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Black Widow Spider

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Black Widow Spider

Black widow spiders are fascinating but highly dangerous creatures.

  • Black widow spiders are highly dangerous, poisonous spiders, native to urban and forest North American habitats.
  • Black widow spiders range 1.3 to 3.8 centimetres (0.5 to 1.5 inches) in length, and males are typically a quarter or half the female’s size.
  • Black widow spiders are notable for the red hourglass marking on the brown to black abdomen in females, while males are coloured brown-yellow and often have light coloured stripes.
  • ‘Black widow spiders’ are also known as ‘black widows’, with three species using the same name, and these species have the scientific names Latrodectus variolus, L. mactans, and L. hesperus, and are found in northern, southern, and western North America respectively.
  • Black widow spiders are closely related to the Australian redback spiders, and they are from the family Theridiidae, the family of tangle-web or cobweb spiders.
Black Widow Spider, Female, Wed, Web, Urban, Inside, Epic, Scary, Ten Random Facts, Arachnid, Spider, Flickr
Black Widow Spider
Image courtesy of Steve Jurvetson/Flickr
  • The venom glands of black widow spiders are large, and the venom is said to be more toxic than fifteen doses of rattlesnake venom.
  • While black widow spiders are placed in the list of the ten most dangerous spiders in the world, their bites do not often cause human fatalities, and symptoms include muscle pain, breathing difficulties and nausea.
  • After mating, the female black widow spider may eat the male, hence the spider’s name; and females produce a cocoon like sac of 100 to 400 eggs, four to nine times a year.
  • Black widow spiders have a life span ranging one to three years, and they are preyed on by birds and wasps.
  • Black widow spiders eat insects including flies, beetles, caterpillars, mosquitoes and grasshoppers, that they catch in their random shaped webs, and once their prey is killed, the spiders inject an enzyme that breaks down and liquefies the insects.
Bibliography:
Black Widow Spider, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/black-widow-spider/
Black Widow Spider, 2014, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/bugs/black-widow-spider/
Latrodectus, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latrodectus

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Barrel of Monkeys

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Barrel of Monkeys

It is ‘more fun than a barrel of monkeys’.

  • Barrel of Monkeys is a game or toy that contains plastic linkable monkeys and a container that they are held in.
  • The main object of the Barrel of Monkeys game is to make the longest monkey chain by linking the arms, before dropping any.
  • Barrel of Monkeys was invented in 1965 by Leonard Marks, who came from New York’s Roslyn, in the United States, who is said to have sold the game to Lakeside Toys around that time.
  • Barrel of Monkeys was most likely an improvement on a similar form of entertainment of detachable hooks and links, that was possibly first invented in 1953 by Lawrence Reed from the United States, and was patented in 1955.
  • It is believed that ‘Barrel of Monkeys’ was originally to be named ‘Barrel of Fun’, but due to copyright issues it was named after a well known phrase.

Barrel of Monkeys, chain, coloured, blue, red, green, yellow, assorted, plastic, game, Milton Bradley, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • The monkeys in the Barrel of Monkeys game were originally, until 1968, stored in cardboard cylinders, but this was changed to a plastic barrel.
  • Barrel of Monkeys traditionally contains twelve monkeys, though twenty-four is the barrel’s capacity, and the monkeys are generally coloured similar to the barrel – red, blue, green or yellow.
  • Barrel of Monkeys is manufactured by the Milton Bradley Company, which in 2014 was owned by the game and toy corporation Hasbro.
  • Two Barrel of Monkeys’ monkeys are said to be able to be linked in eighty different ways, using arms, legs, heads and the like, and they can been used in 3D models to create polyhedral chemical structure models of viruses and proteins.
  • In 2011, Barrel of Monkeys was given the 53rd place in the ‘All-TIME 100 Greatest Toys’ list.
Bibliography:
Barrel of Monkeys: One of the All-TIME 100 greatest toys, n.d., Answers, http://invent.answers.com/toys-and-games/barrel-of-monkeys-one-of-the-all-time-100-greatest-toys
Barrel of Monkeys (Game), 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrel_of_Monkeys_(game)
Leonard, M 1968, ‘Interconnectable toy elements having hook members’, Google Patents, no. US3414265, 5 July, accessed 10 September 2014, <http://www.google.com/patents/US3414265>
Reed, L 1955, ‘Detachable link and hook game-piece’, Google Patents, no.US2712444, 5 July, accessed 10 September 2014, <http://www.google.com/patents/US2712444>

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Buckwheat

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Buckwheat

Buckwheat is not wheat but instead a wheat alternative.

