It was Nancy’s classmate Sam’s birthday party. There was lots of food, music and dancing. Nancy was so engrossed in playing and dancing that she forgot it was almost dinner time and she should have been home by then. It was only when her mother showed up at Sam’s door to pick her up that […]
The Supercell is a thunderstorm that is characterised by the presence of persistently rotating updraft. Such thunderstorms are essentially miniature low pressure systems, complete with cold and warm fronts. The main risks with Supercells are destructive tornadoes and damaging winds, often in excess of 75 MPH. They are most dangerous because of the extreme weather
A Sundog, technically, known as parhelion is an atmospheric optical phenomenon that consists of a concentrated patch of sunlight occasionally seen about 22° to the left or right of the Sun. It is caused by the refraction of sunlight off hexagonal plate-like ice crystals in the cirrus clouds. Sundogs typically appear when the sun is
“Come on; let’s play football,” said Damon excitedly. “Yes,” chorused Robert and Bryan. It was a bright, pleasant afternoon and the playground looked green and inviting. The boys practised all afternoon and evening. After a while, the boys were tired and sat down for a quick bite. Munching into their sandwiches and biscuits, the boys
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is alleged to have died in a plane crash during World War II. Some say that this was just a ploy to help him escape to the USSR. Several committees which were set up to investigate his death did not give any conclusive report. Many people believe that Subhash Chandra Bose
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England, built about 5,000 years ago. Its first unique stone circle was erected in 2500 BC. About 200 or 300 years later the central bluestones were rearranged to form a circle and inner oval. The last prehistoric activities at Stonehenge were the digging around the stone settings of
St. Elmo’s Fire is a weather phenomenon involving a gap in electrical charge. It is named after St. Erasmus of Formia (also called St. Elmo, one of the two Italian names for St. Erasmus, the other being St. Erasmo), the patron saint of Mediterranean sailors. It is plasma or ionized air that emits a glow,
Satellites images have revealed what appears to be a massive staircase leading up the side of a huge snowy mountain in Antarctica. The area is supposed to be a barren wasteland just off the coast of Antarctica, covered in a thick blanket of snow. Some suggested the huge staircase could be part of a pyramid
SS Ourang Medan is an abandoned ship whose crew had mysteriously perished in the straits of Malacca in June, 1947. Several vessels around picked up SOS distress signals from it stating: ‘All crew including captain are dead,’ followed by another grim message: ‘I die’. The Silver Star went to rescue and found the Captain’s remains
Fifteen-year-old Melanie had taken up a new job at a restaurant. After all, it was her summer vacation, and she wanted to save some money. One day, Melanie was unusually late at the restaurant. As it was well past her usual time, she found it difficult to get a cab or bus. The only way
Canada’s Spotted Lake located at Osoyoos in British Columbia is noted for possessing numerous minerals such as the sulphates of magnesium, calcium and sodium. When the water evaporates in summer, large ‘spots’ of minerals are found hardened forming natural walkways, in the hues of white, pale yellow, green or blue. The waters have a therapeutic
This story goes way back to the 18th century. The Pickinsons were famous in the small town they lived. The family had 12 children of all sizes and ages. Though huge yet the family had limited means, as the father worked in a coal mine, while the mother was a housewife. One fine evening, the
Perfectly Spherical Boulders or Moeraki Boulders are found on Koekohe Beach, on the south island of New Zealand. These formations were created by hardening sea sediments that have been exposed through erosion. The boulders measure up to 3 metres in diameter, and were formed around 60 million years ago. Studies show their composition as magnesium
South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), known as the Bermuda Triangle of Space, is the point where the Van Allen radiation belts that surround the Earth come closest to the planet’s surface. It is between 1,000 and 6,000 km above the Earth’s surface and one of the most dangerous areas of radiation ever encountered. Astronauts on space
Finally, the summer vacation had started. Bright, warm days of fun-filled activities were here and Peter had his best friend Sally to share them. The children were neighbours and went to school together. The first day of the holidays dawned white and bright. Peter was up early, finished his breakfast, and rushed off to find