Catalogue

1. Unexpected Discovery: Sri Lankan Navy members spotted two elephants in distress at sea.

2. Rescue Operation: The Navy quickly contacted the Department of Wildlife for expert assistance.

3. Use of Equipment: Three Fast Attack Craft boats and navy divers were deployed for the rescue.

4. Towing Method: Divers tied ropes around the elephants to keep them afloat and towed them to shore.

5. Protected Species: Elephants are a protected species in Sri Lanka, with their population significantly reduced over the past 60 years.

6. Population Decline: Historical figures show over 14,000 elephants existed 200 years ago, with only about 5,879 remaining as of 2011.

7. Causes of Decline: Habitat destruction and poaching for ivory are major threats to elephant survival.

8. Swimming Ability: Elephants are good swimmers but can tire easily; they are buoyant and can swim long distances.

9. Previous Rescues: This incident marked the second elephant rescue by the Sri Lankan Navy within a few weeks.

10. Elephant Behavior: After reaching shore, the elephants quickly returned to the jungle, highlighting their instinctive behavior.

1. Malaria Awareness: Many individuals carry malaria without symptoms, making it difficult to identify and treat.

2. Transmission Risk: Infected individuals can spread the disease through mosquito bites, leading to new infections.

3. Detection Challenge: Finding asymptomatic malaria carriers is essential for controlling the disease.

4. Role of Dogs: Trained dogs, specifically Sally and Lexi, can detect the scent of malaria to identify carriers.

5. Research Method: Healthy children in the Gambia wore socks overnight to collect potential malaria scent for testing.

6. Testing Process: The socks were frozen and sent to England, where the children’s blood was tested for malaria.

7. Detection Success: The dogs accurately identified 70% of malaria-positive socks and 90% of non-infected ones.

8. Funding: The research is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

9. Potential Applications: Trained dogs could be used at airports to screen arriving travellers for malaria.

10. Cost-Effectiveness: Dog detection offers a cheaper and more convenient alternative to widespread blood testing.

11. Public Health Impact: This innovative approach could significantly contribute to malaria elimination efforts.

1. Mahatma Gandhi: An iconic figure known for his influence on non-violent resistance and civil disobedience.

2. Non-Violent Civil Disobedience: Gandhi's philosophy of satyagraha, advocating peaceful protest against unjust laws.

3. Early Life: Gandhi's upbringing in Gujarat, education in London, and experiences in South Africa that shaped his activism.

4. Indian Independence Movement: His central role in the struggle for India's freedom from British colonial rule.

5. Key Protests: Notable events like the Salt March of 1930 and the Quit India movement of 1942.

6. Spiritual Leader: Gandhi's advocacy for religious harmony and economic self-reliance, alongside his commitment to the poorest citizens.

7. Legacy: His teachings and methods of non-violence have inspired global civil rights movements and leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela.

8. Assassination: Gandhi's tragic death in 1948, shortly after India's independence, which solidified his status as a symbol of peaceful resistance.

1. North Korea: The country is known for its secrecy and isolation, officially named the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

2. Exhibition: The "Made In North Korea" exhibition at the House of Illustration in London features North Korean graphic design.

3. Nicholas Bonner: An Englishman who first visited North Korea in 1993 and later founded Koryo Tours, helping to promote travel to the country.

4. Graphic Design: The exhibition includes over 100 unique pieces of design that reflect North Korean culture.

5. Government Approval: All images and designs in North Korea must be approved by authorities, promoting the country’s strength and progress.

6. Artistic Style: The designs are simple and lack outside influence, differing significantly from global standards.

7. Cultural Insight: The exhibition provides a glimpse into everyday life in North Korea, highlighting its uniqueness and isolation.

8. Evolution of Media: Early designs were hand-drawn due to the cost of photography, but digital photography has become more prevalent.

1. Mickey the Puppy: Tracy's pedigree Lhasa Apso puppy, bought in 2018.

2. Microchip: The small device inserted to store Tracy's contact information for safety.

3. Disappearance: Mickey going missing in 2022, causing distress for Tracy.

4. Posters: Tracy's effort to find Mickey by putting up missing dog posters.

5. Reunion: The phone call from the pet centre in 2024, informing Tracy that Mickey was found.

6. Ownership Dispute: The claim by another person, Mary, who had cared for Mickey after he was found.

7. Welfare Decision: The pet centre's choice to return Mickey to Mary based on his recent care.

8. Legal Action: Tracy's decision to take Mary to court over ownership rights.

9. Emotional Impact: Tracy’s feelings of heartbreak and loss throughout the situation.

10. Animal Welfare: The consideration of the pet’s well-being in the ownership decision.

1. Historical Significance: London Bridge's role in the development and history of London over nearly two millennia.

2. Roman Origins: The first version of the bridge, built around AD 50, to facilitate trade.

3. Transformations: The various materials and designs used in the bridge's construction over the centuries.

4. Medieval London Bridge: The 12th-century iteration that featured shops and houses, becoming a bustling hub.

5. 19th Century Replacement: The 1831 stone bridge designed by John Rennie, which later was sold and relocated to Arizona.

6. Modern Structure: The current London Bridge, completed in 1973, made of concrete and steel.

7. Cultural Impact: The bridge's presence in songs, stories, and significant events throughout history.

8. Surrounding Attractions: Notable nearby sites like Borough Market, the Shard, and the Tate Modern.

9. Community Connection: The bridge's ongoing role in connecting communities and facilitating commerce.

10. Architectural Trends: Reflection of contemporary design in the current bridge compared to its historical predecessors.

1. Definition: Living statues are performers who mimic the appearance of statues, often standing still for extended periods.

