Happy Wednesday!
Here’s what we’ve got this week:
TRIVIA
Hottest places on Earth? 🥵
Which country has the highest recorded temperature?
(Explanation at the end!)
ANIMAL FOCUS
Koalas 🐨
Here’s some fun facts about koalas:
Koalas have fingerprints like humans! They’re so similar that even forensic scientists can mix them up! 🐾
Their brains are the size of a walnut! They have one of the smallest brain-to-body size ratios of any mammal. Since their brains are so small, they have a lot of extra space in their skulls that’s filled with fluid! 🧠
Koalas sleep up to 22 hours a day! Eating and digesting eucalyptus leaves uses a lot of energy, so they rest a lot. 😴
They have two thumbs on each hand! This helps them grip branches and climb trees, even when it’s windy. 👍
They have a built-in butt cushion. They have a thick pad of cartilage at the base of their spine that works like a seat, so they can sit in trees comfortably for hours. 🪑
Koalas rarely drink water. They get most of their water from eucalyptus leaves. They only drink during droughts or heatwaves. In fact, their name comes from a word that means “no water.” 💧
EVER WONDER?
Myth-busters: Microwaves
Do microwaves destroy nutrients?
How microwaves work 🌡️
Microwaves heat food by using energy to make water inside the food vibrate. This creates heat and warms the food up from the inside.
Why nutrients are lost 🌿
Food can lose nutrients because of:
Heat: Some nutrients (like Vitamin C) break down when heated. This happens with all cooking methods, not just microwaves.
Water: When food is cooked in water, some nutrients leak out. If you throw away the water (like when you boil vegetables), you lose those nutrients.
Time: The longer food cooks, the more nutrients are lost.
How microwaves can help ✅
Microwaves can help keep more of the nutrients because they:
Cook food quickly
Use little or no water
What about radiation? ☢️
Microwaves use non-ionizing radiation, which does not break chemical bonds or damage nutrients. It only heats the food.
Ultimately, microwaves are one of the best ways to heat food and protect the nutrients!
Graeme Guy | The Nature Photography Contest 2025
Thanks for reading! See you next week!
- Steve
P.S. The hottest air temperature ever recorded on Earth was 134°F in Death Valley (1913). The hottest ground temperature there was 201°F - almost hot enough to boil water!
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