Thursday, September 29, 2011

AMAZING CREATURES - SCARY BEASTS

Frightening myths and superstitions have been created around some animals. But these stories are not true, and it is important to learn about these amazing animals.

WOLVES live in many northern countries. Grey wolves are fast runners, and chase down their prey. They hunt deer, elk, moose, hares and beavers. In some places wolves kill farm animals and eat rubbish from bins. Wolves live in packs of up to 20 animals. These packs are very close and organized: travelling, hunting and raising families together.

The AYE-AYE lives in the rainforests of Madagascar. Using its long, bony middle finger, it taps on tree branches and listens for beetles and grubs moving under the bark. When it hears a grub moving, it picks it out of the bark using its long finger. It also uses its middle finger to scoop out the flesh from inside coconuts.

FOUL FACT! Some people in Madagascar believe that a person will die if an aye-aye points its long middle finger at them.

AMAZING CREATURES - GROSS EATERS

Some animals have unpleasant eating habits. They may feast on dead animals, digest the bones of their prey in acid or use their strong jaws to rip their prey apart.

PANGOLINS are also called scaly anteaters. They live in tropical Asia and Africa, and are covered with brown scales. The pangolin eats termites, ants and other insects, which it sniffs out and catches on its long, sticky tongue. It has no teeth. Instead, horny plates in its stomach grind down the food before it is digested.

The WOLVERINE is sometimes called a skunk bear or glutton. It lives in Alaska, Siberia, Northern Canada and Scandinavia. It often eats the remains of animals killed by wolves. It will also kill prey itself, by pouncing on an animal from a tree or rock, tearing it apart.

HYENAS are strong, doglike creatures that live in Africa and India. Although they scavenge and eat carrion (dead animals), they catch young hippos, gazelles, zebras, wildebeest and antelopes. The stomach of a spotted hyena can hold up to 15 kilograms of meat, so it can go for several days without food.

AMAZING CREATURES - UGLY BRUTES

Some animals look ugly. They may have no hair, or have lumps on their faces, or be large and flabby with big noses. Although they look strange, these features are special adaptations that help the animals to survive.

The BAKED MOLE RAT lives in long tunnels in the grassy regions of eastern Africa. It lives in groups of 20 to 300 members, ruled over by a queen. Hairless skin means that the mole rat does not overheat in its underground home.

ELEPHANT SEALS are huge creatures with folds of fat and skin that make them look rumpled and creased. Their thick layer of fat is called blubber. It keeps them warm when they dive into the icy ocean to search for food.

The WARTHOG belongs to the pig family. It lives in Africa. The male warthog has four hard bumps on its face that look like warts – from which it gets its name. Males and females have curved tusks, which they use as weapons, growing out of their mouths.

FOUL FACT! A warthog’s canine teeth grow constantly. It uses them to dig and search for food.

AMAZING CREATURES - TERRIFYING TONGUE

Some animals have an amazing tongue. It may be forked, sticky or just incredibly long. Tongues can be used for digging insects from the ground or grabing leaves and branches.

ECHIDNAS, or spiny anteaters, live in Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea. They have small nostrils and a tiny mouth at the end of their long, tube-like beaks. They eat ants and termites, which they catch with their long, sticky tongue.

The OKAPI is brown with a stripy rump and legs. It is related to the giraffe. A shy animal, it lives in the dense forests of the Aftrican congo and was only discovered in 1901. The okapi uses its long, black tongue to grab leaves and branches and pull them into its mouth.

The SUN BEAR lives in the forests of South East Asia. It likes to make its home high up in the branches of trees. The sun bear sleeps or sunbathes by day and hunts at night. It has long, curved claws, which it uses to dog for insects. It also pokes its long tongue into holes in rotten wood to catch insects or lick up honey.

FOUL FACT! If grabbed by the back of the neck, the sun bear can swivel its body around inside its loose neck skin to bite its attacker.

AMAZING CREATURES - SNEAKY ONES

Some animals use sneaky methods to catch their prey or to escape from predators. They may use disguises, move quietly or use clever tricks.

