SenseList » Science & Nature http://senselist.com Help for the listless (and the senseless) Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:06:43 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Six Hand-Reared Zoo Animals http://senselist.com/2007/04/09/six-hand-reared-zoo-animals/ http://senselist.com/2007/04/09/six-hand-reared-zoo-animals/#comments Mon, 09 Apr 2007 14:00:54 +0000 Morgen Jahnke http://senselist.com/2007/04/09/six-hand-reared-zoo-animals/ In recent weeks, a baby polar bear at the Berlin Zoo has caused a worldwide stir. Knut, as he’s called, was rejected by his mother at an early age, and has since been hand-reared by zoo staff. This situation has spurred some opponents to the hand-rearing of wild animals to comment that it would be more humane to kill Knut than for him to be overly influenced by humans. Despite these protests, the Berlin Zoo has decided to keep Knut alive. While hand-rearing may be controversial, many zoos do raise animals in this way. Here are a few examples:

  • Knut: Polar bear at the Berlin Zoo
  • Jinki & Tula: Tasmanian devils at the Australia Zoo
  • Rio: Mexican yellow-headed Amazon parrot at the San Diego Zoo
  • Squeak: Dwarf mongoose at the Whipsnade Zoo (UK)
  • Sungai: Siamang (a type of lesser ape) at the San Francisco Zoo
]]> http://senselist.com/2007/04/09/six-hand-reared-zoo-animals/feed/ 1 31 Places in North and South America That Do Not Observe Daylight Saving Time http://senselist.com/2007/03/09/31-places-in-north-and-south-america-that-do-not-observe-daylight-saving-time/ http://senselist.com/2007/03/09/31-places-in-north-and-south-america-that-do-not-observe-daylight-saving-time/#comments Fri, 09 Mar 2007 14:00:43 +0000 Morgen Jahnke http://senselist.com/2007/03/09/31-places-in-north-and-south-america-that-do-not-observe-daylight-saving-time/ Starting this Sunday (March 11) at 2 A.M., most residents of the U.S. and Canada will set their clocks forward one hour in observance of the start of Daylight Saving Time. This is a change for 2007, since in previous years DST started the first Sunday in April. However, there are many regions in the U.S., Canada and the rest of the Americas that do not observe Daylight Saving Time for one reason or another.

Brazil (States):

  • Acre
  • Alagoas
  • Amapá
  • Amazonas
  • Bahia
  • Cearà
  • Maranhão
  • Pará
  • Paraí­ba
  • Pernambuco
  • Piauí­
  • Rio Grande do Norte
  • Rondônia
  • Roraima
  • Sergipe
  • Tocantins

Canada (Provinces and Territories):

  • Several regions of British Columbia
  • Nunavut (Southampton Island)
  • Saskatchewan

Mexico (States):

  • Sonora

USA (States and Territories):

  • American Samoa
  • Arizona
  • Guam
  • Hawaii
  • Puerto Rico
  • U.S. Virgin Islands

Other Countries:

  • Argentina
  • Columbia
  • Guyana
  • Perú
  • Venezuela
]]> http://senselist.com/2007/03/09/31-places-in-north-and-south-america-that-do-not-observe-daylight-saving-time/feed/ 5 11 Famous Winds http://senselist.com/2007/03/07/11-famous-winds/ http://senselist.com/2007/03/07/11-famous-winds/#comments Wed, 07 Mar 2007 14:00:34 +0000 Morgen Jahnke http://senselist.com/2007/03/07/11-famous-winds/ Today on Interesting Thing of the Day I wrote about the Chinook winds of the Western US and Canada. There are many other famous winds around the world; below are a few of the best-known ones. If I haven’t included your favorite, feel free to add it in the comments section.

]]> http://senselist.com/2007/03/07/11-famous-winds/feed/ 6 8 YouTube Videos Featuring Non-Newtonian Fluid Experiments http://senselist.com/2007/02/28/8-youtube-videos-featuring-non-newtonian-fluid-experiments/ http://senselist.com/2007/02/28/8-youtube-videos-featuring-non-newtonian-fluid-experiments/#comments Wed, 28 Feb 2007 08:30:13 +0000 Morgen Jahnke http://senselist.com/2007/02/28/8-youtube-videos-featuring-non-newtonian-fluid-experiments/ Non-Newtonian fluids are substances that can act like both liquids and solids, depending on the pressure exerted upon them. Here are some video clips showing experiments people have undertaken to show the various properties of Non-Newtonian fluids.


A pool filled with non-newtonian fluid: This clip from a Spanish TV show features very excited people walking across a pool filled with a mixture of cornstarch and water.


