Educational Science and Technology Amazing Short Stories

What was the First Type of Shoe?

noreply@blogger.com (Kwentologist) — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 03:00:00 +0000

The first shoes were probably an early prototype for sandals, with soles made of hide, brak wood or wooven grass which were bound to the feet and ankles with strips of hide. The earliest shoe uncovered by archaeologist, a slipper, was found in Oregon, in the north-western United States and is thought to be 10,000 yeas old. In 1991, archaeologist discovered Otzi the Iceman, in the ALps. The remains preserved in the ice are thought to be about 5,000 years old. He was wearing shoes with bearskin soles, deerskin insteps and uppers made of tanned chamois or cowhide and bark. They were stuffed with the grass for warmth.

The ancient Minoans also wore footwear: a fresco at Knossos on Crete (c. 1500 BCE) shows two athletes wearing what look like shoes and shin guards.

Several pairs of sandals with leather or papyrus soles with two leather straps were found in the tomb of the Ancient Egyptian Tutankhamun (d.c. 1323 BCE). It is reasonable to suppose that less prosperous Egyptians also wore sandals for protection.

Animals Have Shoes

An animal's foot has no need for shoes. It has been specially designed with a tough leathery sole to protect it.

Does an Ostrich Really Bury Its Head in the Sand?

noreply@blogger.com (Kwentologist) — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +0000

The ostrich is rather a strange bird, and there are many interesting and peculiar things about it, but it does not hide its head in the sand! What may have given people this idea is that when an ostrich is frightened, it will sometimes drop to the ground, stretch out its neck, and lie still and watch intently. But when the danger comes closer, the ostrich does just what other animald do—it takes off and runs. When the ostrich is exhausted and cannot run any further, or if it must defend its nest, it kicks with its powerful legs.

Flightless Bird

Although the ostrich cannot fly, it makes up for this by its ability to run at high speed. It runs faster than any other bird in the world, and can travel as fast as 50 miles an hour, maintaining this speed for at least half a mile.

Where was the Great City of the Ancient World?

noreply@blogger.com (Kwentologist) — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 15:02:00 +0000

Babylon was the great city of the ancient world. It was the capital kingdom of Babylonian and of Babylonian empires. Babylon stood on the banks of Euphrates River near the modern city of Al Hillah in Iraq. This location helped Babylon become important trading post. The city also served as the religious centre of Babylonia; the word 'Babylon', means gate if the god.

Records first mention Babylon about 2200 BCE. King Sumuabum, the first important Babylonian ruler, founded a dynasty in 1894 BCE. The best-known king od that dynasty was Hammurabi, who ruled from 1792 to 1750 BCE and won fame for developing a wise and fair code of law.

New Technology Has Been Found

The period from 5000 to 500 BCE was an age of crucial new technologies—the wheel, metal tools and weapons were developed at this time. Coins were first used, and writing and mathematics developed. Babylonians also began to study the stars.

How Long is a Martian Day?

noreply@blogger.com (Kwentologist) — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 14:43:00 +0000

The Martian day, or the time it takes Mars to rotate once on it's axis, is about a half an hour longer than an Earth day. Its year, or the time it takes to revolve once around the Sun, is about two Earth year long.

Mars is a relatively small planet, about half the diameter of the Earth and about one-tenth of the Earth's mass. Because of the relative movements of the Earth and Mars around the Sun, Mars appears to move backwards in the sky for a short time when the two planets are closest.

The Red Planet

Mars is named after the Roman god of war because it appears fiery red in the Earth's night sky. The surface of Mars is covered by a stony desert that contains lots of iron oxide, giving it its rusty-red appearance.

What is a Geostationary Satellite?

noreply@blogger.com (Kwentologist) — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 12:24:00 +0000

There are two types of weather satellites for long and short-term observations, which together give a complete picture of Earth's weather system. GOES or geostationary operational, environmental satellites remain in 36,000 km over the equator, giving detailed, constant and accurate information about the movement of storms, hurricanes, thunderstorms, and other severe weather patterns as quickly as possible, with the help of radar and other ground systems. POES, or polar, orbiting environmental satellites orbit much closer too the Earth's surface and offer visible infrared photos that measure moisture and temperature, tracking weather patterns and climate.
When the information from GOES and POES is combined it takes only six hours to provide a complete picture of weather conditions across the entire surface of the Earth.

Satellites for Navigation

Both sets of satellites also carry search and rescue transmission instruments so that pilots and mariners in distress can relay messages through them for help.

What's Inside a Tooth?

noreply@blogger.com (Kwentologist) — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 07:25:00 +0000

A tooth consists of four kinds of tissues. They are (1) pulp (2) dentine (3) enamel and (4) cementum.

