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Quoll

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Quoll

Can you spot the cute and spotty quoll?

  • Quolls are six living species of a genus of marsupials, and four are native to Australia, while the remaining two are native to New Guinea, in the Pacific Ocean.
  • Quolls have the scientific name Dasyurus and are from the family Dasyuridae, the family of New Guinean and Australian marsupials.
  • Quolls typically grow to be 25 to 75 centimetres (10 to 29.5 inches) in length and grow to be 0.3 to 7 kilograms (0.7 to 15 pounds) in weight.
  • ‘Quolls’ were named by Australia’s notable European discoverer, Captain James Cook, derived from the native Aboriginal name, but the term only became popular in the 1960s, and were previously known as ‘native cats’ and ‘tiger cats’.
  • The diet of quolls typically consists of birds, insects, reptiles, and small mammals, as well as nuts, fruit and other vegetation, and the larger species also eat larger mammals including echidnas and possums.
Quoll, Tiger, Ten Random Facts, Animal, Mammal, Marsupial, Australia, Habitat, Ten Random Facts, Flickr
Quoll
Image courtesy of Joshua Cunningham/Flickr
  • Up to thirty quolls can be born to a single mother at one time, although the very young ‘pups’ will die until only six remain, due to the number of teats available.
  • Five species of quoll are near threatened, while the sixth is endangered, and numbers are diminishing due to habitat loss; consumption of poisonous bait for pests; and the existence of introduced species of animals in there native habitat, including poisonous cane toads that are eaten, and foxes and feral cats that either hunt or compete against the marsupial.
  • Quolls are most active at night time; typically have a life span ranging three to six years; and are preyed on by crocodiles and snakes.
  • Quolls have a fur coat coloured black, brown, grey or tan, which is patterned with lightly coloured spots, and they have a long tail and a pointy snout.
  • Although they typically live on their own, quolls in a single area usually toilet in the same spot as their fellow species.
Bibliography:
Quoll, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/quoll/
Quoll, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quoll
Department of the Environment and Heritage, Quolls of Australia, n.d, Australian Government, http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/8ad3915e-57ee-4eb8-afd0-4f6bed036896/files/quolls.pdf

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Cream of Tartar

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Cream of Tartar

Do not take an overdose of potassium with richly filled cream of tartar.

  • Cream of tartar is a white compound of powdered potassium acid salt that is derived from tartaric acid.
  • Crystallised cream of tartar forms inside barrels of fermenting grape juice and sometimes in bottles of wine, that have been cooled at 10°C (50°F) or lower.
  • Cream of tartar is often used for culinary purposes as a stabiliser, to boost the volume of egg whites and their resilience to heat; to keep the fluffiness of whipped cream; to stop crystallisation of sugar based liquids; and to stabilise colour enzymes of vegetables so that they keep their colour.
  • Cream of tartar is often used to make baking powder as well as in salt replacements that require limited or no sodium.
  • Cream of tartar is a combination of potassium, carbon, oxygen and hydrogen in the chemical makeup of KC4H5O6.

Cream of Tartar, Powder, White, Acid, Potassium, Ten Random Facts, Culinary, Australia

  • ‘Cream of tartar’ is officially known as ‘potassium bitartrate’, and is also called  ‘potassium hydrogen tartrate’, ‘potassium acid tartrate’ and ‘monopotassium tartrate’.
  • A mixture of dissolved cream of tartar in either an acid solution or water can be used for cleaning; the former for metals including aluminium, brass and copper and the latter for most other objects.
  • Cream of tartar was originally made in wine barrels, until a modern method was produced by CW Scheele, a chemist from Sweden in 1769, and characteristics of the substance were documented in 1832 by Jean-Baptiste Biot, a French physicist.
  • Cream of tartar is very high in potassium, so consuming large quantities of the powder can lead to potassium-related illnesses such as hyperkalemia, and women that are pregnant and elderly people should be careful about ingesting it.
  • ‘Tartar’ of ‘cream of tartar’ has been used since the 1300s, and is originally from the Greek word ‘tartaron’, and later the Medieval Latin word ‘tartarum’.
Bibliography:
Cream of Tartar: What is it anyway?, 2012, Huffpost Taste, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/19/cream-of-tar-tar_n_2322569.html
Potassium Bitartrate, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_bitartrate
What is the History of Cream of Tartar?, 2013, Innovate Us, http://www.innovateus.net/food/what-history-cream-tartar

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Shaving Cream

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Shaving Cream

Have you ever thought about the invention of shaving cream?

