Select small to medium-sized tomatoes that are uniformly ripe, firm, and have a sturdy skin. Rinse them under running water, then place them in a bowl, sprinkling with spices. Pour hot brine over them (for green tomatoes, it should be spicy—50-55 grams of salt per 1 liter of water). Place a circle on top, followed by a weight. If the tomatoes will be consumed shortly after salting, let them sit at room temperature for a day, then move them to a cool place.
When pickling in glass jars for later …

In southwestern Turkey, in the province of Denizli, archaeologists have stumbled upon a 2050-year-old Roman assembly hall. Inside the building, researchers discovered Christian symbols.
The team found, among other things, a cross and an early Christian monogram known as Chi-Rho, which represents the first two letters of the word “Christ.” This discovery serves as a reminder that a community of early Christians once lived in biblical Laodicea.
In the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New T…

Dracaena
Depending on the source, Dracaena belongs to either the Dracaenaceae or Agavaceae families. This family includes over 150 species of plants, commonly found in the tropical and subtropical regions of Europe, Africa, and Asia.
At the top of the Dracaena, woody stems grow. In home conditions, Dracaena rarely flowers, producing small greenish or white blooms, and when it does, it’s best to move it outside due to the strong odor.
Nowadays, many people are growing mandarin trees indoors. The…

How do use their tentacles? Are all of them involved in daily activities? And how do these cephalopods distribute tasks among their limbs?
Researchers from the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, sought answers to these and other questions regarding the fine (and not-so-fine) motor skills of octopuses. The team discovered that these creatures do not have a dominant limb like humans do. However, there is still a certain division of functions among their limbs.
The team meti…

It’s been proven: in spring, cacti need to be repotted to replace compacted soil with a lighter mix.
Succulents—fleshy plants, including cacti—come from various parts of the world, which means they don’t all wake up from their biological dormancy at the same time. Cacti, of course, vary widely, and when they awaken in spring, they will let you know.
When a cactus comes to life, it develops green tips. This signals that it’s time to repot. For this, you’ll need spacious pots and a suitable soil …

The blues is one of the most expressive dances I know. When words fail and there’s so much to say, dance the blues.
When partners join hands, it’s a classic style of performance. However, more often than not, couples dance their own parts, reflecting each other’s movements. The tempo and music are distinctly sensual and tender. The fluidity of the movements draws from African American ritual dances. Dancing the blues is easy and enjoyable, but like no other dance, it requires a keen sense of tr…