We here at Matouring just love technology and science. Everyday there is something new to boggle our minds. Lately we have been spending some time reading "The God Equation by Michio Kaku." Mind-blowing, to say the least. "When Newton discovered the law of gravity, he unified the rules governing the heavens and the Earth. Since…
History
When will we ever learn? During World War 1, Belgium was confident that its Fort de Loncin was impregnable, as it used a new method of construction - concrete instead of the typical masonry. But, the concrete was unreinforced. This led to tragic problems. The weak concrete made the fort vulnerable to enemy artillery, while…
Some choose to follow their own path. When you're a retired businessman, what do you do to keep busy? Fish? Paint? Travel? Build a house consisting of six dome-shaped modules on stilts in Florida, and then never move in? The Cape Romano Dome House - now abandoned - is a house consisting of six dome-shaped…
A bleached-out Greek island hangout with a beach-club atmosphere; an 18th-century castle in the Loire Valley already making waves with its vineyard; a slick spa hotel in Italy’s outdoorsy Dolomites; a glossy food-focused hotel in a surprising Polish city – the best new hotels in Europe are better than ever. Read more courtesy of CNTraveller.com…
For decades, Berlin has been one of the hippest places in Europe - and likely the same - in the rest of the world. A real alternative the norm. As Germany's capital, and a global city of politics, media, culture and science, Berlin is home to some of the world's most fascinating historic attractions, culturally…
The setting could be any small village in France: winding lanes filled with teal shuttered cottages, a charming main square with a small school, café and boulangerie, and a church whose bells have beckoned the villagers to Mass for over seven hundred years.
The only thing missing are people. We’re standing in the middle of what…
If you spend any time on our site, you will know of our unabashed love of the architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. His influence on architecture and design are still preeminent to many designers, architects and builders. When you enter one of his creations, you will never forget it. Sadly, some of his work has been…
Archaeologists and other scientists are beginning to unravel the story of our most intimate technology: clothing. They’re learning when and why our ancestors first started to wear clothes, and how their adoption was crucial to the evolutionary success of our ancestors when they faced climate change on a massive scale during the Pleistocene ice ages.…
If you've been to London, you'll know that it is almost mandatory to visit Harvey Nicols (or Harvey Nic's) as it's known to locals. Since Harvey Nichols first opened in Knightsbridge in 1831, it has led the way in sourcing the most desirable and cutting-edge designer brands. Recognised as the UK's premier luxury fashion retailer,…
We fly on airplanes and think we understand how they work. But, do we really? Most of us take for granted the fact that airplanes just fly when we get on them. We often completely overlook the technicalities involved in achieving flight. And one of the key areas that few of us consider is the…
As if you need any encouragement to visit the glorious island of St Lucia, we have further tasty reasons might you might want to stay at a certain place - Fond Doux Eco Resort. The reason? Chocolate. Located within the UNESCO World Heritage site of Soufriere Saint Lucia on a historic 19th-century working cocoa estate,…
If you're a fan of our site, then you'll know that we reciprocate that with you. Thank you! You'll also know how much we love to travel and how much aircraft factor into this. Modern planes (and, to be honest, even older planes) are complex beasts, over-engineered to provide that maximum safety for passengers. They…
Every country has names for people who may not be the smartest, or the brightest. Some of these are in jest - some are not. One such name is "pea brain" which is hopefully self-descriptive. This article is somewhat related, but more intelligent. It's about pea-sized brain organoids, and what they reveal about consciousness, the…
We recently watched a fascinating documentary about Kumamoto Castle on the Curiosity Stream channel. This impressive Japanese dwelling for six generations of Japanese monarchy has survived battles, earthquakes . . and more earthquakes, the most recent by another Kumamoto Earthquake in 2016. The last quake unearthed unexpected damage to the building, to the point of…
When people outside of Asia think of Buddhism, they tend to think about just philosophy and meditation. Buddhists are often said not to have gods, wars or empires. Their religion isn’t about ritual or belief, but a dedicated exploration into what causes suffering and how to end it through meditation and compassion. Although there’s some…
Regular readers of this site will know that we are history freaks: the older, the better - and the more amazing. In every corner of the world, historical delights can be found around every corner. But, some locations in the world specialise in history: their efforts to delight and inform visitors range from the basic…
During the Nazi occupation of France, 14-year-old Colette Marin-Catherine joined the French resistance alongside her family. ‘We were playing cat and mouse. And playing with fire. Or rather, fire was playing with us,’ Marin-Catherine, now 92, recalls.
Sadly, not everyone in her family would live to see France liberated. Her brother Jean-Pierre was just 17 when…
If you yawn because you think you've seen every kind tourist haunt, here's a place that's really smoking!
There is nothing remotely Elysian about the Phlegræan Fields; nothing sylvan, nothing green. The Fields, which lie on the north shore of the Bay of Naples in Italy, are part of the caldera of a volcano that is…
It will com as no surprise that Hong Kong is big - nearly 8 million people call it home. And, as a central hub for global business, it needs to be world class (which it is) and have the facilities to be a part of the crème de la crème of world leaders, which it…
A king who offended the all-powerful Emperor, and then rebelled against him, but failed. How do these dramatic events in China's history link to the finding of 4000 buried miniature terracotta warriors discovered in Jiangsu Province, China? The ancient city of Pengcheng was located near today's Xuzhou in Jiangsu province, and the museum displays 190…