Brainiac John [sic] Tickle walking on custard live: Presenter Jon Tickle, from the UK TV show Brainiac: Science Abuse walks across a wading pool filled with water and custard powder.


Cornstarch Science: This experiment, which involves shaking a tray of Non-Newtonian fluid and blowing holes in it, was performed at the Center for Nonlinear Dynamics at the University of Texas at Austin.


Cornstarch Monster 1: Watch as small shapes are created by sending vibrations through Non-Newtonian fluid.


Fluido no neutoniano: A bowl, two hands, and some Non-Newtonian fluid fun.


Non-Newtonian Fluid: The Riddell family explains and demonstrates the properties of Non-Newtonian fluid.


Non-Newtonian Fluid 2: This clip shows what happens when a container of Non-Newtonian fluid is placed above a sub-woofer putting out sound at 50 Hz.


Gloop: A musical montage of fun things to do with green gloop.

]]> http://senselist.com/2007/02/28/8-youtube-videos-featuring-non-newtonian-fluid-experiments/feed/ 19 9 Films Featuring Penguins http://senselist.com/2007/02/27/9-films-featuring-penguins/ http://senselist.com/2007/02/27/9-films-featuring-penguins/#comments Tue, 27 Feb 2007 14:00:28 +0000 Morgen Jahnke http://senselist.com/2007/02/27/9-films-featuring-penguins/ With the win of Happy Feet for Best Animated Feature Film at Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony, that makes two consecutive years in which a movie featuring penguins has won an Oscar (last year March of the Penguins won Best Feature Documentary). It may seem like the success of March of the Penguins has spawned the current crop of penguin-centric films, but Hollywood has had a long love affair with the waddling ones, as witnessed by this list of films.

  • March of the Penguins: This amazing French documentary, narrated by Morgan Freeman in the English version, follows a colony of Emperor penguins during their annual inland migration in Antarctica.
  • Farce of the Penguins: Written and directed by Bob Saget (of America’s Funniest Home Videos and Full House), this parody of March of the Penguins features a multitude of comedic talents providing R-rated commentary for live-action footage of penguins.
  • Happy Feet: This animated film, featuring the voices of Elijah Wood, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, and Robin Williams among others, recently won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year.
  • Surf’s Up: Scheduled to be released in Summer 2007, the cast of this animated movie about surfing penguins includes Zooey Deschanel, Jeff Bridges, James Woods, and Michael McKean.
  • Madagascar: Although they are not the stars of this film, a quartet of sneaky penguins nearly steals the show.
  • The Pebble and the Penguin: Directed by legendary animator and director Don Bluth, who was behind such hits as An American Tail, The Land Before Time, and Anastasia, this film features Martin Short as the voice of Hubie the penguin.
  • Wallace & Gromit in The Wrong Trousers: The second Wallace & Gromit adventure produced by Aardman Animation, The Wrong Trousers won an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film in 1994, and revolves around a plot cooked up by a mysterious penguin.
  • Cry of the Penguins: This 1971 British film, originally called Mr. Forbush and the Penguins, stars two-time Oscar nominee John Hurt and Oscar winner Hayley Mills.
  • Batman Returns: Tim Burton’s 1992 sequel to Batman stars Danny DeVito as the Penguin, one of Batman’s wily foes.
]]> http://senselist.com/2007/02/27/9-films-featuring-penguins/feed/ 1 32 Edible Insect Foods You Can Buy Online http://senselist.com/2007/02/21/32-edible-insect-foods-you-can-buy-online/ http://senselist.com/2007/02/21/32-edible-insect-foods-you-can-buy-online/#comments Wed, 21 Feb 2007 07:05:12 +0000 Morgen Jahnke http://senselist.com/2007/02/21/32-edible-insect-foods-you-can-buy-online/ Entomophagy (literally, “insect-eating”) has been practiced throughout human history and continues to this day. Modern enthusiasts cite the economic and environmental benefits of using insects as a major source of protein in their diet; some even admit to liking the taste. Although I can’t personally vouch for the tastiness of any of the following items, if you’re interested in taking up entomophagy, here are a few things you could try.

Ants:

Crickets:

Larvae & Worms:

Scorpions & Water Bugs:

]]> http://senselist.com/2007/02/21/32-edible-insect-foods-you-can-buy-online/feed/ 48 Animal Sounds in Different Languages http://senselist.com/2006/12/06/animal-sounds-in-different-languages/ http://senselist.com/2006/12/06/animal-sounds-in-different-languages/#comments Wed, 06 Dec 2006 13:00:00 +0000 Morgen Jahnke http://senselist.com/2006/12/06/animal-sounds-in-different-languages/ Some of the first sounds we learn to imitate as babies are the sounds animals supposedly make. I say supposedly, since each language has its own idea about what those sounds are. While most people hear the mewing of a cat in a similar way (some variant of mee-ow), there is a huge range of opinion about how best to represent the grunting of a pig (see below).

