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Popping Candy

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Popping Candy

‘Pop! Pop! Pop!’ goes the popping candy.

  • Popping candy is a confectionery item that notably reacts by fizzing on contact with moisture.
  • ‘Popping candy’ is also known as ‘Pop Rocks’, ‘Space Dust’, ‘Action Candy’ and ‘Cosmic Candy’, all of which have been names of commercially produced versions of the candy.
  • Corn syrup, sugar and lactose are the primary ingredients of popping candy, along with flavours and colours.
  • Popping candy is typically made by allowing the melted mixture of ingredients to come in contact with carbon dioxide gas that has been pressurised, causing small bubbles of the gas to be caught in the confectionery as it cools.
  • On contact with moisture, popping candy makes sounds of crackling and popping, caused by the release of carbon dioxide as the candy melts, usually on one’s tongue.

Popping Candy, Cola, Bols, Ten Random Facts, Confectionary, Packet, Cubed, Crunch, Pile

  • Popping candy was created in 1956 by William Mitchell, a chemist for the American company General Foods, and it was a failed experiment, as it was originally intended to be a fizzy ‘tablet’ to create an instant carbonated drink, that was not successful.
  • The minuscule bubbles of carbon dioxide in popping candy are able to be seen with the use of a microscope; while the product can be purchased in small sealed packets, and can also be found in chocolate bars and included in other confectionery items.
  • The well known myth that the combination of stomach acid, carbon dioxide and carbonated drinks causes stomach explosions, which surfaced in 1979, was ever only a myth, and was confirmed as such when it was busted by MythBusters in 2003.
  • Popping candy typically looks like small crystals or ‘rocks’, although it can be powdery, and it comes in a wide variety of colours and a number of flavours.
  • Popping candy did not become commercially available until 1975, when General Foods released the product, known as ‘Pop Rocks’, however it was removed from sale in 1983 due to it being a commercial failure, however, the confectionery was later manufactured in the 2000s by various companies, and became a success.
Bibliography:
Hiskey D, Why Pop Rocks Pop, 2011, Today I Found Out, http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2011/01/why-pop-rocks-pop/
Pop Rocks, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_Rocks
Pop Rocks History, n.d, Pop Rocks Candy, http://www.poprockscandy.com/history.html

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Tin Can

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Tin Can

Tin cans are the stars of food packaging.

  • Tin cans are containers most commonly used in commercial production, to package or store items like food or other products.
  • ‘Tin cans’, also known as ‘tins’; ‘steel cans’; ‘cans’; and ‘steel packaging’, are made of a metal material that is easy to cut, such as aluminium or tinplate steel.
  • The shape of a tin can is most commonly cylindrical, although round-edged prisms are also available; and they generally feature a rim on the top, and sometimes bottom edge, as well as a label, that is usually either printed or glued on.
  • Tin can walls often have one or more ridges or indents circling the can, giving a corrugated look, and these are designed to add strength to the can, and they can also sometimes be found on the top and base.
  • Tin cans are measured by a variety of formats, from net weight, volume and size, often varying by country.

Tin Cans, Nesquik, Bundle, Metal, Homebrand, Ten Random Facts, Select, Fruit,, Invention

  • Tin cans are typically made by forming a piece of sheet metal into a cylinder, and the edges if there are any, are welded, soldered, or adhered together, while the lid and top edge is often folded into place by a machine, to seal the can.
  • Around 50 to 75 percent of tin cans are recycled, causing the can to be the most recycled packaging product in the world.
  • After lengthy storage periods, tin cans can corrode and toxins spread into foods, thus causing poisoning, with symptoms like vomiting and dizziness; although corrosion is minimised by the application of a special lacquer coating to the interior of the can.
  • In 1809, Frenchman Nicholas Appert, a chef, developed a method of preserving food in sealed containers, for which he won a prize, and Philippe de Girard, an inventor also from France soon used this idea with tin cans, and after the patent was sold by Englishman Peter Durand to Bryan Donkin and John Hall, the idea was further refined and the two commenced mass production of canned food, in 1813.
  • The opening of tin cans usually requires the use of a cutting tool, such as a can opener, or a lever mechanism such as a pull tab.
Bibliography:
Geoghegon T, The story of how the tin can nearly wasn’t, 2013, BBC News Magazine, http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21689069
History of the Can – Timeline, 2015, Quality by Vision, http://www.qbyv.com/en/canhistory
Tin can, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tin_can

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Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks

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Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks

‘Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument’. What a mouthful.

  • Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks is a site located in the Sandoval County, near the city of Sante-Fe in the United State’s New Mexico.
  • ‘Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks’ is officially known as ‘Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument’, and ‘Kasha-Katuwe’ refers to the cliffs’ white colour, in the native Keresan language.
  • Tall cliffs, made primarily of igneous rock, make up the area of the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, and they are a likely result of a prehistoric volcanic eruption.
  • Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks was declared a national monument in early 2001 by the then US President, Bill Clinton.
  • A variety of rock formations can be found at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, such as tall columns with cone shaped tops, known as ‘hoodoos’ or ‘tent rocks’, caused by rain and wind erosion.
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, Place, National Monument, New Mexico, Central America, White, Triangle, Ten Random Facts, Flickr
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks
Image courtesy of Bureau of Land Management/Flickr
  • The tent rocks at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks range in height from 1 to 27.5 metres (3 to 90 feet) and various wildlife may be seen in the area.
  • A stark white landscape is created with tuff and pumice rock at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, and canyons also exist at the site.
  • Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks features various length walking tracks that range from easy to more difficult, and the site is generally accessible to the public during daylight hours, while a small fee is payable at the entrance.
  • Dogs are forbidden at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, ever since the ban was placed in 2009, and other restrictions are also in place.
  • Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks covers an area of 18.8 square kilometres (7.3 square miles) and is governed by the US Bureau of Land Management.
Bibliography:
Isom S, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument in New Mexico, 2015, About.com, http://gosw.about.com/od/newmexicotravelguide/a/tentrocks.htm
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kasha-Katuwe_Tent_Rocks_National_Monument
Kelley S, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, 2014, New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources, https://geoinfo.nmt.edu/tour/federal/monuments/tentrocks/home.html

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Katy Perry

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Katy Perry

“If you’re presenting yourself with confidence, you can pull off pretty much anything.” – Katy Perry

  • Katy Perry is a famous, internationally successful singer, actress, guitarist and songwriter, with a net worth of more than 40 million USD as of 2014, and has donated financially to causes such as health, welfare and animal cruelty.
  • Katy Perry was born on 25 October, 1984, as Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, in California’s Santa Barbara, in the United States, to Christian parents who were both pastors in a Pentecostal church, and ‘Perry’ was her mother’s maiden name.
  • Rock and popular music are Katy Perry’s main genres, and she has released the top singles ‘Roar’, ‘Dark Horse’, ‘Firework’, ‘E.T.’, ‘Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F)’, ‘Wide Awake’ and others, and by the end of 2014, she had released four albums.
  • Katy Perry was raised with music choices being limited to gospel style, although she discovered her friends’ secular music during her teenage years and is said to have smuggled the albums into her home.
  • The first album released by Katy Perry was named ‘Katy Hudson’, in 2001, and ultimately was a failure; the gospel-themed album selling roughly 200 copies before the record company closed.

Katy Perry, Portrait, Musician, Vocalist, ARIA Awards, Ten Random Facts, Roar, Dark Horse

Katy Perry
Image courtesy of Eva Rinaldi/Flickr
  • Katy Perry became an international sensation in 2008 on release of her controversial and number one song ‘I Kissed a Girl’, followed up by a top three hit, ‘Hot n Cold’.
  • Katy Perry is complimented on her skillful social media use, and in 2014, the number of her Twitter followers reached 50 million, making her the most followed member ever, at the time, and by early 2015, her followers had reached 67 million.
  • Katy Perry was briefly married to Russell Brand from 2010 until he divorced her just over a year later, which is said to have caused temporary suicidal thoughts on Perry’s part.
  • Katy Perry first entered the film industry when she was chosen for the voice of Smurfette from The Smurfs (2011), and she has also featured in a self-titled autobiographical film.
  • Katy Perry’s third album ‘Teenage Dream’ of 2010 produced five top singles, which was unheard of since the legendary Michael Jackson, and Perry has received 5 American Music Awards, 3 Guinness World Records and 14 People’s Choice Awards, among others.
Bibliography:
Katy Perry, 2015, IMDb, http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2953537/bio
Katy Perry, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katy_Perry
Katy Perry Biography, 2015, Bio.com, http://www.biography.com/people/katy-perry-562678

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Ivory Curl

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Ivory Curl

An ivory curl gives an Australian touch to an Aussie garden.

