Slug is the name given to any member of the gastropod family that do not have a shell, have a tiny shell, or have an internal shell. Other members of the gastropod family that have larger shells are known as snails. Slugs are found almost everywhere on Earth and there are species that can live on land, at sea and in freshwater. They are commonly long, slimy creatures with two pairs of retractable feelers/tentacles on their heads. They have a single foot which allows the slug to move with muscular contractions. Slugs are well known for the sticky trail that they leave behind. This serves many purposes, including preventing the slug from slipping, finding a mate and for hunting other slugs (in some cases). Some species of slugs are also known to be agricultural pests and are killed with baits. This might give us a clue about the diet of a slug.
The Burj Khalifa is currently the tallest building and man-made structure in the world. It rises an impressive 829.8 m (2,722 ft) in the air and is more than 300 m (984 ft) taller than the previous tallest building (Taipei 101). The Burj Khalifa is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and was named in honor of the UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Construction work on the tower began in January 2004 and the tower was officially opened in January 2010. The final construction cost of the tower was estimated to be USD $1.5 billion. The Burj Khalifa is well known for its unique Y shaped design that is said to be inspired by the Hymenocallis flower. Let’s find out who designed and built this impressive structure.
The walrus is a large marine animal best known for their large size, tusks and whiskers. They are similar in appearance to a seal, which they are sometimes classified as, and share many traits with these relatives. They are a cold water species and spend most of their time on the sea ice which they use as a diving platform in the search for bivalve mollusks, which are their favorite food. They have long been an important species in the regions that they inhabit because they provide a food source and a source of blubber. There are two subspecies of walruses (although a third is also sometimes debated), the Atlantic walrus and the Pacific walrus. Let’s find out where these subspecies live.
Mumps is a viral disease caused by a virus that shares the same name. It was once a common childhood disease, although outbreaks do occur from time to time, and is still quite common in developing countries. The most noticeable symptom of this disease is a painful swelling of the salivary glands. Other symptoms are fever, headache, fatigue and rash. It can also cause painful testicle swelling in boys and men. About 20% of sufferers will have no symptoms at all. In most cases the disease passes without any major complications, but mumps can cause infertility or reduced fertility in men, organ infection, encephalitis and mild meningitis, in rare cases. It is also dangerous to unborn babies and causes abortion in 27% of fetuses during the first trimester. Let’s find out how mumps is prevented and treated.
Polar bears are a species of bear that have adapted to live virtually exclusively in the Arctic Circle region. It is the largest bear, and also the largest land carnivore, in the world. An adult male can weigh 350-680 kg (770-1,500 lbs) and a female weighs about half of this. Polar bears are born on land, but spend much of their time at sea. They travel across ice, snow and open water in search of seals, which are their favorite food. The polar bear is listed as a vulnerable species and there are only about 20,000 animals left in the wild, with this number in decline. Let’s find out what makes this species endangered.
A baseball is the ball used in the game that shares the same name. A baseball is a round shaped ball, but is not a perfect sphere, and is most commonly white in color. It also features a red raised seam, made of 108 double stitches, which allows the pitcher to impart spin on the ball. A standard sized baseball has a weight between 5-5.25 oz (142-149 g), a circumference of 9-9.25 in (22.9-23.5 cm) and a diameter of 2.875-3 in (7.3-7.6 cm). Regulation balls used in professional and college competitions are made under very strict standards and the balls must pass strict quality controls. Let’s find out what a baseball is made from and a little bit about the history and development of the ball.
The snowmobile is a powered vehicle specifically designed for traveling on snow or ice. They are similar to an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and can be used in any area covered with snow or ice. In most cases they are ridden solo or with a single passenger. Like a motorbike or ATV, they are unenclosed and the rider is open to the elements. Snowmobiles are propelled by an engine that drives a continuous track(s), with skis at the front of the vehicle to provide control. They were originally developed because transport during the winter season was difficult. They are still very important for this task, but are also popular for recreational purposes and racing. Let’s find out who invented this important winter vehicle.
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team that compete in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference as a part of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Nuggets were established in 1967 as the Denver Larks (this was changed to Rockets before they played a game) as a member of the American Basketball Association (ABA). They became the Nuggets prior to the ABA-NBA merger in 1974 and joined the NBA after the merger occurred. The Nuggets have had some success since this time, including making the playoffs for a number of consecutive seasons, but they have never won a championship title. Let’s find out where the Denver Nuggets play their home games.
Whitney Houston was a famous singer and actor and one of the most successful performers of all time. In fact, in 2009 she was listed as the most awarded female performer of all time with two Emmy Awards, six Grammy Awards, 22 American Music Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, and more than 410 career awards in total. She was also one of the best selling artists with more than 170 million videos, singles and albums sold worldwide. She had 6 album releases, 3 soundtrack albums and 1 holiday album, all of which achieved a gold or better certification. She also holds the record as the only artist to have seven consecutive number 1 hits. Her acting career was less successful, but “The Bodyguard” was a major box office success. Unfortunately, Houston struggled with a battle against drugs during her career and had stints in rehabilitation. Let’s find out when this much celebrated performer died and how it happened.
Joaquin Phoenix is a celebrity actor who was born in Puerto Rico to missionaries. The family traveled a lot, but by the time Joaquin was 6 the family had settled in Los Angeles. He began working on commercials with his siblings and eventually landed small roles on television series. The family moved to Florida and he landed a role in the film Parenthood, alongside Steve Martin. He left acting for a time after this movie and returned in 1995 with the film “To Die For.” His performance in this film got him the attention he needed and he landed more important roles. His true breakthrough, however, came in 2000 when he landed a role in the blockbuster film “Gladiator.” This landed him his first Academy Award nomination with two more coming in 2006 and 2013. The following is a list of movies that Joaquin Phoenix has acted in during his career so far.