I’ve always thought the silliest animal sound in English is the traditional “cock-a-doodle-doo” attributed to the rooster. To my ear, the Hungarian “kukuriku” or the Portuguese “cucurucu,” come much closer to the sound of the original since roosters don’t really have the ability to pronounce distinct words as humans do.

Here then are some of the more interesting variations on common animal sounds (transliterated into the Latin alphabet as necessary).

Pig (grunting)

  • Danish: øf-øf
  • Dutch: knor knor
  • French: groin groin
  • German: grunz
  • Hungarian: röf-röf
  • Japanese: boo boo
  • Russian: hrgu-hrgu
  • Swedish: nöff-nöff

Cat (purring)

  • Danish: pierr
  • Dutch: prrr
  • Finnish: hrr
  • French: ronron
  • German: srr
  • Hungarian: doromb
  • Japanese: goro goro
  • Russian: mrr
  • Spanish: rrr

Small Dog (barking)

  • Danish: vov-vov
  • Dutch: waf waf
  • Finnish: hau hau
  • French: ouah ouah
  • German: wau wau
  • Hebrew: how-how
  • Hungarian: vau vau
  • Italian: arf arf/bau bau
  • Japanese: kian kian
  • Russian: hav-hav/gav-gav
  • Spanish: guau/gua
  • Swedish: bjäbb-bjäbb
  • Turkish: hev hev

Rooster (crowing)

  • Danish: kykyliky
  • Dutch: kukeleku
  • Finnish: kukko kiekuu
  • French: cocorico
  • German: kikeriki
  • Greek: kikiriku/kikiriki
  • Hebrew: coo-koo-ri-koo
  • Hungarian: kukuriku
  • Italian: chicchirichi
  • Japanese: ko-ke-kok-ko-o
  • Portuguese: cucurucu
  • Russian: kukareku
  • Swedish: kuckeliku
  • Turkish: kuk-kurri-kuuu
  • Urdu: kuklooku

Source: Dr. Derek Abbott’s Homepage

]]> http://senselist.com/2006/12/06/animal-sounds-in-different-languages/feed/ 7 Five Forms of Light Pollution http://senselist.com/2006/11/29/five-forms-of-light-pollution/ http://senselist.com/2006/11/29/five-forms-of-light-pollution/#comments Wed, 29 Nov 2006 13:00:54 +0000 Joe Kissell http://senselist.com/2006/11/29/five-forms-of-light-pollution/ Having trouble sleeping at night? It could be the light from a streetlight (or a neighbor’s floodlights) streaming through your bedroom window and interrupting your circadian rhythms. Intrusive artificial light at night can take several forms, and each causes its own set of problems. Here are five examples, taken from Interesting Thing of the Day and the Wikipedia:

  • Light trespass: When someone else’s light shines onto your property (and, especially, through your windows), that’s known as light trespass. If curtains can keep it out, it’s not serious, but in many cases there’s no way to get away from your neighbor’s light.
  • Over-illumination: Artificial lighting in excess of what is needed for its intended purpose (e.g., safety) is known as over-illumination. Excess nighttime lighting wastes an astonishing amount of electricity (and, therefore, money—not to mention natural resources).
  • Glare: Any light that impairs your vision at night is known as glare; it’s especially dangerous for drivers but can cause problems for anyone whose eyes need to be adapted to low light levels.
  • Clutter: Put too many lights too close together, and they can create a distraction for motorists and pilots.
  • Skyglow: When lights—especially those pointing upwards—hit a layer of cloud, fog, dust, or pollution in the atmosphere, it creates a glowing layer of light above a city that makes it impossible to see the stars. Skyglow is the bane of astronomers, both amateur and professional, around the world. (Sometimes written as two words: sky glow.)
]]> http://senselist.com/2006/11/29/five-forms-of-light-pollution/feed/ 2 U.S. Towns Named after Planets http://senselist.com/2006/11/10/us-towns-named-after-planets/ http://senselist.com/2006/11/10/us-towns-named-after-planets/#comments Fri, 10 Nov 2006 13:00:40 +0000 Morgen Jahnke http://senselist.com/2006/11/10/us-towns-named-after-planets/ During the recent U.S. mid-term election, the town of Jupiter, Florida was mentioned in the news because it experienced some problems with its voting process. Hearing the town’s name made me wonder if there were other towns similarly named after planets. I found out that there are many, and I’ve listed the states that have towns named after a certain planet, in order of each planet’s distance from the sun. Strangely (or not), there were no towns named after Uranus, but I did find one location that uses that name (see below). Also, even though Pluto was recently downgraded from its former planet status, I’m including it because I’m assuming these towns were named before that switch happened.

