Tuesday, November 18, 2008

William Smith "Father of English Geology" (1769-1839)

Born in 1769 Smithis story is a long and dramatic and takes in bankruptcy, a spell in Newgate Debtorsi Prison, a breakdown and a mentally ill wife. Yet by the time he died in 1839 he was recognised as one of the country is leading academics.

It was while working in Somerset that Smith studied the strata at a local mine. He realised they were arranged in a predictable partten and could always be found in the same relative positions.

Additionally, he discovered that each stratum could be identified by the fossils it contained, To test his theory he travelled around the country, becoming the first person to identify and map the strata. These discoveries made oil and mineral extraction possible and in many mays changed the world. In 1831 Smith was awarded the first Wollaston medal by the Geological Society. He is known as the "Father of English Geology", however recognition was slow in coming.

HOW ARE CAVES FORMED?




Caves are formed by water wearing away rock. When rainwater falls through the air, it picks up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Together, water and carbon dioxide become a mild acidic solution called carbonic acid. Water soaking through soil can also pick up carbon dioxide and become carbonic acid.

When this acid hits rock, it very slowly begins to dissolve the rock and create tiny cracks. Over thousands of years, these cracks can grow into caves.

Water also creates formations within caves, like stalactites and stalagmites.

TEBUAN DARI NERAKA




Tebuan gergasi yang diberi gelaran 'tebuan dari neraka' berukuran dua inci panjang mendiami kawasan pergunungan Jepun.

Sengatnya mengeluarkan bisa iaitu sejenis enzim yang kuat sehingga ia boleh menghancurkan tisu-tisu tubuh manusia.

Seekor tebuan itu mampu membunuh 40 ekor lebah madu Eropah dalam masa seminit.

Manusia yang disengat tebuan ini perlu mendapatkan rawatan segera jika tidak mereka akan mati.

Kira-kira 40 orang mati setiap tahun akibat disengat tebuan gergasi ini, kebanyakannya mati akibat tindakbalas alergi terhadap bisa tebuan itu.

Monday, November 17, 2008

SELAMAT BERCUTI

Ketua Panitia Sains mengucapkan selamat bercuti kepada semua warga SHAH PEKAN.