VAMPIRE BATS are found in Africa and South America. The common vampire bat is able to walk, jump and hop. This means it can creep up to its prey and hop onto its body. As it bites, the bat’s saliva enters the wound and makes the animal’s skin go numb. The animal does not know it has been bitten.

TARSIERS are related to monkeys and lemurs. They are found on islands in South East Asia. Tarsiers have good eyesight and hunt mostly at night, jumping onto their prey, which includes insects, birds and snakes. They pounce and grab the animal with their paws.

RACCOONS are very sneaky. Their specially adapted paws can open latches and doors. Their black eye patches make them look like masked bandits – and they can act like them, too! They often steal food from houses, cars and campsites.

AMAZING CREATURES - VICIOUS ANIMALS

Animals, such as killer whales, tigers and bears, are well known for being fierce. However, the world is also full of small, vicious creatures that hunt their prey aggressively.

The NORTHERN SHORT-TAILED SHREW is small, but very fierce! It needs to eat three times its body weight each day, so it spends its time hunting for insects, spiders, worms and snails.

WEASELS live mainly in the northern hemisphere. The weasel is a savage hunter. Its long body allows it to follow its prey into small burrows. When excited, weasels do a strange, hopping war dance. Some biologists believe they perform dance to confuse their prey.

The TASMANIAN DEVIL looks like a small bear and is very vicious. It uses its powerful jaws to crack bones and tear fur and flesh, before eating the lot. As well as feeding on carrion – animals that are already dead – it also eats the larvae of some types of beetle, and attacks poultry.

FOUL FACT! The Tasmanian devil was named ‘devil’ because of the high-pitched screeching noises it makes at night. When threatened, it opens its mouth in a yawn, which looks aggressive but is a display of fear.

AMAZING CREATURES - POISONOUS ANIMALS

There are many types of poisonous creatures around the world. Some animals use venoms for defense. Others use it catch larger prey.

The DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS has a flat bill like a duck’s beak, a furry body and strong limbs that help it to swim and dig. It lives in eastern Australia and eats frogs, fish and insects. The male platypus has a spur on each of its back legs, which holds a strong poison. If threatened, the platypus stabs its attacker with a spur and injects the poison. The poison is strong enough to kill a dog.

The two species of SOLENDON are both endangered. They live on the Caribbean islands of Hispaniola and Cuba. When a solendon attacks its prey, such as a spider, poisonous saliva flows into its victim along grooves in its lower front teeth. The poison stuns the prey, making it easier to grasp.

The DIAMONDBACK RATTLESNAKE is a type of pit viper that is common in North and Central America. Pit vipers are venomous snakes. They can sense body heat, which enables them to sneak up on their prey at night. They bite to kill, but will also bite in self-defense. Their hollow fangs inject poison into their prey.

FOUL FACT! Many pit vipers are hunted and killed for their skins, which are used to make shoes and belts.

AMAZING CREATURES - NASTY NOSES

Some animals have amazing noses, which they use to seek out food. They may smell their prey from a long way off, or use their sensitive noses to detect movements made by their prey.

The AADVARK lives in Africa in the area south of the Sahara Desert. It has a long snout, which it uses to sniff out its food (ants and termites) as it walks along at night. It may walk as far as 30 kilometers in one night, pressing its notes to the ground to pick up their scent. It also listens for any sound of movement made by the termites.

The STAR-NOSED MOLE of North America looks like an ordinary mole except for its nose. 22 fleshy tentacles stick out from the nose and wriggle constantly. They help the mole to feel movements in the ground made by its prey such as worms.

The PROBOSCIS MONKEY is named after a large, wobbly nose or ‘proboscis’ of the male monkey. It is thought that the large nose helps the male to attract a mate. It lives in the swampy mangrove forests of Borneo and wades through the water on its back legs. This makes it very unusual, as most monkeys move around using all four legs.

FOULD FACT! The nose of the male proboscis monkey can be up to 14 centimeters long. It makes the monkey’s warning calls louder.

