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Artificial Satellite

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Artificial Satellite

Artificial satellites zipping through space.

  • Satellites are objects that orbit another larger object in space, launched by humankind and there are hundreds, if not thousands of satellites currently orbiting earth.
  • Sputnik 1 was the first artificial satellite to be successfully launched into space, by the USSR (Soviet Union) on 4 October 1957.
  • Satellites are launched into space by rockets, and orbit up to and beyond 35,786 kilometres (22,236 miles) in altitude.
  • Satellites can be very small, 10 cm (4 inch) cubes, or very large space stations, the largest being the International Space Station.
  • Satellites can be in networks of multiple objects, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) network or a digital or media systems.
Satellite, Out of Space, sideways, Earth, Boeing to build 4 satellites for Asia Broadcast Satellite/Satmex team, Ten Random Facts, Flickr
Satellite
Image courtesy of The Boeing Company/Flickr
  • The earth is not the only body that has orbiting satellites, as the sun, the moon and other neighbouring planets have orbiting artificial objects.
  • Satellites can be destroyed by missile shootings, as Russia, the United States and China have all proven.
  • Satellites have many capabilities and purposes, from navigation, monitoring and observation purposes including the weather, communication facilities, photography uses and space station homes.
  • Satellites rarely collide in space, as they are launched into a satellite-avoiding orbit, and the first accidental collision was in 2009.
  • Satellites are usually fitted with technology like computers that make use of radio signals to send or transmit data to earth.
Bibliography:
Satellite, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite>
What is a Satellite?, 2010, NASA, <http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/what-is-a-satellite-58.html>

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Facial Tissue

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Facial Tissue

Achoo! At least I have a facial tissue.

  • ‘Facial tissues’ are also known as ‘paper handkerchiefs’, ‘tissues’, ‘paper tissues’ and ‘Kleenex’, after a popular brand name.
  • Facial tissues are soft, lightweight disposable paper used for the face, typically to blow one’s nose.
  • Facial tissues act as a replacement of a handkerchief and have the advantage of being disposable, rather than needing washing, and are said to be more hygienic as the used cloths are not left in pockets.
  • Facial tissues are usually made totally of pulp from wood chips and chemicals that break the chips down.
  • People of Japan have used facial tissues for centuries, although Europeans first discovered the practice on a 17th century voyage.

Facial Tissues, Small, Box, Closed, Soft, Panda, Blue, orange, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • Kimberly-Clark Corporation invented modern facial tissues in 1924, calling them ‘Kleenex’, made for the purpose of removing makeup or cold cream.
  • Facial tissues can be printed, scented, covered with special lotions, and can be single, double or triple ply.
  • In 1926, a survey was conducted on the use of Kleenex facial tissue, and it was discovered that 60% of people were using the tissue to blow their nose, so Kimberly-Clark changed the way they marketed the product.
  • Facial tissues can be a flushable substitute of toilet paper or as a disposable substitute of a wiping cloth and can have various other uses around the home.
  • Facial tissues vary in size, from small to large, generally depending on the box the tissues are stored in, although a single tissue is generally palm or pocket sized.

 

Bibliography: Elizabeth J, Facial Tissue Facts, 2013, EHow, <http://www.ehow.com/about_5194620_facial-tissue.html>
Facial Tissue, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facial_tissue>

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Peanut Butter

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Peanut Butter

Peanuts are spreadable! Try peanut butter.

  • Peanut butter is an edible spread, usually used on bread or toast, made from ground roasted peanuts, generally with the addition of sugar, salt and oil or fat.
  • United States and China are the major exporters of peanut butter, and it is eaten in many countries around the world, being popular in North America, Australia, Netherlands, the United Kingdom and others.
  • The Native American Aztecs and Incas mashed peanuts in to a compound that could be described as the first peanut butter.
  • In 1884, Marcellus Edson, from Canada, patented peanut butter that was made by heating up roasted peanuts, and in the early 1890s, the substance was given to patients who had difficulty chewing food.
  • In the United States, over 340 million kilograms (750 million pounds) of peanut butter is eaten annually, and national Peanut Butter Day is held on 24th of January.

Crunchy Peanut Butter, Homebrand, Scoop, Jar, Bottle, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • A type of oil, typically vegetable oil, is added to peanut butter to make the product easier to spread.
  • Peanut butter is full of nutrients and is high in protein, vitamin B6, vitamin E, niacin, manganese, magnesium, folate, copper, zinc, phosphorous, and potassium, but it is very high in fats.
  • Peanut butter sandwiches have been banned in many schools due to severe peanut allergies.
  • Peanut butter generally comes in two types, smooth or crunchy, and the crunchy version contains small chunks of peanut in the spread, and can be made into cookies and candy, and eaten with chocolate, cheese or jam.
  • Peanut butter is sometimes known as ‘peanut paste’ and in World War II, it was dubbed ‘monkey butter’.

 

Bibliography:
Brooks S, The Truth about Peanut Butter, 2013, She Knows’ Foods & Recipes, <http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/981321/the-truth-about-peanut-butter>
Peanut Butter, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peanut_butter>

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Christ the Redeemer Statue

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Christ the Redeemer Statue

The statue of the amazing Christ the Redeemer.

