Amy Brannan, Author at Exploring Life's Mysteries

Kids on ipad playing app: Apps for Autism

What Are The Best Autism Apps?

Sadly, the number of children diagnosed with Autism has been increasing steadily in recent years. However, as the nation also increases its dependency on technology, it can prove to be beneficial for these children with a number of apps that cater to special needs. Below we will take a look at what autism is, some of the most highly recommended apps for children with autism and how they can help them learn and grow. In this article, we cover applications to assist with communication, scheduling, behavioral, social and life skills…

A December Birthstone Guide to Turquoise

Unlike many other months, the month of December is somewhat confusing when it comes to identifying a birthstone. There are a number of stones that are linked with this festive month depending upon which culture you associate yourself with. For the purpose of this article we will focus on the gemstone turquoise; however, we will also touch upon other commonly referenced stones. Learn where turquoise comes from, the physical properties that identify it from other stones and the history of its use among various civilizations…

Is the 11:11 Phenomenon Real or Fake?

For those who believe, the 11:11 phenomenon has been experienced throughout the history of the planet. For those unfamiliar with the 11:11 phenomenon however, it can be a confusing and worrisome concept. Below we will take a look at just what this phenomenon is, what it means and its significance to everyday life…

Origins of Common Idioms

The origins of common idioms are as varied as the idioms themselves. Below we will take a look at the history of some of the world’s most popular idioms including: armed to the teeth, a backhanded compliment, to bleed like a stuck pig, blowing off steam and to chew the fat…

How Did the Titanic Sink?

The maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic set sail on April 10, 1912 but just five short days later the passenger liner met her fate. The fate of the titanic is well known by everyone who has heard the liner’s name, but few people know exactly what transpired to make the Titanic sink. Below we will take a look at the journey of this Olympic class ocean liner and just how it came to be that she lay down at the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean…

Becoming a Freemason: Are You Ready to Join?

The very mention of the word “Freemason” conjures up images of secrecy, elitism male dominated society and in some cases – conspiracy theories. Are these ideas of what the Freemasons are an accurate depiction of this self-proclaimed “open organization” or is there more to this mysterious organization’s story?

Is There A Link Between Depression and Memory Loss?

Anyone who has ever experienced depression can attest to the devastation that its symptoms can bring. New research suggests, however, that memory training may serve to reduce depression symptoms. Check out this study and its findings to learn more about the correlation between the two…

Easter Island Facts (And The History Of Moai Statues)

There are many monuments and artifacts around the world that garner amazement and intrigue, but perhaps one of the most puzzling is the Easter Island heads, also called Moai. The Moai are statues that stand on the Chilean Polynesian Easter Island. Below we will take a look at the history of these figures and what they mean to the culture of Easter Island…

Famous People with Disabilities

The term disability can be used to apply to any number of physical or mental conditions that set us apart from each other. While many of us like to see famous people as being some type of superhuman race, the truth is that disabilities can affect them too. In this article we will discuss some of the disabilities that affect current celebrities of the past and present including: mood disorders, Tourette’s, speech differences, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia…

Asteroid 2012 DA14 May Knock Out Your Phone Reception

Are you afraid the big asteroid is going to hit the earth this Friday? That sure would put a kink in your weekend plans, right? Well, an asteroid named 2012 DA14 is scheduled to fly past Earth this Friday, but is not expected to impact Earth as was once thought. This will be the closest an asteroid will come to earth since astronomers have began to conduct regular sky surveys. The asteroid will be so close that some researchers are suggesting that it could possibly take out telecommunications satellites that we rely on…

Why the World Didn’t End

For a while now there have been rumors of the approaching end of the world and all fingers have pointed to the Mayan calendar as a predictor. Well, the date has arrived and, in case you haven’t noticed, the world has not ended. Below we will take a look at why the world didn’t end on December 21, 2012, and what the end of a cycle really means on the Mayan calendar…

Jurassic Period Animals: More than Just Dinos

As the Jurassic period dawned and Earth waved goodbye to the Triassic period and many of the dinosaurs which thrived during that time, it also ushered in a new time of animal life. A variety of events which occurred at the end of the Triassic period and during the Jurassic period gave rise to many more species of animals as well as much more diversity within the species. As the temperature rose and humidity increased the vegetation became much denser and much more able to sustain much more animal life. The Jurassic period became a time of population explosion and while the animals that roamed the Earth are perhaps a little less recognized than the monsters of the Cretaceous period, they were still animals the likes of which the Earth had never seen before….