  • Buckwheat is a seed grain that is obtained from the plant with the scientific name Fagopyrum esculentum, and is classified as a pseudocereal, as it is not a species of grass.
  • ‘Buckwheat’ is also known as ‘beech wheat’, and this name is a reference to the similar triangular shaped appearance it has to beech nuts that are significantly larger, and its common use as a wheat replacement.
  • Buckwheat is not related to wheat, instead it comes from the family Polygonaceae, the family of knotweed, that rhubarb also belongs to.
  • ‘Buckwheat’ s comes from the word ‘boecweite’ that means ‘beech wheat’ in Middle Dutch, and when the seed is roasted, it is known as ‘kasha’.
  • In 2011, Russia was the leading producer of buckwheat, with 800,380 tonnes (882,000 tons), China with 720,000 tonnes (793,700 tons) and Ukraine boasting 281,600 tonnes (310,400 tons).

Buckwheat, Grain, Seed, Cream, Multi, Ten Random Facts, Australia, Gluten Free

  • The outer buckwheat layer is typically a dark tan when roasted, or light green or brown in colour when raw, while the inner starch is coloured white, and is approximately 3 to 4 millimetres (0.12 to 0.16 inch) in diameter and approximately 5 millimetres tall.
  • Buckwheat can be eaten raw or roasted, and is commonly ground into flour, which in turn is used in pancakes, noodles, bread and porridge; although some people are allergic to it, causing a rash, and anaphylaxis cases have occurred.
  • Buckwheat is a grain that does not contain wheat or gluten, and therefore is a common replacement for those with coeliac disease, or who are intolerant or have an allergy to wheat.
  • A buckwheat seed is called a ‘groat’, and its triangular shape has led to unique equipment to hull the seed.
  • Buckwheat is very high in fibre, niacin, riboflavin, copper, magnesium, phosphorous and manganese.

 

Bibliography:
Buckwheat, 2014, The World’s Healthiest Foods, http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=11
Buckwheat, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckwheat
Murray, J, What is Buckwheat? Buckwheat Defined, 2014, About Food, http://vegetarian.about.com/od/glossary/a/What-Is-Buckwheat.htm

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Metéora

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Metéora

Metéora is a mystical location of amazing architecture.

  • Metéora is a group of six remaining monasteries, of the 24 that were built in the area, located on the outskirts of the Plain of Thessaly, in central Greece.
  • The monasteries in Metéora are built atop sandstone rock cliffs that reach up to 400 metres (1312 feet) in height.
  • The first residents of Metéora were hermit monks, most likely in the 11th century, who sought refuge from Turkish armies in the caves during this period.
  • The Metéora monasteries were mostly constructed during the 1300 and 1400s, as a safe haven for monks and nuns who felt threatened by the political instability that was apparent in the area at the time.
  • Lengthy ladders, and ropes or nets were originally used to access the monasteries at Metéora, and there is now cable car access to some sites, although it wasn’t until the early 1900s that steps carved from rock were added for convenience.
Meteora, Rocks, Pillars, Religion, Monastery, Greek, Ten Random Facts, Flickr, Place,
Part of Metéora
Image courtesy of Antonio Picascia/Flickr
  • Metéora’s rock pillars are believed to have been formed by tectonic movement and erosion by wind and water.
  • ‘Metéora’ means ‘suspended in the air’ or similar, in Greek, and the monasteries and the cliffs they sit upon have been used in. or inspired literature, music and film.
  • Metéora covers an area of 2.72 square kilometres (1.05 square miles) and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.
  • Metéora has a large temperature range that varies from very cold to very hot, and has significant quantities of rain throughout the year.
  • Metéora is a popular tourist destination, visited by thousands annually, and to access the sites, steps or rock climbing are the two main options.
Bibliography:
Meteora, 2014, UNESCO WHC, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/455
Meteora, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meteora
Meteora: The most photogenic spiritual site in Greece, 2014, Visit Greece, http://www.visitgreece.gr/en/destinations/meteora_the_most_photogenic_spiritual_site_in_greece

Western Gorilla

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Western Gorilla

Western gorillas are endangered giants.

