Tuesday, April 1, 2025

17 Foods That Look Completely Different After They Are Harvested And Ready To Be Eaten!

 

17 Foods That Look Completely Different After They Are Harvested And Ready To Be Eaten!Provided by Deepak kumar  blogs

Ever thought how the foods that we consume look before they are harvested? Call it a before-and-after scenario because the following foods completely go through a makeover once they are ripe and ready to be taken to the shelf!

1. Pineapple

pineapple

vulgarfractions , prince470701

2. Cacao

cacao

tgerus , Luisovalles

3. Vanilla

vanilla

Giancarlo Sibilio , B.navez

4. Almonds

almond

Namacun , Tom Raftery

5. Cashew nuts

cashew nuts

Abhishek Jacob , Thamizhpparithi Maari

6. Peanuts

peanut

tessgarcia , nebedaay

7. Sesame Seeds

sesame seeds

Anna Frodesiak

8. Cranberry

cranberry

Bernd Haynold , Keith Weller

9. Saffron

saffron

gardenofeaden

10. Coffee

coffee

Marcelo Corrêa , Fernando Rebelo

11. Pomegranate 

pomegranate

islandsofpeace

12. Dragon Fruit

dragon fruit

BlauEarth

13. Dates

dates

Rahel Jaskow

14. Tea Plant

tea plant

nososcachorros

15. Mango

mango

Tommy Atkins

16. Pistachios

pistachio

Emel Yamanturk

17. Bananas

bananas

asergeev 

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7 British dishes inspired from Indian cuisine

 

7 British dishes inspired from Indian cuisineProvided by Deepak kumar blogs

When it comes to India and Britain, both countries share a deep historical and cultural connection. Indian cuisine has influenced the Western style of cooking in many ways. It was during the 18th century, when the English soldiers learned the Indian way of cooking and since then, the British have adopted the various flavours and cooking techniques. Here is a list of 7 British dishes that owe their origin or inspiration to Indian cuisine, highlighting how cultural exchange has shaped food in the UK.

Chicken Tikka Masala

Perhaps, one of the most famous examples of an Indian-inspired dish is Chicken Tikka Masala, which is a staple of British curry houses. Although its exact origin is debated, it is widely accepted that this dish was developed in Britain to cater to local tastes. The story goes that a British customer found his chicken tikka too dry, so the chef, possibly in a Glasgow restaurant, added a creamy tomato-based sauce to the dish. Today, Chicken Tikka Masala is often considered a British national dish, representing the fusion of Indian flavours with British preferences for milder, creamier curries.

Balti

Originating in the 1970s in the Birmingham area, the Balti is another Indian-inspired dish that was developed in Britain. The term “Balti” refers to the steel bowl in which the curry is cooked and served. Though the dish borrows heavily from North Indian and Pakistani cuisine, it has been adapted for British palates. A Balti is typically cooked with chunks of meat or vegetables in a tangy, spiced curry and served with naan bread. It is known for being a lighter, quicker, and slightly tangier version of traditional Indian curries, making it uniquely British-Indian.

Coronation Chicken

A dish fit for royalty, Coronation Chicken was created in 1953 to mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. This cold dish consists of chicken dressed in a creamy curry sauce made with mayonnaise, yoghurt, and mild Indian spices. Although it was developed in Britain, the dish takes inspiration from Indian flavours and spices, reflecting the British fascination with Indian food. Coronation Chicken became an iconic British dish served at picnics, parties, and even in sandwiches.

Mulligatawny Soup

The name Mulligatawny is derived from the Tamil words ‘Milagu Tanni’, meaning "pepper water." Originally a South Indian dish, this thin and spicy broth was adapted by the British during the colonial era. Over time, Mulligatawny Soup evolved into a heartier, Anglo-Indian dish, often made with chicken, rice, lentils, and a variety of spices. Today, it is a popular choice in British kitchens and restaurants, particularly during the colder months, offering a taste of Indian warmth.

