When did the Red Cross start? It was at the initiative of Henri Dunant, a Swiss national, that the Red Cross was formed. After seeing the carnage of war during the battle of Solferino in June 1859, Dunant wrote a pamphlet about the horrors he...
What is the caste system? The caste system is found in Indi It divides people into five social classes. At the top are the Brahmins or priestly caste. Next come the kshatriyas or warriors and earthly rulers. The vaisyas, merchants and artisans, come third. Sudras...
What is talc? We know talc as body powder. But it is a mineral and also the softest of all minerals. It comprises tiny flakes or scales of magnesium. It is usually silvery white or light green in colour. In its solid form it is...
Why do wolves howl at the moon? Hearing a wolf s howl can send a shiver down your spine. But for the wolf it is a means of communication. Though they seem to howl at the moon the reality is that wolves howl to let...
Why is America called Uncle Sam? It is called so after a hard-working and patriotic American called ‘Uncle Sam Wilson’. He had a meat packing business in Troy, New York. Towards the end of the 1812 war, ‘Uncle Sam’ had come to symbolize the character...
Why were mammals better survivors? Mammals had larger brains and so were more intelligent than reptiles. Their hairy and warm-blooded nature also helped them as they could inhabit cold places. Mammals cared for their young for a longer period. They could also feed on different...
Do polar regions have seasons? It is the Arctic which has more seasonal variations than the Antarctic. When it is summer in the North Pole, the sea ice melts and breaks away into large icebergs. Snow melts around the edges of the Arctic Circle. This...
Could the Mayans read and write? The Mayans used hieroglyphs writing in pictures to write. Important inscriptions were carved on huge stone monuments called Stele Detailed accounts of major events were written in books of bark or animal skins. Most of these books were burnt...
Why is America called Uncle Sam? Milk contains proteins essential for building and repairing muscles. It also has fat which gives energy. This fat is called butterfat. Then there is sugar, a carbohydrate which gives energy. The milk in sugar is called lactose. Milk also...
How did the grapefruit get its name? The grapefruit is twice the size of an orange but it is named after the grape. The reason is that the fruit hangs down in clusters like grapes. The clusters may include 3 to 18 fruits. The grapefruit...