Pulp is the innermost layer of a tooth. It consists of connective tissue, blood vessels and nerves. The blood vessels nourish the tooth. The nerves transmit sensations of pain to the brain.

Dentine is a hard, yellow substance that surrounds the pulp. It makes up most of a tooth. Dentine is harder than bone. It consists mainly of mineral salts and water but also has some living cells.

Enamel overlays the dentine in the crown of the tooth. It forms the outermost covering of the crown. Enamel is the hardest tissue in the body. It enables a tooth to withstand the pressure placed on it during chewing.

Cementum overlays the dentine in the root of the tooth. In most cases, the cementum and enamel meet where the root ends and the crown begins. As the surface of tooth wears away, the tooth grows father out of its socket, exposing the root.

Invisible Teeth Braces

Sometimes teeth grow crookedly or become overcrowded in the month. This can be put right by wearing teeth braces. Braces consist of metal or clear ceramic brackets that are banded on the front surface of each tooth connected by wires.

What is Poison Ivy?

noreply@blogger.com (Kwentologist) — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 07:04:00 +0000

Poison ivy is a kind of harmful vince or shrub belonging to the cashew family. It grows plentifully in parts of the United States and southern Canada. Poison ivy usually grows as a vine, twinning on tree trunks or straggling over the ground. The plant often forms bushes if it has no support to climb on. The tissues of these plants contain poisonous oil somewhat like carbolic acid. This oil is extremely irritating to the skin and it can be brushed onto the clothing or skin of people coming in contact with the plants. The leaves of poison ivy are red in early spring. Later they changed to shiny green, while on autumn they turn red or orange. Each leaf is made up of three leaflets more or less notched at the edges. Later in the season, clusters of poisonous, berry like drupes form. They are whitish, with a waxy look.

Poison Ivy Contagious

Ground ivy is a trailing, fragrant plant that has creeping stems which form thick masses of leaves wherever they get hold. Ground ivy was formerly used in making ale and cough medicine.

What is Caffeine?

noreply@blogger.com (Kwentologist) — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 05:36:00 +0000

Caffeine is found in a variety of plants, including the leaves of the tea bush and the beans of the coffee and cocoa plants. In the small amounts found in tea, coffee, colas, and some medicines such as cold and flu remedies, it speeds up the heart rate and blood circulation and does no harm to most people. However, in larger doses, its stimulant effect can cause nervousness, loss of concentration and insomnia (inability to sleep), which is why people who drink a lots of coffee or tea are advised to cut down. The purified chemical is colourless and odourless, and has a slightly bitter taste. As well as some over-the-counter remedies, it is also used in some treatments for heart and nerve disorders.

Cocao and Choco

Cocoa pods are large and heavy. They grow on the trunk of the cacao tree or on its branches. The beans supply not only chocolate and cacoa, but also cocoa butter, which is used in sweets and medicines.

What is the Skunk's Defense Mechanism?

noreply@blogger.com (Kwentologist) — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 05:07:00 +0000

A skunk is a small furry animal with distinctive black and white markings. It is known for the foul-smelling liquid which it sprays when frightened or in danger. The smell remains for days on whatever has been sprayed.

The sprayed liquid, called 'musk', comes from a pair of glands near the base of the skunk's tail. The animal can spray accurately as far as 4 m (12 feet). Before it sprays, it issues a warning by stamping its front feet and by hissing or growling. The spray is so strong that it has a suffocating effect, which means it makes it hard to breathe when you are near it. And if the spray gets into the eyes, it can cause temporary blindness.

Skunk is Omnivorous

Skunks are omnivorous and eat insects, small vertebrates,eggs, crustaceans, fruits, seeds and some carrion. They search for the ground and rooting around tree stumps.

Who Were the Franks?

noreply@blogger.com (Kwentologist) — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 04:40:00 +0000

When the Roman Empire collapsed, the Franks emerged in 476 AD, as the dominant force in Western Europe. The 'Franks' were made up of a group of tribes, living north and east of the Lower Rhine River in Western Germany. Clovis the First extended his territory by conquest, with the aid of the peasant farmers who owed military service to the noble land owners.
This system of land holding and service may have formed the basis of the European feudalism. By the year 540 AD the Franks ruled most of the old Roman province of Gaul (modern-day France). 'Franks' mean 'free' as the Franks of Gaul were free of taxation.

The ruling family, known as the Merovingian dynasty us named after Clovis's grandfather Merovaeus. Clovis became a Christian and made Paris his capital city. The Holy Roman Emperor, Charlemagne, was king from 768 to 814. After his death the Frankish empire began to break up.

Carolingian Script

The Frankish king Charlemagne introduced this writing called "Carolingian Script", which was easier for people to read and write.