2. Historical Background: This art form has roots in theatre, where actors have portrayed statues for centuries.

3. Public Performances: Living statues entertain audiences in public spaces, engaging both young and old.

4. World Living Statues Festival: Established in 1996 in Arnhem, Netherlands, this festival occurs biennially, attracting thousands of visitors and professional performers.

5. Performance Challenges: The role requires immense physical control, with performers needing to remain still for long durations while engaging the audience.

6. Costume and Make-up: Effective performances rely on detailed costume design and realistic make-up to enhance the character's appearance.

7. Choreography and Interaction: Successful living statues must plan their movements and audience interactions carefully to create an engaging experience.

8. Tips for Aspiring Performers: Key advice includes creating an interesting character, choosing a comfortable pose, and selecting a high-traffic location for performances.

9. Audience Engagement: Performers often rely on tips from spectators, necessitating a visible collection bucket for donations.

10. Artistic Skill: Being a living statue requires a unique blend of creativity, patience, and performance skills.

1. Height: Mount Everest is the tallest mountain at 8,848 meters.

2. Historic Ascent: First summited by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay on May 29, 1953.

3. Popularity: Increased interest in climbing among both professional and amateur climbers.

4. Cost: Climbing Everest can exceed HK1.2 million.

5. Diverse Climbers: Involvement of climbers from various age groups, including the very young and elderly.

6. Controversy: Ethical concerns about young climbers and the commercialization of the ascent.

7. Dangers: Risks associated with climbing, including accidents and natural disasters.

8. Regulations: Stricter climbing permit regulations introduced by the Nepalese government for safety.

9. Environmental Efforts: Initiatives to clean the mountain and address littering issues.

10. Cultural Significance: Importance of Everest to the Sherpa community and the need for respect for local traditions.

1. Definition of Pies: Pies consist of an outer pastry crust filled with sweet or savoury ingredients.

2. Historical Significance: Pies have a long history, dating back thousands of years, originally serving as practical food carriers.

3. Cultural Impact: Pies are embedded in popular idioms and expressions in the English language.

4. Popular Idioms:
- As nice as pie: Describes unexpectedly pleasant behaviour.
- A piece of the pie: Refers to sharing in something.
- As easy as pie: Indicates something is simple to do.
- Cutie-pie: A term of endearment for someone cute.
- A finger in every pie: Means being involved in numerous activities.
- Ate humble pie: Signifies apologising for an embarrassing mistake.
- Pie in the sky: Describes an unrealistic or unattainable idea.

5. Culinary Versatility: Pies can be filled with a variety of ingredients, ranging from fruits to meats and vegetables.

6. Cultural Presence: The concept of pies has permeated everyday language, illustrating their significance in both food and expression.

1. Definition of a Light Year: A light year measures distance, indicating how far light travels in one year.

2. Speed of Light: Light travels at approximately 299,792 kilometres per second (or about 186,282 miles per second), covering about 9.46 trillion kilometres (5.88 trillion miles) in a year.

3. Historical Context: The concept of the light year emerged from early studies of light's speed, notably by Ole Rømer in 1676.

4. Measurement Method: The term gained traction in the 19th century, particularly after Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel's parallax measurements of stars in 1838.

5. Astronomical Distances: Light years help astronomers communicate vast distances, such as the 4.24 light years to Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to our solar system.

6. Temporal Aspect: Observing objects at great distances means we see them as they were in the past, as light takes time to reach us.

7. Practical Application: Using light years simplifies discussions about space, making it easier to comprehend the scale of the universe.

8. Cosmic Perspective: The light year highlights the relationship between time and distance in astronomy, revealing the dynamic nature of the cosmos.

1. Life Release Practice: A Buddhist tradition aimed at saving animals that would otherwise be killed.

2. Court Case: Mr Zhiiong Li and Ms Ni Li were charged with wildlife offences related to their Life Release activity.

3. Seaside Release: The couple released crabs and lobsters from a boat into the sea.

4. Cultural Origin: Life Release originated in India and China, with the Chinese term being "Fang Sheng."

5. Increase in Frequency: The practice has become more common as people have become wealthier.

6. Environmental Concerns: The released animals were non-native American species, posing a threat to local ecosystems.

7. Potential Disaster: Officials warned that the introduction of these species could lead to significant ecological harm.

8. Global Practice: Life Release is practiced worldwide, with millions of animals released annually.

9. Recapture Efforts: Significant resources were spent to recapture the released lobsters and crabs to protect local wildlife.

10. Impact of Release: Some lobsters were found to be carrying eggs, raising concerns about potential overpopulation and further ecological disruption.

1. Renaissance Genius: Leonardo da Vinci is regarded as a key figure of the Renaissance era, symbolising the blending of art and science.

2. Artistic Masterpieces: Famous works include "The Last Supper" and "Mona Lisa," known for their detail and emotional depth.

3. Diverse Talents: Leonardo was not only an artist but also a scientist, inventor, and thinker.

4. Curiosity About Nature: He had a strong interest in understanding the natural world, which influenced his studies and artwork.

5. Anatomy Studies: His observations of the human body advanced the understanding of anatomy and contributed to medicine.

6. Innovative Inventions: Leonardo designed various ahead-of-their-time inventions like flying machines and tanks, showcasing his engineering imagination.

7. Scientific Method: He promoted observation and experimentation, helping to shape modern scientific approaches.

8. Legacy: Leonardo's influence spans art, science, and technology, inspiring future generations and continuing to be studied today.

9. Cultural Impact: His life and work reflect the spirit of the Renaissance, highlighting the importance of creativity and knowledge.