Tag Archives: Facts

Brussels Sprouts

By | |
Leave a comment
Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts sprout on stalks that sprout from soil.

  • Brussels sprouts, also known as ‘brussel sprouts’, are a vegetable eaten primarily for its leaves and they grow as buds along the stalk of a plant.
  • The scientific name of the Brussels sprout plant is Brassica oleracea variety gemmifera, from the Brassica genus, which include species of cabbages and cruciferous vegetables, and it is from the Brassicaceae family, the family of mustards.
  • Generally Brussels sprouts are a rough oval shape, with an appearance of a tiny cabbage, and they grow to sizes of 2.5 to 5 centimetres (1 to 2 inches) in length.
  • The exact origin of Brussels sprouts is unknown, although it is thought Europe’s Belgium first cultivated the vegetable, possibly in the capital Brussels sometime around the 1200s, hence the vegetable’s name, although concrete evidence only exists from the late 1500s.
  • The United States of America saw the introduction of Brussels sprouts in the 1700s by some immigrants from France.
Brussels Sprouts, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Green, Food, Vegetable, Soaking, Bowl, Multiple
Brussels Sprouts
Image courtesy of Jacqueline/Flickr
  • The typical lush green colour of Brussels sprouts can vary in shade, and they can become a yellow or other discoloured colour when of poor quality, however purple coloured varieties are available.
  • Brussels sprouts are popularly cooked through boiling, stir-frying, grilling or roasting techniques, and are commonly flavoured with spices or sauces, and they are also able to be eaten raw and are sometimes used in salads.
  • Brussels sprouts contain a sulphur compound, glucosinolate sinigrin, that can produce a displeasing smell and a bitter taste when overcooked.
  • The Netherlands in Europe is one of the largest producer of Brussels sprouts in the world with 82,000 tonnes (90,390 tons), while the United Kingdom has a fairly high consumption rate of the vegetable.
  • Brussels sprouts are very high in vitamin C and vitamin K, and are a good source of folate, and they also contain other vitamins and minerals.
Bibliography:
Brussels Sprouts, 2011, Fresh For Kids, http://www.freshforkids.com.au/veg_pages/brussels_sprout/brussels_sprout.html
Brussels Sprouts, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels_sprout
Brussels Sprouts, 2015, The World’s Healthiest Foods, http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=10

Amazon:        

Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

By | |
Leave a comment
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was once a monument of beauty, but is now the building blocks of construction.

  • The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was a tomb located in modern day Bodrum in south-west Turkey, in western Asia, which was built on a hill overlooking Halicarnassus, and made of marble and other stone.
  • The ‘Mausoleum at Halicarnassus’ is also known as the ‘Tomb of Mausolus’, and the term ‘mausoleum’ that is used today in reference to grand burial sites was derived from the Greek word ‘Mausoleion’, the name that was applied to this particular site.
  • The Persian ruler Artemisia II of Caria is believed to have had the Mausoleum built at Halicarnassus for the remains of her husband and brother, Mausolus, and her own remains were also entombed there.
  • The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was built around 353 BC, the year Mausolus died, by the Greek architects Satyros and Pytheos, and sculptors Timotheus, Bryaxis, Leochares and Scopas, all contributed to the design.
  • The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was famous for its aspiring beauty of architecture, decorative aspects and sculptures, including life-size (or larger) statues of lions, chariots, horses and human figures.

Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Seven Wonder of Ancient World, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Structure

Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
Image courtesy of Carole Radato/Flickr
  • The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus has been listed under the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and it was the second longest surviving construction on the list, after the Pyramid of Giza.
  • The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus reached a height of around 45 metres (148 feet) and the rectangular shaped building had dimensions of roughly 30 by 40 metres (98 by 131 feet), and included 36 pillars, while the structure was topped with a pyramid-like roof.
  • Between the mid 1100s and the late 1400s it is thought that the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was devastated by a number of earthquakes.
  • Crusaders destroyed much of the visible remains of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus in the late 1400s and early 1500s, using much of the stone and debris to extend or fortify the Bodrum castle, some of which can be seen today in the structure.
  • The ruins of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus were discovered by Charles Thomas Newton, a British archaeologist, in the mid 1800s, under the direction of the British Museum, after he successfully used deduction and logic to correctly choose and determine the site location; while art pieces buried by the earthquakes are now displayed in the British Museum.
Bibliography:
The Mausoleum at Haliciarnassus, 2000, Bodrum Pages, http://www.bodrumpages.com/English/mausoleum.html
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, 2011, The Museum of UnNatural History, http://www.unmuseum.org/maus.htm
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mausoleum_at_Halicarnassus
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, n.d, Social Studies for Kids, http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/worldhistory/mausoleum.htm

Amazon:       

Suitcase

By | |
Leave a comment
Suitcase

Do suitcases suit your travelling well?

