14th June 2016
The phrase ‘in the limelight’ means at the centre of attention. However, limelight was actually a form of light which was invented in 1825 by burning a cylinder of lime (calcium oxide) that produced brilliant light. This light was used in lighthouses and theatres. In the theatre, the limelight was used to focus a performer to make him/her the centre of attention, and this marks the origin of the phrase ‘in the limelight’.
3rd May 2016
Andromeda, the galaxy closest to the Milky Way, is about 2.5 million light years away. To travel in space, we need to achieve the speed of light, which is about 3,00,000 kilometres per second. Even at that great speed, it will take us about 2 million years (not 2.5 million years due to an effect called time dilation) to reach Andromeda.
26th April 2016
A lighthouse is a tall tower built on the sea shores to provide signals to the ships passing by. Lighthouse keepers were nicknamed ‘wickies’ because they tended the lamps wick. Light from a lamp was used as a signal and hence the name lighthouse was given to the tower.