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...
Who were the Mayans? The Mayans were native Indians who built a huge empire that included parts of Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras in the jungles of North America. The Mayan civilization reached its peak from 300-800 AD. But over the following two centuries it collapsed.
How did the Romans protect their cities from enemies? During the later phase of the empire, the Romans often faced attacks from the barbarian hordes that invaded Europe. So, to protect their cities, they built thick walls around the towns as well as forts so...
