Who Discovered Cobalt?

Cobalt has been used for thousands of years to give glass, ceramics and glazes a rich blue color. Cobalt has been found in Egyptian sculptures made around 400 BC. However, people thought it was bismuth (found with cobalt) that gave the blue color. In 1735, a Swedish chemist named Georg Brandt became the first person to successfully isolate cobalt. He determined that it was cobalt that gave the blue color of glass, ceramics and glazes. So, while cobalt has been used for thousands of years, Georg Brandt is credited with the discovery of cobalt as he was the first to successfully isolate the metal.

Interesting Facts About Cobalt

• Cobalt is still used to give deep blue colors to glass, ceramics, paint, ink and varnishes.
• Only one isotope of cobalt (cobalt-59) is stable. The other isotopes are all radioactive.
• Small amounts of cobalt are found in animals, plants, soil and rocks. Mammals (including humans) require a small amount of cobalt.
• Cobalt is a solid at room temperature. It doesn’t melt until it reaches 2723 degrees Fahrenheit (1495 degrees Celsius).

Other Great Discoveries:

Who Discovered Lead

Who Discovered Neptune

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What Do Echidnas Eat?

Echidnas prefer to eat termites and ants. This is why they are called ’spiny anteaters’. However, they will also eat worms, beetles and small invertebrates (insects). Echidnas use their long snouts to find food. They then use their long, sticky tongue to catch their prey.

Interesting Facts About Echidnas

• The echidna is named after a monster in ancient Greek mythology.
• Echidnas are one of only two mammals (the other being platypus’) who lay eggs.
• Adult echidnas weigh anywhere between 2 and 7 kg (4.4 to 15.4 lb)
• Echidnas are excellent swimmers. Their spines are hollow which helps them float on the water. Like people, echidnas like swimming during the summer months to help cool off!
• Echidnas take shelter during rainy and windy weather by burrowing into the soil or sheltering under brushes.
• Echidnas may live as long as 16 years in the wild. However, most echidnas do not live over 10 years.
• Baby echidnas are carried in their mother’s pouches for about three months.

Similar Topics:

What Do Sparrows Eat

What Do Elephants Eat

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Thanks to these 2 sites for some of the information!

Who Invented Netball?

James Naismith, a teacher at the School for Christian Workers (later called the YMCA), invented basketball in 1891 (see our post ‘who invented basketball‘). The female teachers at the school were curious ans began to work out a version for girls to play. The clothes women wore at the time restricted their ability to run and dribble so the rules were changed to accommodate these problems. This was the birth of women’s basketball (that would be renamed netball in later years). In 1895, Clara Baer, a gym teacher from New Orleans, asked Naismith for a copy of the basketball rules. She mistook his markings showing areas where different players should defend for areas where women were allowed to move. This led to the introduction of ‘zoning area’ associated with netball today (for example, the goal attack is not allowed to enter the defensive area). In 1901, these rules (no dribbling and zones) were adopted and women’s basketball (netball) was adopted as an official competitive sport.

Interesting Facts About Netball

• New Zealand called the sport ‘women’s basketball’ until 1970 when it finally adopted the name ‘netball’. It was the last nation to adopt the name ‘netball’ for the sport.
• The first Netball World Championship was held in 1963. It was hosted by England and Australia were the winners.
• Netball became a recognized Olympic sport in 1995. This means it may be included in Olympic Games in the future. Netball has been played at the Commonwealth Games since 1998.
• Only the Goal Shooter and Goal Attack are able to score goals.
• Over 20 million people in 70 different countries play netball.

Other Great Inventions:

Who Invented Cricket

Who Invented the Washing Machine

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Who Discovered Lead?

Unfortunately, no one knows who discovered lead. Lead has been known to many different civilizations throughout history. There is evidence that the first lead smelting (extracting lead from its ore) was done about 9,000 years ago. The oldest artifact that contains lead is dated at 3800 BC. Lead is also mentioned in the second book of the Bible (Exodus 15:10).

How is Lead Used?