Mercury

  • Alabama
  • Nevada
  • Texas

Venus

  • Arkansas
  • Florida
  • Kentucky
  • Missouri
  • Nebraska
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania

Earth

  • Texas

Also:

  • Black Earth (Wisconsin)
  • Blue Earth (Minnesota)
  • White Earth (Minnesota & Maryland)
  • Earth City (Missouri)
  • Middle Earth (Maryland)

Mars

  • California
  • Pennsylvania
  • Texas

Jupiter

  • California
  • Florida
  • North Carolina

Saturn

  • Indiana
  • Texas

Uranus

  • Uranus Ridge, Idaho (not a town, but a topographic feature)

Neptune

  • Iowa
  • Ohio
  • Tennessee
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin

Pluto

  • Mississippi
  • Texas
  • West Virginia

Source: U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System

]]> http://senselist.com/2006/11/10/us-towns-named-after-planets/feed/ 7 57 Things You Can Get by Monthly Subscription http://senselist.com/2006/10/30/57-things-you-can-get-by-monthly-subscription/ http://senselist.com/2006/10/30/57-things-you-can-get-by-monthly-subscription/#comments Mon, 30 Oct 2006 13:00:32 +0000 Joe Kissell http://senselist.com/2006/10/30/70-things-you-can-get-by-monthly-subscription-2/ You’ve heard of the Book-of-the-Month Club, no doubt, a handy way for bibliophiles to feed their obsession without leaving the house. I’ve personally been a member of a fruit-of-the-month club and a chocolate-of-the-month club too. But the range of items you can receive by mail, once a month by subscription, is truly staggering. This list barely scratches the surface, but it does provide a pretty good cross-section of the kinds of things you can subscribe to in this way. (For the purpose of this list, I include only physical items, not things delivered in digital form over the Internet.) You can read more about ___-of-the-Month Clubs at Interesting Thing of the Day.

