Want to Know it? Answers to life's questions

What is the Difference Between Osmosis and Diffusion

Want to know it — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:25:55 +0000

Osmosis and Diffusion are two type of passive transport, which is the movement of a substance across a permeable barrier without the use of energy. Both processes occur in nature in the movement of atoms and molecules. Osmosis and diffusion also occurs with the body to maintain the equilibrium of substances within cells. This is called the concentration gradient. Substances naturally want to move from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. This makes the substance equal across the space.

How are osmosis and diffusion different?
Osmosis is actually a form of diffusion, so it is not surprising that many people become confused by the difference between the two. Both osmosis and diffusion are processes by which molecules and atoms are moved to maintain equilibrium. However, there are some other differences in the two processes. Diffusion is the transportation of any solute or chemical; such as oxygen, salt, carbon dioxide. Osmosis is the transport of water across a permeable membrane. Diffusion can occur in any environment, but osmosis can only take place in aqueous environments such a water or blood. In diffusion the molecules or atoms can move in any direction whereas in osmosis the water molecules can only move in one direction. Diffusion is a quick process that happens rapidly, osmosis is a slower process. Diffusion can happen over any distance and molecules can move along the concentration gradient in small or large spaces. Osmosis only occurs over short distances.

The following video explains some of these differences between the two processes:

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What Are War Bonds

Want to know it — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:16:00 +0000

War bonds was the name given to a saving bond that is purchased from the government treasury during times of war. The idea being that a citizen could place their money into a safe investment whilst helping finance military operations and in their own way help win the war. War bonds had a set interest rate, which was usually lower than what was normally offered, and could be cashed in for the face value plus the interest at a later date. The war bonds cannot usually be cashed in until after the war had ended. The government was able to use this money to finance their involvement in the war.

Often war bonds were sold by calling on the public’s sense of patriotism and conscience. Huge rallies were held that included performances by famous movie stars and speeches by war heroes to encourage people to buy war bonds. War bonds were issued in a variety of denominations in an attempt to bring in as much money as possible. School children were able to buy small stamps with pennies they had saved up whilst wealthy citizens could purchase large war bonds.

War bonds were also used as an economic measure. The idea being that with people invested their money into war bonds rather than spending it in an unstable economy, inflation would be kept at manageable levels. It also meant that once the war was finished the bonds could be cashed which would encourage spending and stimulate the peace time economy into recovery.

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Who Designed the Flag of Texas

Want to know it — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:15:57 +0000

The Flag of Texas, also known as the Lone Star Flag, is the official flag of the U.S. state of Texas. On January 25, 1839 it became the national flag of the Republic of Texas. When Texas became a state of the United States in 1846 it continued to be used as the state flag of Texas. The design of the flag features a white star on a blue background which is next to a large single bar of white on top large single bar of red. The colors of the flag are the same as the colors used in the Flag of the United States. Continue reading to find out who designed the state flag of Texas.

Who designed the state flag of Texas?
The Lone Star Flag was introduced to the Republic of Texas Congress in 1838 by Senator William H. Wharton and was commissioned in 1839 by Mirabeau B. Lamar, who was the President of the Republic of Texas. For many years the designer of the flag was a mystery, but in 1997 the credit for the design was given to Dr. Charles B. Stewart. The official artwork for the design was drawn by Peter Krag.

Did you know?
In 1997 the Texas House of Representatives passed House Resolution 1123 to confirm that Dr. Stewart was the designer of the flag and that Montgomery County was the birthplace of the Lone Star Flag.

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Who Was The First Governor Of New Jersey

Want to know it — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:06:00 +0000

New Jersey is one of the smallest states of the United States in terms of area, but it is the most densely populated state. It is located on the northeastern coast of the country and is bordered by New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware. New Jersey was one of the thirteen colonies that formed the United States and it was officially the 3rd state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Since the first New Jersey State Constitution was ratified in 1776, a governor has been elected to become the political head of the state. Let’s find out who was the first governor of New Jersey.

Who was the first governor of New Jersey?
The first governor of New Jersey was William Livingston who served as governor from 1776 until he died in 1790. Before his election to governor, he was elected to serve as a delegate to the Continental Congress. In 1787 he led the New Jersey Delegation to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. It was at this convention that he became one of the signers of the U.S. Constitution. After his death the Vice-President of the Legislative Council, Elisha Lawrence, became the acting governor until the next election when William Paterson was elected as the 2nd governor of the state.

Did you know?
In 2005 an amendment to the New Jersey State Constitution was passed to create a position of Lieutenant Governor.

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What is the Longest Night of the Year

Want to know it — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:57:27 +0000

The longest night of the year occurs on the same day as the winter solstice. This occurs when the Sun is at the southernmost point in the sky for the Northern Hemisphere and northernmost point for the Southern Hemisphere. The actual winter solstice lasts only a moment in time, but the day that it occurs is known as the longest night, shortest day, midwinter or first day of winter. The winter solstice marks the time when the nights become shorter and the days longer. It has been a significant event in many cultures throughout history. Let’s take a look at when it takes place.

