The 1962 Hollywood film Lawrence of Arabia was inspired by the life of a British lieutenant, and you may remember the long, arduous journeys he takes through the desert. He has no idea if he will reach his target or if he would become hopelessly lost in the desert and eventually die. The huge stretches of desert he crosses at night provide him with the perfect opportunity to … [Read more...]
How Big Does a Hedgehog Get
You wouldn't think a hedgehog, with its sharp quills, would become one of the most sought-after pets in the world today. Their cuteness and individuality, however, are just increasing their popularity. Hedgehogs' bodies are conical in shape, and their legs are short and slender. They are mammals with malleable fur; some of which is armed with sharp quills. Despite their … [Read more...]
The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister’s Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian Medicine
Historian Lindsey Fitzharris, in her book The Butchering Art, describes the gruesome practise of surgery in the nineteenth century. How it was revolutionised by the development of germ theory and antiseptics between 1860 and 1875. She imagines the early operating rooms, a place no coward would go, and the surgeons who, in the days before anaesthesia, were admired for their … [Read more...]
Which Direction Does the Earth Rotate?
The idea that Earth spins on its axis is probably something you learned in science class as a kid and have never forgotten. The question is whether or not your instructors brought up the question of which way Earth spins and whether or not you retained that information. In reality, there is more than one right answer. It's relative to where you are on Earth. When viewed … [Read more...]