Category Archives: Miscellaneous
- October 24, 2008
- How do we know that dogs are color-blind?
I imagine it would be very difficult to get the dog to sit still at the eye doctor long enough to find out. So how do we know that dogs are colorblind?
To begin with, they aren’t. they don’t see as many colors as humans, but they do see more than black and white. Dogs have [...]
- October 24, 2008
- Are bulls really attracted to the color red?
What would a bullfight be without the red cape? Answer: a bullfight just the same. However, a yellow cape might be more easily stained with blood. Bulls probably do react to a bright color but not specifically to red. The movement of the cape is more key to catching the bull’s attention.
- October 24, 2008
- Why are bugs attracted to light?
Phototaxis is an organism’s automatic movement toward or away from light. Cockroaches are negatively phototactic. Turn on that kitchen light and off they scurry to their dark little holes. But many insects are positively phototactic-as evidenced by the mass bug graves in your light fixtures. Many people are also phototactic, especially for the “limelight”-those of [...]
- October 24, 2008
- Do bees die after they sting you?
Only honeybees die after stinging, but not bumblebees or wasps. A honeybee’s barbed stinger is actually attached to its abdomen. When this stinger lodges in the flesh, and the bee tries to escape, the stinger is ripped from its body, tearing off most of the bee’s belly (along with a nerve ganglion, various muscles, a [...]
- October 24, 2008
- Is it true that sharks have to keep swimming to stay alive?
Sharks do not have “swim bladders”-the gas-filled balloonlike organ that enable most fish to stay afloat and upright in water. This means that, since a shark’s body is heavier than water, it will indeed sink when not swimming. Some sharks, including great whites and hammerheads, actually have to keep swimming to breathe. They need to [...]
- October 24, 2008
- Why do dogs wag their tails?
Most people think that dogs wag their tails only when they’re happy. But it’s a little more complicated than that. Canine tail wagging is a form of communication (dogs don’t usually wag their tails when they’re alone), but it can relate a variety of emotional states, as anyone who’s been bitten by a tail-wagging dog [...]
- April 8, 2008
- Where is the name Listeria from?
The bacterium Listeria was named in honour of Joseph Lister (1827-1912), an English surgeon, who introduced modern antiseptic surgery. He demonstrated in 1865 that carbolic acid was an effective antiseptic agent, decreasing postoperative fatalities from infection.
- April 6, 2008
- Where does the name Salmonella come from?
The Genus Salmonella is named after the American bacteriologist Daniel E. Salmon who, together with some colleagues, isolated in 1886 a bacteria from pigs (now known to be Salmonella choleraesuis ) which they considered to be the cause of swine fever (hog cholera). Daniel E. Salmon (1850-1914), organizer of the (US) Bureau of Animal Industry, [...]
- November 25, 2007
- Who invented television?
In 1925 Scottish inventor, John Logie Baird, transmitted the first recognizable television image. Unfortunately, his mechanical television gave people headaches. Russian-born engineer Isaac Shoenberg came up with a better electronic system in 1936. But it was fellow Russian, Vladimir Zworykin, who added a cathode ray tube to create as well as display pictures.
- November 19, 2007
- When was the guitar invented?
In the late 1830s, the Spanish guitar maker Antonio de Torres realized that the shape of the sound board and the size of the hollow body could improve the guitar’s sound. To prove it, he made a guitar with a thin arched wooden top and papier mâché back and sides.
Instead of a hollow sounding board, [...]
- November 15, 2007
- Do bees die after they sting people?
Only honeybees die after stinging, but not bumblebees or wasps. A honeybee’s barbed stinger is actually attached to its abdomen. When this stinger lodges in the flesh, and the bee tries to escape, the stinger is ripped from its body, tearing off most of the bee’s belly (along with a nerve ganglion, various muscles, a [...]
- November 6, 2007
- Illinois Institute of Technology
Reputation and Mission
IIT is only about three miles from the third biggest city Chicago in U.S. As one of America’s top three institutes of technology, IIT has become a private PH.D.-granting university with comprehensive academic programs.
