October 28, 2015

Did you know that there is a fish with teeth in its throat? The Atlantic wolfish has 4 to 6 large, conical teeth located on both the upper and lower jaws. Behind those front teeth on the upper jaw are rows of crushing teeth, some of which are molars. Now you might be wondering "why so many teeth?" These guys feed primarily on hard shelled mollusks, crustaceans, and echinoderms. In fact, they help keep crab and urchin populations in check. Oh! Did I mention that they can grow to 5 feet long? Not to worry. They don't attack unless provoked.

October 27, 2015

Did you know that cream is less dense than milk? The fat in cream allows it to float on the surface of unhomogenized milk. That is why skim milk is the most dense. Why did I look this up? Here is a picture of my tea. You can see the water portion and cream portion thanks to the difference in density. (Different substances and different temperatures)

October 22, 2015

Did you know that Pluto is almost the same size of Russia? We all know Pluto is very tiny. But how small is it? Pluto's surface area is about 1.67 x 10^7 square kilometers. That's about 3.3% of the surface area of the Earth, which is about the size of Russia.

October 21, 2015

Did you know there's a spider that lives underwater? The water spider doesn't have gills. Instead it spins a web near the surface of the water and collects air bubbles. It then drags its bubble of air around, using it like an oxygen tank. The spider also mates and lays its eggs in this web.

October 20, 2015

Did you know that cute fuzzy caterpillars can be venomous? The puss caterpillar has spines covering its body and each is connected to a gland that secretes venom. With each molt, it becomes even more hairy. If you decide to pet one of these guys, you might end up with spines embedded into your skin. The venom can cause headaches, nausea, muscle spasms, and even convulsions. As difficult as it is for me to accept, cuddling with these guys can send you to the hospital so resist the urge!

October 19, 2015

Did you know that paper wasps secrete a liquid that makes ants stay away from their nest? Paper wasps build an umbrella-shaped nest that is attached to a surface by a single stalk. In order to protect the eggs and larvae from becoming ant food, workers spread a chemical around the base to ward off the intruders.

October 14, 2015

Did you know children getting the flu vaccine for the first time get 2 doses? The first dose prepares the immune system while the second one provides the immunity. The second dose should be given about 28 days after the first. Luckily for healthy children over the age of two, they can get the nasal spray. Yay no needles!