AMAZING CREATURES - DISEASE CARRIERS

Many animals carry diseases that can be passed on to each other, such as mange in dogs. Some animals carry diseases that, rather scarily, can be passed on to humans too.

DOGS and CATS carry parasites such as tapeworms and roundworms, which live inside them. The eggs of parasites pass out in the feaces of the dog or cat. People can end up with these parasites, too, if they get the eggs in their hands by touching dogs, and then eat without washing their hands. Regularly ‘worming’ or treating your dog or cat kills the worms.

RATS live almost everywhere that people live. They spread many diseases, including food poisoning, typhus and bubonic plague. In the 14th century, the plague became known as Black Death. It was passed on to humans by infected fleas from the rats. The Black Death may have killed as many as 50 million people in Europe.

PIGEONS are abundant in many towns around the world. The birds can carry a disease that affects their lungs and the lungs of people. Symptoms of the disease are mild in pigeons, but can be serious in humans. People catch the disease by breathing in dust containing specks of the bird’s faeces. Bacteria in the faeces can give a person a fever.

AMAZING CREATURES - ANIMAL STICKERS

Some animals are sticky and others can stick to things using suction. Long, sticky tongues allow some animals to catch their food. Others use suction pads to move around or cling onto branches or rocks.

The BLACK-SPOTTED STICKY FROG lives in the rainforests of South East Asia. At night, it hunts for insects on the forest floor. The frog releases a sticky slime when it is threatened, making it an unpleasant meal for predators.

The NUMBAT or banded anteater lives in the forests of south-west Australia. It uses its nose to track down termite mounds. When it finds one, the numbat pokes its long, sticky tongue into holes in the mound. The termites stick to the tongue and the numbat has a feast.

FACT! The NUMBAT eats about 20,000 termites every day.
The CROWN-OF-THORNS STARFISH lives in warm seas and feeds on coral. Thousands of tiny tube feet underneath its arms help the starfish to move around. The feet have suction cups that allow the starfish to cling onto rocks.
FOUL FACT! The crown-of-thorns starfish is usually about the size of a dinner plate, but can be as big as a car tire.

AMAZING CREATURES - SMELLY ANIMALS

Some animals really stink! However, the smells do have a purpose. A stinky smell can make an animal more attractive to its mate, or it may keep predators at a safe distance.

MOONRATS live in the rainforests and mangrove swamps of Sumatra, Borneo and the Malay Peninsula. They mark their den with a liquid that smells like rotting onions or garlic. The smell warns other moonrats and predators to stay away from their territory.

POLECATS live in woodland areas of Europe, Asia and North Africa. They mark their territories with a foul-smelling liquid, made in glands at the base of the tail. People once used the word ‘polecat’ to describe someone with a character as foul as the polecat’s smell.

The MUSK OX lives in cold regions, in Greenland and northern Canada. Males, called bulls, produce a strong-smelling liquid in glands just under their eyes. To release the smell, the bull rubs its face on trees and bushes. The smell attracts females, who can detect it from a long way off.

FOUL FACT! In the early 1990s, musk oxen were hunted nearly to extinction for their meat and hide. Now, however, they are protected by law.

AMAZING CREATURES - REALLY WILD

The animal world is full of amazing creatures. Some look cute, but the sweetest-looking animals may be very fierce. Creatures that look scary may be gentle and shy. Other animals are very colorful and extraordinary-looking, which helps them to survive in their natural environment.

Animals kill other animals because they need to eat. Sometimes, animals attack people, and we think of this behavior as vicious. All wild animals can be dangerous. If a man enters a bear’s territory, the bear may follow its instincts and attack, just as it would if any other wild animal threatened its territory. Its behavior is not vicious but a natural wild animal behavior.

BEARS will attack if they are surprised, feel threatened or are protecting their territory or CUBS.

WEASELS are fierce predators. They have beautiful fur like a cat, but you cannot stroke them!

