A list of curious facts
One: Here’s something that may force you to rethink those green things that grow in your garden. A recent study showed that a plant can transmit danger signals to nearby plants—irrespective of species—when they are under attack by pests. They emit airborne chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—and change their metabolism to repel the invaders: "It's very much like our immune system: though plants don't have antibodies like we have, they can fight back with pretty nasty chemistry." Watch how a wave of calcium spreads to the furthest leaves—when a plant is bitten by a caterpillar. (Science Daily)
Two: An Armenian scholar claims that Jesus could have played cricket—well, a sport very similar to it. Dr Abraham Terian points to evidence in ancient manuscripts of the Armenian Gospel of the Infancy. The passage describes a nine-year-old Jesus playing with his friends at the seashore:
“He (Jesus) would take the boys to the seashore and, carrying the playing ball and the club, he would go over the waves of the sea as though he was playing on a frozen surface, hitting the playing ball. And watching him, the boys would scream and say: 'Watch the child Jesus, what he does over the waves of the sea!' Many would gather there and, watching him, would be amazed.'”
Jesus, such a showoff! (The Age)
Three: This one is better described as an alarming fact. The Maruti Suzuki S-Presso—a crossover SUV—received zero stars in a global crash test conducted in 2020. Also interesting: the same car sold in South Africa managed to score three stars this year. The reason: SA requires two front-seat airbags, while S-Presso in India only has one. The striking video below shows why the Indian edition got a big fat zero in the crash test. (Times of India)
