On February 18, the world celebrates World Wine Tasting Day, International Battery Day and Pluto Day.
Important and interesting historical events took place on this day in different years.
World Wine Tasting Day
This holiday is dedicated to the art of wine tasting, which requires not only a refined approach, but also deep knowledge of grape varieties, production technology, and the peculiarities of pairing with various dishes.
Tasting wine is a whole ritual that includes evaluating the color, aroma and taste of the drink. Professional sommeliers and wine lovers use this day to share experiences, discover new flavors and learn about the winemaking traditions of different countries.
The history of winemaking goes back thousands of years, and each region has its own characteristics in the production of this drink. France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Australia are just some of the countries that are famous for their wine traditions and unique grape varieties.
Interesting facts
The serving temperature affects the taste characteristics: white wines are usually chilled, while red wines are served at room temperature.
In professional tastings, special glasses are used, the shape of which affects the perception of taste and aroma.
The most expensive wine in the world — Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 1992 — was sold at auction for $500,000.
Wine contains more than 800 aromatic compounds that give it unique shades of taste.
There are tasting marathons where sommeliers try hundreds of wines to identify the best examples.
The ancient Romans mixed wine with honey to sweeten it and enhance its taste.
The oldest wine bottle was found in Germany and dates back to around 325 AD.
Scientists have proven that moderate consumption of red wine can be beneficial for the cardiovascular system.
Wine can be stored for decades, and some specimens taste better with age.
Grape vines can live for hundreds of years, and some of them still bear fruit.
International Battery Day
This date was not chosen by chance: it was on this day that the outstanding Italian physicist Alessandro Volta was born, who in 1800 created the first chemical source of electric current — the volt column. His invention became the basis for the development of electrical engineering and opened up new possibilities in the use of electricity.
Modern batteries are an integral part of our life. They power watches, mobile phones, remote controls, medical devices and many other devices. However, their impact on the environment is a significant problem. Used batteries contain heavy metals, including mercury, lead and cadmium, which can contaminate soil and water if not disposed of properly. Therefore, many countries conduct environmental campaigns to collect used batteries for their further processing.
As part of International Battery Day, educational events are held to raise awareness of the responsible use and disposal of batteries. Environmentalists emphasize that even one improperly disposed battery can pollute hundreds of liters of water, so it is important to give them to special collection points.
Interesting facts
Alessandro Volta created his first voltaic column with alternating copper and zinc disks, between which cardboard spacers soaked in salt solution were laid.
The unit of measurement of electric voltage — volt — was named after Volt.
The world’s smallest batteries are used in medical implants, in particular in pacemakers.
Every year, billions of batteries are produced in the world, and most of them are still not recycled.
Sweden has one of the most efficient battery collection systems: more than 75% of used batteries are recycled.
Pluto Day
This date is dedicated to the discovery of the ninth planet of the Solar System, which was discovered in 1930 by the American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh. This discovery became a real sensation, because until then Pluto remained an unknown object on the outskirts of the solar system.
For more than 70 years, Pluto was considered a full-fledged planet until the International Astronomical Union reclassified it as a dwarf planet in 2006. This decision caused a lot of controversy among astronomers and the general public, because many still believe that Pluto deserves the status of a planet.
Pluto is the most distant known large object in the Solar System. Its surface is covered with frozen gases, and the temperature reaches minus 230 degrees Celsius. In addition, in 2015, the New Horizons spacecraft transmitted unique images of Pluto that allowed for a more detailed study of its geology and atmosphere.
Interesting facts
The name «Pluto» was suggested by an 11-year-old girl, Venetsia Burney, inspired by Roman mythology.
One revolution of Pluto around the Sun lasts 248 Earth years.
Pluto has five moons, the largest of which, Charon, is almost equal in size.
Despite its dwarf status, Pluto remains of interest to scientists because it may contain a subsurface ocean.
Historical events on this day
1921 — an anti-Soviet uprising took place in Armenia, which led to the temporary overthrow of the Soviet government. The rebels installed a new government that tried to restore the country’s independence.
1930 — astronomer Clyde Tombaugh made a significant discovery, discovering the ninth planet of the Solar System — Pluto. This was the result of long-term observations and analysis of deviations in the movement of Neptune and Uranus.
1932 — The Japanese Empire, carrying out a military intervention in Manchuria, announced the creation of the puppet state of Manchukuo. It was under the full control of the Japanese authorities and lasted until 1945.
1954 — in Los Angeles, the American writer Ronald Gabbard founded the Church of Scientology, which became one of the most controversial religious organizations of our time.
1965 — The Gambia officially gained independence from Great Britain, becoming a sovereign state. This became a significant event in the process of decolonization of Africa.
1979 — an extraordinary natural anomaly: snowfall was recorded in the Sahara desert. Such a phenomenon occurs extremely rarely, since the region is characterized by an arid climate.
2003 — in the city of Daegu, South Korea, one of the most tragic subway fires took place, killing 198 people. It was caused by arson committed by a mentally disturbed man.
2004 — a train carrying dangerous goods exploded near the Iranian city of Nishapur. This caused a large-scale disaster, with the death of about 300 people and the injury of more than 500.
2010 — WikiLeaks began publishing the first materials from a huge array of secret documents. This caused an international scandal and changed the approach to sharing confidential information in the world.
2014 — in Kyiv, the confrontation between protesters and security forces sharply escalated on Maidan Nezalezhnosti. About 80 people died in three days, which became one of the most tragic episodes of the Revolution of Dignity.