  • Western gorillas consist of two primate subspecies and are found in the tropical woodlands of western to central parts of Africa.
  • Western gorillas have the scientific name Gorilla gorilla and are from the family Hominidae, the family of great apes.
  • Western gorillas typically have black or grey coloured hair, and the upper head is generally brown.
  • Western gorillas can grow to be 1.4 to 1.7 metres (4.7 to 5.5 feet) in length and generally weigh between 80 to 200 kilograms (220 to 440 pounds).
  • Western gorillas move at speeds of 40 kilometres per hour (25 miles per hour) and they show capabilities of tool using.
Western Gorilla, Black, Seated, Male, Zoo, Ten Random Facts, Flickr, Primate, Ape, Critically Endangered
Western Gorilla
Image courtesy of LaggedOnUser/Flickr
  • Western gorillas have a slow rate of reproduction, usually only having a single offspring per birth; the mother cares for the young for three to four years; and fatalities are common in the early years.
  • The diet of western gorillas primarily consists of vegetation including leaves, bark, fruit and nuts, as sometimes insects, rodents and lizards are consumed, and they are sometimes preyed on by leopards and crocodiles.
  • Western gorillas usually reside in troops of two to twenty gorillas, and have a lifespan of approximately 35 to 40 years in the wild, and up to 54 years in captivity.
  • Western gorillas are critically endangered due to poaching, habitat removal and viruses, and the population of the western lowland gorilla subspecies is said to be less than 200,000 and the Cross River gorilla subspecies is believed to have 300 or less.
  • Western gorillas use vegetation to make nests on the ground or in trees, that they sleep in, and they usually build a new nest each day.
Bibliography:
Csomos R, Gorilla gorilla, 2008, Animal Diversity Web, http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Gorilla_gorilla/
Western Gorilla, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/western-gorilla/
Western Gorilla, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_gorilla

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Soup Ladle

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Soup Ladle

Soup ladles are a relatively new invention.

  • Soup ladles are spoons used primarily for serving liquid-based foods, such as soup, sauce, stew or beverage.
  • Soup ladles have deeper bowls than spoons, as well as a notably long handle.
  • ‘Soup ladles’ are also known simply as ‘ladles’.
  • Some soup ladles have a pouring lip on the bowl edge, that allows a steadier flow of food from the utensil.
  • Soup ladles are typically made of stainless steel, plastic or wood, but also silver, aluminium, and bamboo are sometimes used.

Ladle, Invention, Soup, Spoon, Culinary, Ten Random Facts, Kitchen, Many, Few, Three, Black, Plastic, Green, Blue

  • Soup ladles come in sizes that range from approximately 12 to 38 centimetres (5 to 15 inches) in length, and the bowl size is usually proportionate to the length of the handle, and they are used for different food items, depending on their size.
  • Soup ladles are not only used to serve liquid foods, but they can be also used during the cooking process, as well as to stir food.
  • Some soup ladle bowls have volume measurement markings to determine the amount of liquid in the bowl.
  • The term ‘ladle’ is derived from the word ‘hladan’, meaning ‘to load’ in Old English.
  • Soup ladles were most likely invented in the 1800s, and an early style utensil with a similar purpose, known as a ‘cup holder’, was patented in 1876, that was invented by Joseph Scherer from Buffalo, New York in the United States, and was a wire frame with a wooden handle that was designed to hold a teacup or similar item for the purpose of scooping soup or other food.
Bibliography:
Ladle (Spoon), 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladle_(spoon)
Scherer, J 1876, ‘Cup-holder’, US178963, 20 June, pp. 1, Patents, Google
What is a Soup Ladle, 2014, WiseGEEK, http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-soup-ladle.htm

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