  1. Amber: Amber of the Month Club
  2. Art Made from Dead Animals: Unfortunate Animal of the Month Club
  3. Avocados: Avocado of the Month Club
  4. Bacon: Bacon of the Month Club
  5. Barbecue Sauce: BBQ Sauce of the Month Club, BBQ Sauce of the Month Club (Amazing Clubs), BBQ Sauce of the Month Club (The Month Club Store), BBQ Sauce Club (Delightful Deliveries)
  6. Beef Jerky: Beef Jerky of the Month Club (The Month Club Store)
  7. Beer: Beer of the Month Club (Clubs of America), Hog’s Head Beer of the Month Club, Micro Beer of the Month Club, Beer of the Month Club (Amazing Clubs), Beer Club (Delightful Deliveries)
  8. Books: Book-of-the-Month Club, The Literary Guild, Children’s Book-of-the-Month Club, Bestsellers Monthly Book Connection
  9. Cake: Cake of the Month Club (Amazing Clubs), Mrs. Beasley’s Cake Plan (Delightful Deliveries)
  10. Candles: Candle of the Month Club (Amazing Clubs), Candle of the Month Club (The Month Club Store)
  11. Candy: Candy of the Month Club
  12. CDs: CD of the Month Club (Echodisc)
  13. Cheese: Cheese of the Month Club (iGourmet), Wisconsinmade Award Winning Cheese of the Month Club
  14. Cheesecake: Cheesecake of the Month Club (Amazing Clubs)
  15. Chicken Soup: Once-a-Month Chicken Soup Club
  16. Chocolate: Chocolate of the Month Club (Clubs of America), Chocolate of the Month Club (Amazing Clubs), Ethel M Chocolate Club (Delightful Deliveries), Nirvana Chocolate Club (Delightful Deliveries)
  17. Cigars: Cigar of the Month Club (Clubs of America), The Premium Cigar of the Month Club, Cigar of the Month Club (The Month Club Store), Cigar of the Month Club (Delightful Deliveries)
  18. Coffee: Coffee of the Month Club (Clubs of America), Coffee of the Month Club (iGourmet), Illy a Casa (Illy), Coffee of the Month Club (Amazing Clubs), Green Mountain Coffee Tours (Delightful Deliveries)
  19. Cookies: Cookie of the Month Club (Amazing Clubs), Cookie of the Month Club (The Month Club Store),j Mrs. Beasley’s Cookie Plan/The Nutty Cookie’s Cookie Club/Cookie Club by Pacific Cookie Company (Delightful Deliveries)
  20. Desserts: Dessert of the Month Club (Amazing Clubs)
  21. Erotic Gifts: Sexy Gift of the Month Club
  22. Flowers: Flower of the Month Club (Clubs of America), Fresh Cut Flower of the Month Club, Flower of the Month Club (Amazing Clubs)
  23. Fruit: Fruit of the Month Club (Clubs of America), Fruit of the Month Club (Amazing Clubs), Fruit of the Month Club (Delightful Deliveries)
  24. Gags: Gag of the Month Club
  25. Golf Balls: Golf Ball of the Month Club (THe Month Club Store)
  26. Gourmet Foods: Connoisseur’s Club
  27. Gourmet Meals: Dinner of the Month Club (Amazing Clubs)
  28. Hot Sauce: Hot Sauce of the Month Club (Amazing Clubs), Hot Sauce of the Month Club (The Month Club Store)
  29. Ice Cream: Ice Cream Club, Ice Cream of the Month Club (Amazing Clubs)
  30. Jelly Beans: Bean-of-the-Month Club
  31. Jelly: Jelly of the Month Club (The Month Club Store)
  32. Lobster: Lobster of the Month Club (Amazing Clubs)
  33. Magic Tricks: Magic Trick of the Month Club
  34. Minerals: Mineral of the Month Club
  35. Movies: Movie of the Month Club (Amazing Clubs; includes Blockbuster gift card and popcorn or candy)
  36. Mustard: Mustard of the Month Club (Mustard Museum), Mustard of the Month Club (The Month Club Store)
  37. Neckties: Necktie of the Month Club (Amazing Clubs)
  38. Nuts: Nut of the Month Club (The Month Club Store)
  39. Olive Oil: Olive Oil of the Month Club (The Month Club Store)
  40. Olives: Olive of the Month Club (The Month Club Store)
  41. Organic Fruit: Organic Fruit Club (Delightful Deliveries)
  42. Pasta: Pasta of the Month Club (Amazing Clubs), Pasta of the Month Club (The Month Club Store), Pasta of the Month Club (Delightful Deliveries)
  43. Pickles: Pickle of the Month Club (The Month Club Store)
  44. Pizza: Pizza of the Month Club (Clubs of America)
  45. Plants: Plants by the Month
  46. Popcorn: Popcorn of the Month Club (The Month Club Store)
  47. Potato Chips: Potato Chip of the Month Club (The Month Club Store)
  48. Puzzles: Puzzle of the Month Club (The Month Club Store)
  49. Salsa: Salsa of the Month Club (iGourmet), Salsa of the Month Club (The Month Club Store)
  50. Sci-Fi DVDs: William Shatner DVD Club (Selected by William Shatner!)
  51. Sock-Making Kits: Sock of the Month Club
  52. Software: Software of the Month Club
  53. Soup: Soup of the Month Club (The Month Club Store)
  54. Stationery: Stationery of the Month Club
  55. Steak: Steak of the Month Club (Amazing Clubs), Monthly Smile Maker (Omaha Steaks)
  56. Tea: Tea of the Month Club (iGourmet), Tea of the Month Club (Adagio Teas), Tea of the Month Club (The Month Club Store), Green Tea Club/Black Tea Club/Assorted Tea Club/Herbal Tea Club (Delightful Deliveries)
  57. Wine: Wine-of-the Month Club (Clubs of America), California Wine Club, Wine of the Month Club (Amazing Clubs), Wine Club (Delightful Deliveries)
]]> http://senselist.com/2006/10/30/57-things-you-can-get-by-monthly-subscription/feed/ 19 Six rarely blooming plants http://senselist.com/2006/10/09/six-rarely-blooming-plants/ http://senselist.com/2006/10/09/six-rarely-blooming-plants/#comments Mon, 09 Oct 2006 13:00:26 +0000 Morgen Jahnke http://senselist.com/2006/10/09/six-rarely-blooming-plants/

As I mention in my article on this topic at Interesting Thing of the Day, there are some plants that bloom so rarely that the appearance of their flowers is heralded as a major event. One such plant, the Titan Arum lily, draws huge crowds to botanical gardens whenever one is about ready to bloom; people come to see the enormous spike of flowers it produces, as well as to experience the foul smell it gives off to attract would-be pollinators. Here are a few other plants that take their time when it comes to blooming.