Leafy SEA DRAGONS are a type of fish. They are related to sea horses. Their leafy appendages may look strange, but they help sea dragons to hide among floating seaweed.

beauty SCIENCE experiments! (5th and final)

1.     Facial Scrub!
You’ll need: FOR OILY SKIN: 1 tsp skim milk powder, 1 tsp honey, freshly squeezed lemon juice
FOR NORMAL, DRY or MATURE SKIN: 1 tsp full cream or whole milk powder, 1 tsp honey
What to do: mix it all together and use as a mild scrub on your face. Rinse very well.

Face mask!
You’ll need: 1 tbsp honey, 1 egg white, 1 tsp glycerin, ¼ cup flour
What to do: Whisk together the honey, egg white, glycerin and flour. Smooth the mixture all over your face and throat. Leave it on for 10 minutes and rinse it off with warm water.

Facial spritzer!
You’ll need: 1 small cucumber, 1 cup distilled water
What to do: was a small cucumber and blend it with water, strain it into your spritzer bottle and use immediately as possible. Keep it refrigerated and use within 12 hours.

beauty SCIENCE experiments! (4th of 5)

1.     Homemade lip gloss!
You’ll need: ¼ cup beeswax, ¼ cup castor oil, 2 tbsp sesame oil, beet juice, double boiler
What to do: use the top part of the double boiler to melt beeswax. Remove it from the heat and add oils. Add as much beet juice as desired for color and store it in a jar. Transfer a small portion to a purse sized container for use when away from home. You can also add essential oils for added fragrance.

Dry skin remedy!

What to do: beat egg and add oil. Add lemon juice and mix it very well. Apply a little of that mixture on your wrist and refrigerate the rest. If it feels okay an hour later, wash your face and apply the mixture on your face. Leave it on for 15 minutes and rinse well.

Massage therapy!
You’ll need: ½ cup coconut oil, ¼ cup cocoa butter, few drops essential oil
What to do: to make the massage oil, soften the cocoa butter in a double boiler over medium heat. Remove from the heat and blend, adding a few drops of optional essential oils.

beauty SCIENCE experiments! (3rd of 5)

1.     Combat oily skin!
You’ll need: 1 egg white, 2 tsp oatmeal
What to do: beat the egg white until it’s frothy. Add the oatmeal and then apply the paste to skin, leave for 15 minutes. Rinse your face with cool water and feel the freedom from oil.

Make-up remover at home!
You’ll need: 1 tbsp full cream milk, small bowl, a few drops of sweet almond oil, cotton
What to do: pour milk into a bowl and add the almond oil. Soak cotton into mixture and pat it on your face. Use another piece of cotton to remove mixture and rinse thoroughly with water.

Make fragrant bath salts!
You’ll need: 1 cup instant non-fat dry milk, 1 cup baking soda, 2 tbsp cornstarch, 1 tbsp cream of tartar, 1 tbsp cinnamon
What to do: combine all ingredients and store in a nice container. For a perfumed feeling, add as much as desired whenever you bathe.

beauty SCIENCE experiments! (2nd of 5)

1.     Toothpaste to go!
You’ll need: 2 tbsp dried lemon or orange rind, ¼ cup baking soda, 2 tsp salt
What to do: Place rinds in food processor and grind until peel becomes a fine powder. Add baking soda and salt then process a few seconds more until you have a fine powder. Store it in an airtight tin or jar then just dip moistened toothbrush into mixture and brush away.

Lighter elbows and knees!
You’ll need: 1 tsp dry milk powder, some lemon juice, some water
What to do: make a paste out of all the ingredients and rub onto knees and elbows. Wait 10 minutes before rinsing.

Hair conditioner!
You’ll need: ½ cup honey, ¼ cup olive oil
What to do: Work a small amount at a time through hair until coated. Cover hair with shower cap and leave it on for 30 minutes. Remove shower cap, shampoo and rinse well.

beauty SCIENCE experiments! (1st of 5)

BEAUTY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS
Here are some beauty tips I swear by and I occasionally do myself. It’s a little bit of experimentation, and a whole lot of fun! See, who says science and beauty would never be a perfect match!