  • Christ the Redeemer is a statue of Jesus Christ, in the art deco style, with his arms open symbolising peace, and is located on Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the statue’s Portuguese name is ‘Cristo Redentor’.
  • Christ the Redeemer is believed to be the largest art deco statue and is the fifth largest Jesus statue on earth, seeing approximately 1 million visitors every year, and was deemed one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.
  • Christ the Redeemer statue is 30 metres (98 feet) in height, standing on an 8 metre (26 feet) high podium, with arms spread 28 metres (92 feet) wide.
  • The material used to make Christ the Redeemer statue was 635 tonnes (700 tons) of concrete, reinforcements, and small 3 cm triangular soapstone tiles from Sweden and was in made in separate pieces and put together on site.
  • In the mid 1850s, it was proposed that a religious statue be built on Corcovado Mountain, but the idea was dismissed, and it wasn’t until the 1920s that a proposal was put forward by the Catholic Circle of Rio de Janeiro to build a religious statue, and accepted, and the design that was settled upon was Christ the Redeemer.
Christ the redeemer statue, Looking up, Arms Out, Jesus Christ, Brazil, Rio de Janerio, Free Digital Photos, Ten Random Facts
The Redeemer
Image courtesy of Zole4/ Free Digital Photos
  • Christ the Redeemer statue took 9 years to build, from 1922 to 1931, and was designed and engineered by Brazilian Heitor da Silva Costa and sculpted by Paul Landowski, a Polish-Frenchman.
  • At the time of construction, Christ the Redeemer would have cost approximately $250,000 USD to build, which would equate to about $3.2 million USD in 2013.
  • In 2008, Christ the Redeemer was struck by lightning in an intense lightning storm, leading to a large, four month restoration project  in 2010, costing $4 million USD.
  • In celebration of Christ the Redeemer’s 75th anniversary in 2006, a chapel was built at the base of the statue.
  • In 2010, during the restoration process, the head and an arm of Christ the Redeemer was the subject of graffiti, which was said to be done by a house painter, and the act was declared ‘a crime against the nation’.
Bibliography:
Christ the Redeemer (Statue), 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_the_Redeemer_(statue)>
Christ the Redeemer Statue – 1 of 7 New Wonders of the World (45 Inspiring Pics), 2011, Love these Pics, <http://www.lovethesepics.com/2011/04/christ-the-redeemer-statue-1-of-7-new-wonders-of-the-world-45-inspiring-pics/>

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The Walt Disney Company

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The Walt Disney Company

Mickey Mouse, the hero of the Walt Disney Company.

  • The Walt Disney Company is an American mass media company, and has become one of the largest film companies in all of the film industry.
  • The ‘Walt Disney Company’ is also known as ‘Disney’, and has number of divisions or segments within the company itself, which include Disney Media Networks, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, The Walt Disney Studios, Disney Consumer products and Disney Interactive.
  • The Walt Disney Company was founded in 1923 by Walt and Roy Disney, although the company was originally named the ‘Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio’.
  • The first films produced by the Walt Disney Company were a series called the Alice Comedies, which were silent films.
  • The Walt Disney Company owns the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) television network, as well as other cable networks, a number of Disneyland theme parks and resorts, and a fleet of cruise ships.
The Walt Disney Company, Sign, Studio, Califronia, America, Betty White Tour, flickr, Ten Random Facts, Film
Disney
Image courtesy of Loren Javier/Flickr
  • The Disney cartoon character, ‘Mickey Mouse’ (originally ‘Mortimer’), was created in 1928, and is a popular mascot of the Walt Disney Company.
  • The first full-length animation film produced by the Walt Disney Company was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfsreleased in 1937, with production starting in 1934, and was a huge success at the box office.
  • In 2012, the Walt Disney Company had a total revenue of over $42 million USD.
  • The Walt Disney Company studio is located in Burbank California, United States.
  • The first Disneyland, a fun theme park created by the Walt Disney Company, opened in 1955 which eventually became a success for the company, and within a few years it also housed the first monorail system in America.
Bibliography:
Disney History, The Walt Disney Country, n.d, <http://thewaltdisneycompany.com/about-disney/disney-history/1920-01-01–1929-12-31>
The Walt Disney Company, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Walt_Disney_Company>

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Giraffe

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Giraffe

Very, very tall giraffe necks.

  • Giraffes are mammals native to Africa and are the tallest non-extinct, land dwelling animal.
  • Giraffes have large eyes, and almost 360° vision, very long legs and necks with two horn-like bumps on its head, known as ‘ossicones’.
  • The scientific name of giraffes is Giraffa vamelopardalis and they come from the small family, Giraffidae, the family of some long necked mammals.
  • Giraffes grow to five to six metres (16 to 20 feet) in height and weigh 830 to 1600 kilograms (1800 to 3500 pounds), depending on the gender, and can run up to speeds of 56 kilometres/hour (35 miles/hour) .
  • Giraffes have dark patches of colour on their bodies, which can be chestnut, brown, orange or almost black, separated by white or cream, and no two have the same coat pattern.

Giraffe, Yellow, Brown, Adult, Two Babies, Young, Day, Ruma Park, Kenya, Africa, National Geographic Stock, Rothchild's

Rothschild’s Giraffe
Image courtesy of National Geographic
  • The giraffe species contains nine subspecies, recognised by the pattern on their coats, with some endangered, such as the Nubian giraffe that has an estimated population of 250.
  • Giraffes generally do not make noise but if they do, they make snoring, mooing, hissing and moaning type sounds.
  • Giraffes can live up to 25 years of age in the wild, although only one quarter to a half of the young grows to be an adult.
  • Giraffes are common tick hosts, and birds, usually billed ox-peckers, remove the ticks.
  • Giraffes have approximately 53 cm (21 inch) long tongues, are herbivorous and can eat 34 kg (75 lb) of plant material, generally leaves from trees, in one day.
Bibliography:
Giraffe, 2013, National Geographic, <http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/mammals/giraffe/>
Giraffe, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giraffe>

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