  • Night-blooming Cereus cactus [1]—blooms for one night every year
  • Titan Arum lily [2]—seldom blooms in the wild, even less frequently when in cultivation (on average every 4-10 years)
  • Kurinji plant [3]—blooms every 12 years
  • Certain species of bamboo (e.g., Bambusa tulda [4] and Melocana bachiphera [5])—bloom every 40 to 50 years
  • Talipot palm [6]—blooms once in its 30–80 year lifespan
]]> http://senselist.com/2006/10/09/six-rarely-blooming-plants/feed/ 3 13 ways to find north if you’re lost in the woods http://senselist.com/2006/10/02/13-ways-to-find-north-if-youre-lost-in-the-woods/ http://senselist.com/2006/10/02/13-ways-to-find-north-if-youre-lost-in-the-woods/#comments Mon, 02 Oct 2006 13:00:00 +0000 Joe Kissell http://senselist.com/2006/10/02/13-ways-to-find-north-if-youre-lost-in-the-woods/ To the best of my recollection, I’ve never been lost in the woods (or elsewhere away from civilization)—or at least not sufficiently lost that I didn’t have a general sense of which direction I needed to go. But if I were, I’d have many options for getting my bearings. I recall learning, as a kid, that moss always grows on the north side of a tree, and then learning later on that under the right conditions, moss can grow on any side of a tree. When there’s no moss, or when the moss steers you wrong, you can use any of numerous other tricks to find north. Some of these don’t work especially well in dense foliage, in all weather conditions, or in all parts of the globe, but in almost any situation one of these ideas should do the trick. This is by no means an exhaustive list; I have every confidence in readers to add comments with additional methods!

Most of the following suggestions were adapted and condensed from Navigate Without a Compass and Find True North Without a Compass (both at wikiHow), Worst-Case Scenarios: How to Find Your Way When Lost in the Woods at Popular Mechanics, and Wildwood Wisdom—Chapter 17: LOST at Shelter Online.

  1. Look for moss; it usually grows on the north (i.e., least sunny) side of trees and rocks—or at least, grows most plentifully there.
  2. Look for spider webs, which tend to appear on the south sides of trees.
  3. Put a stick in the ground vertically, and note where the end of its shadow is. Wait a little while, and mark where the end is now. The line going between those two points should run approximately east–west; you can then tell by the direction of the sun’s movement which way is north.
  4. Watch the sun, which rises (more or less) in the east and sets (more or less) in the west. But since the exact position of the sun varies by season and latitude, this is rather inaccurate.
  5. In the northern hemisphere, if it’s night and the sky is clear, you can usually pick out the north star (Polaris) as the brightest one in the handle of the Little Dipper. If you’re facing that star, you’re pointing north.
  6. In the southern hemisphere, find the Southern Cross. Note the direction of the long axis of the cross. Follow that imaginary line for a distance equal to five times the length of the cross and fact the point in space where it would end. You’re now facing directly south; spin around 180° to find north.
  7. Hold an analog watch horizontally. In the northern hemisphere, point the hour hand toward the sun; in the southern hemisphere, point the 12 toward the sun. Either way, the north-south line runs halfway between the hour hand and the 12 (or 1, if Daylight Saving Time is in effect). To figure out which is which, note the sun’s direction of movement, or assume that the sun is in the southern half of the sky.
  8. Note the direction in which the clouds move, which is generally west-to-east. (This can provide only a very rough approximation at best, and doesn’t work everywhere.)
  9. If you’re in a part of the world where Traveler’s Palms grow, find one. Chances are the axis of the branches runs east-west; as usual, determine north from the direction of the sun or assume it’s in the southern part of the sky.
  10. If you’re near a body of water where birds, fish, or amphibians are breeding, keep in mind that they often prefer to breed on the west side.
  11. Use a compass. (You did bring a compass, right?)
  12. Make a compass by carefully floating a magnetized needle on the surface of water that’s sitting in a very still container. (You did bring a needle, right?)
  13. Use a GPS receiver. It’ll probably tell you the direction you’re facing without any effort, but even if it lacks an electronic compass (or the compass isn’t working), you can work out which way is north by taking two or more readings some distance apart and doing some very simple geometry. (You do remember your geometry, right?)
]]> http://senselist.com/2006/10/02/13-ways-to-find-north-if-youre-lost-in-the-woods/feed/ 29 Eight Body-Based Units of Measurement http://senselist.com/2006/09/08/eight-body-based-units-of-measurement/ http://senselist.com/2006/09/08/eight-body-based-units-of-measurement/#comments Fri, 08 Sep 2006 13:00:45 +0000 Joe Kissell http://senselist.com/2006/09/08/eight-body-based-units-of-measurement/ Before we had precise, standardized units of measure such as meters and feet, lengths (and even, ocasionally volumes) were reckoned based on the average dimensions of human body parts. In Body-Based Units of Measurement at Interesting Thing of the Day, I listed a few such historical units of measure, which can still come in handy for rough approximations if you don’t have a ruler or tape measure handy.

