Unusual Libraries  

Which library ... ?

contains the founder's book collection

is named after its designer

bears some similarity to a UFO

is transported by a vessel

encourages sharing books

is delivered by animals

holds annual exhibitions in winter

offers live performances

A Brief History of Pearls

Many thousands of years ago, long before written history, human beings probably discovered the first pearl while searching the seashore for food. Throughout history, the pearl, with its warm inner glow and shimmering, has been one of the most highly prized and desired gems. Countless references to the pearl can be found in the religions and mythology of cultures from the earliest times. Legend has it that the ancient Egyptian Queen Cleopatra dissolved a single pearl in a glass of wine and drank it, simply to prove to Mark Antony, the Roman General visiting her palace, that she could swallow the wealth of an entire nation in just one meal.

In ancient Rome, pearls were considered a symbol of wealth and social standing. The Greeks valued the pearl for both its extraordinary beauty and association with love and marriage. During the Dark Ages, while ladies from wealthy families adored delicate pearl necklaces, gallant knights often wore pearls into battle. They believed the magic of these glossy gems would keep them unharmed. The Renaissance saw the royal courts of Europe full of pearls. Because pearls were so highly regarded, a number of European countries actually passed laws forbidding anyone but the nobility to decorate themselves with pearls.

During the European expansion into the New World, the discovery of pearls in Central American waters added to the wealth of Europe. Unfortunately, wish for the sea-grown gems resulted in the reduction of virtually all the American pearl oyster populations by the 17th century. Until the early 1900s, natural pearls were accessible only to the rich and famous. In 1916, famed French jeweller Jacques Cartier bought his landmark store on New York's famous Fifth Avenue by trading two pearl necklaces for the valuable property. But today, with the development of pearl cultivating industry, pearls are available and affordable to all.

Ukrainian Start-Ups  

Which start-up ...?

got several million dollars for development

helps to prepare food

has a product used by millions of people every month

saves clients' time

helps you to take care of somebody

cannot be destroyed

helps to prevent crime

has bought another big company

Petcube (petcube.com)

This animal-friendly start-up allows you to take care of your pet from a distance. Founded in Kyiv in 2012, the idea was to help owners who are away from home to follow and interact with their pets. Their products form an interactive network that allows for ordinary routines. Ordering pet supplies as well as sending voice signals, watching live videos, playing with laser- toys and interacting with your pets are no problem now.

Nuka (nuka.me)

Have you ever dreamt of eternal stationery: a notebook and a pencil that will last forever. The notebook is made of synthetic paper and is waterproof. You can use a regular pen for writing, spray it with hand sanitizer and erase everything. The pencil that comes with the notebook doesn't require sharpening or a lead refill. It is by all means durable. The start-up was founded by 17-year-olds Kateryna Mykhalko and Mykyta Vladykin, as well as 20-year-old Eugene Shylo.

Depositphotos (depositphotos.com)

This international photo bank, which acts as a mediator between the authors of images and their buyers, was founded by Ukrainian businessman Dmytro Serheiev in 2009 in Kyiv. In 2011, Depositphotos received a $3 million investment from TMT Investments. The headquarters of Depositphotos is located in the United States, and there is a development team in Kyiv.

Template Monster (templatemonster.com/ua/)

This is an IT company that develops and sells site templates and other web-based solutions. The company was founded in 2002 by Ukrainian businessman with Georgian origin, David Arachamia, also known as David Brown. The company started its work in Mykolaiv. Subsequently, it has expanded into an international company with its headquarters in New York. They have sold millions of their products, and with monthly site traffic exceeding 5 million people from all over the world, Template Monster's templates are becoming increasingly ubiquitous on the Internet.

Ring (ring.com)

This company offers a network of video cameras, motion sensors, and apps connected to the same system to enable the highest level of security. A customer receives video and motion signals on their app and can decide whether the doors should stay locked or not. With a good part of the developers working in Ukraine, Ring was bought by Amazon for $1.2-1.8B and is now available on iOS, Android, and Windows mobile. It has had a positive impact of a 55% burglary rate decrease in the areas where it has been installed.