1.     For younger skin!
You’ll need: 1 tsp honey, 1 tbsp apple cider, 1 tsp extra virgin coconut oil
What to do: Mix everything well and drink once or twice a day. You’ll see results on your skin and digestion after a week!

Blackheads buster 1!
You’ll need: Egg white, 1 pc large cotton
What to do: Soak the cotton in egg white. Cover the affected area with the cotton and wait for it to dry and harden completely. Carefully remove dried cotton and blackhead should come off with it.

Blackheads buster 2!
You’ll need: Cornstarch and Vinegar
What to do: Mix cornstarch with vinegar and spread on the area for 15-30 minutes. Use a washcloth and wash it off well with warm water.

SCIENTIFIC NAMES of ANIMALS (A-Z) Part 2

Part 2

Kangaroo: Macropus Macropodidae


Lion: Panthera Leo


Mouse: Rodentia Muridae


Nene goose - Branta sandvicensis


Ostrich - Struthio camelus


Panda: Alurpoda Melanoleuca


Reindeer: Rangifer Tarrandus

Sea Horse: Hippocampus Syngnathidae


Tiger: Panthera Tigris


Whale Shark: Rhincodon Typus


Zebra: Equidae Burcheli




Wednesday, September 7, 2011

SCIENTIFIC NAMES of ANIMALS (A-Z) Part 1



COMMON NAME : SCIENTIFIC NAME


Ant: Hymenopetrous formicidae


http://www.floridiannature.com
Bear: Ursidae Carnivora


http://outdooradventuresguide.com

Cougar: Fenis Concolour
http://4.bp.blogspot.com


Dolphin: Delphinidae Delphis

Elephant: Proboscidea Elephantidae




Fox: Cannis Vulpes
http://images.nationalgeographic.com


Giraffe: Giraffa Camalopardalis


Hyena: Hyaenidae Carnivora




Ivory: billed woodpecker - Campephilus principalis


Jellyfish: Scyphozoa


Sunday, September 4, 2011

SCIENTIFIC NAMES - Flower Edition

http://www.gardencrossings.com
English daisy - Bellis perenni (Scientific name)


The English daisy is commonly known to botanists by its scientific name Bellis perennis. These daisies are becoming increasingly popular and therefore are seen in annual beds and pots around the country. Since they are annuals they are also relatively inexpensive, making adding them to your garden or flowerpot quite simple. Throughout this article we will examine all you need to know about growing these beautiful English daisy flowers as well as specifics about the variety, including appearance.



http://www.horizonherbs.com


Calendula - Calendula officinilalis (Scientific name)


Calendula has been used traditionally as both a culinary and medicinal herb. The petals are edible and can be used fresh in salads or dried and used to color cheese or as a replacement for saffron.




http://pixelpost.kevincrafts.com
Strawflower - Helichrysum bracteatum
(Scientific name)
Strawflowers are double, straw-textuted dried flowers of an array of colors including pink ,dark pink (shown), gold, red, salmon, yellow and white.



http://images.meredith.com

Love-in-a-mist - Nigella damascena (Scientific name)


Nigella is an old cottage garden flower, a favourite for scattering wherever there is a gap in the flower border, but also good for short-term massed bedding and for drying.








http://www.apriliani.com
Wishbone flower - Torenia fournieri
(Scientific name)

Wishbone flower is not only hard to kill, it is a shade-loving, flowering wonder.

My Science Vocabulary Name Part II



http://theoneweddings.files.wordpress.com
Nebula – a cloud of gases or dust in space

http://brokenman.files.wordpress.com
Impulse – a stimulation or message that travels through the neurons

http://www.wpclipart.com
Cocus – a round, ball-shaped bacterium
http://2.bp.blogspot.com
Orbit – the path of one body as it revolves about another body
http://2.bp.blogspot.com
Laterite – a type of soil found in the tropics
http://www.poshbabyshop.com
Endocrine glands – internal glands that manufacture hormones