Houmuwu Ding

We just learned about the Jade Burial Suits.

Another famous ancient Chinese sculpture is the Houmuwu Ding.

A "ding" is a sculpture that was used to offer up sacrifices to different gods in ancient China.
This ding is the largest piece of ancient bronze artwork that was ever found.

On the ding it says "Queen Mother Wu" so people think this was made for her after she died, by her son Zu Geng of Shang.

It is 52 inches tall, 43 inches wide, 31 inches deep and it weighs over 1,800 pounds!
There are decorations around it of animals, like dragons and tigers attacking humans.


(from: wikipedia - houmuwu ding)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Holy Thorn Reliquary

Greek: His face is rough

We just learned in Greek her hands are soft is Τα χέρια της είναι μαλακά (Ta chéria tis eínai malaká).

To say his face is rough you would say Το πρόσωπό του είναι τραχύ (To prósopó tou eínai trachý).
That really says the face his is rough.

We can break it up into five words:

The - Το (To) - sounds like toh
face - πρόσωπό (prósopó) - sounds like p-DOH-soh-POH
his - του (tou) - sounds like too
is - είναι (eínai) - sounds like EE-nay
rough - τραχύ (trachý) - sounds like t-dah-HEE


So all together Το πρόσωπό του είναι τραχύ (To prósopó tou eínai trachý) sounds like toh p-DOH-soh-POH too EE-nay t-dah-HEE.


(from: wikipedia - center for the greek language)

ASL: His face is rough

Italian: il suo volto è ruvida

German: Sein Gesicht ist rau.

Spanish: Su cara es áspera

French: Son visage est rude

Rocket Engine Nozzle

We just learned about Gas Rocket Propellants.

Another part of rocket science is the Rocket Engine Nozzle.

When the rocket propellant is burning up coming out of the rocket, the nozzle makes it so that it pushes out very fast and very strong, by putting some pressure right at the end of the rocket.

This is kind of like putting your finger over the end of a water hose, to make the water spray farther.

The shape and size of the nozzle is very important.
It has to be just the right size to get the most thrust and use up just the right amount of fuel.



(from: wikipedia - rocket engine nozzle)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Boring

Argonaut Octopus

We just learned about the Bigfin Reef Squid.

Another type of cephalopod is the Argonaut Octopus.

These octopuses are sometimes called a "paper nautilus" because the female argonaut will make a hard shell to lay their eggs in, and they will have part of their body in this shell, curled up and looking like a nautilus.

They lay their eggs in the shell, and then sometimes even after the eggs hatch they keep the shell and live in it.

The male argonaut does not have a shell. Both the males and females have eight arms just like all other octopuses.


(from: wikipedia - argonaut (animal))


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Mimic Poison Frog & Splash-back poison frog

Metatarsal Ligaments

We just learned about the Distal Intertarsal Ligaments.

Another group of connective tissue in the foot is called the Metatarsal ligaments.

The metatarsal bones are the long bones in your foot between your ankle and your toes.
There are five metatarsal bones, one for each toe.

The metatarsals have ligaments connecting them to the ankle bones, to each other, and to the toe bones.


- Tarsometatarsal - Connects the tarsus (ankle) to the metatarsals (foot) on plantar (bottom) and dorsal (top).

- Intermetatarsal - Connects the metatarsal (foot) bones to themselves, on dorsal (top), plantar (bottom) and interosseous (in between) and transverse (across).

- Metatarsophalangeal - Connects the metatarsal (foot) bones to the phalanges (toe) bones, on plantar (bottom) and side (collateral).


(from: wikipedia - tarsometatarsal joints)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Adnexa

Alcázar of Segovia

We just learned about Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany.

Another famous castle is Alcázar of Segovia.

This castle has been built and rebuilt in parts over hundreds of years by different people, from the Romans to the Spaniards.

It's been used as a fortress, a royal palace, a prison and military school.
Now it is a museum for people to come visit and look at.

In 1474, Queen Isabella I was crowned as queen in this castle.

In the room called the Hall of Kings, there are 52 sculptures of the different kings that ruled over the land for hundreds of years.






(from: wikipedia - alcázar of segovia)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Ozarks

Timon

We just learned about Nicanor, one of the Seventy Disciples.

Another of the seventy was Timon.

Just like Nicanor, Prochorus and Stephen, Timon was one of the seven people that the Apostles chose to help watch over the poor people of Jerusalem.


(from: wikipedia - seven deacons)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Psalms

Jade Burial Suits

We just learned about the Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng.

Another ancient Chinese work of art is the Jade Burial Suit.

In ancient times in China, people believed that if you were buried in a suit of Jade after you died, it could help you in the afterlife, and protect you from evil.

Jade is expensive, so only the truly rich people like princes or emperors could afford to be covered in a whole suit of jade.
Usually it was small squares of jade with holes in the edges and string used to tie them all together.
Sometimes there was artwork or carvings in the jade.


(from: wikipedia - jade burial suit)


(from: wikipedia - jade burial suit)


(from: wikipedia - jade burial suit)


(from: wikipedia - jade burial suit)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Casket with Scenes of Romances

Greek - Her hands are soft

We just learned in Greek our table is short is Το τραπέζι μας είναι σύντομο (To trapézi mas eínai sýntomo).

To say her hands are soft you would say Τα χέρια της είναι μαλακά (Ta chéria tis eínai malaká).
We're really saying "The hands hers are soft".

We can break it up into five words:

The - Τα (Ta) - sounds like lay tah
hands - χέρια (chéria) - sounds like CHAY-dee-ah
hers - της (tis) - sounds like tee-ss
are - είναι (eínai) - sounds like EE-nay
soft - μαλακά (malaká) - sounds like mah-lah-KAH


So all together Τα χέρια της είναι μαλακά (Ta chéria tis eínai malaká) sounds like tah CHAY-dee-ah EE-nay mah-lah-KAH.


(from: wikipedia - center for the greek language)

ASL: ASL: Her hands are soft

Italian: Le sue mani sono morbide

German: Ihre Hände sind weich

Spanish: Sus manos estan suaves

French: Ses mains sont douces

Gas Rocket Propellants

We just learned about the Solid and Liquid Rocket Propellants.

Another type of propellant is Gas Rocket Propellant.

This type of propellant is the easiest to control the exact amount of fuel burned and the exact amount of thrust created.
To keep the gas stored safely and under pressure, the fuel tank in the rocket has to be very heavy, so gas is not usually used for the bigger rockets.
Gas has been used the most for little rockets that just change the direction of a rocket to the left or right.
Small rocket thrusters called Vernier Thrusters were on the sides of rockets like the SM-65 Atlas, to help it go in the right direction.


(from: wikipedia - vernier thruster)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Swarf

Bigfin Reef Squid

We just learned about the Flamboyant Cuttlefish.

Another type of cephalopod is the Bigfin Reef Squid.

These squids get their name from the big fin on their mantle that goes all the way around it.
With their shape and the way they swim, sometimes people think they are cuttlefish.

They grow to around 13 inches in just a few months, and they only live for less than a year.

Their body has a lot of different colors, and can be white, yellow, pink, brown or purple.
Sometimes when light is shined on them their body will reflect white, green or red, but they do not glow in the dark like some other cephalopods.

Because these squids grow very fast, there are people out there who try to have squid farms in the ocean, almost like cows, chicken or pigs.



(from: wikipedia - bigfin reef squid)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Golden Poison Frog