  • Suitcases are a specific type of luggage that is, like all luggage, used to transport possessions and other items while travelling.
  • ‘Suitcases’ may also be referred to as ‘luggage’ or ‘baggage’, and when they were first used on a wide basis in the late 1800s, they were used primarily to carry actual suits.
  • Suitcases come in a variety of sizes, and those that are smaller in size and suitable for airplane cabin compartments are often known as ‘cabin’ or ‘carry-on’ baggage or luggage.
  • Sturdy materials are usually the common substances utilised to make suitcases, that can include plastic, wood, leather, and metal, although fabric may be used.
  • Generally suitcases are a rectangular shape that open in half, or open to reveal a main compartment and a lid, and sometimes they feature extra compartments or pockets.

Suitcase, Invention, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Assortment, Roll, Blue, Red

  • Suitcases ended up replacing trunks, which were quite rigid, heavy and bulky, making them quite difficult to transport; and they began being made from durable cardboard in the early 1900s, and plastic also became a popular material.
  • Suitcases usually feature a handle so that the item can be carried, and they typically have zips or latches to enable closing, though to prevent unwanted opening or tampering, a locking mechanism is often included.
  • Suitcases often have wheels attached at the base for greater ease in transporting, of which variants are sometimes called ‘trolley cases’ or ‘roll alongs’, and they frequently have an extendable handle that allows for easier movement.
  • Despite various ideas for wheeling luggage in the early 1900s, it wasn’t until Bernard Sadow attached four rollers to the base of a suitcase and patented the idea in 1970 as ‘rolling luggage’, that the world embraced the idea of a wheeled version, although initial uptake of the invention was slow.
  • Suitcases are sometimes personalised to highlight the piece among other baggage, particularly when bulk luggage is transported, and an identification tag with the owner’s name and other details is commonly attached to the handle.
Bibliography:
Gross D, The History of the Humble Suitcase, 2014, Smithsonian, http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/history-humble-suitcase-180951376/?no-ist
Suitcase, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suitcase

Amazon:        

Pluto

By | |
Leave a comment
Pluto

Pluto is a real jewel. The planet, that is.

  • Pluto is a small dwarf planet and was formerly known as the ninth planet of the Solar System, and it is located in the Kuiper Belt at a distance from the Sun of 4.4 to 7.3 billion kilometres (2.7 to 4.5 billion miles), depending on its position in orbit.
  • The diameter of Pluto is roughly 2370 kilometres (1473 miles), which is equal to around 0.18 of Earth’s diameter, and it has a volume equal to approximately 0.0064 of Earth and a mass equal to 0.178 of the Earth’s moon.
  • Pluto has five official moons that orbit the planetary body, listed in order from largest to smallest: Charon, Hydra, Nix, Kerberos and Styx.
  • It takes almost 248 years for Pluto to complete a single orbit around the Sun, orbiting at a speed of 4.7 kilometres per second (2.9 miles per second).
  • In the late 1800s there were suggestions of a ninth planetary body due to a strange observation in Neptune’s gravity field, and this led to further investigations that were conducted from 1906 until Pluto’s existence was discovered in early 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh.
Pluto, Flyby, Orange, New, Front, Planet, Far, Dwarf, Minor, Trivia, Ten RandoM Facts, Heart
Pluto
Image courtesy of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Flickr
  • ‘Pluto’ was named after the Roman god of the underworld, suggested by the then 11-year old British girl, Venetia Burney, and the suggested name reached authorities through family and friend contacts.
  • Before its discovery, Pluto was referred to as ‘Planet X’, although this term has been scientifically revoked after a general consensus that they were not the same planet, and that Planet X never existed.
  • Pluto has an orange, black, and white appearance, and the planet is made of ice and rock, reaching temperatures between -240 to -218 degrees Celsius (-400 to -360 degrees Fahrenheit), and its surface is at least 98% nitrogen ice, while other elements include carbon monoxide and methane.
  • The first probe to visit Pluto was NASA’s New Horizons, launched in 19 January, 2006 and reached its nearest point to the planet on 14 July, 2015.
  • In 2006, after significant discoveries from 1992 to 2005, the term ‘planet’ was officially defined, and as result Pluto was demoted from planet to dwarf planet status in the same year, as it did not meet all of the three new conditions that were established for determining planets.
Bibliography:
Choi C, Dwarf Planet Pluto: Facts about the Icy Former Planet, 2014, Space.com, http://www.space.com/43-pluto-the-ninth-planet-that-was-a-dwarf.html
Pluto, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto
What is Pluto?, 2012, NASA, https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-knows/what-is-pluto-k4.html

