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
Beans are the seeds of plants in the legume family. Worldwide, many varieties of beans are cultivated for food. They are rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals. Often, the seeds are dried for later cooking; sometimes the entire seedpod is eaten, as in the case of green beans... 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
Lions are one of the world's most iconic mammals. Female lions are called lionesses... Read more
A firefighter, fireman, or firewoman is a person employed in firefighting - putting out dangerous fires and keeping them from spreading. This may involve rescuing people from a burning building... Read more
A troll or trow is a legendary creature from Scandinavian folklore. The troll was thought to be a "giant, monstrous being, sometimes possessing magic powers." They were said to live in castles and patrol the surrounding areas at night - never did they venture forth in the day, lest they burst or turn into stone. This type of troll was depicted in the animated series The Gummy Bears... Read more
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