Allset (allsetnow.com)

Allset is a Ukrainian start-up that decided to vastly reduce the waiting time in restaurants. By simply aggregating and partnering with major dining outlets, the app helps users receive their food upon arrival, which also decreases the burden for chefs and waiters. The convenient app menu and catering to businessmen in dense city centers helped the start-up quickly gain popularity in New York, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and in other large city centers with a high concentration of people who treat their time as money.

The rainiest city in Ukraine with the highest number of cafes and coffee shops per capita and every fifth person there is a student... This is all true about Lviv which is also believed by many (17)__________ of European coffee culture. Ukrainians and Viennese have been arguing for centuries over the issue. Both countries are still in the thick of this debate. However, many believe it can be traced back to a Ukrainian war hero - named Yurii Kulczycki - who brewed the first cup of coffee in Vienna sometime soon after the Battle for Vienna in 1683, in (18)__________ .

Before the battle Kulczycki was a Cossack with a quirky moustache who came to Vienna to trade and nothing could prevent him from becoming successful. He had spent years on the battlefield and in captivity in Turkey, which is where he (19)__________ . When the Ottoman troops laid siege to Vienna, he volunteered to sneak through the enemy camp and persuade the Polish army to rescue the imperial city. Dressed as an Ottoman merchant and able to speak fluent Turkish, he accomplished the mission and saved the city. This opened up the fantastic possibility of becoming a businessman for him. As the spoils of the war were divided, he apparently only wanted (20)__________ as his reward. Kulczycki then found a highly practical application for his prize.

Kulczycki used the same equipment and technology as he had seen in Turkey, which fascinated the customers. Kulczycki's coffee house, where he roasted his aromatic trophy and famously added milk and sugar (21)______ no longer exists, but in Lviv you can experience those early flavours in its reincarnated namesake, Under the Blue Bottle.

To find it, turn into a tiny alley off the main Rynok Square and then keep walking down the old cobbled street  (22)__________   with a blue bottle over it. These directions have eluded many visitors, but it is worth the hunt. And if you fail, no worries, coffee is indispensable in Lviv, so you are sure to get yourself a cup.

Lady Tarzan

A girl from India knows how to speak to elephants, a skill that comes in handy more often than you would think. Here is a language you never got theoption to learn in school!

Several years ago, a herd of 11 elephants from nearby forests entered a residential area in the city of Rourkela. Before the wild animals could (23) _______ chaos on the town and its residents, authorities got hold of teenage girl Nirmala Toppo, because unbelievably , she seems to have the avility to communicate with elephants.

Nirmala rushed from her village to a football field in the city where the elephants were temporarily being held. "First I pray and then talk to the herd," the teen told the BBC. "They understand what I say. I (24)__________ them this is not your home. You should return where you belong."

The elephants started walking with her. In fact, she walked un with them for miles, speaking to them the whole way as she(25) __________ them back to the forest.

Elephants in the area's nearby forests frequently invade villages and towns, destroying homes and hurting people. The more their (26) ________ is encroached by humans for activities like mining and cutting down trees, the more likely they are to wander out of the forest.

Nirmala, who is (27) ________ as "Lady Tarzan", speaks to the animals in her local tribal dialect of Mundaari. She explains that because tribal people and the elephants (among other wild animals) have cohabited in the same area for ages, the elephants understand their language.

Not only does this story show a brave young girl using her skills to help both humans and animals, it proves that it is possible for two very different species to share a bond and communicate with each other.

Brainy Octopuses

In (28) ________, the US Air Force sponsored scientists to study the way octopuses (29) ________ their brains. Some octopuses in laboratories seem to play with objects as if they were toys - a sure sign of intelligence. Others could pick up (30) _________ skills like opening jars.

Perhaps the most striking thing about octopuses (31)_________ their ability to change their colour and body pattern. They do this to camouflage (32) ___________ and also to communicate with others. They can completely change their appearance in less than a second - a striped octopus can suddenly become spotted.