Monthly Archives: January, 2013
Why is the season of autumn called fall?
Autumn is the season of the year that comes between summer and winter. For those of us who live where there is a marked changed of season, we know it’s autumn when the leaves change color and the crisp air pinches our cheeks. Americans often call this season “fall” because it is the time of …
How does the anchor hold the ship?
An anchor is a heavy weight that is used to hold a boat in place in the water. In olden days, sailors used large stones or other heavy objects which held the boat in place merely by their weight. But as ships became larger, iron anchors were made with flukes, or “hook,’ that dug into the …
Where do freckles come from?
Freckles are the small, crown spots that dot the skin of some people. There are certain cells in your skin which produce a dark pigment, or coloring matter. This pigment, called “melanin,” gives the brown color to the skin. How much of this dark pigment you have usually depends on how much of it your …
What do the numbers in the zip code mean?
The post office can deliver mail more quickly because of the zip code. There is a five-number zip code for every address. Here’s how it works. The United States and its possessions are divided up into 10 large parts. Each part has a number between 0 and 9. Suppose the zip code on the letter …
Did vampires ever exist?
Vampires never really existed. The belief in them in a superstition. According to old legends, a vampire was the restless soul of a dead person that renewed its life each night by sucking the blood from a living victim. Vampires were said to dread light and to flee to hiding places at the rise of the …
What were centaurs?
Ancient Greek legends or tales tell of centaurs (pronounced SET tors), which were beastlike creatures half-man and half-horse. They were said to live in the mountains of Thessaly and Arcadia in Greece. Centaurs were often wild, lawless creatures. They liked to fight and destroy things using rough branches of trees as weapons. The most famous centaur …
What is a watermark?
If you hold a piece of writing paper up to the light you may see a design of some kind. The design may include the words “rag content” and a picture of an eagle, crown or some other symbol such marking are called “watermarks.” Watermarks are trademarks which paper makers put in their better quality …
What makes Goosebumps?
When a person gets cold, or angry or frightened, he may get little bumps on the skin called “gooseflesh,” or “Goosebumps,” caused by tiny muscles in the skin. Every hair has a muscle attached to its root. When a person gets cold (or frightened) these tiny muscles tighten up. They produce little bumps on the …
How are paint brush made?
A paintbrush is a tool with stiff hairs or bristles for brushing paint onto a surface. Nearly all paintbrushes used for painting houses or for varnishing furniture are made of hog bristles or man made bristles, such as nylon. Bristles are best-suited for paintbrushes because they split at the ends into a bushy “flag” which holds …
How did the boxing ring get its name?
Boxing contests take place in a “ring” which is actually a square platform enclosed by ropes supported by posts at each corner. The modern boxing “ring” probably got its name from the circular arena that Roman boxers once fought in. These early boxers wrapped each fist in a leather thong called a “cestus,” which was …
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