IIT’s mission is: to advance knowledge through research and scholarship, to cultivate invention improving the human condition, to educate students [...]
- November 2, 2007
- How to teach your child to manage money and consume?
The traditional family are not willing to let their child get in touch with money. They think their child mind will be badly infected by the smelly money. This passive prevention will couse their child lack of economic consciousness. When they grow up, they will consume slavishly, and can not manage their money. In [...]
- November 1, 2007
- The World’s Top Ten Pedestrian Streets
No. 1: New York Fifth Avenue, U.S.A
Keyword: Vogue and Decent
Geographic Position: Manhattan, N.Y.
History: Fifth Avenue Institution came into existence in the year of 1907. For the sake of figuring out the expense of sowntown and government services, the owners of estate, economic leaseholders and retailers had collected probably 1,800,000 dollars within a year. The institution [...]
- October 31, 2007
- What is a sloth?
Sloths are mammals found in Central and South America.
The sloth is one of the world’s slowest moving creatures. Sloths are known for their unusual appearance. They have blunt snouts, very small ears and tails, and peg-like teeth.
Sloths are also known to sleep a lot. They can spend up to 18 hours a day sleeping. They [...]
- October 31, 2007
- What is a scarlet macaw?
Scarlet macaws are bird found in Central and South America.
The scarlet macaw is a large type of parrot. It grows to about 90 centimeters (35 inches) long. It is named for its bright red feathers.
Scarlet macaws eat seeds, nuts, and fruits. They nest in holes high up in trees. They often travel in pairs or [...]
- October 31, 2007
- What is a resplendent quetzal?
Resplendent quetzals are birds found in Mexico and Central America.
The resplendent quetzal is named for the brilliant colors of the male. Most of his body is vivid green, while his breast is a rich crimson. The male has a long train of tail feathers. These feathers can grow as long as 61 centimeters (24 inches). [...]
- October 31, 2007
- What is a postman butterfly?
Postman butterflies are insects found in South America.
The postman butterfly begins as a caterpillar, which hatches from an egg. The caterpillar looks like bird droppings, which can fool its predators. If an animal does approach, the caterpillar has a second line of defense. It lets off a highly unpleasant smell.
The caterpillar eats passionflower leaves, which [...]
- October 31, 2007
- What is a Madagascan hissing cockroach?
Madagascan hissing cockroaches are insects found in most tropical regions.
The Madagascan hissing cockroach has no wings, but it is a fast climber. It can grow up to 5-7.5 centimeters (2-3 inches) long. To warn its enemies, the cockroach makes a hissing sound by forcing air through holes in its abdomen.
This cockroach has an important role [...]
- October 31, 2007
- What is a jaguar?
Jaguars are mammals found in Central and South America.
The jaguar is one of the most powerful cats in the world. It is large and strong and can weigh up to 136 kilograms (300 pounds).
The jaguar is a very fast runner and an excellent hunter. It hunts mainly at night and eats almost any kind of [...]
- October 31, 2007
- What is a hummingbird?
Hummingbirds are birds found in North and South America.
The hummingbird is the smallest bird in the world. It gets its name from the noise its wings make as they beat up to 70 times a second.
There are many species of hummingbirds. The smallest is only about 5 centimeters (2 inches) long. The biggest is about [...]
- October 31, 2007
- What is a howler monkey?
Howler monkeys are mammals found in Central and South America.
Howler monkeys live high in the treetops of the rain forest. They mostly eat leaves. But sometimes they also eat fruit and maggots. The howler monkey’s long, strong tail enables it to hang on to branches while using its hands and feet to get food.
The howler [...]
- October 31, 2007
- What is a green iguana?
Green iguanas are reptiles found in Central and South America.
This iguana lives in trees, but it is also a good swimmer. It uses its razor-sharp teeth and long claws to defend itself when attacked. It can also use its tail as a whip.
The female green iguana lays eggs in a hole in the ground. Here, [...]
- October 30, 2007
- What is a gorilla?
Gorillas are mammals found in Africa.
The gorilla is the largest living ape in the world. A gorilla, like all apes, has arms that are longer and stronger than its legs. Gorillas use their powerful arms and legs to move quickly along the forest floor.
