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...
What are barnacles? Barnacles are small shellfish. They swim freely when they are hatched but latch on to a surface once they are adults. Millions of barnacles may be thus attached to a surface like the hull of a ship, forming a crust. This can...
What is plastic surgery? Plastic surgery is actually cosmetic surgery which is done to improve a person’s appearance or correct a birth deformity. It is also used to treat people with burn injuries and tumours whose skin needs repair. In this surgery, skin is moulded...
What makes Venus’ atmosphere so cloudy? Venus has thick clouds in its atmosphere. The clouds are made of small droplets of sulphuric acid. It is a very strong acid and is formed from the sulphur which has entered the atmosphere as a result of the...
Did children play with toys in ancient times? Toys like clappers, rattles, and miniature animals made of clay, bronze and lead have been dug up by archaeologists amid the ruins of ancient cities. Balls, dolls and tops were discovered among Egyptian ruins. Children of the...
Why do ducks go bottoms up when water? When ducks dive under water it means that they are feeling hungry. It is a common sight to see mallard ducks in this position. They use their bills to locate seeds and other types of food on...
What is an antidote? Antidote is a substance which prevents a poison from acting on the body. Antidotes act in several ways. One is to combine chemically with the poison. Another is to coat the mucus membrane with a protective layer. A third method is...