Amazon:  

Saola

By | |
Leave a comment
Saola

I’m not surprised if you’ve never heard of saolas – they are just a little rare after all.

  • Saolas are an antelope species native to regions of Laos and Vietnam in Southeast Asia.
  • ‘Saolas’ are also known as ‘Vu Quang oxes’, ‘Vu Quang bovids’, ‘Asian unicorns’ and ‘Asian biocorns’.
  • The scientific name of a saola is Pseudoryx nghetinhensis and it is from the family Bovidae, the family of bovids, or ruminant animals with cloven hooves.
  • Typically saolas grow to be 80 to 90 centimetres (31.5 to 35.4) in height excluding the head, and 80 to 100 kilograms (176 to 220 pounds) in weight.
  • The short fur of saolas is generally coloured a combination of brown, red and black shades, and they have horns reaching 35 to 50 centimetres (14 to 20 inches) in length.
Saola, Triva, Random Facts, Animal, Rare, Endangered, Mammal
Saola
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
  • Saolas usually live in damp mountainous areas that contain dense forests and woodlands, near valleys and rivers and other water sources.
  • Saolas, despite often living a solitary life, may group in herds of two to three, with some native observers noticing groups of up to seven.
  • The diet of saolas consists of vegetation including leaves, stems and grasses, and it may also consist of seeds, berries and fruit.
  • Saolas are listed as critically endangered due to hunting and habitat loss, with extant numbers estimated to be 250 or less.
  • Saolas first became known to the modern world in 1992, in the Vu Quang Nature Reserve through a group survey, when the group came across a new horn type on a hunter’s wall; and as a result, many observations were later taken from captive species or native reports.
Bibliography:
Saola, 2015, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/saola/
Saola, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saola

Amazon:       

Honeydew Melon

By | |
Leave a comment
Honeydew Melon

Honeydew melons are sweeter than watermelon and perhaps healthier than honey.

  • Honeydew melons are a melon fruit of roughly spherical shape, and it is said that they originated in Algeria in North Africa, and possibly other surrounding areas including the Middle East and southern Europe.
  • Honeydew melons are a cultivar known as ‘inodorus’ of the muskmelon species that has the scientific name Cucumis melo, and is from the family Cucurbitaceae, the family of cucurbits or some gourds.
  • ‘Honeydew melons’ are also known as ‘honeymelons’ and simply ‘honeydews’, and they can also be referred to as ‘winter melons’ (not to be confused with the gourds of the same name) and ‘White Antibes melons’.
  • The rough size of honeydew melons is 15 to 22 centimetres (6 to 9 inches) in length and 1.8 to 3.6 kilograms (4 to 8 pounds) in weight.
  • The skin of honeydew melons can be green, white or yellow, while the interior flesh is usually a light green colour.
Honeydew Melon, Trivia, Random, Facts, Fruit, Food, Culinary, Cut, Half, Green, Flesh
Honeydew Melon
Image courtesy of Tracy Ducasse; edited/Flickr
  • Honeydew melons are very sweet due to their high content of natural sugars, and the sugar content increases as the fruit ripens.
  • The skin texture of a good quality honeydew melon is generally waxy, and the melon will be weighty, which indicates that it contains significant quantities of juice.
  • Honeydew melons have been favoured by Napoleon, Cleopatra VII and Pope Paul II, and they were originally reserved for the noble or wealthy.
  • Raw is the most common way to eat honeydew melons, although the fruit may be cooked in dishes for a sweet addition or used to flavour beverages.
  • Honeydew melons are very high in vitamin C and are a good source of potassium, and they contain other vitamins and minerals.
Bibliography:
Honeydew, 2011, Fresh for Kids, http://www.freshforkids.com.au/fruit_pages/honeydew/honeydew.html
Honeydew (Melon), 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeydew_(melon)

Amazon:       

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...