Showing results by author "iMinds" in All Categories

Learn about derivatives with iMinds Money's insightful fast-knowledge series. In economics, a derivative is defined as a financial instrument or an “agreement” between two parties that is based on an “underlying” and generally tangible asset, such as a stock or a commodity.

Learn about the great rivers of the World with the iMindsJNR audio-learning series for younger minds. Can you guess which is the world's longest river? According to most scientists, it is the Nile, which passes through several African countries, and is 6,695 kilometers long. Some scientists have recently argued that the Amazon in South America is in fact longer. It all depends on where you start your measurements!

Throughout the world, there are hundreds of lakes in which monsters are said to live. None of these lake monsters is more famous than the Loch Ness Monster, who is said to inhabit Loch Ness in Scotland.

Learn about EBITDA with iMinds Money's insightful fast knowledge series. Traditionally, those looking to investigate the financial health and value of a company have focused on things such as net income, cash flow and revenue. In recent times, another form of financial analysis has become increasingly used by investors, debt holder and others interested in the worth of businesses. It is known as EBITDA.

Learn about the fascinating life of Henry VIII with iMindsJNR audio learning series for younger minds. Henry VIII has gone down in history as a powerful, passionate English king. In his life, he married six times and fathered three future monarchs. But perhaps most incredibly of all, he changed religion in England forever by establishing the Church of England. Henry was born the second son of King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York in 1491.

Learn about the history and geography of Antarctica with iMindsJNR audio-learning series for younger minds. Antarctica is the fifth biggest continent on Earth. It is also the coldest. The sun shines for only half of the year and stays under the horizon for the other half. Early explorers of Antarctica described it as a mysterious, lonely place. But they also described it as a desert. And a desert it is!

Learn about Mutual Funds with iMinds Money's insightful fast knowledge series. A mutual fund is an investment vehicle that allows a group of investors to pool their money, allowing a professional to collectively trade securities on their behalf in exchange for a small fee. The pooled funds are used to purchase a diverse range of assets and provide a return to the investor.

Imagine more than a million litres of water dropping each second from cliffs up to 80 metres, or 262 feet, high. Such an image may seem like an impossibility, but such is the majesty of South America’s Iguazu Falls. More expansive than both the Niagara Falls in North America and the Victoria Falls in Africa, The Iguazu Falls is a network of more than 275 falls covering many acres.

Learn about Junk Bonds with iMinds Money's insightful fast knowledge series. Junk bonds are bonds with a potential for high returns but which also come with many risks. A junk bond is like an IOU from an organisation that states the amount it will pay you back, the date it will pay you back and the interest it will pay you back. But what truly sets junk bonds apart from similar investments is the credit quality of their issuers.

Imagine entering a place where you can travel back in time from the sixth millennium B.C. to the modern day. A place where you can travel from Europe to Africa and then take in the Americas and the Middle East, all in one day. Okay, you would probably need more than one day, because this place is called the Louvre. It is one of the biggest museums in the world. And it is the home to the most comprehensive collection of art assembled under one roof anywhere in the world.

Learn about the Seven Archangels with iMinds insightful audio knowledge series. The history of Angels rests predominantly in the Middle East. Other cultures had gods, goddesses or faeries, but in the Middle East they worshiped angels as their gods. Once the idea of a single all powerful God evolved, however, it was necessary to create another space for angels. And so, they became known as mediators between the newly created all powerful God and his servants - humankind- on Earth.

Easter Island lies 3,700 km, or 2,299 from the nearest continent and is one of the most isolated places on the planet. Though it is so far removed from the rest of the world, Easter Island has more than its fair share of local history. Also commonly known as Rapa Nui, the island is probably most famous for the giant statues called Moai that populate the island, mainly near the shores. Mystery surrounds these enormous monoliths and they continue to baffle archaeologists trying to piece together the story of the Island.

Learn about the story of the Sundance Kid with iMinds insightful knowledge series. The last scene of George Ray Hill’s 1969 film, ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ depicts the two titular outlaws running out from a building surrounded by Bolivian officers, into a frenzied gun-battle in which they are drastically, and hopelessly, out-numbered. The final shot freezes on Sundance, played by Robert Redford, and Butch, played by Paul Newman, as they run, injured, but with their guns ready, into the fire.

Learn about the theory of nature vs. nurture with iMinds insightful audio knowledge series. The phrase "nature vs. nurture" refers to a long-standing debate about the importance of heredity and environment in shaping who we are. It asks whether our personality, our behavior, and our sexuality are primarily the result of genetic or social influences. The debate is central to us as human beings. Perhaps this is because it essentially asks, "Who are we?" and "Why are we who we are?"

Learn about the Nazca Lines with iMinds insightful audio knowledge series. The Nazca Lines have been called the eighth wonder of the world. They are a series of large drawings on the ground - called geoglyphs - located in the Nazca desert, in Peru. The Nazca desert is a high plateau situated between the towns of Palpa and Nazca, which is 400 kilometres south of the Peruvian capital of Lima.

Instantly recognisable, rising out of New York Harbour, she stands like an ancient goddess guarding the gates to the city. For many she is the symbol of freedom, welcoming outcasts to the shores of a new land. But who is Lady Liberty? And how did she come to be a symbol of hope for so many? The Statue of Liberty is a masterpiece of art and engineering. It is one of the few enduring symbols of America. But did you know that this statue was actually a gift from the people of France?

You may have asked yourself before now: if plants are alive, why don't they eat? The answer is they do eat, but not in the same way as humans and animals. Green plants, algae, and some bacteria are able to use energy from the sun as a kind of food that enables them to live and grow. The complicated process by which this happens is called photosynthesis.

Learn about the history of Colonialism with iMindsJNR audio learning series for younger minds. Around 500 years ago, European nations began to explore the world around them more than ever before. With safer and faster ships, Europeans were able to sail across the globe, over oceans that had once been unnavigable. As they undertook these great voyages of discovery they encountered cultures very different to their own.

Learn about the U.S. Federal Reserve with iMinds insightful audio knowledge series. The Federal Reserve is stirring more excitement these days than is probably recommended for a central bank just shy of its 100th birthday. The Fed, tasked with fostering economic growth and price stability in the US, was ratified by President Woodrow Wilson in 1913.

Rome is a city of fountains. As you wind your way down narrow lanes and through busy streets, you are sure to pass many a piazza graced with a fountain spread out before you. These unique works of architecture couple grandiose designs with the refreshing presence of cascading water. For those who have visited Rome, it may not surprise you to learn that there are in fact an impressive 280 fountains in the Eternal City. And the most famous of all is the Trevi Fountain.