No one wants to have it, but if one got it, he does not want to lose it. What is It?

It can't be seen, can't be felt, can't be heard, and can't be smelt.
It lies behind stars and under hills, And empty holes it fills.
It comes first and follows after, Ends life, and kills laughter.
What is it?

Find the next number in the series

12, 20, 40, 72, 116, 172 ?

If I put in one bird per cage, I have one bird too many. If I put in two bird per cage, I have one cage too many. How many cages and birds do I have?

To attend world science seminar, A famous chemist from Mexico visit
London. In the lab, the scientist was killed and his six assistants were under suspicion of killing the chemist.
Name of six assistants: Austin, Wayne, Dege, Oscaru, Lingard, and Rojo.
He left a note "76-20-44 79-16-22-7"

A local detective Jack was called to solve the case,

After reading the note, Jack instantly asked the police to arrest the murderers.

Who are the murderers?

A monk has a very specific ritual for climbing up the steps to the temple. First, he climbs up to the middle step and meditates for 1 minute. Then he climbs up 8 steps and faces east until he hears a bird singing. Then he walks down 12 steps and picks up a pebble. He takes one step up and tosses the pebble over his left shoulder. Now, he walks up the remaining steps three at a time which only takes him 9 paces. How many steps are there?

If you're 8 feet away from a door and with each move you advance half the distance to the door. How many moves will it take to reach the door?

What is the next number in this matchsticks series riddle?

Can you solve this amazing hard number series problem?
7, 8, 10, 12, 16, 18 ?

A man was convicted of a minor offence in Akbar court. Akbar decided to give him a chance. He asked him to give a statement. If the statement is true, he will be killed by lions and if it is false, he will be killed by trampling of wild elephants.

The convicted person requested help from Birbal and since the crime was not a big one, Birbal decided to help him. Whatever Birbal suggested impressed Kabir and he let the convicted person go.

What did Birbal suggest to the person?