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The thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped organ located in the neck. All vertebrates have a thyroid gland, but it is not always located in the same position. It is an endocrine gland, which means that it is part of the endocrine system and secretes hormones directly into the blood. This organ is probably best known for the conditions hyperthyroidism (overactive gland) and hypothyroidism (underactive gland) that can cause a number of serious symptoms. The thyroid gland has a number of important functions in the body and is essential to life and development.
Rodents are an order of mammals, characterized by a pair of continuously growing incisors in the center of the mouth. These incisors need to be worn down by continuous gnawing and grinding. Rodents make up the largest order of animals on the planet with approximately 2,277 species of rodents worldwide. They live on every continent except for Antarctica and inhabit every type of habitat except for the oceans. Some of the most commonly recognized rodents include rats, mice, rabbits, hamsters and squirrels. Many species of rodents are viewed as pests, due to their ability to eat through almost anything and gain access to food supplies and seeds.
A stadium is a venue that is commonly used for sporting events, concerts and other events. The oldest known stadium is the Stadium at Olympia dated at 776 BC. This stadium had a capacity of about 50,000 and was the location of many events at the Ancient Olympic Games. Modern stadiums feature a field or stage surrounded with a large raised seating area where spectators can sit and watch the event. The largest stadiums are capable of seating in excess of 100,000 people. Let’s find out which stadium is the largest in the world.
Australia is a island nation and one of the largest countries on Earth in terms of total area. It is also considered to be a continent, although sometimes it is combined with the surrounding islands and called Australasia or Oceania. Most of Australia is considered to be semi arid or desert and parts of the country are virtually devoid of water. Despite this, there are many rivers that run through the country. Let’s find out which of these is the longest.
A jail, also called prison, is a correctional facility designed for housing prisoners that are awaiting a trial or have been convicted of a crime. Although the term jail and prison is often used interchangeably the words can be used to explain the differences between facilities. In this case a jail refers to a facility that houses people awaiting trial or those serving a short sentence and a prison is for offenders serving long term sentences. The goals of these facilities is to serve as a punishment and deterrent, prevent more crimes, remove dangerous criminals from the public and/or rehabilitate the prisoners to prepare them for a productive life after prison.
A mountain range is an area that contains a number of related mountains in close proximity. Although a mountain range may appear to be somewhat uniform they are often made up of different types of mountains. There are mountain ranges on every continent on the planet. The largest mountains on Earth, including Mount Everest, are a part of a mountain range. Most people are familiar with the mountain ranges on the surface of the Earth, but there are also many underwater mountain ranges as well. Let’s find out which mountain range is the longest on the planet.
The stomach is an important organ of the digestive tract, involved in the second stage of digestion. The entry of the stomach is connected to the esophagus and the exit is connected to the duodenum (small intestine). At each end there is a sphincter, which allows entry and exit of food and fluids as well while keeping the contents contained as required. Most of us understand that the stomach has something to do with digesting our food, but let’s take a closer look at its function in the body.
Bread is one of the most common staple foods throughout much of the world and there are thousands of different varieties. Evidence suggests that bread has been made and eaten by humans for thousands of years. Today, many people purchase bread from a bakery or grocery store, although some still bake their own bread at home. It is used in a number of ways, but the most popular remain toasting and making sandwiches. In the United States the most common type of commercial bread is white sandwich bread, but other varieties are also popular. Most of us eat bread every day without ever thinking about the ingredients. Let’s find out what bread is made from.
The Great Lakes are a group of 5 large freshwater lakes, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake Huron, Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, located on the border of Canada and the United States. Combined, the lakes have a total surface area of 244,106 km2 (94,250 sq mi) and a total water volume of 22,671 km3 (5,439 cubic miles). Amazingly, these lakes contain about 21% of the entire fresh water supply of the planet. The lakes are an important area for cargo transport, fishing, tourism and as a water supply. Let’s find out which of the Great Lakes is the largest.
Frostbite is a medical condition that occurs when extremely cold conditions cause body tissues, including skin, to be damaged. It usually effects the body parts that are a long way from the heart, such as toes and fingers, This can happen in temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F) and/or high winds because the body decreases blood flow to the extremities as a way of keeping the body core temperature stable. There are four degrees of frostbite. The first of these is commonly called frostnip and does not usually cause permanent problems. The third and fourth degrees occur when the muscles, tendons, nerves and blood vessels freeze. This is much more serious and can result in serious complications and even amputation. Let’s find out how frostbite is treated.