture is wide and multifaceted, and therefore it is not at all surprising that talented artists, screenwriters and directors give the world not only amazing anime, but also touching dramas, fascinating, fabulous stories. Today we will tell you about the five brightest representatives of Japanese cinema, by which it is impossible to pass by
After the beloved grandchildren of Elizabeth II, first William, and seven years later Harry, got their own families, the Queen, of course, took care of where they would live and raise their children. She presented them with magnificent apartments in London's Kensington Palace and country houses. It is interesting to see what they both got
The funeral and the actions preceding this process in Russia have always depended on many superstitions. The observance of the rules was strictly monitored, and the old people tried to pass on to their descendants their knowledge about the amazing power of the dead and their and things. The attitude towards death in Russia was special. Read what the hands of the deceased were capable of, how they used the soap, with which they washed the deceased, what death is and what power the clothes of the recently deceased person possessed
Not only are Studio Ghibli renowned for their great animated films, but apparently they are also a bunch of incredibly tough guys. The animation studio's boss character emerged during the infamous trial of producer Harvey Weinstein, who was eventually convicted of harassment. Director Hayao Miyazaki, an icon of Studio Ghibli, said at the time that he once had to threaten Harvey with … a samurai sword! What happened then and why the whole press is raging now
Many people do not even know why you need to be afraid of a black cat, sprinkled salt, or why stick your tongue out to the mirror if you had to urgently return home. We grew up on popular beliefs. Our grandparents, moms and dads did strange things that are difficult to explain. Children repeat after them and superstitions are passed from generation to generation, although most do not think for what exactly. You just have to do certain things, otherwise there will be trouble. It's embedded in our subconscious
The grandiose battle on the Kursk Bulge, which lasted 50 days, ended with the victory of the Red Army on August 23, 1943. Germany was not helped by either the latest tanks or selected personnel: before the start of the German offensive, the Soviet command already had secret information about the enemy's plans. This information made it possible to organize a worthy counteraction to the enemy, who was never able to recover from the defeat, and soon began to retreat along the entire front line
Japan is a unique country with a very colorful and distinctive history. In addition to the well-known facts about the failed attempts of the Mongol invasion due to the strongest typhoons, and about the 250-year Edo period, when Japan was in self-isolation, without communicating with other countries, there is a lot of interesting things in the history of this country
A tsarist officer who fought in the Civil War on the side of the White Army, Boris Smyslovsky felt a fierce hatred of the Bolsheviks. It was this feeling that pushed him to cooperate with the Nazis, turning the emigrant patriot of the Motherland into a traitor-renegade who had ruined more than one life of his former fellow citizens. However, Smyslovsky himself did not take part in military and reconnaissance operations - he was engaged in other activities: the formation and training of units, called upon in the future to become a stronghold of the liberated
In August 1914, Russian troops attacked on a large scale in East Prussia. The mistakes of the command and the fragmentation of the actions of the generals led to a disaster. Samsonov's 2nd army was destroyed, and the commander himself committed suicide. This was a serious defeat for Russia in the First World War. However, it was this tragedy that saved the western front and France
The defense of the Osovets fortress is a sad page in Russian history, which, however, our country can be proud of. It was here in 1915 that the so-called "attack of the dead" took place, which plunged the enemies of the Russian army into horror, and here, as the legend says, a little later the sentry, who guarded the underground warehouse, was "forgotten". They discovered this man, allegedly, only after many years
The world community recognized what the Nazis committed during World War II as a crime against peace and humanity. One of the manifestations of this evil is the network of concentration camps in the occupied territories, through which 18 million people have passed. Children's concentration camps became the height of cynicism and cruelty, including a donor camp in the Belarusian village of Krasny Bereg