Kedgeree

If there is one dish that defines the adaptation of Indian cuisine to British cuisine, it’s the ‘Kedgeree’ which they call their own. Believed to have originated from the Indian dish Khichdi, a simple dish of rice and lentils—Kedgeree was adapted during the British Raj to include smoked haddock, boiled eggs, and cream. This savoury breakfast dish became a beloved staple of British households, offering a fusion of Indian spices with British ingredients. Even today, Kedgeree remains popular as a comforting breakfast or brunch option.

Samosa

Although Samosas are widely recognised as a traditional Indian snack, they have become an integral part of British food culture. Introduced to Britain by Indian immigrants, samosas were quickly embraced as a savoury pastry filled with spiced potatoes, peas, and sometimes meat. British supermarkets now sell countless varieties of samosas, often with fillings that reflect British tastes, such as cheese and onion or Chicken Tikka. This adaptation has allowed samosas to become a popular party snack and street food across the UK.

Phaal Curry

This is one of the lesser-known curries made in England, but is spicier than you can think of! Phaal Curry is not a dish you will find in traditional Indian households, but it is a well-known part of British curry culture. It was initially prepared in the Bangladeshi-owned curry houses of Birmingham and is said to be the hottest curry available in the UK, and while its heat level might be excessive for many Indian diners, it has found a dedicated following among those in Britain who love a fiery challenge.

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Sunday, March 30, 2025

Anand Mahindra’s weekend getaway is a 5-hour drive from Bengaluru, with a 350-year-old mystery

 

Anand Mahindra’s weekend getaway is a 5-hour drive from Bengaluru, with a 350-year-old mystery

Business tycoon Anand Mahindra is known for having a keen eye for under-explored tourist spots in India. Taking to X on Sunday, the Mahindra Group Chairman shared a breathtakingly beautiful snapshot of a stunning rainforest nestled somewhere in the Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka.

Sharing the picture, the billionaire wrote, “Finding mystery in unexpected places…”. He added a nugget of information - this is the birthplace of Indian coffee. Coffee bushes were reportedly planted at this very spot in 1670 by Baba Budan, a wandering Sufi mystic who brought coffee beans from Yemen.

The snapshot showed the rainforest in all its majestic beauty and untainted greenery.

Netizens React

Responding to the post, one X user revealed that he was from this district and the best time to visit Chikkamagaluru was during the monsoon.

Another user pointed out that sometimes, such places should remain under-explored, as overexposure has its pitfalls. “Corporate companies should stay away from spoiling this beauty in the name of extraction of resources, which is nothing but exploitation,” wrote the commenter.

About Chikkamagaluru

Chikmagalur, often spelled Chikkamagaluru, is a scenic district nestled in the state of Karnataka, India. This region holds historical significance as the birthplace of coffee cultivation in the country. The majestic Chikmagalur Hills, forming part of the renowned Western Ghats, give rise to significant rivers like the Tunga and Bhadra. Situated within this district is Mullayanagiri, the loftiest peak in Karnataka, drawing trekkers and nature lovers alike.

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Chikmagalur is celebrated as a prominent travel destination, boasting attractions such as Kemmannugundi and Kudremukh, along with breathtaking waterfalls like Manikyadhara, Hebbe, and Kallathigiri. The district also has a deep-rooted cultural and architectural heritage, notably reflected in the splendid Hoysala-era temple located in Amruthapura. Wildlife aficionados are particularly drawn to Kudremukh National Park and the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, which provide sanctuary to diverse flora and fauna.

The district has historical connections to the early years of the Hoysala dynasty. According to legend, in a place once known as Sussevar, now identified as Angadi in the Mudigere taluk, the dynasty's founder, Sala, achieved a mythical feat by slaying a fabled beast. This act led to the creation of the Hoysala emblem, a motif that would symbolize the ruling lineage.

One of the most distinguished rulers of the Hoysala Empire, Veera Ballala II, who reigned between 1173 and 1220 CE, is credited with constructing the grand Amriteshwara Temple in Amruthapura, located in the present-day Tarikere Taluk. This temple remains an architectural marvel, showcasing intricate craftsmanship from the Hoysala period.

The introduction of coffee to India is deeply intertwined with the history of Chikmagalur.

The district is believed to be the first place where coffee was cultivated in the country, dating back to the year 1670. Historical accounts suggest that the revered saint Baba Budan played a crucial role in this. During his pilgrimage to Mecca, he passed through the Yemeni port of Mocha, where he encountered coffee.

