In today’s post:
But first, the picture of the week!
PICTURE OF THE WEEK
Everyone loves LEGO!
Danish Foreign Minister Rasmussen gifted the Egyptian Foreign Minister Abdelatty with a LEGO set of the Great Pyramid of Giza. ❤️🧱
5 FACTS
The friendliest animal? 🧐
Capybaras are famous for being “the friendliest animals on Earth.” But here are 5 fun facts that might surprise you:
Capybaras are picky eaters - they only eat one kind of grass. However, that doesn’t stop them from eating their own poop! This helps them get more nutrients out of that grass. 💩
Can’t find mom? No problem! The females take turns nursing all the babies, not just their own. Raising all the babies together forms strong group bonds. 🍼
Bulky sprinters? They don’t look athletic, but capybaras can run up to 22 mph! 👟
Like humans, capybaras don’t produce vitamin C. Without enough vitamin C, they’re one of the few animals that can get scurvy (which causes weakness, anemia, and easy bruising). 🍊
Capybaras are very vocal! They use purrs, barks, whistles, and clicks to communicate with each other! 🎤
SCIENCE QUESTIONS
What causes itches? 🪶
Ever wonder where itches come from?
You might not want to know…
Scientists from Harvard Medical School found the culprit: a bacterium called Staphylococcus aureus. It releases a chemical (protease V8) that flips on an “itch switch” (PAR1) in our nerves.
Scientists discovered this when they put the bacterium on mice, and the mice developed some serious itching.
People with dermatitis also have higher levels of protease V8.
Now scientists hope they can create creams that block PAR1 and stop the itching!
Just remember that every time you scratch an itch, you could be spreading Staphylococcus aureus! 🦠
Source: Cell
TRIVIA CORNER
Need for speed: animal version! 👟
Which animal is the fastest?
We all know the cheetah, but do you know the fastest in these other categories?
Source: Science Focus | Wikipedia
P.S. Turtle vs. tortoise (Quick answer!)
Turtles | Tortoises | |
|---|---|---|
Habitat | In or near water (oceans, rivers, lakes) | On land in dry places |
Physical Attributes | Webbed feet and lighter shells for swimming | Thick legs for walking, heavier shells for protection |
Diet | Omnivorous (eats plants, insects, small animals) | Herbivorous (eats plants) |