When is the winter solstice?
The winter solstice most commonly occurs on December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere and June 20 or 21 in the Southern Hemisphere. The following is a list of when the longest night of the year will occur in the next 8 years.

Northern Hemisphere

2012 December 21
2013 December 21
2014 December 21
2015 December 22
2016 December 21
2017 December 21
2018 December 21
2019 December 22
2020 December 21

Southern Hemisphere

2012 June 20
2013 June 21
2014 June 21
2015 June 20
2016 June 21
2017 June 21
2018 June 21
2019 June 21
2020 June 20

Did you know?
The exact date and time of the winter solstice changes each year because the Earth actually takes 365.256 days to orbit the Sun. This is the same reason that we have a leap year every 4 years!

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What is Salami Made of

Want to know it — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:55:17 +0000

Salami is a type of sausage that is usually prepared with a strong seasoning. It is thought to have originated in Italy and it became popular throughout Europe because it can be stored at room temperature safely. Today, it is available throughout the world where it is eaten on its own or added to a variety of dishes, such as pizza. There are a number of different varieties of salami and many of these developed in certain countries and regions of Europe. This means that the recipe for salami can be varied, but the main ingredients of the product remain the same.

What is salami made out of?
The majority of salami consists of ground meat. In most cases this meat is pork, although beef, turkey, horse (where legal), venison, and even seafood is used in certain varieties. There may be many additional ingredients added to salami. The most common of these are salt, spices, garlic, minced fat, herbs, ground animal fats and vinegar. The casing is either a natural animal casing or an inedible cellulose casing that can be removed after manufacturing. Nitrites and/or nitrates are usually added to the mixture as a preservative and the casing may be coated with the penicillium mold to add flavor and protect against the growth of harmful bacteria. These preservatives, along with the salt, make the salami safe to consume raw.

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How is Tuberculosis Treated

Want to know it — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:49:58 +0000

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that is caused by one or more strains of mycobacteria. The most common of these bacteria is mycobacterium tuberculosis, which was discovered in 1882. Most people who are infected do not suffer any symptoms, but 10% of infections progress to the active disease. Active tuberculosis commonly attacks the lungs and causes symptoms such as long lasting cough, bloody spit, fever, weight loss and night sweats. It spreads through the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs, but only people with active tuberculosis can spread the disease. More than 50% of active tuberculosis cases that are left untreated result in the death of the patient. Let’s take a look at the treatment for this deadly disease.

What is the treatment for tuberculosis?
The treatment for tuberculosis can be quite difficult because the bacteria that causes the disease has a waxy outer coating, which prevents the entry of drugs. This means that a long course of antibiotics is usually necessary to treat the disease. The two most common antibiotics used are isoniazid and rifampicin. For those that have active tuberculosis, multiple antibiotics are used to ensure all of the bacteria are killed during treatment. Unfortunately, tuberculosis has shown a high level of antibiotic resistance and when a resistant strain is present up to 4 antibiotics are used for 18-24 months.

Did you know?
Drug resistant tuberculosis occurs because patients begin feeling better after about 2-3 months of starting their treatment. At this time some patients stop taking the drugs and any remaining bacteria are likely to be drug resistant. In 2007 a form of tuberculosis was discovered that is totally resistant to all of the currently used tuberculosis drugs.

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Diane Keaton Movie List

Want to know it — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:47:30 +0000

Diane Keaton is a celebrity actress who began her career on the stage, including several Broadway plays. Her feature film career began in 1970 and just 2 years later she landed her breakthrough role as Kay Adams in the cult classic film “The Godfather.” It wasn’t long before she became one of the hottest stars in Hollywood and in 1978 she won an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in the film “Annie Hall.” She has been nominated for 3 other Oscars in the same category during her career. She is now in the twilight of her career, but is still very active in the industry. The following is a list of movies that Diane Keaton has acted in during her career.

