Gravity Falls is an animated series from Disney Channel. It stars twin siblings Mabel and Dipper Pines, "who are in for an unexpected adventure when they spend the summer with their great uncle in the mysterious town of Gravity Falls, Oregon."... Read more
Earthworms are invertebrates that live in the soil around the world. There are over 1,800 distinct species. Most are only a few inches in length, but one Australian species can reach a length of 3.3 meters, or about 11 feet!... Read more
The beard is the facial hair grown on a man's chin and cheeks. The Encyclopaedia Britannica calls the beard a "badge of manhood," as it appears only when a young male becomes physically mature... Read more
The French bulldog, sometimes called a Frenchie, is a smart and playful small dog. They stand about 12 inches (30 centimeters) tall and weigh less than 30 pounds (13 kilograms). Their lifespan is up to 12 years... Read more
Eeyore describes himself as "just a gloomy old donkey." He is known for eating thistles and losing his tail. Eeyore has also been known to write poetry. Since Eeyore is a stuffed animal, Christopher Robin can always reattach his tail with a pin... Read more
An axe or ax is a chopping or cutting tool that has been used by humans since the Stone Age. The first axes were, not surprisingly, made from sharpened blocks of stone. Later, wooden handles were added and the blades were made from copper, bronze, or iron... Read more
Red roses have long been used to symbolize love. But a wilted, dead, or dying rose can mean a fading of hope and love or even the end of life. The most memorable depiction may be the enchanted rose from Beauty and the Beast. It was kept beneath glass to ensure that the last petal would not fall a moment too soon... Read more
Kakashi is a teacher to Team 7, of which the show's titular character is a member. He is a skilled ninja, easygoing, and an emphatic rule follower. He had a difficult childhood, as his father died in disgrace. He had become an accomplished ninja by age five. He lost his eye in battle, and it was replaced by a Sharingan... Read more
In German, dachshund means "badger dog." It traces its ancestry to hounds and terriers used to pursue badgers into their burrows. This iconic dog is famous for its short legs and elongated body. Dachshunds were developed in two sizes, standard and miniature, and stand up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) tall. They may have long or short fur classed as smooth, longhaired, and wirehaired... Read more
A comet is an object made of rock and ice that orbits the Sun. When the comet's orbit brings it close to the Sun, it undergoes a process known as sublimation - its particles go directly from the solid state to a gaseous state, creating a magnificent tail... Read more
Pelicans are seafaring birds famous for their extendable throat pouch that they use as a fishing net. They are large birds; many have wingspans of more than 10 ft or 3 meters. The name "pelican" comes from an ancient Greek word meaning "ax."... Read more
Camping is a "recreational activity in which participants take up temporary residence in the outdoors." Camping first took a recreational turn around 1908, with the publication of The Camper's Handbook... Read more
The firefly, also called a glow worm or lightning bug, is a beetle that has a special light-producing organ on its abdomen. The largest can reach 1 inch in length. The bioluminescent light is... Read more
Glass has been used to make man-made objects since ancient times. In fact, the earliest specimens date to around 3500 B.C. and were discovered in Egypt and Mesopotamia. Glass is made by heating materials such as sand and cooling it in such a way that crystals do not form... Read more
Geckos are small lizards. There are more than 1,000 species of this reptile around the world, native to every continent but Antartica. Geckos range in size from less than half an inch to 14 inches; a 24-inch specimen of a possibly extinct species from New Zealand is held in one European museum... Read more
Wine, the fermented juice of the grape or other fruits, has been a revered alcoholic beverage since ancient times. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, the grape "was being cultivated in the Middle East by 4000 BCE and probably earlier." Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, the Bible, and other documents show that grapes were used to make wine thousands of years ago... Read more
A nurse is a medical professional who cares for the sick or injured. Though they have had many titles throughout history, skilled and educated caretakers have been documented since antiquity. Many lived in religious orders as nuns or monks... Read more
A dragon is a legendary mythological creature. In Japanese mythology, the dragon is an air-spirit or water deity, and one of the deified forces of nature of the Taoist religion. Dragon gods and goddesses may transform into human form. Unlike their western counterparts, the Japanese dragon is usually wingless and serpent-like. The Dragon King is said to live deep in the sea... Read more
The magnifying glass or hand lens is a convex optical lens, mounted on a handle and used to visually magnify objects. They are commonly used for reading, examining jewelry, or observing plants and insects... Read more
The peanut is a favorite salty snack, often linked with childhood memories of circuses or airplane rides, where roasted, salted peanuts are provided as snacks. Peanuts are also called groundnuts, earthnuts, monkey nuts, or goobers... Read more