• Lead is a major part of the lead-acid battery used in cars.
• Lead is used to color ceramic glazes red and yellow.
• Lead is used in PVC pipes which coat electrical wires.
• Lead is used to project firearms.
• Lead is used to shield people from radiation. They are used in X-ray rooms to shield the operator.
• Many people still use lead in sculptures and statues.
• Lead is often used as an electrode in the process of electrolysis.
• Lead sheets are sometimes used as gutters, gutter joints and cladding in buildings.
• A compound of lead is used as an anti-knock additive in aviation fuel.

Related Topics:

Who Discovered Krypton

Who Discovered Sodium

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George Clooney Movie List

Actor

• Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)- Mr. Fox (voice)
• The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009)- Lyn Cassady
• Up in the Air (2009)- Ryan Bingham
• Burn After Reading (2008)- Harry Pfarrer
• Leatherheads (2008)- Jimmy ‘Dodge’ Connelly
• Michael Clayton (2007)- Michael Clayton
• Ocean’s Thirteen (2007)- Danny Ocean
• The Good German (2006)- Jake Geismer
• Syriana (2005)- Bob Barnes
• Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)- Fred Friendly
• Ocean’s Twelve (2004)- Danny Ocean
• Intolerable Cruelty (2003)- Miles
• Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003)- Devlin
• Solaris (2002)- Chris Kelvin
• Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)- Jim Byrd
• Welcome to Collinwood (2002)- Jerzy
• Ocean’s Eleven (2001)- Danny Ocean
• Spy Kids (2001)- Devlin
• The Perfect Storm (2000)- Captain Billy Tyne
• O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)- Everett
• Three Kings (1999)- Archie Gates
• The Thin Red Line (1998)- Captain Bosche
• Out of Sight (1998)- Jack Foley
• The Peacemaker (1997)- Lt. Col. Thomas Devoe
• Batman & Robin (1997)- Bruce Wayne (Batman)
• One Fine Day (1996)- Jack Taylor
• From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)- Seth Gecko
• The Harvest (1992)- Lip Syncing Transvestite
• Unbecoming Age (1992)- Mac. An alternate title of this film is ‘The Magic Bubble’.
• Red Surf (1990)- Remar
• Return of the Killer Tomatoes (1988)- Matt Stevens
• Return to Horror High (1987)- Oliver
• Predator: The Concert (1987)

Producer

• The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009)
• The Informant! (2009)- executive producer
• Playground (2009)- executive producer
• Tony (2008)- executive producer
• Leatherheads (2008)
• Michael Clayton (2007)- executive producer
• Sand and Sorrow (2007)- executive producer
• Wind Chill (2007)- executive producer
• The Half Life of Timofey Berezin (2006)- executive producer. An alternate title of the film is ‘Pu-239′.
• A Scanner Darkly (2006)- executive producer
• Rumor Has It… (2005)- executive producer
• Syriana (2005)- executive producer
• The Big Empty (2005)- executive producer
• The Jacket (2005)
• Criminal (2004)
• Far From Heaven (2002)- executive producer
• Welcome to Collinwood (2002)- executive producer
• Insomnia (2002)- executive producer
• Rock Star (2001)- executive producer

Director

• Leatherheads (2008)
• Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)

Writer

• Good Night, and Good Luck (2002)

Do you have a favorite film starring George Clooney? Let me know in comments!

Other Movie Lists:

Richard Gere Movie List

Ben Affleck Movie List

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Source: IMDB

Interesting Facts About Armenia

• About 10% of the population live below the international poverty line. This means they earn less that US$1.25 per day.
• Armenia is a ‘landlocked’ country. It is bordered by Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Nakhchivan.
• Wrestling, weightlifting, judo, chess and boxing are the most popular sports in Armenia.
• In Armenia, it is traditional for the groom and his family to pay for the wedding.
• Jazz music is very popular in Armenia.
• Armenians have their own language and alphabet. The alphabet was invented in 405 AD. 96% of the population speak Armenia and about 75% Russian.
• Copper, zinc, gold and lead are mined and produced in Armenia.
• Mount Ararat is the highest mountain in Armenia. According to the Bible, this is where Noah’s Ark came to rest after the flood waters receded.
• Armenians drive on the right hand side of the road.
• The total Armenia population (worldwide) is estimated to be 11 million. However, only 3 million Armenians actually live in Armenia! 8 million live in other countries. Russia, the United States, France, Turkey and Lebanon have the highest populations of Armenians living outside Armenia.

