What is mistletoe? Mistletoe is a plant that is not rooted in earth. It grows on the branches of other trees. It is a parasite which draws nourishment from its host tree. Mistletoe is believed to be lucky and is hung over the entrance of...
Why does the moon keep changing its shape? This is because we can see only the parts of the moon that the sun shines on. When it is new moon, the unlit side faces Earth and we cannot see it. As the moon circles the...
What is the Great Pyramid? Pyramids are the burial places of Egyptian Pharaohs of the Old and Middle kingdoms (3,500 to 5,000 years ago. It took thousands of craftsmen and labourers to build a pyramid. The Great Pyramid was built in Giza for King Khufu...
How is earth different from other planets? Earth is made of huge oceans of water and has a lot of oxygen in its atmosphere. Its atmosphere is like a blanket, retaining enough of the sun’s heat to create a comfortable temperature. These three factors water,...
Why do pigs wallow in the mud? Pigs take mud baths for coolness, comfort and protection from insects. The mud protects the pig’s skin from insect bites and the harsh rays of the sun. Unlike us, pigs don’t have sweat glands so their bodies cannot...
How did the circus begin? It was the Romans who first thought of combining different acts like juggling, training wild animals acrobatics, etc. into a circus. The word itself comes from a Latin word related to races. So the circus began with races and the...
Why do people wear black for mourning? In western cultures, people wear black clothes for mourning. Black is a gloomy colour so it is felt to be apt for the occasion. In many Asian countries like China, India and Japan, however, white is the preferred...
What is will-o’-the-wisp? Sometimes a pale bluish flame floats above swamps and marshes, appearing and vanishing at will. Superstitious people believed that it was an evil spirit which lured people to their death. But the flame is actually caused when a compound of phosphorus and...
Why are some people afraid of heights? Some people have phobias or fears about something which are often irrational. It is a way of dealing with emotional stress or pain by associating it with a particular object or situation. Common phobias are fear of crowds...
What kind of gods did the earliest human beings worship? Ancient people who were city-dwellers were known to have built religious shrines but there is not much information about the gods they worshipped. Animism, nature worship and the cult of the mother goddess were very...
