What American state was named as a result of a cartographer's mistake? Detailed answer

BIG ENCYCLOPEDIA FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS
Free library / Directory / Big encyclopedia for children and adults

What American state was named as a result of a cartographer's mistake? Detailed answer

Big encyclopedia for children and adults

Directory / Big encyclopedia. Questions for quiz and self-education

Did you know?

What American state was named as a result of a cartographer's mistake?

When the Spaniards, led by Columbus, landed on one of the American islands, they named it San Juan in honor of John the Baptist. The town of Puerto Rico ("rich port") soon became the administrative center of the island. But later cartographers confused the names of the island and the city, so now the state is called Puerto Rico, and its capital is San Juan.

Authors: Jimmy Wales, Larry Sanger

Random interesting fact from the Great Encyclopedia:

What is three times more dangerous than war?

Work is a much bigger killer than alcohol, drugs and war.

Every year, two million people die from industrial accidents and occupational diseases - as opposed to only 650 who die in military conflicts.

In general, the most dangerous occupations in the world are agriculture, mining and construction. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2000 alone, 5915 people died at their workplaces - including those who had a heart attack right at their desks.

The lumberjack profession was recognized as the most dangerous - 122 deaths per 100 workers. Fishing fleet sailors came in second place, civil aviation pilots ranked third with a mortality rate of 101 per 100 thousand. We want to reassure you right away: almost all pilots who died in air crashes were sitting at the controls of small aircraft, not passenger airliners.

Steel construction workers and miners ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, although the death rate in both occupations was less than half that of lumberjacks.

Regardless of occupation, the third most common cause of death at work was homicide, with 677 deaths. In 2000, fifty police officers were killed. But sellers - as many as 205 people!

The second place among the causes of death was taken by falls from a height - 12% of the total. The main victims here are roofers and high-rise installers.

Road traffic accidents were the most common cause of death at work, accounting for 23% of the total. As it turns out, even police officers are more likely to die at the wheel than at the hands of a killer.

The most dangerous of the rare professions is considered to be the work of a crab catcher in the Bering Sea.

The risk of death can be calculated using a special scale invented by Frank Duckworth, editor of the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society of Great Britain. The Duckworth scale measures the likelihood of death as a result of a particular activity. The safest type of activity is rated a zero eight, which will undoubtedly lead to death.

For example, "Russian roulette" in terms of risk gives 7,2 points. Twenty years of rock climbing is 6,3. The chance of dying at the hands of an assassin is 4,6. A 160-mile car trip driven by a sober, middle-aged driver scores 1,9, slightly more risky than death from an asteroid impact (1,6).

On the Duckworth scale, 5,5 is considered especially dangerous. For men, this is the risk of death in a traffic accident or an accidental fall from a height for both sexes - the risk of dying while cleaning housework, washing dishes or just walking down the street.

Test your knowledge! Did you know...

▪ Who holds the world record for longest stay in office?

▪ Why should you be careful with grapefruit and cranberry juice?

▪ Whose face is called the most kissed face in history?

See other articles Section Big encyclopedia. Questions for quiz and self-education.

Read and write useful comments on this article.

<< Back

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

Machine for thinning flowers in gardens 02.05.2024

In modern agriculture, technological progress is developing aimed at increasing the efficiency of plant care processes. The innovative Florix flower thinning machine was presented in Italy, designed to optimize the harvesting stage. This tool is equipped with mobile arms, allowing it to be easily adapted to the needs of the garden. The operator can adjust the speed of the thin wires by controlling them from the tractor cab using a joystick. This approach significantly increases the efficiency of the flower thinning process, providing the possibility of individual adjustment to the specific conditions of the garden, as well as the variety and type of fruit grown in it. After testing the Florix machine for two years on various types of fruit, the results were very encouraging. Farmers such as Filiberto Montanari, who has used a Florix machine for several years, have reported a significant reduction in the time and labor required to thin flowers. ... >>