Enthralled by its unique flavor, he secretly carried seven coffee beans by wrapping them around his waist to avoid detection by Arab traders, who fiercely guarded their monopoly on coffee cultivation. Upon returning to India, Baba Budan sowed these seeds in the lush hills of Chikmagalur, thus laying the foundation for the country's thriving coffee industry. Today, this region continues to be one of India’s premier coffee-growing hubs, attracting both enthusiasts and researchers fascinated by its rich legacy.

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Saturday, March 29, 2025

'World's oldest 3D map' discovered in Paris basin is 13000 years old!

 Throughout history, human beings have been a living examples of intelligence, hard work, and consistency no matter what resources were available to them, may it be the modern man or the early men who lived in the caves. Our early ancestors were far more advanced than we often give them credit for. They were experts at using available resources for survival and developing tools and techniques that laid the foundation for modern civilization. From detailed cave paintings that depicted their daily lives and beliefs to the creation of tools for hunting and gathering, our ancestors were creative and had problem-solving skills.

Recently researchers have unearthed the alleged world’s oldest three-dimensional map, which was hidden within a quartzitic sandstone megaclast, or a big fragment of rock having carvings on it, in the Paris Basin. This came to the limelight from the Ségognole 3 rock shelter, a site that has been known since the 1980s for its artistic engravings of two horses in a Late Palaeolithic style on either side of a female pubic figuration. The latest discoveries show that this site also has a miniature representation of the surrounding landscape, created by Palaeolithic people around 13,000 years ago.

'World's oldest 3D map' discovered in Paris basin is 13000 years old!

The research was led by Dr. Anthony Milnes, from the University of Adelaide, and Dr. Médard Thiry from the Mines Paris-PSL Centre of Geosciences. According to their study, part of the shelter's sandstone floor was shaped and adapted as a representation of the natural water movement in the region and the geomorphology. According to Dr. Milnes, this three-dimensional miniature does not represent a map in the modern sense, with the correct measure of distances and directions, but instead depicts the functioning of a landscape, showcasing runoff from highlands into streams and rivers, the convergence of valleys, and the formation of lakes and swamps downstream.

The study also says that water flow direction and landscape feature identification were likely more fundamental for Paleolithic humans than concepts like time or distance. This study makes us understand that these early forebears actually had the intellectual capacity, imagination, and skill to mold their environment in the manner they thought was necessary according to their needs.

'World's oldest 3D map' discovered in Paris basin is 13000 years old!

Dr. Thiry's observation of the Fontainebleau sandstone showed him that his fine and detailed morphological features were not naturally there in the surroundings. These characteristics could only have been altered by our predecessors, and their purpose (whether illusory or real) was probably to impart specific pathways of water flow while carving a path and guiding the rain along in some specific path for the water course.

This is no less true in defining macrobehavior of water courses setting the course ofwater floww. The hydraulic functions used in the rock shelter bring to light the cognitive intelligence of our ancestors.

The value of the discovery lies in its greater, and probably mythological relationship with water, as the proximity of the two hydraulic installations inside the shelter seems to convey. They stand about two or three meters away from one another and seem to convey a profound knowledge regarding life and nature, which yet remains concealed to us for now.

Published by the Oxford Journal of Archaeology, this study shows the importance of interdisciplinary work. Milnes mentions that the most productive results in research are often found where disciplines intersect. For such reasons, field-based research needs to be reconsidered and done by frequent site visits, followed by new and ever-changing observations and interpretations presented for a lively interdisciplinary discussion.

Before this discovery, The oldest three-dimensional map was a portable rock slab dating back to the Bronze Age around 3,000 years ago, which marked a local river network while some earth mounds also dominated part of it. But now, the concept of mapping out an area seems to distort significantly as the investigation reaches deeper into the past, giving us improved information for better understanding through this relic from paleolithic human beings.

The fact that our ancestors could perceive and manipulate the milieu in this more intelligent manner really proves that they were better than us in terms of the quality of intelligence they had, considering the resources available to them.

