Top 10 industry facts

Samsung (Korea). Samsung C&T Corporation (Construction and Trade), established in 1938, is the origin of Samsung Group. Samsung C&T was the primary contractor of 3 worlds tallest skyscrapers: Burj Khalifa, Petronas Twin Towers and Taipei 101.

Australia is practically the only developed country not using electricity (indigenous or imported) from nuclear energy. Australia's abundance of cheap coal, conveniently located to population centers, has ruled nuclear energy out of contention on economic grounds. There are nuclear power plants on all other continents, including South America (Brazil, Argentina) and Africa (South Africa).

Sweet crude oil contains small amounts of hydrogen sulfide (in contrast to sour crude oil). Low-sulfur crude oil is in high demand as it is used to produce high-quality gasoline without the need for expensive processes of removing sulfur impurities. The term "sweet" originates from the fact that a low level of sulfur provides the oil with a mildly sweet taste and pleasant smell. Nineteenth century prospectors would taste and smell small quantities of oil to determine its quality.

Japan. The company was founded in 1931 in Kurume, Japan. The name is derived from founder Shojiro Ishibashi's last name, which translates literally to "stone bridge." In 1988, Bridgestone purchased American Firestone Tire and Rubber Company.

American lobster. In the 1990s several cod stocks collapsed due to overfishing. With the large predatory fish removed, their prey have undergone population explosions, and the capture of lobster has tripled since 1970.

Zinc and copper. Brass is a metallic alloy that is made of copper and zinc. The proportions of zinc and copper can vary to create different types of brass alloys with varying mechanical and electrical properties.

Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh developed as a very important link between the U.S. Atlantic Coast and the Midwest, being at the confluence of three rivers. Pittsburgh has also had a part in the manufacturing of aluminum, glass, shipbuilding, petroleum, foods, sports, transportation, computing, autos, and electronics.

Honda is the largest motorcycle manufacturer in Japan and has been since it started production in 1955. In 1960, Honda was also the first among them to begin exporting to the U.S.

Ice harvesting. In the United States, the first cargo of ice was sent from New York City to Charleston in 1799, and by the first half of the 19th century, ice harvesting had become big business. Ice was imported into England from Norway, Trieste sent it to Egypt, and Switzerland to France. Ice production is still a large business, though the ice is no more harvested from lakes. In 2002, there were 426 commercial ice-making companies in the United States.

About 159. The barrel is one of several units of volume applied in various contexts; there are dry barrels, fluid barrels, oil barrels and so on. The volumes in common usage range from about 100 to 200 litres. In the worldwide oil industry, an oil barrel is defined as 42 US gallons, which is about 159 litres or 35 imperial gallons.