Fun facts
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Photosynthesis is a fundamental process that allows plants, algae, and some bacteria to convert sunlight, carbon dioxide and water into organic matter and oxygen. This process is vital to the survival of many organisms on our planet, as it forms the basis of the food chain, provides oxygen for animals to...
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The llama and alpaca are two of the most iconic animals from South America. We see their representations in indigenous crafts, official tourism promotion and various other images associated with the Andean region. Whether looking at a representation or a live animal, it can be difficult to distinguish between...
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It is not uncommon for people to confuse lava and magma, as both are molten rock materials often associated with volcanic activity. Also, since they have similar chemical compositions, people typically use the terms interchangeably. However, it is important to understand the differences between the two,...
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Both the coyote and the wolf are mammals. More specifically, they are carnivorous animals found in the family Canidae. The members of this group are known as canids and they share various physical and behavioral similarities. They also have key differences which are used to tell species apart from each other....
Eagles are symbols of strength and courage, being so for good reason. As birds of prey, they feed on other animals and have become apex predators in their natural habitats. Not only do they have razor-sharp talons and piercing beaks, but their agility in the air means they can swoop down on prey with deadly...
Bees have a highly developed communication system that allows them to coordinate and execute complex social behaviors within their colonies. Communication is critical for bees because they must work together to gather food, care for young, and protect the colony from predators and environmental threats....
We may only think of humans and animals as having organs, but plants also need organs to carry out their various functions. For example, we know our skin has an epidermis, but you may not know that plants have the same organ. If we look closely at this epidermis, we may be able to see tiny pores. These...
Water is one of the most important substances for life on Earth and covers a large part of the planet's surface. Earth is often called the "blue planet" because of its abundance of water. Earth's total water supply is estimated to be about 1.4 billion cubic kilometers (332.5 million cubic miles). This includes...
Topography is the study of different land surfaces, specifically their forms and structures. Some of the most fascinating land surfaces belong to mountains, geological features which are elevated portions of the Earth's crust. Only such elevations which exceed 300 meters above their surrounding area are...
People are afraid of cockroaches for a variety of reasons, both rational and irrational. Firstly, cockroaches are associated with unclean and unsanitary environments. They are also carrier of diseases and bacteria and can even cause allergy in some people. However, cockroaches also play important ecological...
We may be aware there are 6 continents into which the Earth's land mass is divided. These are America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Oceania and Antarctica. Although this conformation of land appears to have always been this way, our planet has looked very different across the billions of years of its existence. Different...
Climate refers to the long-term weather patterns of a particular region or area. It is determined by a variety of factors, including latitude, elevation, topography, ocean currents, and atmospheric circulation. Climate plays an important role in shaping the natural environment, including the types of plants...
Have you ever noticed how, on a hot summer day at the beach, the air suddenly becomes cooler and fresher when a gentle breeze blows in from the sea? This refreshing breeze is called a sea breeze and is a fascinating meteorological phenomenon that occurs in many coastal regions of the world. Ocean breezes...
Hair ice refers to a rare natural phenomenon that occurs when thin threads of ice resembling hair grow from certain types of moist, decaying wood in freezing temperatures. Hair ices were not always fully understood, and their formation was a mystery for many years. Ice hairs were first observed and documented...
Volcanoes are the geological architects of the earth. They have created more than 80 percent of the surface of our planet, laying the foundation for life to thrive. A volcano is basically an opening or crack in the earth's crust connected to a magma chamber through which glowing materials in the form of...
Dolphins are known as much for their intelligence as they are their natural beauty. Although morphologically very different, dolphins share various traits and behaviors which are often more common in human beings than in animal behavior. These traits include the fact that dolphins are very sociable...
We take the color of various natural phenomena for granted. The sky is blue, the grass is green, etc. We know we can expect some variance in these colors. We don't think much of a gray sky on a rainy day, for example. When the difference is stark, it can seem like some sort of cataclysmic event. When...