  • Shaving cream is a foamy mixture placed on the body, typically the face, during the process of removing, or shaving, hairs.
  • ‘Shaving cream’ is also known as ‘shaving foam’.
  • Shaving cream is typically used with a razor to create an easier and smoother cutting process and to help protect the skin from the razor blade.
  • Before shaving cream, a type of soap made from animal fat and wood ash was used in a similar way, and was invented thousands of years ago in Mesopotamia, now modern day Middle East, by Sumerians.
  • Shaving cream was originally manufactured as a solid prism, like soap blocks, and an early foaming soap for shaving purposes was produced in 1840, while in the 1900s the products became more foamy and were generally applied by brush.

Shaving Cream, Bottle, Purple, Green, Cillette, Rapid Shave, Foam, White, Cans, Pressure, Ten Random Facts, Men, Hygiene

  • Modern day shaving cream is most often bought in cylindrical cans, that are pressurised, and have a spray function and nozzle.
  • Shaving cream that expands against a change of pressure was invented in 1949 by the American healthcare company Carter-Wallace, and quickly became very popular, although gases emitted from the pressurised cans were later considered environmentally unfriendly, so the propellants were eventually changed.
  • Shaving cream is generally made of water, oils, soap and other agents used primarily for hygiene.
  • Shaving cream is usually white in colour and has a texture of cream or foam, and it can also be a gel-like substance.
  • Shaving cream products need to be tested before being being released to customers, for the size of the foam once emitted, rate of absorption, water purity, and pH levels, and the standards are set by agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Bibliography:
Shaving Cream, 2014, How Products are Made, http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Shaving-Cream.html
Shaving Cream, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaving_cream
History of Shaving Cream, Part 1 (of 1), 2012, Perfect Shave, http://perfectshave.com/history-of-shaving-cream-part-1-of-1/

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Shifen Waterfall

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Shifen Waterfall

Shifen Waterfall is the Asian version of Niagara Falls.

  • Shifen Waterfall is a waterfall located in Taiwan’s New Taipei City, in Asia, in the Pingxi district, and is part of the Keelung River.
  • ‘Shifen Waterfall’ is also known as ‘Taiwan’s Niagara Falls’, ‘Little Niagara’ and ‘Rainbow Pond’, while ‘Shífēn’ means ‘very’ or ‘fully’.
  • Shifen Waterfall is the widest waterfall found in Taiwan, and it spans a distance of approximately 40 metres (131 feet).
  • The water of Shifen Waterfall runs down rocks that are spread in a horseshoe shape, that are found in a picturesque setting.
  • Shifen Waterfall reaches heights of 15 to 20 metres (49 to 66 feet).

Shifen Waterfall, Taipei, Taiwan, Park, Water, Rock, Ten Random Facts, Flickr

Shifen Waterfall
Image courtesy of Jeniffer/Flickr
  • Shifen Waterfall is said to be a small version of Niagara Falls, and it has a cascade water flow, where the rocks slope back away from the direction of the water flow.
  • Mist gathers at the base of Shifen Waterfall and when light refracts through the water droplets, rainbows form.
  • Shifen Waterfall can be reached from a 15 to 20 minute trail, although a much longer track is available, and it can take as long as three or four hours to complete.
  • Shifen Waterfall is located in a privately owned area and is surrounded by lush nature, as well as bridges, camping spots and rest areas.
  • To see Shifen Waterfall an entrance fee is payable and the price varies, depending on the person’s age and other factors.
Bibliography:
Shifen Waterfall, 2014, Travel King, http://travel.network.com.tw/tourguide/point/showpage/940.html
Shifen Waterfall, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shifen_waterfall
Shifen Waterfall, n.d, Taiwan’s Waterfalls, http://taiwanswaterfalls.com/waterfall-guide/new-taipei-waterfalls/shifen-waterfall/
Welcome to the Home of Water – Shifen, 2012, Riding Taiwan’s Scenic Railways, http://www.taiwan.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=70954&CtNode=3037&mp=10003

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Indri

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Indri

An indri is an exotic lemur of Madagascar.