  • Ivory curls are a species of tree, native to Queensland rainforest habitats north of Townsville, in north eastern Australia.
  • An ivory curl tree is one of the two species in its genus, and the scientific name is Buckinghamia celsissima, which is from the family Proteaceae, a family of flowering plants.
  • ‘Ivory curls’ are also known as ‘ivory curl trees’, ‘spotted silky oaks’ and ‘spotted silkies’.
  • Ivory curls can grow up to 10 to 30 metres (33 to 100 feet) in height, although different climates may reduce its growth, causing it to reach shorter heights.
  • The flower spikes of ivory curls form a long, cylindrical shape, and are typically cream to white in colour.

Ivory Curl, Tree, Yellow, Flower, Side, Tall, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • Ivory curls are commonly grown for ornamental purposes, especially as street or garden trees.
  • The leaves of ivory curls are smooth and a lush green on the upper side, while the underneath tends to be a lighter silvery white colour, and they generally grow to be 8 to 16 centimetres (3.1 to 6.3 inches) in length.
  • Ivory curls grow best in low humidity tropical conditions, particularly in full sunlight, although it is a hardy tree, and tends to be drought tolerant, as well as resistant to many diseases and pests.
  • Ivory curl trees can be grown by seeds or cuttings, and the tree can be pruned to keep it small.
  • Ivory curl trees generally bloom profusely during the months of summer and autumn, and the flowers are fragrant, and birds and bees are attracted to them.
Bibliography:
Buckinghamia Celsissima, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckinghamia_celsissima
Buckinghamia Celissima, n.d, Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants, http://keys.trin.org.au/key-server/data/0e0f0504-0103-430d-8004-060d07080d04/media/Html/taxon/Buckinghamia_celsissima.htm
Buckinghamia celsissima ‘Ivory curl flower’, 2011, Society for Growing Australian Plants, http://www.sgapqld.org.au/Jan11%20Buck%20Cel.pdf
Fact Sheet: Buckinghamia celsissima, 2014, Gardening Australia, http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1335127.htm

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Australian Water Dragon

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Australian Water Dragon

Australian water dragons are the dragons of Down Under.

  • Australian water dragons are semi-aquatic lizards native to Australia’s eastern states, and they can be found near various water sources.
  • Two subspecies of Australian water dragons go by the name of ‘eastern water dragon’ and ‘Gippsland water dragon’.
  • The scientific name of the Australian water dragon is Intellagama lesueurii, and it has been previously known as Physignathus lesueurii.
  • Australian water dragons are from the family Agamidae, the family of dragon or iguanian lizards, and they are the solitary member of the Intellagama genus.
  • Australian water dragons are adaptive swimmers and climbers, and they feature a long tail that they use to swim in the water.

Water Dragon, Green, Lizard, Reptile, Ten Random Facts, Animal, Lazy, Ground, Land, Australia, Eastern

  • Australian water dragons grow to lengths of 60 to 100 centimetres (24 to 40 inches) in length and they weigh between 0.5 to 1 kilogram (1.1 to 2.2 pounds).
  • Australian water dragons are typically coloured a combination of black, green-grey, yellow, and brown, and they have obvious spikes at the back of the head, that become smaller and less obvious down the back and the tail.
  • Eggs of Australian water dragons are laid in quantities of six to eighteen, in holes they dig in soil or sand, and temperature determines the gender of the young.
  • The diet of Australian water dragons consists of insects, spiders, worms and occasionally rodents, fruit and vegetation.
  • Australian water dragons can stay under water for 30 to 90 minutes without needing air, and often camouflage themselves among foliage or escape into the water, to hide from predators.
Bibliography:
Australian Water Dragon, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_water_dragon
Eastern Water Dragon, 2010, Australian Reptile Park, http://www.reptilepark.com.au/animalprofile.asp?id=83
Water Dragon, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/water-dragon/

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