What is haemoglobin? Haemoglobin is a protein found in red blood corpuscles. It is a pigment which contains iron. Haemoglobin combines with oxygen to give blood its red colour. As it can combine loosely with oxygen it also enables the red blood corpuscles to deliver...
Why do people walk in circles when they are lost? Human beings have asymmetrical bodies and so the structure of muscles is not in perfect balance. When our vision is obscured as in a fog, the way we walk depends on the muscles and structure...
Who first wrote nursery rhymes? Nursery rhymes are also called Mother Goose rhymes. In 1719, a Boston printer called Thomas Fleet reportedly published a book, “Songs for the Nursery; or Mother Goose’s melodies for children”. Actually many of the so-called nursery rhymes were not meant...
How are synthetic fibres made? Fibres like cotton, wool, silk, linen and hair are natural fibres which are produced by plants and animals. Synthetic fibres are rayon, nylon, dacron, saran, etc. In these, atoms of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and other elements are combined to create...
What is Zoroastrianism? Long ago, Persians worshipped Mithras, the god of light, truth and justice. Around 600 BC, a Persian prophet named Zarathushtra founded a religion called Zoroastrianism. Persians in parts of Iran and India still follow this religion. He preached that there was only...
Were the Celts able to read and write? Celts did not read or write. But they had a robust oral tradition to pass on their myths, religions and laws. The priests called druids taught poetry, history and the law. When there was a feast, musicians...
Which Egyptian temple was shifted from its place? It was the Abu Simbel temple which was moved in 1964. This was to avoid flooding when the Aswan dam was built. The temple was originally located on the banks of the river, Nile. If was carved...
Which were the smallest dinosaurs? Saltopus was one of the smallest dinosaurs. It was only 60 cm long the size of a large chicken. It was a meat-eater and good at hunting. Leaellynasaura was a small dinosaur found in Australia in 1984. It ate plants...
When did the wedding cake originate? The ancient Romans had wedding cakes. Wedding cakes were part of the wedding ceremonies of rich Roman families. The bride and groom ate the cake and also shared it with the guests at the wedding. The cake was meant...
Can snakes change colour? The milk snake is a snake which can change colour. When it changes colour it looks like the coral snake. Actually it is a self-preservative mechanism. While the milk snake is a harmless snake and is easily preyed on by bigger...
