Wind greatly affects the growth of plants. Most plants produce flowers containing separate male and female sex cells. Male sex cells are called ‘pollen’ and the process of joining them with female sex cells is called ‘pollination’. Some plants pollinate themselves, but most rely on their pollen being carried to another plant before a new […]
With so many different kinds of soil on planet earth, some soils are extremely nutritious for plants while others are not. Some plants, like the venus flytrap, have the dangerous ability to lure their prey into their trap or between their leaves for nutrition and supplementing the low concentration of nitrogen in their habitat. As
A stem supports the leaves and flowers of the plant in addition to transporting water and food (the nutrients of the plant), around the plant. There are some plants, like cactus, where the food is made in the stem rather than in leaves. The stem holds up leaves to the sun to complete the process
The middle of the hurricane is called the ‘eye’ and is calm. It is found in the centre and is between 30 – 50 km in diameter. The eye is the point around which the rest of the storm rotates and where the lowest surface pressures are found. The air around is going at such
Why is the ‘eye’ of the hurricane calmer than the outside part of it? Read More »
An increase in the earth’s average temperatures is called ‘global warming’. Deforestation and burning of fossil fuels are believed to be primary culprits. These release large quantities of gases such as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which trap more of the sun’s energy as heat and warm the planet. One of the most immediate effects
No living thing can exist on its own. Each living thing is part of an ecosystem and has complicated relationships with other living beings and with its habitat. Each living being depends on its environment to supply it with its basic and extended needs, including food, water and shelter. Each living being needs other organisms
Fungi lack chlorophyll and do not make food by photosynthesis. Instead, they break down and digest the food outside their bodies before they absorb it. There are more than 70,000 known species of fungi including mushrooms, toadstools, yeasts and moulds. Fungi break down dead animals and plant matter, releasing chemicals and nutrients back into the
Why do fungi grow when they do not make food by photosynthesis? Read More »
Nitrogen is needed by all living things. It reaches the soil in rain and in dead and rotting matter. Bacteria in the soil combine nitrogen with other substances to create nutrients which plants can absorb. Of all the essential nutrients, nitrogen is required by plants in the largest quantity. It is a component of chlorophyll
Plants are known as primary producers because they make their own food by a process known as photosynthesis. They take sunlight and use it to help make food. Plants are at the bottom level in the food chain and they make all the food and energy that is found in the ecosystem. Without plants, other
The peach is hairy primarily due to its nature. The fuzzy cover of the peach acts as a kind of protection for the fruit. Not only does it help keep the small bugs away, but the added hair over the skin increases the surface area of the fruit, allowing it to control the moisture of
Maize grains are hard on the outside, but inside they are soft and slightly moist. When grains are heated, the water inside them also becomes hot. The water turns into a hot steam that is tightly sealed inside the grain. Finally, the pressure is so hard that the steam gets the hull to blow up.
Why do popcorns crack and bang when we roast them? Read More »
If happens because of our imbalance. Balance begins in our ears, which is a balance centre that sends messages to our brain. The messages tell us in which direction we are moving and how fast. That is how we are able to maintain our balance. While swinging, however, our body moves in different directions and
Why does it feel strange in the stomach when we swing? Read More »
‘Bird song’ is actually the birds’ conversation with one another. Just like humans have their own languages with words and sentences, likewise birds have their own chorus of complex sounds involving a series of calls, melodies and songs. Just like the human has a voice box, larynx, the bird has a special vocal organ called
Common name : Qudeni dwarf chameleon Scientific name : Bradypodion nemorale Family : Chamaeleonidae Native to : South Africa Interesting fact : Its scientific name means ‘slow-footed’ Conservation status : Near Threatened The word nemorale is a reference to its forest habitat; it means living in groves or woods. The males are a riot of
Some stones sparkle because some of them are smooth as a mirror. Even if it might look very coarse, some parts of the stone are flat and smooth. When the light hits something flat, some of the light bounces back. Think about how light is reflected in the mirror. The flatter the points in the