Why are there only 60 seconds in a minute ?

A minute is a unit used to measure both time and angles. A circle was divided into 360 degrees by ancient civillisations, probably Babylonians who figure everything in units of 10's and 60's instead of 10's and 100' as we do. The degree was divided into 60 parts and each of these parts was divided into 60 parts. The Romans called the first division of the degree 'the partes minutae primal' on the first part. The second division they called 'the partes minutate secundaes'  or second small parts. These terms were finally shortened to minutes and seconds.

Why don't clouds with millions of tons of water in them come crashing down ?

Well, they do...... but very slowly. A falling drop feels a frictional force from the air's viscostly that opposes gravity till it reaches a constant terminal velocity. This velocity is smaller radiuse of a fluid particle or crystal. Actually it's quite small for drops the size of a few millimeters and so, althought the drops in a cloud fall, they fall so slowly that only careful measurements would reveal the fact. © Susan Serebriakoff, Antwerp, Belgium) The weight of the water is distributted over a very large volume. So the density is actually less than that of air. In fact, the water is in the form of vapour which is lighter than air. This comes crashing down when it gets cooled and converted to water.

How many islands are there in the world ?
It's difficult to put a figure to the exact number on islands as there are different kinds in various water bodies including oceans, seas and rivers. However, in oceans there are over 2,000 islands.

Which actor has won the most Oscars?

Katherine Hepburn holds the distinction of having won the most number Oscars in Academy Awards history. She’s been nominated a whooping 13 times and took home the statuette on four occasions, for her roles in the films Morning Glory, The Lion in Winter On Golden Pond and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.

Why is cricket not a discipline in the Olympics ?

Cricket was played just once, at the Paris Olympics in 1900. Cricket is played by just 10 countries at the highest level (though there are nearly 100 associate members of the ICI) and this would normally disqualify. It from being included as and Olympic Committee claims mass participation is a must (minimum of 16 nations). The only other occasion cricket was part of a multi- disciplinary meet was at the 1998 Commonwealth Games at Koala Lumpur.

What is the Magnetic Hill in Ladakh ?

The Magnetic Hill is located on the Leh-Kargil-Batalik National
Highway, about 30 kms from Lah, at a height of 14,000 ft above sea
level. The hill supposedly has magnetic properties which attracts metallic objects, making vehicles move up at a speed of about 20 kmph with their engines off. However, many feel that it's a mere optical illusion and nothing to do with magnetic fields, electricity or unknown forces working along mysterious lines.

Why is a Mafia gangster called a don?

The mafia as a  criminal institutions originated is Sicily, Italy. The world ‘Don’ in Italian means boss. So the leader of a mafia gang came to be known as a don. Synonyms for don include Capo Criminal, which means super boss in Italian.

What is special about Luminette glasses ?

The Luminette is a light apparatus rather like a pair of spectacles, but can be worn on top of normal glasses to administer luminotherapy treatment. Luminotherapy means light therapy and usually involves half-hour sessions in front of a light source. It's specially adapted to treat  seasonal depression. Light exposure slows down melatonin production, fighting sleepiness and depression. The light reaches the brain through the ratina of the eye, as nerve impulses, to alter hormone levels, which in turn reset your body clock and boost your immune system.