"The swordfish is one of the open ocean’s fastest, strongest predators." Also known as a broadbill, the swordfish can be distinguished from the similar marlin by its flat bill. Swordfish can reach lengths of almost 15 feet (4.6 meters) and weigh more than 1,400 pounds (635 kilograms). Amazingly, baby swordfish are nearly microscopic - yet their sword is visible soon after hatching!... Read more
Humans have been dressing up their pets for a long time. Ancient Egyptian paintings portray domestic animals with collars or ribbons around their necks, and the collar was perhaps the first pet fashion statement. Says one resource: "Collars emerged as tools for training and restraint as well as status symbols at the height of civilization. But they were also beautiful works of art... Read more
The chrysanthemum or mum is a popular garden flower. It is native to Europe and Asia. Its name is derived from the ancient Greek words for "golden flower." Chrysanthemums have many overlapping petals, similar in shape to the dandelion or carnation... Read more
Most of the time, bugs eat plants. But sometimes, the plants eat the bugs! One well-known variety of bug-eating plants is the Venus flytrap. This plant has a "mouth" at the end of its leaves. When small hairs called trichomes are touched by insects, the mouth snaps shut, trapping the insect... Read more
According to National Geographic, "The monarch butterfly is one of the most recognizable and well-studied butterflies on the planet." It is famous for its epic seasonal migration, in which "millions of monarchs migrate from the United States and Canada south to California and Mexico for the winter." Monarch butterflies also live in Europe, Australia, and several Pacific islands... Read more
Pharmacists, also known as chemists or druggists, are healthcare professionals responsible for preparing or dispensing medications. Like doctors, pharmacists must go to school for many years to learn about medicines, how they affect the body, and how they may interact with each other... Read more
Mosquitoes are insects. As such, they share characteristics with other bugs, like ladybugs, praying mantises,, grasshoppers, bees, and dragonflies. All of these creatures have six legs and thin, transparent wings. There eyes are compound, made up of many lenses. They also have no bones - instead, they have an exoskeleton, which is like a coat of armor on the outside of their bodies... Read more
Have you ever played in a puddle? Most puddles are left behind by rain. They can also form near underground springs, on beaches when the tide goes out, from snow melt, or from man-made sources such as a fire hydrant or backyard watering hose. They may attract small animals that desire to drink the water, or creatures such as frogs and mosquitoes that lay their eggs there.... Read more
Hurricanes are the most violent type of storm seen on planet Earth. They are similar to tornadoes in that they feature strong swirling winds, but hurricanes are much bigger... Read more
Houseplants or potted plants are more popular today than ever before. Caretakers of such foliage often call themselves "plant parents" and "crazy plant ladies." Millennials make up a large proportion of this group. They grow plants as a hobby, to beautify their homes, and to freshen the air... Read more
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, "the bath as an institution has a long history." From the Bible to ancient Egyptian architecture, you can find evidence of baths and dedicated bathrooms. In ancient Rome, the baths were more akin to spas, containing not only areas for washing but also for steam treatments and massage. From ancient to medieval times, most baths were public institutes rather than private rooms... Read more
Aurora is the title character of the 1959 animated film Sleeping Beauty. Aurora was cursed as an infant; it was said she would die by pricking her finger on a spinning wheel before her sixteenth birthday... Read more
The wolf is the largest of the wild dogs. The gray wolf or timber wolf can be found throughout Europe and Americas, and the Ethiopian or Abyssinian wolf lives in Africa... Read more
The lion has been called "the king of beasts." This African mammal is one of the largest of the big cats, second only to the tiger... Read more
For the flute, "a stream of air [is] directed against a sharp edge" which separates into eddies. The tone and sound are controlled by the placement of the fingers over the flute's holes. The flute in our illustration is known as a recorder, fipple flute, or whistle flute. The recorder was produced during the fourteenth century; today, it is often used in schools as the students' introduction to playing a musical instrument... Read more
Game shows first aired on radio and television in 1938. They were called Spelling Bee and Information Please, respectively. In the United States, The Price Is Right, Family Feud, and Jeopardy have been among the most enduring... Read more
Radio waves were first discovered in 1886. By 1894, Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi had devised a way to transmit telegraph signals via radio waves. Radio was being used commercially by 1920, and... Read more
Fruitcake is both lauded as a holiday gift-giving tradition and loathed as the butt of jokes and as a synonym for "crazy." What is a fruitcake? It is a very heavy spice cake filled with candied or dried and sugared fruits and nuts. Some recipes also contain alcohol. Fruitcake is known for lasting many years due to the preserving qualities of the sugar and alcohol... Read more
New Year festivals are celebrated around the world. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, they are "among the oldest and the most universally observed."... Read more
Catwoman is the supervillain alias of the fictional character Selina Kyle, and occasionally of other female characters. She first appeared as "the Cat" in DC Comics Batman #1 in 1940. She is a burglar in Gotham city, and her preferred weapon is a bullwhip. She wears a tight black suit and is often outfitted with spy gear... Read more