Who was the first astronaut? In 1903, K. E. Tsiolkovsky was the first to suggest that rockets could be used for space research. He also suggested liquid propellants. It was the Soviets who sent the first orbital satellite, Sputnik I into space and in 1961,...
How does asparagus grow? Asparagus was considered a table delicacy even by ancient Greeks and Romans. It is a member of the lily family. Asparagus is grown from seeds or roots which are planted in a shallow trench. The tender shoots are used as food....
Why do camels have humps? Long journeys without food and water are unimaginable for us. But for the camel it is no big deal. The reason lies in its hump which acts as a storehouse of food and water. Before beginning a long journey a...
Are there mountains under the sea? Mountains can be found under the sea too. They cover the land beneath the sea. While the flat areas are called plains, the deep valleys are called trenches. Huge underwater volcanoes called seamounts can also be found under the...
How deep can a turtle dive? Leatherback turtles are the biggest sea turtles. They can make very deep dives, in fact the deepest for a turtle. They dive up to 1200 m for their food. Their food consists mainly of jellyfish, crabs, lobsters and starfish.
What is a metal? In physical terms, a metal is something which has a bright lustre and is a good conductor of heat and electricity. Different metals have different degrees of hardness, density, malleability and ductility. Metals can be used to make alloys. Some metals...
Why do trees have rings on them? The amount of wood formed by a tree in a year or growing season is expressed as alternating bands of light and dark wood seen when a tree is cut and the cross-section examined. The two bands form...
Why does hair come in different colours? At the root of the hair are cells which have a pigment called melanin. When the cells die they leave granules of pigment in the hair. The granules come in many shades of brown. The horny shaft of...
When did man start using cow’s milk? Man began using milk and milk products even in ancient times. An ancient temple discovered near Babylon shows a scene of a cow being milked on one of its walls. It is believed that the temple is five...
What is the sound barrier? When a plane passes the sound barrier it produces a booming sound. Sound travels at a certain speed depending on the altitude. When the plane flies faster than sound its wing undergoes great stress. This causes a shock wave which...
