A sunflower plant contains hormones called the ‘auxins’ that are sensitive to sunlight and will always avoid it. That is why this hormone is mostly found in the shaded part of the flower-stem. It will migrate from the sunny side of the plant to its shaded side of the stem, where it will boost the […]
Why does the sunflower plant always face towards the sun? Read More »
Common name : Southseas devil, Southseas demoiselle, Fiji damsel Scientific name : Chrysiptera taupou Family : Pomacentridae Native to : Western Pacific Ocean Interesting fact : The male guards the eggs until they hatch. Conservation status : Not Evaluated This blue fish with neon-like reflections lives in lagoons and offshore coral reefs. It is an
Clouds consist of water droplets and ice crystals that evaporate from the earth’s water-bodies. These together are very heavy yet they float. Since their weight is spread out in a large area and with small individual particles, the effect of the earth’s gravitational pull is almost absent. Additionally, the clouds are able to float due
Common name : Banjo shark, Fiddler, Green skate, Parrit, Southern fiddler ray Scientific name : Trygonorrhina fasciata Family : Rhinobatidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : The egg capsule of the fiddler stingray is golden in colour. Conservation status : Least Concern Fiddler stingrays live in the shallow waters of sandy bays, rocky reefs
Common name : Common sabertooth, Common fangtooth Scientific name : Anoplogaster cornuta Family : Anoplogastridae Native to : Oceans worldwide Interesting fact : Despite its looks, the fangtooth fish is actually harmless and its scientific name ‘Anoplo’ means unarmed. Conservation status : Not Evaluated Living really deep in the sea, up to 5000 metres, is
When the sunlight enters our atmosphere, its waves collide with gas molecules. The longer wavelengths, like red and yellow, pass straight through it. But the shorter wavelengths, like blue, collide with the gas molecules and scatter in all directions. Some of the blue light still makes it through directly, but the rest is reflected back
Common name : European fan worm, Feather duster worm, Mediterranean fan worm Scientific name : Sabella spallanzanii Family : Sabellidae Native to : East Atlantic and Mediterranean Interesting fact : When threatened, its crown is withdrawn into the tube. Conservation status : Not Evaluated Fan worms live in shallow waters attached to rocks, concrete, boat
Scientific name : Pseudorca crassidens Family : Delphinidae Native to : Temperate and Tropical waters worldwide Interesting fact : The scientific name ‘crassidens’ of the false killer whale means ‘thick-tooth’ referring to its fearsome conical teeth. Conservation status : Data Deficient False killer whales are huge growing 5-6 metres long and weighing 1200-2200 kg. Its
The expiry dates of medicines are manufacturers’ guarantee of the full potency and safety of drugs. If the medicine is used within its shelf life, maximal efficacy and safety of the drug is ensured. It reflects the ability of the drug in curing the disease or reducing symptoms. However, expired medication may not adequately treat
Common name : Common lobster, Clawed lobster Scientific name : Homarus gammarus Family : Nephropidae Native to : Widespread in North-East Atlantic,Mediterranean and Black Sea Interesting fact : They can swim backwards using their soft and flexible tails. Conservation status : Least Concern The European lobster has an asymmetrical pair of pincers with one for
Common name : Carpet shark, Cat shark, Blind shark, Walking shark Scientific name : Hemiscyllium ocellatum Family : Hemiscylliidae Native to : Australia and New Guinea Interesting fact : To cope with oxygen depletion during night, the shark increases the blood supply to its brain by shutting down non-essential neural functions. Conservation status : Least
Tonic water glows and will fluoresce under UV rays because of quinine in it. Quinine is one of the most important alkaloids found in the cinchona bark, among many others. It has some rare earth compounds known as phosphors that glow when they hit certain wavelengths of the UV light. Phosphors in the quinine absorb
Common name : Imperial cleaner shrimp,Emperor partner shrimp Scientific name : Periclimenes imperator Family : Palaemonidae Native to : Indo-Pacific region Interesting fact : The emperor shrimp will perform a manicure if a diver happens to put his hand near it. Conservation status : Not Evaluated You can find emperor shrimps hanging upside down, on
Common name : Roman shield Scientific name : Scutus antipodes Family : Fissurellidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : Elephant snails have a well-developed sense of light and can tell light and shade apart. Conservation status : Not Evaluated The elephant snail looks like someone stepped on it. Its jet-black body has an oval-shaped,
A bird’s feathers grow from the epidermis of the bird’s skin and can be divided into ‘semiplumes’, ‘filoplume’, ‘bristle’ and ‘powder feathers’. Given their impeccable daily routine, birds maintain their feathers by preening, dust bathing and even bathing in the water. When birds preen themselves with their beaks, they pick up oil by rubbing the
Why are a bird’s feathers water-insulated and waterproof? Read More »