A potometer is a device for measuring transpiration in plants. If you have not read Leaves (Part Two), then you probably should before finishing this post. Water evaporates from leaves through the stomata. Since water molecules are attracted to one another by tiny forces, this draws new water molecules in through the roots. This process …
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Category:Biology
Trophic Cascade…
The original version of this video has been watched over 44,000,000 times so you may already have seen it. It is worth watching. It shows the subtle effects that altering one aspect of a food chain can have on other parts of the habitat. In this case, it is an entirely positive story about the …
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Animal Diets…
Happy New Year! Way down deep in the middle of the Congo,A hippo took an apricot, a guava and a mango.He stuck it with the others, and he danced a dainty tango.The rhino said, “I know, we’ll call it Um Bongo”Um Bongo, Um Bongo, They drink it in the Congo.The python picked the passion fruit, …
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Covid-19…
Covid-19 is the condition caused by the current coronavirus outbreak; a virus more properly called SARS-CoV-2. A coronavirus is a type of virus that can cause disease in mammals and birds. These are usually mild respiratory tract infections such as the common cold. There are currently no vaccines to prevent human coronavirus infections. They can …
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Tardigrades…
When we are back next week, we are going to use the microscopes. Among other things we will look through some mossy water to see what we can find. The top prize is for finding a tardigrade – also known as a water bear or (my favourite) moss piglet. If you have 12 minutes, watch …
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Triton Rebreather…
A few years ago I wrote a post about an Indiegogo campaign to raise money for a gravity powered light. I rather poured scorn on their claims but I notice that they are still very much in business. I continue to have doubts about their ability to produce meaningful amounts of useful light but others seem …
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A La Pharmacie…
A pharmacy visit in France is slightly different to one in England. It is often more akin to a doctor visit as they are able to hand over medications that, in the UK, would require a doctor’s prescription. I have friends who tell me that they stock up with medications whenever they visit France so that …
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A Capella Science…
I thought this was rather splendid. Perhaps you will recognise the song, although the words have been quite delightfully altered.
Farming Simulator…
Being back in France offers the opportunity to play a little Farming Simulator. Action packed adventure! It is like GTA crossed with the Wurzels – not that you would know what either of those are… To maximise the yield in each field you have to apply fertiliser in the game. There are two ways to …
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Baby Numbats Are Cute…
Numbats are insectivorous marsupials from Western Australia. They are an endangered species. Marsupials are mammals, but unlike most other mammals they carry their young in a pouch during the early stages of development. Marsupials are only found in Australia and South America. Australia and South America were joined together into a super-continent called Gondwanaland until …
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