Showing results by author "iMinds" in All Categories

Learn about short selling with iMinds Money's insightful fast knowledge series. Short selling is the practice of selling borrowed stock at a high price and then buying back the stock at a lower price. A short seller expects to profit from the fall in a stock's price. The more common investment practice is to “go long”, that is, to buy stock with the expectation of the price rising in the future. Simply, a short transaction sells high and buys low, while a long transaction buys low and sells high.

Learn about the Eurozone with iMinds Money's insightful fast knowledge series. The Eurozone, known officially as the Euro-area and sometimes as Euroland, is a collection of countries that have adopted the Euro as their national currency. As of 2010, 16 countries replaced their national currency with the Euro. As members of the European Union and the European Monetary Union, they have ceded control of their monetary systems to Central European Bank.

Learn the history of the Davis Cup with iMinds insightful audio knowledge series. The Davis Cup weighs more than 100 kilograms, is over one metre tall, and is the world's oldest sports trophy. It has been filled with champagne in Paris nightclubs, stolen in Peru, and locked in bank vaults during world wars. These days, it is sought after by more than 100 countries every year and known to many as the "holy grail" of men's tennis.

Learn about Energy Security with iMinds Money's insightful fast knowledge series. Since the industrial revolution the consumption of relatively inexpensive energy has become vital to the functioning of the world economy and modern society. Energy production that is heavily reliant on fossils fuels sourced from an increasingly concentrated number of countries leaves economies highly vulnerable to energy security threats.

The French Revolution came about because of a long-held displeasure at how the rich lived. While the rich lived comfortably, the common people were forced to pay taxes too high for them to pay. And there was not enough food produced for them to eat. French peasants became so impoverished that visitors to France said many of them were as skinny as skeletons.

The story behind D-Day begins in 1939 when Nazi Germany, led by Adolf Hitler, attacked Poland and ignited World War Two. The following year, the Germans occupied France and Western Europe and launched a vicious air war against Britain. In 1941, they invaded the Soviet Union. Seemingly unstoppable, the Nazis now held virtually all of Europe. However, by 1943, the tide had begun to turn in favor of the Allies, the forces opposed to Germany.

Learn about the history of whaling with iMinds insightful audio knowledge series. The history of whaling is a fascinating look at international efforts to protect finite resources in international waters, otherwise known as common territory or commons. While whaling can date back to 6, 000 B.C., large-scale whaling is thought to have commenced around the 12th century, with the Basques who killed a large number of right whales in the Bay of Biscay.

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.

When Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, it was a lucky accident. He didn't realize at the time that penicillin would dramatically change the face of medicine and the pharmaceutical industry. Fleming was a researcher studying the natural antibacterial substances produced by the body. He had been working with the bacteria that caused boils. To study the bacteria he grew colonies of it on plates.

Sovereign debt is the debt of a country or government. This debt is usually comprised of bonds issued by the government. Sovereign debt can be contrasted with government debt. Government debt is when bonds are issued in a nation’s own currency. Therefore, this debt is mostly created within a country’s own economic boundaries. Sovereign debt, however, is created from bonds issued in foreign currencies or through loans.

Learn about the science of astronomy with iMinds insightful audio knowledge series. The human desire to know what we see when we look in the sky is so great that a branch of science has been dedicated to it: astronomy. Astronomy is the study of the material universe outside the earth's atmosphere. Astronomers research and make estimations about our universe and outer space in general.Human beings have been gazing up at the sky since before written history began.

Learn the philosophy of the eternal truths with iMinds insightful audio knowledge series. "Eternal truths" are ideas that are not proved or demonstrated, but are nonetheless believed due to their apparent self-evidence. Acceptance of such facts is believed to come about through reason. Those who believe in eternal truths define them as ideas or statements so undeniable that proof is unnecessary.

Learn about the Renaissance period with iMindsJNR audio learning series for younger minds. The word "Renaissance" means "rebirth" in French. It was first used by French historian Jules Michelet in 1858 to refer to a "movement" that took place between about the 13th and 16th centuries . This movement describes the transition from medieval to modern Europe.

Hone your knowledge with iMinds Specialist Series. Have a particular interest? Recognize gaps in your knowledge? iMinds Specialist works across each of our 12 categories bringing you targeted information to broaden your mind. Ideas & Concepts, Volume 1 looks at the psychology behind the Stockholm Syndrome, the theory of the Tragedy of the Commons, the philosophy of the Eternal Truths, understandings of déjà vu, the story behind Murphy's Law, and that frustrating feeling of l'Esprit de l'Escalier.

Learn about Property Securities with iMinds Money's insightful fast knowledge series. Property securities are interests in property trusts that are listed on the stock exchange. These listed property trusts are known globally as Real Estate Investment Funds, or REITs. They hold portfolios of property assets that consist of large properties that, due to their size and value, could not be bought by average private investors.

Hone your knowledge with iMinds Specialist Series. Have a particular interest? Recognize gaps in your knowledge? iMinds' Specialist series works across each of our 12 categories, bringing you targeted information to broaden your mind. The Arts, Volume 1 looks at the life of Andy Warhol, the story of Robin Hood, a history of blues music, the film genres film noir and anime, and the history of the Hollywood blacklist.

Learn about Price Cartels with iMinds Money's insightful fast knowledge series. A price cartel is a group of companies that have a formal agreement to fix prices. Companies that form cartels operate within the same industry and, in theory, should be in competition with each other. By forming a cartel, the companies create monopoly power that can be used to increase profits.

Continue the journey of discovery with Smarty, Volume 3, by iMindsJNR.

A compilation of six diverse topics across our six junior categories, in Smarty, Volume 3, you will learn about: The science of the human body; the life and writings of William Shakespeare; the traditions of opera; the history of colonialism, the world's greatest mountain ranges; and the legalities of the jury system.

Learn about the sport of Polo with iMinds insightful audio knowledge series. Beautiful horses, well-dressed players and ancient cultures - welcome to polo. Polo is one of the only sports in the world that relies more on the power of an animal than that of a human. Polo has evolved with the world's cultures, creating new variations as it has spread.

Learn about the history and geography of China with iMinds. China is a fascinating country where mountains tower over vast plains, deserts collide with lush farmlands, and ancient cultures mix with modern cities. So, if you went to China, where would you start? Well, you might want to pack a big bag because China is actually the 3rd largest country in the world!