The organism of every living species, no matter how large or small, is distinct from the rest and is designed to be supplied with what it needs to function in the necessary environment. One of the most curious cases in nature is that of earthworms. Earthworms are oligochaete annelids found in a total of...
While our planet is of endless fascination to us and we are yet to discover so much of how it functions, it is only one tiny part of an infinite universe. Thanks to an endless supply of curiosity and various technological advancements, we are also able to find out more about the universe beyond Earth's atmosphere....
Respiration is the process by which living things take in oxygen from the air or water and release carbon dioxide, and is essential for all life functions. There are different types of respiratory systems: Cutaneous respiration, gill respiration, tracheal respiration, and pulmonary respiration. In cutaneous...
An atmosphere is a complex gaseous layer which surrounds different planets and even some planetary satellites. The location and function of the atmosphere help to determine the nature of the planet it surrounds. Earth's atmosphere is special in that it allows life on the planet, something which has...
We may look at mountains and can only imagine they have been there forever. In actuality, all mountains had to be formed somehow. All of the structures on the earth's surface had to be developed to some degree and the process of mountain formation is no exception. The formation of mountains is associated...
Turtles are long-lived reptiles that are characterized by the presence of a strong shell. This carapace covers their body, allowing them to protect their organs from predators. The diet of turtles varies according to species, of which there are over three hundred. Some live on land, freshwater or even...
Although they tend to proliferate in warner climates, only the Antarctic and Iceland are known to be territories with no evidence of mosquitoes. This means most of us have likely encountered a mosquito at some point in our lives, even if only when traveling. If there are mosquitoes, there are usually mosquito...
If you are walking in nature and you come across a slippery animal croaking and hopping, you may find it difficult to know if you are witnessing a toad or a frog. Both are amphibians from the order Anura. They may have bulging eyes, strong hind legs and slimy skin, but they are also noted for their great...
Bees tend to be either lauded or feared. They not only provide delicious honey, their ability to pollinate various plants essentially means we are able to continue living on this planet. While the concept of bees may be widely supported, individual bees can make people run for cover. This is thanks...
Birds are an extremely diverse group of vertebrates that inhabit the entire world and even the Antarctic continent. The main feature that distinguishes them from the other classes of animals is the transformation of their forelegs into wings. Birds have a great variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. There are some...
Fossils are known for all the large dinosaur skeletons we are used to seeing in natural history museums, but those are not the only types of fossils that exist. Fossils are all organic remains left by animals and plants millions of years ago that have survived to the present day. They are able to take...
Alligators and crocodiles are easily confused because they belong to the same phylogenetic order. Also, both are large reptiles with tough skin, long tails, stubby legs, elongated snouts, and large teeth. Both have been around for a very long time, 83 million years, and have changed little since then. However,...
Although there is no evidence of there being life on the Moon, it is not an exact sphere with a flat surface. The Moon has a fascinating terrain which declares its history with various features. The Moon's surface is so intriguing to us that we have a division of planetary science dedicated to its study...
The reason living things breathe is to get the oxygen they need and get rid of carbon dioxide waste. Plants and animals breathe in different ways. Firstly, plants mainly breathe in CO2, while animals use the gas that plants exhale, oxygen. Animals also have different forms of respiration, and although...
We tend to think of stars and the sun as being different, but they are actually the same type of object. The main difference between them is their distance from the earth. The sun is a star like any other in form and function, but our sun is special because it allows us to have life on this planet. Without...
Ancient civilizations didn't have the scientific advancements we currently use to monitor meteorological phenomena. Although there is much we still have to learn, we have been better able to understand why certain natural events occur. Without this understanding, many civilizations created magical, mystical...
Chlorophyll is something we learn about in school from an early age, but it can be difficult to grasp its true importance. This is clouded by the fact we have recently seen chlorophyll being used in culinary situations and other products, including chlorophyll gum. It may be difficult to reconcile these...
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