  • Indris are primates, as well as the biggest extant lemur, and are native to Africa’s largest island, Madagascar.
  • Indris have the scientific name Indri indri, and are from the family Indriidae, the family of strepsirrhine primates of large and medium lemurs.
  • ‘Indris’ are also known as ‘babakotos’, meaning ‘father’ in the Malagasy language, and they are preyed on by snakes, birds of prey and fossas.
  • Indris can make sounds that are song-like, that have been compared to those of whales and can be projected for over three minutes, while roars, hums, wheezes and grunts are also common noises.
  • The diet of an indri mainly consists of recently sprouted leaves, as well as fruit, flowers and seeds and they spend most of their time in trees.
Indri, Lemur, Black, White, Primate, Ten Random Facts, Animal, Madagascar, Flickr
Indri
Image courtesy of Frank Vassen/Flickr
  • Although protected in national parks, indris are endangered on a critical level due to habitat loss from logging and agricultural practices, much of which occurs illegally, as well as poaching.
  • Indris are typically considered sacred by native folk to the area, and are often depicted in legends associated with humans.
  • Indris can grow to be 64 to 72 centimetres (25 to 28 inches) in height and generally weigh 6 to 9.5 kilograms (13 to 21 pounds).
  • Indris have fur typically coloured in a combination of white, grey and black or brown, and usually have distinct areas of colour.
  • Indris typically live to be 15 to 22 years in the wild, while barely surviving in captivity, and they reproduce one baby at a time.
Bibliography:
Indri, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/indri/
Indri, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indri

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Curry Powder

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Curry Powder

Do not let the curry powder burn your mouth… or these facts burn your brain.

  • Curry powder is a preparation of spices used primarily in dishes to add flavour and a pleasant smell.
  • Curry powder is made primarily of spices, most often turmeric, cumin and coriander, but the mixture also often contains chilli and fenugreek, and sometimes garlic and ginger.
  • Curry powder typically produces both a flavour and a curry similar to foods from Asia’s south and it is often spicy.
  • Curry powder is often used in curry sauces, but also dishes that require a distinct flavour, and the mixture can be homemade or commonly available in supermarkets or Asian grocery stores.
  • Curry powder most likely arrived in European society in 1771, and an advertisement for the product appeared in a British newspaper, dated 1784.

Curry Powder, Orange, Brown, Spicy, Ten Random Facts, Flavour, Australia, Food, Asian Culinary

  • Curry powder became common in the 1800s and 1900s after the introduction of machines that can mass produce, as well as becoming a widespread and popular export.
  • Curry powder became increasingly popular in 1960s to 1970s with the demand and supply of Indian cuisine.
  • Curry powder is typically coloured yellow, orange, red, grey or brown, depending on the spice mix, and the powder particles are often very fine, but vary in size.
  • Commercially bought curry powder often loses its prominent taste and strength after lengthy storage times, and usually starts deteriorating from six months.
  • Curry powder is high in fibre, vitamin E, vitamin K, iron and manganese, and is said to help protect against inflammation and cancer.

 

Bibliography:
Breslin F, Currying Flavor, 2012, Cook for Your Life, http://www.cookforyourlife.org/ingredients/90-curry-powder
Curry Powder, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curry_powder
History of Spice and Curry Powder, n.d, Vijay, http://www.vijaymasala.com/?page_id=364
Kelley L, The Origins of Curry Powder, 2013, Silk Road Gourmet, http://www.silkroadgourmet.com/curry-powder/

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