Other Interesting Facts:

Interesting Facts About Angola

Interesting Facts About Canada

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Who Discovered Krypton?

There are trace amounts of krypton gas in the atmosphere. In 1898, Sir William Ramsay (a Scottish chemist) and Morris Travers (an English chemist) managed to evaporate nearly all the components of liquid air. When they analyzed the different components they discovered a completely new element- krypton. They discovered neon using this same process a few weeks later (see our post- who discovered neon).

Interesting Facts About Krypton

• Krypton is combined with neon to make energy saving globes.
• There are 31 different isotopes of krypton, 5 of which are stable (the other 26 are radioactive).
• Krypton is considered an ‘inert’ gas. This means that it is very unreactive.
• Krypton is produced by the radioactive decay of thorium and uranium. The concentration of krypton at the North Pole is 30% higher than the South Pole as most nuclear reactors are located in the Northern Hemisphere.
• William Ramsay was awarded the 1904 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his discovery of several noble gases- including krypton.

Other Great Discoveries:

Who Discovered Lithium

Who Discovered the Greenhouse Effect

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What Do Sparrows Eat?

There are many different species of sparrows that all eat different things. Most species feed on seeds, which can be a problem for farmers trying to plant new crops. These species of sparrows also eat some small insects. The remaining species of sparrows live around cities scavenging for food. Like seagulls and pigeons, they will eat virtually any food left by people around the city! So now you know what different species of sparrows eat!

Interesting Facts About Sparrows

• In a short story ‘The Birds’, written by Daphne du Maurier, sparrows are one of the many small birds that attacked the children in their beds!
• Many species of sparrows nest in or near buildings.
• Early settlers imported certain species of sparrows to Australia, North America and South America.

Related Topics:

What Do Cranes Eat

What Do Coral Trout Eat

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Who Invented the Washing Machine?

To best answer this question, we must look at the history of ‘washing machines’ and how ancient cultures washed their clothes.

History of the Washing Machine

• Ancient cultures washed their clothes by pounding them against rocks and then washing the dirt away in streams or rivers. The ancient Romans actually used fat from animal sacrifices as soap! Other civilizations used perfumes and lye.
• Jacob Christian Schaffer published a design for a washing machine in 1767.
• In 1791, scrub boards were invented. This allowed people to stop pounding their laundry against rocks!
• James King is considered by some to be the official inventor of the washing machine. He invented the drum washing machine in 1851. The drum washing machine he invented is very similar to modern machines. It used a hand powered spinner to agitate the water, removing the dirt from the clothes.
• Hamilton Smith patented the first rotary washing machine in 1858.
• In 1874, William Blackstone came home with a great birthday present for his wife- a washing machine that washed dirt from clothes and then washed it away. This was the first machine designed for convenient use in the home.
• Alva J. Fisher invented the very first electric-powered washing machine. It was patented on August 9, 1910.

Other Great Inventions

Who Invented Fireworks

Who Invented Laptops

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Thanks to this site for some of the info used in this post!

Who Discovered Lithium?

Petalite, a mineral that contains lithium, was first discovered in 1800 by the Brazilian chemist Jose Bonifacio de Andrade e Silva. He discovered the mineral in a mine on the island of Uto, Sweden. It was not until 1817, however, that Johan August Arfwedson detected the presence of a new element when analyzing petalite ore. He named the metal ‘lithos’ from a Greek word meaning ’stone’. It was later changed to ‘lithium’. Arfwedson also found that this element was present in 2 other ores.

Arfwedson, however, was never able to isolate lithium metal from the ore. William Thomas Brande was the first person to isolate lithium in 1821. He isolated it by performing electrolysis on lithium oxide.

Summary: Johan August Arfwedson discovered lithium in 1817. In 1821, William Thomas Brande was the first person who successfully isolate the element.

Other Great Discoveries:

Who Discovered Carbon

Who Discovered Coffee

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