Hibernation means big changes for animals like bears, skunks, bats, frogs and salamanders, which go into a long, deep sleep during winters. The reason they hibernate is to survive the super chilly winters. These animals change their food habits, sleep patterns among other things, to adjust or survive for long time-periods when there is paucity […]

For all birds, the most important reason for migrating is the availability of food. They also migrate because they need to take advantage of a wide range of suitable conditions to raise their young ones. Food sources, safe habitats and breeding colonies that offer greater protection are all the main reason for migration.

It is very easy to break the clavicle bone. It is there to support the shoulder, and because of its connection between the upper limbs and the neck, the clavicle absorbs most of the impact when we fall. When we are falling, we tend to put out hands to support ourselves or cushion the fall.

Babies have their fists closed because of one of the most important reflexes present in a baby. This infantile reflex is called the ‘Palmar Grasp Reflex’ due to which infants close their fists around anything that is placed in their tiny palms. It is a strong grasping reflex that children are born with. It is

The most important reason for different coloured eyes is the genes that children inherit from their parents. Scientists have found three different kinds of genes that are responsible for giving us different eye colours. Genes have the P-proteins that are responsible for melanin production. Melanin pigment is responsible for different colours in people’s eyes. Melanin

It is usually the knuckles, knees, ankles, back and joints of neck muscles that make the popping sound. It is caused by a small bubble that builds up in the fluid of the fingers. When these joints are pulled apart, a tiny cavity is formed which gets filled with gas. This gas bubble collapses and

We need sunscreen because it protects the skin from UV damage and sunburn. Sunscreens are over-the-counter products that come in lotions, gels, ointments and sprays. Our skin responds to excessive exposure to the sun by turning red, becoming hot, and becoming painful to the touch. Severe sunburns cause skin blistering and peeling. The sun’s rays

Photophobia, or sensitivity to light, is an intolerance to light. This is one reason why sunlight hurts our eyes. There is another reason too. We are able to see because light is able to travel through our eyeball to the retina. The retina is able to process only a certain amount of light that it

Flying fish have evolved this remarkable ability to glide over water with remarkable agility to escape their watery predators. They begin their ‘glide’ or ‘flight’ by gaining great velocity underwater. Using their tails, they gather momentum and shoot themselves or jump high out of the water. The flying fish beats its tail rapidly while still

Dolphins and whales are not fish at all! They are mammals like us and need to breathe oxygen through their noses, also known as ‘blowholes’ that are located on top of their heads. They are like other mammals on land, because whales and dolphins give birth to babies instead of laying eggs. They are warm-blooded

Fish need oxygen to breathe underwater too. They rely on their ‘gills’ to help them out in their breathing. Fish rely on oxygen present in the water surrounding them. That is why they need to have a system that helps them extract the small amounts of oxygen out of the water and into their bloodstream.

Dolphins have a unique quality of being able to create a large range of sounds that they use as their special communication system. They have a special body-part called the nasal air sacs that help them create these sounds. These sacs are located just behind their blowholes. They produce three different kinds of noises –

Going down the stairs burns just a third of the energy needed to climb up the stairs. It requires more energy. While, on the other hand, coming down requires lesser energy because you are working in the direction of the gravity. Gravitational pull of the earth helps you in that. Going up, you are working

This is called the ‘Mpemba effect’. It is due to the chemical bonds of water. When the water molecules are brought into close contact, a natural repulsion between the molecules causes the covalent bonds to stretch and store energy. When the liquid warms up, the hydrogen bonds stretch as the water gets less dense and

Ice-cream mixture is made up of three basic components at its molecular level – concentrated sweetened cream, ice crystals, fat globules and air. In its liquid form, ice-cream molecules have more energy and can vibrate more easily. But as soon as the liquid is cooled, energy is released, and the molecules move closer. Because of