How was the moon formed? It is believed that the moon was formed when a large body smashed into earth millions of years ago. The collision caused material from Earth and the body to be flung into space. Later, this material came together and formed...
When did man begin consuming salt? Salt was unknown in America and India before the Europeans introduced it. Man started using salt when he gave up his nomadic way of life and started agriculture. The word salary comes from salt, for the Romans used to...
What were ancient villages like? Ancient villages in Europe comprised groups of houses inside a fenced enclosure. The houses were made of wood and their walls were made of mud while the roofs were thatched with dry grass. Villagers used one part of the enclosure...
Why does the planet Venus change shape? When we look from Earth it appears as though Venus changes its shape and size as time passes. The reason is that Venus orbits closer to the sun than Earth. When it is on the far side of...
Who invented shorthand? Shorthand is the technique of writing using signs instead of words. It is also called stenography, meaning little or narrow writing and tachygraphy meaning swift writing. It is around 2,000 years old. It was a Roman named Tiro who invented it in...
Did dinosaurs build nests? Some dinosaurs built nests. An example was the Maiasaura. It lived in herds and every year the females gathered at the nesting site where they had laid eggs the previous time. Nests were lined with twigs and leaves. A large nesting...
Who invented writing? It is believed that the Sumerians invented writing about 5,000 years ago. In the beginning they drew pictures but later they began to use wedge-shaped symbols. This is called cuneiform writing. Sumer was the first great civilization in history.
How do bats rest? When bats feel like resting they hang upside down from their feet. They clutch at a twig or try to get a toehold on the ceiling of a cave. The bat’s toes and claws are used like hooks to suspend itself...
Are lizards poisonous? There are around 2,500 types of lizards. But only two of these are poisonous. These are the Gila monster which inhabits the deserts of America and the beaded lizard of Mexico. Lizards are close relations of snakes and are cold-blooded like them....
What causes plagues of locusts? The plague locusts have two phases solitary and gregarious. The locusts have different forms, shapes, structures and behaviour in these two phases. In the solitary phase the locusts are sluggish and do not congregate together. But when they are forced...