Advanced Infrared Microscope 02.05.2024

Microscopes play an important role in scientific research, allowing scientists to delve into structures and processes invisible to the eye. However, various microscopy methods have their limitations, and among them was the limitation of resolution when using the infrared range. But the latest achievements of Japanese researchers from the University of Tokyo open up new prospects for studying the microworld. Scientists from the University of Tokyo have unveiled a new microscope that will revolutionize the capabilities of infrared microscopy. This advanced instrument allows you to see the internal structures of living bacteria with amazing clarity on the nanometer scale. Typically, mid-infrared microscopes are limited by low resolution, but the latest development from Japanese researchers overcomes these limitations. According to scientists, the developed microscope allows creating images with a resolution of up to 120 nanometers, which is 30 times higher than the resolution of traditional microscopes. ... >>

Air trap for insects 01.05.2024

Agriculture is one of the key sectors of the economy, and pest control is an integral part of this process. A team of scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Potato Research Institute (ICAR-CPRI), Shimla, has come up with an innovative solution to this problem - a wind-powered insect air trap. This device addresses the shortcomings of traditional pest control methods by providing real-time insect population data. The trap is powered entirely by wind energy, making it an environmentally friendly solution that requires no power. Its unique design allows monitoring of both harmful and beneficial insects, providing a complete overview of the population in any agricultural area. “By assessing target pests at the right time, we can take necessary measures to control both pests and diseases,” says Kapil ... >>

Random news from the Archive

Nanoparticles harm crops 04.09.2012

Nanoparticles released into the environment are able to penetrate the roots of plants, slowing down their growth, increasing the absorption of other pollutants and the need for plants in fertilizers. Nanoparticles contained in the exhaust gases of diesel-powered vehicles, including agricultural machinery, are first released into the atmosphere, after which they enter the soil with rainwater. Another mechanism for the entry of nanoparticles into the soil is practiced in the United States by fertilizing agricultural land with nutrient-rich sediment remaining after sewage and sewage sludge. This sediment contains nanoparticles used in the manufacture of fabrics, sunscreens and other products.

Researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara, decided to analyze the alleged effects of nanoparticles on agricultural plants. To do this, they planted soybeans in soil rich in two widely used types of nanomaterials: cerium oxide nanoparticles, added as a catalyst in diesel fuel and other products, and zinc oxide nanoparticles, used in the manufacture of sunscreen and antibacterial products. As a result, the plants were in contact with the nanoparticles from the moment the shoot appeared until the pods ripened.

Compared to control plants, soybean plants grown in soil containing the highest concentration of zinc oxide nanoparticles produced fewer leaves. At the same time, cerium oxide nanoparticles impair plant growth at all tested concentrations. At the same time, zinc oxide accumulated in plant leaves, while cerium oxide was retained at the level of nodules formed by roots. At the maximum doses of cerium oxide, the nodules did not contain bacteria that ensure the binding of nitrogen contained in the air in the form of ammonium salts, which act as fertilizer.

The ability of legumes, including soybeans, to absorb nitrogen from the air is one of the most important microbiological mechanisms in agriculture. Therefore, the revealed effect of cerium oxide nanoparticles is of great concern.

The authors of a parallel study exposed the roots of tomato, squash, and soybean plants to fullerenes, widely used nanomaterials made from pure carbon. Fullerenes, non-toxic in themselves, enhanced the ability of the roots of all three plant species to absorb pesticides contained in the soil. As part of the work, the plants did not reach the fruiting stage, therefore, today it is not clear whether the presence of fullerenes in the soil is fraught with the accumulation of pesticides in fruits.

In any case, the results obtained make us think about the feasibility of the widespread use of nanoparticles, as well as the need to develop methods to prevent their entry into the environment and neutralize existing pollution.

Other interesting news:

▪ Health record

▪ The inscription on the diamond

▪ Reusable oil absorbing sponge

▪ CPU cooler for compact systems Phanteks PH-TC12LS RGB

▪ Self-tightening knot

News feed of science and technology, new electronics

Interesting materials of the Free Technical Library:

▪ section of the site Funny puzzles. Article selection

▪ article Faces are not common expressions. Popular expression

▪ article Which city still uses the pneumatic mail system? Detailed answer

▪ article Servicing diesel power stations RRS. Standard instruction on labor protection

▪ article Lacquer solutions. Simple recipes and tips

▪ article Many-sided picture. Focus Secret

Leave your comment on this article:

All languages of this page

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews