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Tuesday, 10 September 2013
Termite As A Social Insect
There are almost 2000 species of termite and nearly all live in tropics. They are plentiful throughout West Africa, but because they avoid light, we do not usually realise how numerous they are. The soil of the savana is a teeming mass of termites. Indeed the weight of termites in savana soil is probably greater than the weight of animals above ground. Termites are also common in rain forest areas. In the savanna in particular, they play an important part in aerating the soil and the break down of humus. Unfortunately, from man's point of view, termites also do enormous damage to timber, including wooden buildings, furniture and electric poles.
They may also damage paper, cloth, certain growing crops and young trees. It has been estimated that the damage termites do to wooden buildings in West Africa each year, equals one-tenth of the original cost of the building.
Termites cause all this damage because the feed on cellulose, which is a main constituent of wood. Termites tend to feed on dead wood, but sometimes they damage living young trees and crops. "Blevopedia"
Sunday, 1 September 2013
Natural Fliers
Unknown September 01, 2013 Education, Health, Science No comments
Natural Fliers
Which would you think are more efficient in the air? Planes or such creatures as bats, insects, and birds? Believe it or not, the plane is no match for these small wonders of nature, who "outstanding capabilities to remain airborne through wind gusts, rain, and snow," says Wel Shyy, professor of aerospace engineering at the University of Michigan. Their secret? Wings that flap-the envy of aviators since man's attempts at flying first got off the ground.
Consider: While some birds and insects are in flight, their wings are constantly changing shape to adapt to the environment. This enables them to hover and to perform sharp manoeuvre. The magazine Science News reports what has been observed in bats: "When flying at slow speeds, about 1.5 meters per second, the bats turned their wing tips upside down and quickly flicked them backward during an upstroke. Scientists have surmised that this trick... Provides lift and thrust."To be sure, there is still much to learn about natural fliers. "Physically, what are they doing to the air to produce such efficient lift?" asks Peter Ifju, professor of mechanical and earospace engineering at the University of Florida. He adds: "There are all kinds of flow physics we just don't understand. We can see what birds and insects are doing, but we don't understand how that interact with the air." Although many winged creatures can fly in the rain, most seek pa place of safety.
What do you think? Did the versatile wing of natural fliers come about by chance? Or was it designed?Friday, 30 August 2013
Penguin
Most penguins feed on krill, fish, squid, and other forms of sea life caught while swimming underwater. The spend about half of their life on land.
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