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China unveils underwater ‘kill switch’ for the internet: How this tech could sever global connectivity

 

China unveils underwater ‘kill switch’ for the internet: How this tech could sever global connectivity

China has taken a bold step in deep-sea engineering, unveiling a device capable of slicing through the world’s most reinforced undersea cables at unprecedented depths. Developed by the China Ship Scientific Research Centre (CSSRC) and the State Key Laboratory of Deep-Sea Manned Vehicles, the tool integrates seamlessly with China’s advanced submersibles, including the Fendouzhe (Striver) and the Haidou series.

For the first time, a country has openly declared possession of such a device—one that can target undersea infrastructure vital to global communication and military operations. These cables transmit 95% of the world’s data, linking continents and ensuring the smooth functioning of financial markets, defence systems, and everyday digital services.

How the Device Works

Traditional underwater cable-cutting techniques struggle against steel-reinforced lines. To overcome this, the Chinese team, led by engineer Hu Haolong, designed a 150mm (six-inch) diamond-coated grinding wheel rotating at 1,600rpm. This mechanism generates enough force to shatter steel while minimising seabed disturbances. The tool is powered by a one-kilowatt motor with an 8:1 gear reducer, ensuring efficient torque distribution, though prolonged use at such depths could lead to overheating.

To function in extreme conditions, the cutter is enclosed in a titanium alloy shell with oil-compensated seals, preventing implosion under the crushing pressure found at 4,000 metres. Operated by robotic arms in near-zero visibility, the device relies on advanced positioning systems for precision.

Potential Military Implications

While officially promoted as a tool for seabed mining and salvage operations, the device’s dual-use nature has sparked concerns in security circles. The ability to stealthily sever undersea cables could give Beijing a strategic advantage in conflicts.

Guam, a key node in the US Indo-Pacific military network, hosts more than a dozen fibre-optic cables serving both military and civilian entities, including Google. If these lines were cut during a geopolitical crisis, it could cripple communications and disrupt global financial systems.

Retired US Air Force Colonel Raymond Powell, founder of the SeaLight maritime transparency project at Stanford University, warned: “China continues to expand its already vast grey zone toolkit, having long ago calculated that its willingness to blur the lines between peace and hostilities provides it with an asymmetric advantage.”

He added, “Cable and pipeline sabotage is more than mere harassment. It is a reminder that Beijing has the ability to cause far more damage to its enemies, should it choose to do so.”

A Broader Pattern of Deep-Sea Expansion

China’s rapid expansion in deep-sea capabilities is evident. The country now operates the world’s largest fleet of crewed and uncrewed submersibles. Just last month, China began construction of an underwater “space station” 2,000 metres below the South China Sea, designed to house six people for month-long missions.

Meanwhile, the US and Japan struggle to keep pace. America’s deep-sea fleet is ageing, and Japan’s only crewed submersible, the Shinkai 6500, is nearing retirement with no successor in sight.

Rising Undersea Security Threats

The debut of this cable-cutter comes as undersea infrastructure faces increasing threats. Since 2023, there have been 11 reported incidents of underwater cable damage in the Baltic Sea, raising suspicions of sabotage. In Taiwan, suspected Chinese interference has escalated—authorities seized the Hong Tai 58 cargo ship, operated by Chinese crew, after it was linked to severed telecom cables.

Taiwanese officials reported five such incidents in 2025 alone, compared to three in both 2023 and 2024. With tensions in the Taiwan Strait already high, the potential for underwater disruption is a growing concern.

Beijing’s Justification

Hu’s research team insists that the cable-cutter is intended for marine resource development, not warfare. In their published paper, they stated: “Nations are now compelled to redirect their resource exploitation focus towards the seas. The 21st century is the century of the oceans. Enhancing marine resource development capabilities, advancing the blue economy and building China into a maritime powerhouse constitute critical components of realising the Chinese dream.”

Yet, the strategic implications cannot be ignored.

What This Means for the Future

China’s deep-sea ambitions are clear. With advanced submersibles, a growing fleet, and now a cable-cutting device, Beijing is positioning itself as the dominant force in undersea operations. Whether for economic gain or strategic leverage, this latest innovation has sent shockwaves through global security circles.

The real question now is: how will other nations respond?

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