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What are the 10 largest deserts in the world?

Did you know deserts do not just refer to the hot, sandy deserts? There are so many variations and it is exciting to learn about them because even though they are deserts, they are so different from each other.

Deserts are geographical areas that receive less than 12 inches of precipitation annually. Here are some of the largest deserts in the world and their unique features:

Antarctica

Area of Antarctica Desert: 14,000,000 sq km

You have thought Antarctica was just a continent but, no. It is also the world’s biggest desert and is considered a ‘polar desert’ or ‘cold desert’. It is 14,000,000 square kilometers.

Located in the south pole, it receives 20 mm of rainfall annually, and that too in the coastal region.

Arctic Desert

Area of Artic Desert: 13,985,000 sq km

Like Antarctica, the Arctic Desert is also called a desert due to low precipitation (50 mm annually). The air is so cold that the rainwater turns into snowflakes when it falls. It lies in the polar region and stretches across the Arctic Ocean.

Despite the cold climatic conditions, there are different species of birds, walruses, and polar bears who live here.

Sahara Desert

Area of Sahara Desert: 9,200,000 sq km

The Sahara is the largest sub-tropical desert in the world. Located in the northern part of the African continent, it stretches from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. The name Sahara originates from an Arabian name ‘Cahra’ which means desert.

Surprisingly this subtropical desert has two rivers and twenty seasonal lakes.

The Sahara Desert is growing. According to a study by the National Science Foundation, the Sahara Desert has grown by 10% and will continue growing until people lower the emission level.

Australia Desert

Area of Australian Desert: 2,700,000 sq km

The Australian Desert is all the deserts in Australia combined. Because the entirety of Australia receives 81 to 250 mm of precipitation annually. Australia is a dry country and roughly 70% of the country is said to be semi-arid, arid, or a desert.

Most of the deserts lie in the Western Plateau and Interior Lowlands. The biggest desert in Australia is the Great Victorian Desert.

Arabian Desert

Area of Arabian Desert: 2,330,000 sq km

The Arabian Desert is the second largest sub-topical desert but, ranks no. 5 overall. Despite being sandy and barren for most parts, it is rich in natural resources like sulfur and oil.

It also is home to 102 species of mammals and 310 species of birds.

Gobi Desert

Area of Gobi Desert: 1,295,000 sq km

The Gobi Desert is the second-largest desert in Asia. It stretches across Mongolia and China. Despite receiving 194mm of annual rain, the Gobi Desert has very fertile soil, which is one reason why it is the wealthiest part of Mongolia. The Gobi Desert has gold and copper mines.

The Oyu Tolgoi, the world’s third richest copper and gold mine lies in the Gobi desert. Gobi desert is well-known for being the natural habitat for the snow leopard and Bactrian camel.

Kalahari Desert

Area of Kalahari desert: 900,000 sq km

The Kalahari desert is named after the Tswana word ‘Kgala,’ which translates to ‘the great thirst’. The name is fitting as it receives 110mm to 500mm of rain yearly. The desert spans Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.

The desert is the home to meerkats, hyenas, and wildebeest

Patagonian Desert

Area of Patagonia desert: 620,000 sq km

The Patagonia desert spans Argentina and Chile. It lies in South America and is also known as the Patagonian Steppe, as it is rocky shrubland and thorn scrub. The Patagonian desert receives 500mm to 700mm of rain in a year.

Armadillos, Llama, Guanaco, and foxes are a few of the wildlife that are found here.

Syrian Desert

Area of Syrian Desert: 520,000 sq km

The Syrian Desert or the Syrian Steep in the South merges with the Arabian Desert. It touches several countries in the Middle East like Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, and Jordan. It receives 50mm to 600mm of rain in a year.

Stripped hyenas, golden hamsters, Arabian ostrich, and sand cats are native to the Syrian desert.

The Great Basin

Area of Great Basin: 492,000 sq km

The Great Basin lies in the Central West Nevada USA. It lies between the Sierra Nevada and Wasatch Mountain, covering Nevada, Utah, Oregon, and California.

The Great Basin has a large groove of sagebrush, salt flats, and a dry lake bed. It is well known for the Great Basin National Park which is located in the central part of the desert.

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Conclusion

So these were the top 10 largest deserts of the world. Many people imagine deserts to be dry, arid, and sandy but, ironically Antarctica is the biggest desert in the world and it is very cold.

FAQs

1. Which desert is larger Antarctica or Sahara?

Antarctica is bigger than the Sahara desert.

2. What is the second-largest desert in the world?

The Arctica desert is the second-largest desert in the world.

3. Why is the Gobi Desert different from the Sahara Desert?

The Gobi Desert is different from the Shara Desert because it is cooler than the Sahara Desert.

4. Is the Syrian desert dry?

Yes, the Syrian desert is the wasteland of Southwest Asia and is all gravel and barren land.

5. What is the Syrian desert known for?

The Syrian desert is known for its ancient settlement.

What are the cruelest weapons devised by man?

The world has been at war since the beginning of time. Ironically, people are always waging wars against one another for the sake of peace. People have used different weapons against one another, each trying to outdo the other. Here is a list of some of the cruelest weapons devised by man.

Tsar Bomba

This is considered to be one of the most toxic nuclear bombs to have been made. Detonating one Tasr Bomba, its results could be seen within a 100-mile radius. People within a 62 km radius suffered from third-degree burns and the air was unbreathable.

