The world's largest and most spectacular natural parks

Assessing which are the major religions, i.e. the world's major religions, can be done by a variety of methods; in many cases, statements about the relative importance of a religion reflect a particular point of view (many adherents of a religion consider their own faith more influential or widespread than it actually is). Two methods are used in this entry: number of adherents and the definition used by scholars of religions.

For the relations between them, see the entries on religious pluralism and interreligious dialogue.

The number of adherents of each religion is calculated by a combination of censuses and surveys for countries where there is no religious classification in official censuses; results may vary widely depending on the way the survey questions are asked and the representative sample chosen. Informal and unorganised religions are the most difficult to analyse.

Food has undoubtedly been of paramount importance in the development of our modern civilization. Food in particular made our bodies stronger and helped extend the average lifespan of early humans by many decades.

The ability to create particular foods and dishes, in short, to process food, is still valued today, and, interestingly, many of the things that are the basis of our meals go back to ideas far into the past. Bread, wine, beer, oil, cheese, so many things go back even thousands of years.

In this short article, we will take you along with us to discover the origins of our most common foods.

Happiness is a common goal for all of us, but it is often associated with the pursuit of money and its accumulation.

However, science suggests that happiness is a much more complex and multifaceted experience.

In this photogallery we will discover what makes people happier than money, through studies and scientific research that show us that happiness is not about quantity or possessions, but about relationships, experiences and feelings that go beyond monetary value. We will discover together that happiness is within reach for all of us, regardless of our bank account.

The debate on the influence of birth order on children's cognitive performance has always been a subject of interest and speculation.

But are older children really the most intelligent? A recent study attempted to answer this question by shedding light on the link between birth order and cognitive ability. The research revealed surprising results that may challenge common beliefs.

While many believe that first-borns are endowed with an intellectual advantage, this research challenges that claim and provides an in-depth analysis of the family and parenting dynamics that might influence children's cognitive development. (Source: Journal of Human Resources)

Hidden treasures have plagued humanity for hundreds of years, awakening that spirit of adventure that has gradually been lost with civilization and the creation of modern societies. However, that sense of adventure and discovery has not been lost.

Indeed, throughout history, especially in the age of piracy, huge fortunes have been lost at sea, or buried and never found, leaving enormous riches lost, sometimes with maps to find them, sometimes lost forever with the death of their owners.

The world still teems with hidden treasures, but which are the most majestic ones we have records of? Find out with us.

Man is really working fiercely to destroy planet Earth, and in fact he is succeeding very well indeed. A new study has confirmed the presence of microplastics even in one of the most remote regions of the planet, the Arctic Ocean.

Microplastic pollution is not only causing problems for marine wildlife that depend on the sea for their sustenance, but in recent years it is also entering the human food chain, with serious repercussions on our health and what we eat every day.

Suffice it to say that The researchers analyzed seawater and sediments in the western part of the Arctic Ocean, which makes up 13 percent of its total area. In this area alone, they calculated that 210 thousand tons of microplastics have accumulated in the water, sea ice and sediment layers formed since the 1930s.

'According to a South Korean study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters', mankind has sucked so much water from underground that it has affected the tilt of the Earth's axis.

According to researchers at Seoul National University, the massive extraction of water from underground for over a decade has affected the tilt of the Earth's axis, shifting it eastwards at a rate of about 4.3 centimetres per year.

According to the researchers, this study would show that among the causes linked to climate change, the redistribution of groundwater could actually have the greatest impact on the pole shift.

Trying to have more and more organs available for transplantation is one of the challenges of the future. This is why alternative ways are being found, such as the transplantation of mitochondria.

Classified as regenerative medicine, mitochondria transplantation is the focus of recent research conducted by the University of Turin and Wake Forest University in Winston Salem and published in 'Annals of Surgery', which applied it to damaged kidney cells.

The research seems to have produced encouraging results, showing that mitochondria transplantation, in this case, would be useful in increasing cellular energy and limiting the stress of the damage.

'According to a South Korean study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters', mankind has sucked so much water from underground that it has affected the tilt of the Earth's axis.

According to researchers at Seoul National University, the massive extraction of water from underground for over a decade has affected the tilt of the Earth's axis, shifting it eastwards at a rate of about 4.3 centimetres per year.

According to the researchers, this study would show that among the causes linked to climate change, the redistribution of groundwater could actually have the greatest impact on the pole shift.

According to researcher Deidre Barrett, professor of psychology in the department of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, the most common recurring dreams tend to be negative and may take some work to overcome.

It is enough to have the same dream two or more times for it to be considered recurring and the recurrence can also be distant in time.

Recurring dreams may be related to situations that in real life generate worry, nervousness, traumatic events. Often, however, they can also be linked to other situations. (Source: cnn.com)

Many decades after the end of the Second World War and also the Cold War, we now have the opportunity to enter the historic bunkers used to defend against the threat of nuclear attack.

The secret nuclear bunker at Hack Green in Nantwich, UK, played a key role in the defence of Britain for almost sixty years. The site was chosen during World War II to protect the territory between Birmingham and Liverpool from hostile attack, and also as a location for new radar equipment.

The secret bunker is now privately owned by the Siebert family and is operated as a trust museum.

According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, when there is a thunderstorm with lightning and thunder you should avoid showering, washing in the bathtub and doing the dishes (source cnn.com).

The reason, according to CNN, is that lightning would be able to travel through pipes and that is why you should avoid contact with plumbing and running water, to avoid the risk of being struck.

The danger with lightning, therefore, is not only present when you are outside but potentially also inside.

According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, when there is a thunderstorm with lightning and thunder you should avoid showering, washing in the bathtub and doing the dishes (source cnn.com).

The reason, according to CNN, is that lightning would be able to travel through pipes and that is why you should avoid contact with plumbing and running water, to avoid the risk of being struck.

The danger with lightning, therefore, is not only present when you are outside but potentially also inside.

If you are a numismatics enthusiast, you will know that some coins can be worth a fortune.

But did you know that there is a 2-euro coin that could be worth thousands of euros? This is a rare coin that is not well known and therefore highly coveted by collectors.

In this photo gallery, we will show you what coin it is, which country issued it, and what its characteristics are. If you are a collector, you cannot miss this photogallery dedicated to the 2 euro coin that could be worth a small fortune.

The history of the world's most precious gems is always full of surprises and fascination, often intertwined with that of kings, emperors and wealthy businessmen. Even in our time, they have kept intact all their beauty, rarity and pricelessness that always leave one breathless.

No one knows when man first discovered gemstones, but from the earliest civilizations they have meant power and wealth.

Some people believe that wearing them can bring success in business, good luck and keep bad luck away.

The twentieth edition of the QS World University Ranking has been released, which reports on the best universities around the world.

The ranking takes into account 1,500 institutions in 104 locations and is the only one of its kind to emphasise the value of employability and sustainability. This year, three parameters have been added to the criteria for evaluating universities: sustainability, employment results and international research network.

Let us therefore discover which are the five best universities in the world.