The Spectacular Flocking of Starlings
In Europe, starlings gather in groups of thousands to perform complex aerial displays. This behavior is called "murmuration" and is believed to help protect them from predators and facilitate information exchange. Each bird adjusts its position and speed relative to a few nearby birds, creating impressive group movements as a whole.
Glowing Mushrooms in the Forest
Some mushrooms glow in the dark. This is called "bioluminescence." It happens when enzymes in the mushroom react with oxygen and make light. In Japan, there is a glowing mushroom called yakō-take. These mushrooms shine with a soft green light at night. Some people think they glow to attract insects to spread their spores.
Where Ice Speaks
In glaciers like those in Antarctica and Greenland, ice can make loud sounds. These sounds come from cracking ice, moving layers, and trapped air. The noise can be like "bang" or "rumble." Scientists record these sounds to study glacier movement and climate change.
The Surprising History of Lighters and Matches
Many people think that matches were invented first, and then lighters were made. However, in reality, lighters were invented earlier. The lighter appeared in 1772, while the match was first invented in 1827. This means lighters existed more than 50 years before matches.
The Secret of Giraffe's High Blood Pressure
Giraffes are the tallest animals on land, with necks that can be about 1.8 meters long. To pump blood up such a long neck, their hearts are very strong and have high blood pressure. In fact, giraffes have the highest blood pressure among animals, reaching about 280/180 mmHg. This is about twice as high as a typical human blood pressure.
Sound Channel in the Ocean
In the ocean, there is a "sound channel" where sound waves are naturally guided over long distances. This occurs because water layers with different temperatures and salinities cause sound waves to bend and get trapped at a certain depth. Submarines often use this channel for communication, sending low-frequency sounds that can travel hundreds of kilometers.
Genghis Khan and the Postal System
Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire, created an amazing postal system called "Yam." This system used horse riders who changed horses at stations placed every 40 km. It allowed messages to travel quickly across the vast empire. Thanks to Yam, the Mongol army could receive orders fast and rule their lands effectively. This system was an early version of modern postal and communication networks.
The Largest Volcano in the Universe
The biggest volcano in the solar system is Olympus Mons on Mars. This volcano is about 22 km tall, which is about 2.5 times higher than Mount Everest on Earth (about 8.8 km). Also, Olympus Mons has a diameter of about 600 km, which is half the size of Japan. This volcano is very old and is believed to be inactive now, but its size is truly amazing.
Roman Concrete Technology
Ancient Romans had a special technique to make very strong concrete. In fact, their concrete is more durable than modern concrete, and some buildings have lasted for over 2000 years. Their secret was mixing "volcanic ash" into the concrete. This made it stronger over time. For example, parts of the Pantheon and the Colosseum still stand today because of this special Roman concrete.
The Shortest War in History
The shortest war in history was the Anglo-Zanzibar War. It happened on August 27, 1896, between Britain and Zanzibar. The war ended in just 38 minutes because the British military was much stronger. The Zanzibar forces quickly surrendered. This war is recorded in the Guinness World Records as the shortest war ever.
The World's Oldest University
The world's oldest university is not in Europe but in Africa. The University of Al-Qarawiyyin in Fez, Morocco, was founded in 859 and is still running today. This university has taught Islamic studies, mathematics, astronomy, and more, producing many scholars. It is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the "oldest existing university." It is over 200 years older than the University of Bologna, the oldest in Europe, founded in 1088.
Snow in the Desert?
People think deserts are always hot, but in winter, temperatures can drop below freezing. Snow was first seen in the Sahara Desert in 1979, and it has snowed a few times since then. At night, the temperature falls quickly, making it very cold. Deserts have a big difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures, so sometimes, snow can appear.
Sneezing in Space
When astronauts sneeze in space, the particles float around because there is no airflow. To keep their helmet clean, they close their eyes and face downward when sneezing. In a zero-gravity environment, objects can float, so the force of a sneeze can push an astronaut slightly backward. Something ordinary on Earth requires special precautions in space.
Why is the sunset on Mars blue?
On Earth, sunsets look red or orange, but on Mars, they appear blue. This happens because tiny dust particles in Mars’s atmosphere scatter blue light more than other colors. On Earth, the atmosphere allows red light to pass through more easily, making sunsets red. But on Mars, the effect is reversed. If you stood on Mars and watched the sunset, you would see a strange sight—an orange-red sky during the day turning blue in the evening.
A Day on Mars is Longer Than on Earth
A day on Mars is a little longer than a day on Earth. It is about 24 hours and 39 minutes. Because of this, NASA scientists working on Mars missions sometimes follow "Mars time." But since a day on Mars is longer, their schedule shifts about 40 minutes every day. After a few weeks, day and night can be reversed! This makes it very difficult to adjust.
Napoleon and the Battle of the Rabbits
The French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was once attacked by a huge group of rabbits. One day, he wanted to enjoy hunting and told his men to gather rabbits. However, they brought tame rabbits instead of wild ones. When the hunt started, the rabbits did not run away. Instead, they thought they would get food and rushed toward Napoleon. Surrounded by thousands of rabbits, he was so surprised that he had to escape in his carriage.
Zealandia: The Lost Seventh Continent
We usually learn that there are six continents in the world: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, and Europe. However, there is actually a seventh continent called "Zealandia." Zealandia includes a vast area that encompasses New Zealand and New Caledonia, with about 93% of it submerged beneath the ocean. Due to its geological characteristics, it is recognized as a continent, but since most of it is underwater, we cannot see it.
No Time Zones in Antarctica?
The world has many time zones, but Antarctica has no official time zone. This is because all longitudes meet there. So, different countries and research stations use different times. For example, American stations use U.S. time, while New Zealand stations follow New Zealand time. This can be a little confusing for travelers and researchers!
