Archive for June 2011
Since the very first humans walked the earth the moon has been an object of fascination. This is probably due to the fact that it appears to be the largest object in the night sky and it changes position and shape each day. Many ancient cultures of Earth revered the moon and believed it to be a very special object in the sky. Some cultures used it for measuring the passage of time and many early calendars were based on the phases of the moon. This fascination with the moon was one of the reasons that it was the target of the space race. One question about that moon constantly comes up – why does it have craters?
Canola oil is one of the most popular cooking oils on the planet. This versatile oil can be used in many cooking situations; from deep frying to baking a cake. However, it is also used in many non-food applications and is used in products such as; cosmetics, candles, inks, lubricants and biofuels. Canola oil is a popular choice in cooking because it is low in saturated fat and contains beneficial omega 3 fatty acids. It also contains a toxic substance known as erucic acid, but the levels in canola oil are well below the safety threshold. You might be wondering how this versatile cooking oil is made? Read on to find out.
Vitamin K is a group of essential vitamins known for their important blood clotting function in the human body. There are two natural forms of this vitamin, known as K1 and K2. These forms of the vitamin are found in food products such as leafy green vegetables, eggs, meat and dairy products. The synthetic forms of the vitamin are named K3, K4 and K5, which are used in many areas. You might be wondering who discovered this group of essential vitamins and their role in the body? Read on to find out.
Gray hair is an inevitable fact of life as people get older. People try to cover their gray hair with a variety of different methods, but in the end most people accept the inevitable. There has always been some mystery and uncertainty about why people turn gray, as well as some outlandish theories about how to reverse the process. However, with a recent discovery scientists think they have unlocked the mystery of what makes hair turn gray. Read on to find out.
Rose Byrne is an Australian celebrity actress who began her career with the Australian movie ” Dallas Doll” in 1994. A series of roles in Australian television and movies followed. It wasn’t until 2003 with her small role in “Star Wars: Episode II” that she first appeared in a big budget movie. The next year she found herself working with Brad Pitt (LINK) on the movie “Troy,” which really launched her career. She still has a long way to go to be considered a superstar, but her career is, seemingly, on the right path. The following is a list of movies that Rose Byrne has acted in during her career so far.
Everyone has heard their mother say “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” In fact, this saying began with nutritional experts because they were worried by the amount of people skipping this meal. According to studies, only 49% of Americans eat breakfast every day. But, is skipping breakfast really a big deal, and should you be worried if you sometimes don’t eat it? Read on to find out.
Cheerleading began as a way to rally support for college sporting teams, but today it is a sport in its own right. It requires a high level of fitness, coordination and rhythm. Some of the moves used in cheerleading are taking from gymnastics and modern dance, but there are many manoeuvres that are unique to the sport. There are now many cheerleading competitions and championships, which are the highest honor for any cheerleading squad. Have you ever wondered who invented cheerleading? Read on to find out.
Dandruff is characterized as the shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp. It can be a embarrassing condition that causes excess flaking and itching, depending on the severity of the dandruff. Almost half of the world’s population suffers from dandruff. There are many different anti-dandruff shampoos on the market, and the treatment of this condition has created a multibillion dollar industry. Have you ever wondered what causes this common condition? Read on to find out.
Silk is a strong, smooth organic fiber that is spun together to make material. It is a protein fiber that is produced by the larvae of the mulberry silkworm. Silk has a shimmery appearance due to the triangular prism shaped structure of the fibers. When light hits silk it is refracted, giving it the appearance of having many colors. Silk is also produced by a number of other insects particularly those that go through metamorphosis such as butterflies and moths. Some species of bees, wasp and ants can also produce silk. Spiders also use silk to spin webs.
Formaldehyde is an organic compound which is a colorless and toxic gas with a strong order. When at room temperatures it exists in its gaseous state, but can easily be converted to a liquid state when combined with other substances. It is used to create a number of other chemical compounds commonly used in the world today. It is particularly important in the production of polymers. Naturally formaldehyde is broken down quickly by sunlight or bacteria in soils. Within the body it is quickly converted to formic acid and expelled. When exposed to large doses the human body has trouble converting it quickly enough. It has recently been stated by the the US National Toxicology Program to be a carcinogen (cancer causing).