Lettuce is a leafy vegetable that is often used in salads and as garnish. It is part of the sunflower family Asteraceae and is mostly green and red in color. Lettuce ranges in size from 15-30 cm (6 to 12 in) and can be tightly packed or have loose curly leaves. Lettuce can be grown from seed or from steams depending on the variety. Lettuce is easily cultivated and is grown all year round. Whilst lettuce is mostly used in salads it can also be used in soups, sandwiches and sandwich like meals.
Rhode Island is a state in the New England region of the United States of America. It is the smallest state by area and is bordered by Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York (water boundary). Rhode Island is known as “The Ocean State” because of the many large inlets and bays in the area. The area was home to Native American people for many years, until the first European settlers moved into the region in the 17th century. Let’s take a look at a brief history of the area prior to statehood and how Rhode Island became a state.
South America is a continent located in the Western Hemisphere and, as the name suggests, is found mostly in the Southern Hemisphere (below the equator). It is the fourth largest continent in terms of area and the fifth largest in terms of population. It is home to 12 countries and 3 dependencies. South America is best known as the home of the Amazon River and the Andes Mountain Range, which is the longest mountain range in the world. These mountains are the starting point for many rivers, including the Amazon, and they also feed many large freshwater lakes. Let’s find out which lake is the largest in South America.
Molybdenum is a chemical element and is represented by the chemical symbol Mo and the atomic number 42. It is a silver metal with the sixth highest melting point of any element. It is never found as a free metal naturally on Earth, but can be found in many minerals. The most important of these minerals is molybdenite, which accounts for much of the commercial supply. Molybdenum is also mined as a byproduct of copper and tungsten mining. It is the 54th most common element in the crust of the Earth and the largest producers are China, the United States, Chile, Peru and Mexico. It has many important uses, including in the creation of superalloys. Let’s find out who discovered this element.
Thorium is as chemical element which occurs naturally. It is radioactive in nature and has the atomic number of 90 and the chemical symbol Th. It was discovered in 1828 and named after Thor the Norse god of thunder. When it decaying it releases radon-22 gas as well as radium and actinium. Thorium is radioactive, but has a very slow rate of decay and the radiation it emits is not absorbed by the body, which means that it can safely be used for some important applications.
Beets are a plant best known for producing the root vegetable that share the same name. There are a number of different varieties of beets, including the popular vegetable known as beetroot and the sugar beet, which is used to produce table sugar. The roots of these plants are edible and are usually red-purple in color, although other colors are also available. The beets are usually round in shape and are commonly eaten pickled, steamed, roasted or raw. The above ground portion of the plant, known as beet tops or beet greens are also edible and are similar to spinach. Let’s find out where beets originated and how the spread to the rest of the world.
Luxembourg (official title: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg) is a very small country in terms of both population and area. It covers and area of just 2,586 sq km (998 sq mi) and is home to less than 550,000 people. It has a long history that dates back many years, and the territory has been claimed by many counties. Luxembourg officially became an independent country in 1815 and was a founding member of both the United Nations, NATO and the European Union. Despite its small size, Luxembourg has a very strong economy and standard of living. Let’s find out where Luxembourg is located.
Tadpoles are the larvae (juvenile form) of amphibians, such as frogs and toads. Tadpoles emerge from eggs and usually live solely in the water until they grow arms and legs and make the transition to an adult amphibian. Most tadpoles have an oval body with gills for breathing and a long tail used for swimming. As they grow they undergo metamorphosis during which they develop lungs, legs and then arms. Finally their tail disappears and they turn into a fully formed adult frog or toad. Tadpoles also undergo changes to their digestive system during this process to allow them to change their diet as adults. Let’s find out what tadpoles eat.
A callus is a thicken layer of skin that can appear anywhere on the body. They are most common on the hands and feet due to the repeated pressure these areas are put under. A callus is a protective action and its purpose is to protect the skin from damage. Calluses are not harmful, but can cause other skin problems such as ulceration or infection. So how are calluses formed? Read this article to find out.
Washington D.C, or “The district” as it is sometimes called, is the capital city of the United States of America. The city is located in the District of Columbia, which is located along the Potomac River within the state of Maryland. However, as per the U.S constitution Washington D.C falls under the direct jurisdiction of the U.S Congress and is therefore not part of the state of Maryland or any other U.S state. Covering an area of 68.3 sq mi (177.0 km2) it was named in honor of General George Washington, the first president of the United States, and was founded in 1791 to serve as the capital. Each of the three branches of the U.S government are located in Washington D.C including the White House, home of the U.S President. It is also home to many famous monuments and museums.