In popular culture, beehives are often involved in honey gathering or a character being stung by a swarm of angry bees. We see one example of this in Winnie the Pooh, quoted above. Other animated films, such as Bee Movie, are centered entirely around this hard-working animal... Read more
In popular culture, the witch hat is "characterized by a conical crown and a wide brim." This is also a symbol of the Halloween holiday and included in many decorations... Read more
Trees are a vital part of the environment the world over. Trees produce oxygen, rid the air of carbon, offer shade, and produce food. Their wood allows humans to... Read more
The piano or pianoforte is a musical instrument played by striking keys with your fingers. Many people do not realize that the piano is actually a string instrument, like the... Read more
Alice in Wonderland was first brought to life by the English author Lewis Carroll in 1856. The children's book was then titled Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The story follows young Alice, who falls asleep in a meadow. She dreams that she chases a white rabbit into its hole and enters a world full of characters such as a smoking caterpillar, a Mad Hatter hosting an endless tea party, and a playing card Queen who wants to have everyone beheaded... Read more
Baby Yoda was born about the year 41 BBY, around the same time as Anakin Skywalker. He was hidden away until bounty hunters were sent to retrieve him for what was left of the Galactic Empire. The Mandalorian bounty hunter took pity on the Child, who saved his life using Force abilities, and attempted to hide him once again... Read more
According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, dolls are "perhaps the oldest plaything." The oldest date to 3000 to 2000 BC and include a Babylonian doll made from a mineral called... Read more
Crossing one's arms can be a form of nonverbal communication, making one's feelings known through gestures and posture. The crossing of the arms may indicate stubbornness, defiance, rebellion, skepticism, or hostility. For example, a child may cross his or her arms when defying the instructions of a parent or teacher. It is often accompanied by a frown... Read more
A hug is a gesture recognized the world over. This universal posture can take place between friends, family members, or even strangers. It can be used as nonverbal communication in welcome, to express affection, to congratulate someone, or to comfort them. When many people hug at once, it is called a "group hug."... Read more
A pyramid is "a monumental structure" with triangular sides. In ancient Egypt, the pyramids were used as burial places for royalty... Read more
The griffin, also spelled griffon or gryphon, is a mythological creature with roots in the ancient Middle East and Mediterranean regions. It has the body of a lion and the wings and head of a bird, usually an eagle. Some also bore ears like those of horses. Such creatures have also been called alke, keythong, or Opinicus. The griffin was often paired with the sphinx, a creature with a human head and a lion's body... Read more
Sparrows are a common sight the world over, being native or imported to every continent except Antarctica. These small brown birds are comfortable around human settlements, and their habitats range from forests to deserts to open country. They eat seeds and insects, and many are quite vocal... Read more
A bubble is "a globule of one substance in another, usually a gas in a liquid." Bubbles are common to the human experience - we see bubbles of air in water and bubbles of carbonated gas in a glass of soda... Read more
The bald eagle, a type of sea eagle, is the national bird of the United States. It appears on the national seal and many coins, as well as on decorations for patriotic holidays, such as the Fourth of July... Read more
The Celts or Kelts were the people of Europe from about 2000 BCE to 100 BCE. They ranged across the islands of Britain, across Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, and much of Central Europe. Exactly who the Celtic tribes were, where they came from, and their relationship to one another is a subject of debate by researchers... Read more
Sparta was a city in ancient Greece. The Spartan people were known for giving up many pleasures, such as art, literature, and philosophy, in order to expend more effort on military training. Theirs was considered the most powerful army in ancient Greece... Read more
The Vikings were a seafaring people known for being fierce warriors. They raided villages and built colonies throughout Europe - and according to some researchers, as far away as North America - during the ninth to eleventh centuries. The term "Viking" meant "pirate." Vikings were also known as Norsemen or Northmen... Read more
The lungs are among the largest organs in the human body. These muscular air sacs are located within the chest. When air is brought into the lungs, the body takes in oxygen and removes carbon dioxide from the blood. The heart then pumps the oxygenated blood to the body... Read more
The bobcat, also called the wildcat or bay lynx, is a North American mammal. Bobcats are slightly larger than the average housecat, weighing 15 to 33 pounds (7 to 15 kilograms). Bobcats can live almost anywhere - deserts, forests, and even cities... Read more
The stethoscope or phonendoscope is a medical instrument used to listen to the sounds produced inside the body, typically those of the heart and lungs but sometimes the intestines or blood flow. Listening to these sounds is known as "auscultation." The stethoscope was first invented in 1816... Read more