Birds say it with flowers, too, or at least a particular
species does! The male Crestless Gardener Bowerbird, found in Australia and New Guinea, is
the only animal, besides humans, that uses orchids to woo its mate. During courtship, the
bird builds a bower — a private room — and decorates its entrance with
blos-soms. It keeps replac-ing the wilted flowers with fresh ones!
Brush your heart
Keeping your
teeth all spruced up is essential. You already knew that. But did you also know that you
can avoid a stroke by doing so? In a study conducted by the Columbia University it has
been found that people with gum diseases are more vulnerable to atherosclerosis —
narrowing of blood vessels — than those who have better oral hygiene. People carrying
a higher level of the bacteria that causes gum diseases, also have thicker carotid artery.
Spider power
Did you know that spiders make seven kinds of silks? One to wrap
its eggs in, one to trap its prey and the other five to spin its web. It has been found
that Dragnet‚ silk which spiders use to anchor the web, is stronger than a steel wire
of equal weight. Scientists are now trying to devise ways in which spidersilk can be used
in bulletproof vests and to close wounds after surgeries.
What a
looker!
Did you
know that telescope was invented by a group of Danish children? In early 1600, while
browsing around in an optical shop in Amsterdam the kids looked through two lenses at the
same time, and hey discovered that they could see distant objects as though these were up
close. The smart shopowner, Hans Lippershey, caught on to the idea and put two lenses in a
tube, one at each end. He called the invention a "looker" and sold it in his
shop.
Return of the Wollemi
The
Wollemi Pine, a plant from the Jurassic era, has resurfaced. It was believed to be extinct
for at least two million years. The only known examples were fossils 175 million years
old. Now this species is set for an amazing comeback. It sur-vived in a single isolated
Australian grove and has been revived. In 2005, small plants cultivated from the tree will
be made available to the public.
Hitting rock bottom
We may have explored the surface of the Moon but we still don’t know enough
about our deep, deep oceans. Recently scientists have discovered tiny organisms called
foraminifera, living at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean's deepest trench, the remotest
spot on the globe.
Foraminiferacan live at a depth of 11,000 metres, and
under pressure of 1,000 atmospheres. Their home lies further beneath sea level than
Everest's peak rises above it!!
Less of Nepal
Nepal is shrinking!! Gigantic geographical forces are
practically squashing this mountain country, which borders India in the north. According
to the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) measurements, recorded in August 2004, Nepal is
shrinking by 18 mm each year. It is being pushed in from two sides by the Indian plate and
Tibet. While the Indian plate moves 50 mm closer to Asia each year or about one mm each
week, Tibet shifts 32 mm closer to Asia each year. Talk of double trouble!
Birds say it with flowers, too, or at least a particular
species does! The male Crestless Gardener Bowerbird, found in Australia and New Guinea, is
the only animal, besides humans, that uses orchids to woo its mate. During courtship, the
bird builds a bower — a private room — and decorates its entrance with
blos-soms. It keeps replac-ing the wilted flowers with fresh ones!
Did you know that spiders make seven kinds of silks? One to wrap
its eggs in, one to trap its prey and the other five to spin its web. It has been found
that Dragnet‚ silk which spiders use to anchor the web, is stronger than a steel wire
of equal weight. Scientists are now trying to devise ways in which spidersilk can be used
in bulletproof vests and to close wounds after surgeries.
Did you
know that telescope was invented by a group of Danish children? In early 1600, while
browsing around in an optical shop in Amsterdam the kids looked through two lenses at the
same time, and hey discovered that they could see distant objects as though these were up
close. The smart shopowner, Hans Lippershey, caught on to the idea and put two lenses in a
tube, one at each end. He called the invention a "looker" and sold it in his
shop.
The
Wollemi Pine, a plant from the Jurassic era, has resurfaced. It was believed to be extinct
for at least two million years. The only known examples were fossils 175 million years
old. Now this species is set for an amazing comeback. It sur-vived in a single isolated
Australian grove and has been revived. In 2005, small plants cultivated from the tree will
be made available to the public.
We may have explored the surface of the Moon but we still don’t know enough
about our deep, deep oceans. Recently scientists have discovered tiny organisms called
foraminifera, living at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean's deepest trench, the remotest
spot on the globe.