Category Fun Facts

Humans are the only animals on earth with chins. The chin could be a “spandrel” or evolutionary by-product. It may be the result of the human face shrinking over time as our posture straightened and our faces shortened, or a remnant from a period of longer jaws.

The chin isn’t just the lower part of your face: It’s a specific term for that little piece of bone extending from the jaw. While it may seem odd, humans are in fact the only animals that have one. Even chimpanzees and gorillas, our closest genetic cousins, lack chins. Instead of poking forward, their lower jaws slope down and back from their front teeth. Even other ancient hominids, like the Neanderthals, didn’t have chins —their faces simply ended in a flat plane.

Picture Credit : Google

Birdwatching is an interesting, exciting as well as a relaxing hobby for children. But do you know the basics of birdwatching? Read on to find out what we need to do when on a birding trail in this first of a five-part series.

Oodles of patience, hours of silent observation and no sudden movements – these are the prerequisites of birdwatching.

So you’ve bought your first pair of binoculars (if that’s a mouthful, let’s stick to binns or binocs!). Congratulations! I hope you have worn your dullest, darkest clothes, because birds have good eyesight and can spot bright yellows, reds and blues from a mile away. That’s a green signal for them to scoot!

Locate the bird

First locate the bird with the naked eye when it flies and settles on a branch, and then focus your binocs on the spot. Birds usually sit high up in the canopy or flit amidst dense foliage, so it might be a while before you see one clearly.

Pointing your finger and letting out a screech of joy when you spot it to let others know, are strict no-nos. Birds think you are about to shoot at them if you lift your hand up suddenly. Their hearing is sharp too, which is why birdwatching is best done in very small groups.

You might think that following the sound of a calling bird would give away its hiding place, but be warned! Most birds are master ventriloquists so while you focus on a spot in front of you, the bird might be trilling away happily behind your back!

Peak hours for avian traffic

The time between sunrise and 10 a.m. are the peak hours for avian traffic. You will hear the maximum number of bird calls then and see them out in the open as they search busily for insects, berries and flower nectar.

The activity tapers off gradually by noon. In the stillness of the afternoon, birds sit quietly in the shade of the leaves and there is nary a movement to tell you that a little fella is perched on the twig near your nose!

By four o’clock or thereabouts, there is a stirring, a rustling and a hunting for a quick evening snack. And then there is a great flying to and fro as the birds return to their roosting spots for the night. That is a good time to watch them, too, but the fading light often plays spoilsport and all you can see sometimes are silhouettes.

However, despite tired arms, aching neck and sore eyes, it’s all been worth it, because you saw your very first Asian paradise flycatcher in flight, weaving in and out among the leaves like a ghost, his long white tail gleaming in the dim light…

Birding app

Novice birdwatchers need not worry. The Merlin Bird Id app is a truly amazing, easy-to-use aid in identifying a bird by its appearance, calls, songs and the area and month one sees it!

Developed by Cornell Lab of Ornithology, New York, the free-to-download app has different ‘bird packs’ which list all the likely birds that can be seen in a particular country or region of the world, including oceans! There are photos, too.

Useful tips

• Most sanctuaries and national parks conduct birdwatching trails. One of the best times to watch birds is when the trees have shed their leaves.
• Wear dull-coloured clothes that merge with the surroundings. Avoid any jerky or noisy movements that would disturb a bird.
• Carry a pair of binoculars with you. A spotting scope would be ideal as you get an upright image unlike the inverted image you get in a telescope
• Take an illustrated field guide (or get hold of Dr. Salim Ali’s “Book of Indian Birds”) to help you to identify unfamiliar birds.
• Ideally, familiarise yourself with the birds in the region before starting the trail. For this, read about their physical features, calls, habitat and the time of the day when you are most likely to see them.

Picture Credit : Google 

It occurs when a person is sleep deprived, tired, or suffering from a sleep disorder. Microsleep is a common cause of car accidents when an exhausted driver falls asleep at the wheel while driving.

It is a brief, involuntary episode of sleep lasting from a fraction of a second to several seconds. Microsleep occurs when a person is sleep deprived, mentally fatigued, depressed or suffering from a sleep disorder.

Microsleep can happen anytime, anywhere. Often, the person is so tired that he does not even realise that he has missed a few seconds of wakefulness. He may feel temporarily spaced out and not react to external factors like a traffic light.

Though it is a matter of a few seconds, microsleep is very dangerous if it occurs insituations when the person has to be constantly alert such as while driving, flying an aeroplane, or operating heavy machinery. Microsleep is a common cause of car accidents when an exhausted driver falls asleep at the wheel while driving and wakes up too late to avoid a collision or negotiate a curve on the road. Microsleep can affect your performance in school too. If you are sleep deprived, it is possible that microsleep could spell trouble while writing the exam paper.

Picture Credit : Google 

Milk paint dries in less than half an hour, compared with the days needed for oil-based paints to dry.

Did you know that in 2017, the exterior walls of the 15th-Century Belvedere Palace near St. Peters Square in Vatican City, were touched up using milk paint? The milk was mixed with slaked lime and natural pigments to create the original cream colour used in the 1500s and then hand-patted onto the walls!

Milk paint is not new-it has been used for thousands of years. It is not premixed like oil and acrylic paints, but comes in the form of a powder. The powder contains milk protein or casein, lime and natural earth or mineral pigments. It is mixed with water and then used like regular paint. It is sold as a powder because the paint begins to spoil once it is mixed with water.

Milk paint dries in less than half an hour, compared with the days needed for oil-based paints. It doesn’t require priming or sanding before application. It is non-toxic and almost fume-free. It also produces a unique mottled finish that can be lightly sanded for a shine.

Picture Credit : Google