Movie Title/Year/Character

The Big Wedding 2012 Ellie Griffin
Darling Companion 2012 Beth Winter
Tilda 2011 Tilda Watski
Morning Glory 2010 Colleen Peck
Mad Money 2008 Bridget Cardigan
Smother 2008 Marilyn Cooper
Mama’s Boy 2007 Jan Mannus
Because I Said So 2007 Daphne Wilder
Surrender, Dorothy 2006 Natalie Swerdlow
The Family Stone 2005 Sybil Stone
Terminal Impact 2005 Narrator
Something’s Gotta Give 2003 Erica Barry
Breaking Through 2003 Patsy McCartle
Crossed Over 2002 Beverly Lowry
Plan B 2001 Fran Varecchio
Sister Mary Explains It All 2001 Sister Mary Ignatius
Town & Country 2001 Ellie
Hanging Up 2000 Georgia Mozell
The Other Sister 1999 Elizabeth Tate
Northern Lights 1997 Roberta Blumstein
The Only Thrill 1997 Carol Fitzsimmons
Marvin’s Room 1996 Bessie
The First Wives Club 1996 Annie Paradis
Father of the Bride Part II 1995 Nina Banks
Amelia Earhart: The Final Flight 1994 Amelia Earhart
Look Who’s Talking Now 1993 Daphne
Manhattan Murder Mystery 1993 Carol Lipton
Running Mates 1992 Aggie Snow
Father of the Bride 1991 Nina Banks
The Godfather: Part III 1990 Kay Adams Michelson
The Lemon Sisters 1989 Eloise Hamer
The Good Mother 1988 Anna
Baby Boom 1987 J.C. Wiatt
Radio Days 1987 New Year’s Singer
Crimes of the Heart 1986 Lenny Magrath
Mrs. Soffel 1984 Kate Soffel
The Little Drummer Girl 1984 Charlie
Shoot the Moon 1982 Faith Dunlap
Reds 1981 Louise Bryant
The Wizard of Malta 1981 Narrator
Manhattan 1979 Mary
Interiors 1978 Renata
Looking for Mr. Goodbar 1977 Theresa
Annie Hall 1977 Annie Hall
Harry and Walter Go to New York 1976 Lissa Chestnut
I Will… I Will… For Now 1976 Katie Bingham
Love and Death 1975 Sonja
The Godfather: Part II 1974 Kay
Sleeper 1973 Luna Schlosser
Play It Again, Sam 1972 Linda
The Godfather 1972 Kay Adams
Lovers and Other Strangers 1970 Joan Vecchio

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What Caused the Korean War

Want to know it — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:21:58 +0000

The Korean War was an armed conflict that took place between North Korea and South Korea from June 25, 1950, until July 27, 1953. North Korea was supported by the People Republic of China and the Soviet Union and South Korea was supported by the United Nations. It was the first significant armed conflict to be facilitated by the Cold War. Initially, the war was fought through infantry attacks and air raids, later it became a trench war. Many lives were lost during the war on both sides.

What was the cause of the Korean War?
During the World War II Korea was occupied by Japanese forces. After the war ended an agreement was made between the Allied Forces and the Soviet forces. The country was divided along the 38th Parallel by American administrators. The northern part of the country was occupied by Soviet troops and the southern part was occupied by troops from the United States. This caused much tension between the two countries particularly as the Cold War intensified and allegiances were drawn. During the late 1940’s Northern Korea established a communist government and the 38th Parallel became a political border between the two sides. North Korea, as a communist state, wanted to expand it borders and many skirmishes and raids were carried out by both sides across the 38th parallel. The United Nations supported South Korea’s government and tensions continued to mount. North Korea sought assistance from both the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China to mount an assault against South Korea. China committed to support the leader of North Korea an on the June 25, 1950, North Korean troops advanced across the 38th Parallel and invaded South Korea. This event instigated what is now known as the Korean War.

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Where do Beavers Live

Want to know it — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:14:52 +0000

Beavers are large, paddle tailed rodents who are semi-aquatic. There are two distinct species of beaver; the North American beaver and the Eurasian beaver. Beavers are the second largest species of rodent in the world and are well known for their dam building abilities and ability to fell large trees using their teeth. Beavers are herbivores and usually create dams close to food sources. They are able to stay submerged underwater for a maximum of 15 minutes. So where do these amazing creatures live? Read on to find out.

Where do beavers come from?
The two species of beaver, the North American beaver and the Eurasian beaver inhabit different parts of the globe. The North American beaver can be found in Canada (where it is also known as the Canadian beaver), the United States and in parts of Northern Mexico. It was also introduced into Finland, France, Poland and Russia as well as the Tierra del Fuego; an archipelago off the southernmost tip of the South America.

The Eurasian beaver is not as numerous as the North American beaver due to it being almost hunted to extinction. There are small colonies that have been re-introduced to Europe. A small number of Eurasian beavers live in parts of Scandinavia, The Elbe River (which runs through the Czech Republic and Germany) and the Rhone River (Which begins in Switzerland and runs through France). A large community of these beavers live in Poland and on the Morava River in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The Eurasian beaver can also be found in Scotland, Bavaria, Austria, Netherlands, Serbia, Denmark and Bulgaria. This species of beaver may also be re-introduced back into Wales and England in the near future.

The natural habitat of both species of beaver is the riparian zone, which is the area where a river or stream meets the land. They also inhabit stream beds. Beavers create dams in rivers and streams which provide them with still, safe water in which to build a lodge. A beaver family will live inside a lodge in the center of the still pool of water. Lodges are made from branches and mud and are hard enough that not even wolves can penetrate them, making it a safe home for the beaver. This lodge is only used during the fall and winter months. During spring and summer the beaver will usually rove around wooded areas near stream and rivers. When fall starts again the beaver will return to their old lodge and dams and begin repair work for winter.

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