Gorillas spend most of their time browsing the forest floor, feeding on [...]
- October 30, 2007
- What is a golden lion tamarin?
Golden lion tamarins are mammals found in Brazil.
This brightly colored animal is named for the mane that covers its head and shoulders like the mane of a lion. Using its wiry arms and long, nimble tail, the tamarin swings easily from tree to tree in search of insects, lizards, and birds. Its long, thin fingers [...]
- October 30, 2007
- What is an echidna?
Echidnas are monotremes (mammals that lay eggs) found in Australia and New Guinea.
The echidna is one of only two monotremes in the world. It is also known as the spiny anteater. This is because it is covered with strong spines. If threatened by an enemy, the echidna can curl into a spiny ball. The echidna [...]
- October 30, 2007
- What is an anaconda?
Anacondas are reptiles found in South America.
The world’s largest snake, the anaconda, can grow to about 9 meters (30 feet) long. When it is hungry, this powerful snake wraps its body around its prey and crushes the animal to death. Then it eats the animal whole.
Anacondas like to eat fish, birds, and turtles. But sometimes [...]
- October 30, 2007
- What is a water-holding frog?
Water-holding frogs are reptiles found in Australia.
The water-holding frog has adapted to life in a dry desert. The frog stores water in its bladder and under its skin. It spends most of its life under the ground. It makes a cocoon from skin it has shed to keep the water in.
A slight squeeze of the [...]
- October 30, 2007
- What is a thorny devil?
Thorny devils are reptiles found in Australia.
The thorny devil is a small lizard. It lives in the Australian desert, where it eats ants. Because it feeds in the daylight, the thorny devil could be easy prey for predators. But this lizard has its own protection. Its skin is covered with sharp spines to help keep [...]
- October 30, 2007
- What is a tarantula hawk wasp?
Tarantula hawk wasps are invertebrates found in North and South America.
The tarantula hawk wasp is a large spider-hunting wasp that lives in deserts. It can grow to 8 centimeters (3 inches) long.
When the female wasp is ready to lay eggs, she hunts for a tarantula, which she paralyzes with her sting.
The female wasp then drags [...]
- October 30, 2007
- What is a sandgrouse?
Sandgrouses are birds found in Africa and Asia.
The sandgrouse is a desert bird that is about 27-30 centimeters (10.5-12 inches) long. It spends most of its time on the ground. With its brown or gray spotted feathers, it is well camouflaged.
This bird has adapted to life in very hot, dry deserts. It can cope with [...]
- October 17, 2007
- Why do animals migrate?
Birds, butterflies, fishes, and sea turtles are among the many animals that travel long distances and then return home to reproduce. Recent DNA tests confirm that loggerhead sea turtle hatch on Florida beaches along the Atlantic, then swim hundreds of miles across the ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. Several years later, those that survive to [...]
- October 16, 2007
- What is the second law of thermodynamics?
The second law of thermodynamic is the physical law that states that the total amount of entropy in the universe continually increases.
- October 10, 2007
- What is a rattlesnake?
Rattlesnakes are reptiles found in the United States and Mexico.
Rattlesnakes are named for their tails. When the snake is in danger, it shakes its tail as a warning. The noise the tail makes sounds like a rattle.
Rattlesnakes can have a brown and beige pattern on their bodies. This pattern helps them blend into their desert [...]
- October 10, 2007
- What is a pallid bat?
Pallid bats are mammals found in North and Central America.
Pallid bats measure 5-8 centimeters (2-3 inches) long. They have yellow and white fur and large ears. They rest in overhanging cliffs or in rock crevices.
At night, they hunt for food. Their large ears help them hear the crickets, beetles, grasshoppers, and scorpions they eat.The pallid [...]
- October 10, 2007
- What is a kangaroo rat?
Kangaroo rats are mammals found in the United States and Mexico.
The kangaroo rat hops like a kangaroo. It can move very fast over sandy soil. It uses its long, tufted tail for balance.
The kangaroo rat digs a burrow underground. It comes out at night to collect seeds. A special pouch on the outside of its [...]
