Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Cuttlefish


We just learned about the Chambered Nautilus.

Another type of cephalopod is the Cuttlefish.

Cuttlefish have eight arms like an octopus, but they also have two tentacles that have sharp edges like teeth they use to hook onto their prey, or sting with venom.

They have very different eyes that are in a W shape, that lets them see in front and behind at the same time.
Cuttlefish have green and blue blood instead of red, and they have three hearts!

There is a bone in the middle of the cuttlefish's body called the cuttlebone that is made of aragonite.
This is like a hollow crystaline type of bone that they use to push air or liquid into, so they can float or sink.
Just like some other cephalopods, cuttlefish have ink they can squirt out when they are scared.
This ink was so dark that it was used for painting or in food, and the science name of Cuttle fish is "Sepiida" which is where we get the color name "sepia" from.

Cuttlefish are also sometimes called chameleons of the sea, because they can change their color to look darker, lighter or even change color to disguise themselves.


(from: wikipedia - cuttlefish)



(from: wikipedia - cuttlefish)


(from: wikipedia - cuttlefish)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Edible Frog

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Phalangeal Ligaments


We just learned about the Metacarpal Ligaments that connect your metacarpal bones together in your hand.

The metacarpal bones in the hand connect to the finger bones called phalanges, and there are phalangeal ligaments connecting the metacarpal bones together, and the finger bones together.

The joints where the bones connect has padding to keep the bones from smashing into each other, and also keeps them stuck together so they can't be pulled apart.


(from: wikipedia - metacarpophalangeal joint)

The finger bones have ligaments that go over and under the fingers, to help your fingers stretch out or close into a fist.


(from: wikipedia - palmar plate)

Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Dendrite

Monday, February 5, 2018

Morelos


We just learned about the Mexico state of Querétaro.

Another state in Mexico is Morelos.

This is one of the smallest states in Mexico, in the southern part of the country, not on the coast.


(from: wikipedia - morelos)

The coat of arms has a cornstalk growing in the dirt, for the good farmland of the state.
The words around the center mean "The land will be returned to those who work it with their hands."


(from: wikipedia - morelos)

This state has some of the oldest ruins found ever in North America, over 8,000 years old!


(from: wikipedia - morelos)

There is a special type of dance called Chinelos that is in Morelos, where dancers wear fancy costumes and march in parades.


(from: wikipedia - chinelos)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: California Coast Ranges

Sunday, February 4, 2018

Bridget of Sweden


We just learned about the Carmelite Nuns.

Another famous religious nun is Bridget of Sweden.

She was born in the 1300s in Sweden, and spent her life taking care of orphans and sick people.


(from: wikipedia - bridget of sweden)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Samson

Saturday, February 3, 2018

Pataliputra Capital


We just learned about the Lion Capital of Ashoka.

Another famous sculpture from ancient India is the Pataliputra Capital.

It is over 4 feet long, and about 3 feet tall, and it was made over 2,000 years ago.
Even though it was made in India, it looks like a Classical Greek sculpture, so people think that the it was either given as a gift, or that the Greek people taught some other people in the area how to do sculptures the same way they did.

(from: wikipedia - pataliputra capital)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Last Judgement Typanum - Gislebertus

Friday, February 2, 2018

Greek - I am happy


Last time we learned that the Greek words for horse, sheep and duck are άλογο (álogo), πρόβατα (próvata), and πάπια (pápia).

Let's learn how to say I am happy in Greek!

We can break it up into two words:

I am - Είμαι (Eímai) - sounds like AY-mah-ee
happy - χαρούμενος (charoúmenos) - sounds like hah-DOO-may-noh-s

Together Είμαι χαρούμενος sounds like AY-mah-ee hah-DOO-may-noh-s

center for the greek language
(from: wikipedia - center for the greek language)

ASL: I am happy

Italian: Sono felice

German: Ich bin glücklich

Spanish: Estoy feliz

French: Je suis heureux

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Seismic Wave


We just learned about the Induced Seismicity.

When earthquakes happen, the waves of energy that happen as the ground moves are called Seismic Waves.

It's kind of like looking at a wave in water, and based on the size and shape of a wave scientists can learn about the type of earthquake it is.


(from: wikipedia - seismic wave)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Coke