Archive for June, 2008
What is the largest animal in the world?
Sunday, June 29th, 2008The largest animal in the world is the Blue Whale. These mammals measure in at around 110 feet in length and estimates of weight have been made at around a staggering 200 tons. Compare this to the largest dinosaur which is estimated to have weighed about 100 tons and we have the distinct pleasure of […]
What does SCUBA stand for?
Saturday, June 28th, 2008SCUBA was originally an acronym for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. The term was coined in World War II to refer to the rebreathers used by US frogmen of the time. The subsequent development of the closed-circuit regulators in use by recreational divers today led to the adoption of the word by mainstream users.
While originally […]
What is the largest hummingbird in the world?
Friday, June 27th, 2008 The largest hummingbird in the world is the South American Giant Hummingbird (Patagona gigas). As mentioned in What is the smallest bird in the world, the Bee Hummingbird, at .06 ounces, is dwarfed by the Giant Hummingbird which weighs in at an astounding 20 ounces.
Giant Hummingbirds have relatively dull plumage compared to many other varieties […]
What do hummingbirds eat?
Monday, June 23rd, 2008Our previous post - What is the smallest bird in the world - prompted this question. Most people think that hummingbirds eat nectar from sweet flowers. They’re right. But they do not gain nutrition from the nectar. If all a humming bird ate was nectar, it would starve and die!
Nectar - or the sugary water […]
Does Cold Water Boil Faster?
Sunday, June 15th, 2008I’ve always been a bit of a science nerd so when, many years ago, a girlfriend insisted that cold water would boil faster than hot water, I refused to simply take her at her word. First I applied some critical thinking - a step I highly recommend whenever somebody tells you something that sounds a […]
What is the smallest bird in the world?
Sunday, June 15th, 2008 The smallest bird in the world is a hummingbird. In particular, the Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae), which weighs in at about .06 ounces (1.8 grams). That’s less than a US penny! The Bee Hummingbird is only found in Cuba and the Isle of Pines off New Caledonia in the Coral Sea.
The Bee Hummingbird consumes nectar […]
How do I know if my dog or cat is sick?
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008I spent a couple years employed as a Veterinary technician and the most common lament I recall from the doctors when examining a pet was, “I wish he could tell me what was wrong.” Give your vet a hug the next time you bring Fluffy in for a checkup because the poor Doc faces the […]