  • cubit: This is the distance from a man’s elbow to the tip of his middle finger, which would be about 18 inches for the average man today. (Men, of course, did the building at the time the cubit was in regular use; a woman’s “cubit” would typically be shorter.)
  • foot: It probably goes without saying that the unit foot was based on the length of a man’s foot.
  • span: Stretch out the fingers of your hand so that the tip of your thumb is as far away as possible from the tip of your pinky. That distance is called a “span,” which for most people is almost exactly half a cubit.
  • handbreadth: The width of your four fingers where they meet the palm—usually about 4 inches—is a handbreadth or sometimes just a “hand.” The height of horses is usually expressed in hands.
  • digit: The width of a finger, which tends to be about 13/16 of an inch.
  • thumb: The width of a thumb, which was later used as the basis for the inch.
  • fathom: If you stretch out your arms to either side of your body as far as they’ll go, the distance between the tips of your middle fingers will be very close to your height, or about six feet—your own feet, that is—a length also known as a fathom.
  • handful: Although we normally use the word handful in the informal sense of “just a little bit,” your hand can serve as a fairly repeatable measure of volume for dry goods such as grains, beans, and seeds.
]]> http://senselist.com/2006/09/08/eight-body-based-units-of-measurement/feed/ 2 11 non-food uses for honey http://senselist.com/2006/08/22/11-non-food-uses-for-honey/ http://senselist.com/2006/08/22/11-non-food-uses-for-honey/#comments Tue, 22 Aug 2006 13:00:31 +0000 Morgen Jahnke http://senselist.com/2006/08/22/11-non-food-uses-for-honey/ We tend to take honey for granted as just another sweetener choice, but in fact there is much more to this sticky treat than meets the eye. Honey has been used as a folk remedy in cultures around the world for millennia, and has been prescribed informally as a cure for smallpox, baldness, eye diseases, and indigestion. It’s even been used as a contraceptive. Now researchers are turning up new evidence of honey’s medicinal benefits left and right, mostly due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. I don’t think Winnie the Pooh would approve, but honey can be used for many other things besides food. Here are a few of those uses:

  1. Anti-scarring agent
  2. Anti-inflammatory: Effectively treats wounds, burns, and surgical incisions
  3. Moisturizer: A useful treatment for sunburn as well as a general-purpose skin softener
  4. Eye care: Effectively treats inflammation of the eyelid, some types of conjunctivitis, and keratitis (along with other forms of corneal damage)
  5. Anti-fungal: Used to treat athlete’s foot and other fungal infections
  6. Sore throat treatment: Can also kill the bacteria that sometimes causes sore throats
  7. Dental care: Used to reduce tooth decay—all that sticky sugar notwithstanding
  8. Anti-ulcer agent: Helps to heal ulcers and upset stomachs
  9. Digestive aid: Can regulate intestinal function, alleviating both constipation and diarrhea
  10. Sleep aid: Used as a sleep aid and to increase alertness
  11. Embalming material: Once used in Ancient Egyptian and Middle Eastern cultures to embalm the dead
]]> http://senselist.com/2006/08/22/11-non-food-uses-for-honey/feed/ 1 Eight terms for snow crusts http://senselist.com/2006/08/11/eight-terms-for-snow-crusts/ http://senselist.com/2006/08/11/eight-terms-for-snow-crusts/#comments Fri, 11 Aug 2006 13:00:12 +0000 Joe Kissell http://senselist.com/2006/08/11/eight-terms-for-snow-crusts/

The idea that there are dozens of Eskimo words for snow is (mostly) an urban myth, but in English, we have at least eight different terms for a snow crust. These are from the Glossary of Meteorology at the American Meteorological Society by way of Interesting Thing of the Day:

  1. snow crust: the general term for any hard surface on snow
  2. sun crust: a crust formed when the sun melts the top layer of snow, and then it refreezes
  3. rain crust: a crust formed when rain falls on snow and then freezes
  4. spring crust: a crust formed when warmer weather (but not necessarily sunshine) melts the top layer of snow and it refreezes
  5. wind crust: a crust that forms when wind packs down a layer of snow that has already been deposited
  6. wind slab: a crust in which the wind packs the snow at the same time as it’s being deposited
  7. ice crust: a crust that forms when water (from whatever source) flows onto the surface of snow and then freezes
  8. film crust: a very thin ice crust
]]> http://senselist.com/2006/08/11/eight-terms-for-snow-crusts/feed/ 6 Seven foods made using microbes http://senselist.com/2006/08/01/seven-foods-made-using-microbes/ http://senselist.com/2006/08/01/seven-foods-made-using-microbes/#comments Tue, 01 Aug 2006 13:00:16 +0000 Morgen Jahnke http://senselist.com/2006/08/01/seven-foods-made-using-microbes/ Years ago I took a microbiology class to fulfill the requirements for a degree. It was specifically designed for students like me, arts majors who needed those crucial science credits. As such, it stayed away from “serious” biology and focused more on the societal impact of microbiology. From infectious diseases to the misuse of antibiotics and anti-bacterial soap, it was an interesting, if somewhat frightening class. We also discussed the more benign and beneficial aspects of microbes, chief among them their ability to aid in the production of various food and beverages. It made me realize how indebted we are to these little critters, and how many of my favorite edibles and imbibables would not exist without their help. A few examples:

