What Makes Chilies So HOT? What Is The Hottest Chili on the Planet?

Last week I picked up some red and greenish chilies from the garden. I am not a big fan of chilies but they  are just nice to look at especially when you see them hanging in plants, you might be interested taking picture of them. look at this picture, which was taken couple weeks ago. I happened to taste a tiny slice of a chili and as I expected it was super hot! which makes me wonder what's in it, what kind of element or chemicals it is associate with? So, I turned my curiosity into small research. Today we will talk about chilies. 

FACTS:

How long chilies have been cultivated?

It has been cultivated for more or less 6000 years!!!

What makes chilies so hot? 

An active component called Capsaicin is responsible for chili's hotness and burn, which was detected in 1990s, by scientists. 

What is the hottest part of the chilies? 

well, I thought the answer was the seeds, but that's not the case, it actually the white flesh hold the most of the capsaicin chemical. If you are not sure what's the white part chili, cut one and you will see it. 

How Many People Consume Chilies Everyday? 

More or less 2 billion people all around the world, well of course  I am not saying all of them consume top hottest chilies. Some chilies are not hot at all!. 

What is the hottest chilies on the planet? 

Trinidad Scorpion Butch Taylor. According to scientific test its heat at  1,463,700  Scovill (measurement of chili's spicy heat) Heat Unit (SHU)!!! compare to the second HOTTEST chili: Naga Viper and Scorpion Cultivars with 1250,000 to 1350,000 SHUs.

Source: "Why Chillies Are Hot: The Science behind the Heat - Australian Geographic." Why Chillies Are Hot: The Science behind the Heat - Australian Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2013. <http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/why-chillies-are-hot-the-science-behind-the-heat.htm>.

Why Do Wolves Howl?

I always believe that every ferocious animal has soft side like us, we have seen numerous times on Tv, movies, and  many of you already witnessed Wolf Howling. have you ever wondered why do they do that? well, today I found an article that talks about it, and I can't wait to share it with you!. 

Fact:  In Viena, Austria, researchers at the Wolf Science Center and the University of Veterinary Medicine, found out that Wolf how after being separated from its partners or group members or genuine affection for a preferred mate.

Source: News, COLUMN By LEE DYE via World. "Why Do Wolves Howl? Love, Scientists Say." ABC News. ABC News Network, n.d. Web. 02 Sept. 2013. <http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wolves-howl-love-scientists/story?id=20109765>.

Who Made Scratch off Lottery?

Beginning: According to New York Times Article,In 1960, Grocery stores handed out free cards covered with a waxy coating that hid a cash prize, which was a small amount , such as half-penny. They would printed 200 different tickets only few of which would be winners. 

Problem with Ticket: those free cards with winning prizes were easy to find the winning tickets because there was special design, a stray mark or a serial number  

Solution: 

 In '70s, two Card company workers named John Koze and Dan Bower came up with idea to make this free cards (Lottery) into money making tool. They printed about 20000 lottery tickets with so many different patterns which makes impossible to identify the winning one. They Flew to Boston and meet with Massachusetts lottery officials and promoted their system as secure and impossible to crack

                       

Source: Who Made that Scratch Off Lottery Ticket <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/07/magazine/who-made-that-scratch-off-lottery-ticket.html> 

Who Designed Universal Product Code?

An I.B.M engineer, George Lauerer designed Universal Product Code as it visible on products we buy. Mr. Lauerer was asked to develop universal Product Code base on bull-eyed shaped code combination invented by N. Joseph Woodland in 1940.

The purpose was that Universal Product Code would be printed on food labels and can be easily compatible with scanners, which was developed later on. Mr. George Lauerer, saw problem with the round shaped code, so he came up with the vertical shaped one that we see on food labels today! Universal Product Code (UPC) become available for scanners at the check out counters in after 1973. 

So, next time if you someone test your I.Q and asked who came up with universal Product Code, make sure you say, " Its George Lauerer!!!" 

Source: "Who Made That Universal Product Code?"<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/06/magazine/who-made-that-universal-product-code.html?_r=0>

Who Was the Founder of WORLD'S First University?

Fatima Muhammad Al-Fihri , a Muslim woman, child of Muhammed Al-Fihri, a wealthy merchant. She migrated from the city Kairouan, (located present day in Tunisia) to Fes (modern day in Morocco). She inherited her father's fortune and decided to build an educational institution. 

In 859, she founded University of Al-karaouine, the World's first university, which was able to grant degree in higher education capacity. 

Source: "Sacred Destinations." Kairaouine Mosque. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Sept. 2013. 
<http://www.sacred-destinations.com/morocco/fes-kairaouine-mosque>.

What is the Name of the World's First University? Where's Located?

Have you ever wondered, what is the name of the world's first university, where was it located? Based on my research, I found it out that the name of the first University in the world is 

• Name: University of Al-Karaouine"

• Location:  Fes, Morrocco. 

• Founded by: It was founded in approximately 859 by Fatima Al- Fihri, (a Woman). 

• Study Area: Natural Sciences. 

• Until 1957, it added mathematics, physics, chemistry and foreign languages

Check out this video

Source: "Top 10 Oldest Universities in the World: Ancient Colleges." Top 10 Oldest Universities in the World Ancient Colleges Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Sept. 2013. <http://collegestats.org/articles/2009/12/top-10-oldest-universities-in-the-world-ancient-colleges/>.

How much Americans spend on Fireworks on 4th Of July?

Economic hardship probably doesn't determine Americans spending on Fireworks. Yes, thats right, we spend crazy amount of money for fireworks on 4th of July. ! here are some very recent stats:

• In 2012, Americans spent $645 million on consumer  fireworks alone!
• In 2011 it was little more, $649 million

However, if you think about aggregate spending on fireworks in different celebrations or events and 4th of July, the amount might go up to billion dollars!

4th of July, 2013

Source: "How Much Do Americans Spend on Fireworks?" Today. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Sept. 2013. <http://www.today.com/video/today/48060037>.