  1. Cheese: Bacteria produce lactic acid, which initially thickens the milk; bacteria also determine the flavor of the cheese later in the ripening process. For examples of the types of bacteria used to make different cheeses, go here.
  2. Beer: Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), once added to the wort, a liquid made of barley, hops, sugar and water, converts the sugar in the wort to alcohol and carbon dioxide (creating bubbles in the beer)
  3. Bread (leavened): Also made using yeast, although the byproducts of the yeast’s fermentation of the dough are water and carbon dioxide (not alcohol), which fills the dough with air bubbles that make it rise
  4. Wine: Like beer, wine is made using yeast, but instead of hops and barley, the starter material is obviously grapes
  5. Pickles: Cucumbers are fermented using lactic acid producing bacteria, giving pickles their sour taste and also preventing harmful strains of bacteria from taking hold. Microbes used: Enterobacter aerogenes, Lactobacillus brevis and L. plantarum, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Pediococcus cerevisiae, Enterococcus faecalis
  6. Olives: Basically inedible until they are fermented, olives are also fermented using lactic acid producing bacteria, including Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus plantarum. and Leuconostoc
  7. Yogurt: Bacteria added to milk produce lactic acid that makes the yogurt sour and partially breaks down the lactose in the milk. Microbes used: Lactobacillus bulgaricus and/or acidophilus & Streptococcus thermophilus
]]> http://senselist.com/2006/08/01/seven-foods-made-using-microbes/feed/ 23 13 active volcanoes that are tourist attractions http://senselist.com/2006/07/31/13-active-volcanoes-that-are-tourist-attractions/ http://senselist.com/2006/07/31/13-active-volcanoes-that-are-tourist-attractions/#comments Mon, 31 Jul 2006 13:00:01 +0000 Morgen Jahnke http://senselist.com/2006/07/31/13-active-volcanoes-that-are-tourist-attractions/ The primal power of volcanoes has fascinated humanity for thousands of years, and it is no different today. Tourists flock to sites with particularly spectacular displays of volcanic activity despite the potential danger they pose.

My own experience with volcano tourism involved a few nights’ stay below the slopes of the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica. As thrilling as the nightly show was, with periodic orange bursts of lava, it was humbling to know that only a few years earlier the volcano had erupted so violently that the surrounding area was evacuated. This knowledge didn’t stop me from enjoying myself, but I did keep a more watchful eye on that distant fiery peak.

  • Arenal Volcano (Costa Rica)
  • Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii)—Kilauea and Mauna Loa Volcanoes
  • Montserrat Volcano Observatory (Montserrat, West Indies)—Soufrière Hills Volcano
  • Vesuvius, Mount Etna, and Stromboli Volcanoes (Italy)
  • Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument (Washington State, USA)
  • Kilimanjaro, Oldoinya Lengai, Meru Volcanoes (Tanzania)
  • Yasur Volcano (Vanuatu)
  • Popocatepetl National Park (Mexico)
  • Fuji Five Lake Region (Japan)—Mount Fuji
  • Santa Maria/Santiaguito Volcano (Guatemala)

You can read more about the Arenal volcano in Tabacón Hot Springs at Interesting Thing of the Day.

]]> http://senselist.com/2006/07/31/13-active-volcanoes-that-are-tourist-attractions/feed/ 2 Four differences between seals and sea lions http://senselist.com/2006/07/26/four-differences-between-seals-and-sea-lions/ http://senselist.com/2006/07/26/four-differences-between-seals-and-sea-lions/#comments Wed, 26 Jul 2006 13:00:39 +0000 Joe Kissell http://senselist.com/2006/07/25/four-differences-between-seals-and-sea-lions/ According to the article What’s Left of Patagonia at Interesting Thing of the Day, both seals and sea lions are pinnipeds, or “fin-feet,” but…

  1. Sea lions have much larger front flippers than seals.
  2. Sea lions have back flippers that can rotate underneath them; seals don’t.
  3. When on land, sea lions can walk on all four flippers, whereas seals sort of slide or bounce along on their bellies.
  4. Sea lions have external ear flaps, whereas seals have ear holes but no outer appendage.
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