It was made by the Soviets and detonated in 1961. Luckily for us, Tasr Bomba is not currently owned by anyone. Maybe there is a limit to chemical warfare and is not always about winning.

Sulfur Mustard

Sulfur Mustard is a man-made chemical warfare agent. When it is released into the air. It causes severe blisters and burns to the eyes and the skin. In case it is inhaled, it also has adverse effects on the respiratory tract.

The people also have reported suffering from vomiting and insomnia. Sulfur Mustard is not necessarily lethal but, it causes prolonged suffering. It also depends on who comes in contact with it. About 5% of the people exposed to sulfur died in World War I.

Gas chamber

Gas Chamber is not necessarily a weapon, but it was weaponized to kill people. Gas Chambers were used in the Nazi extermination camps. The inmates of the camps were locked in a room with a small opening for the pipe to let in the engine exhaust.

It is truly one of the cruelest ways anyone can think of to end someone’s life. About 50,000 Jews lost their lives in the Nazi concentration camp gas chambers alone, many more lost their lives to other horrors.

White Phosphorous

White phosphorous can give you second-degree burns and third-degree burns. It gets absorbed through your skin and affects your liver and kidneys. It is extremely painful and even the healing process takes a lot of time.

White phosphorous starts igniting almost as soon as it is exposed to air. When it gets to your lungs, it turns into phosphoric acid. And the scariest part is that the fire it creates cannot be stopped by water.

Flamethrower

Richard Fiedler invented the flamethrower in 1900. This invention has been deemed so inhumane that nations have had discussions on whether it should be legal or illegal to use. With a range of 60 to 150 feet, they can easily clear out bunkers in a single trigger.

Once they are used, the flames cling to you until the fuel runs out. It is a horrifying creation that keeps both people in danger; the giver and the receiver. The person who is carrying the flamethrower becomes everybody’s target and the person on the receiving end is not the luckiest person.

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Conclusion

Weapons are man-made creations created by powerful minds. It is the intent that is cruel. It is unorthodox to label which weapon is worse than the other because anything that causes destruction is cruel.

The list here is based on the intensity of harm they can cause instead of other weapons in no particular order. Keep learning and remember not every creation has a beautiful purpose.

FAQs

1. What weapon has killed the most?

AK-47 has been known to be one of the most dangerous weapons that has taken the most lives.

2. What does sulfur mustard do to the cells within the body?

It affects the lymph nodes, bone marrow, and spleen which causes white blood cell levels to drop. It makes you prone to infections.

3. What is white phosphorous used for?

White phosphorous is used for chemical manufacturing which is used for fertilizers and cleaning agents.

4. Is sulfur mustard legal?

They are not illegal but they are regulated under Schedule 1 of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

5. Why is white phosphorous banned?

White phosphorus is very difficult to extinguish once it starts burning, this is one big reason why white phosphorus is banned.

6. Does the military use gas chambers?

Yes, trainees are supposed to go through gas chambers as part of their combat training.

7. When was the last gas chamber death?

The last gas chamber death was on March 3, 1999. It was the execution of Walter LaGrand.

8. Why is a flamethrower banned?

The devastating effects of using a flamethrower in World War 1 were deemed inhuman. Therefore they were officially banned in 1978.

9. Can Tsar Bomba destroy a country?

Yes, Tasr Bomba can affect a place up to a 100-mile radius. If it is a small country like Luxembourg, you could indeed destroy a whaling country.

The reality of White Tigers: Do they need to be saved?

White tigers are a sight to see. Because they are so rare, they are very expensive. The profit margin revolving around the white tigers can raise brows as to whether the attempts made to ‘conserve’ them have no hidden agenda.

White tigers are not albinos.

Contrary to popular belief, white tigers are not albino. The white fur is the result of defective pigment cells called leucism. When both the male tiger and the female tiger have this recessive gene, then there becomes a possibility of a cub having white fur.

But this is so rare, that humans have started selectively breeding them for animal sanctuaries and exotic pet shops.

White tigers are relatively unhealthy.

White tigers look like normal tigers with just different fur colors, but unfortunately for them, white tigers do not have the same immunity system. Most of the white tigers we see in zoos and sanctuaries have been bred selectively.

Because there are so few white tigers in nature, most of these white tigers that humans have bred are inbred. This is why they are prone to sickness and have a shorter lifespan as compared to normal tigers.

White tigers are not endangered, they are rare.

What is endangered? Endangered is the term used to describe a species that is not doing well and is not on the verge of extinction. White tigers are not a separate species, they’re Bengal tigers or Siberian tigers with a rare defect in pigment cells called leucism.

The probability of this happening naturally is very low. This is why, most of the white tigers you see have been selectively bred. This is not the best

White tigers will have low chances of survival in the wild.

With all of the awareness and campaigns about white tigers, it may confuse us that they’re supposed to exist naturally in the wild. While a single anomaly is acceptable, tigers are not supposed to be white.

This is because they are predatory animals and need to camouflage with their surroundings to hunt. Their fur makes them stand out and makes their prey alert.

The hunters also easily spot them, which could prove to be fatal. So, it is not necessary to try and create an entire subspecies purely for our amusement when they would have a hard in their natural habitat with white fur.

White tigers have been bred for profit.

This may not come off as a surprise but, white tigers are also bred for profit. They are expensive because of how rare they are. This is why people breed them and most of the white tigers we see are a result of inbreeding.

In-bred white tigers are not healthy. They have many health issues and a shorter life span.

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Conclusion

We need to protect and conserve the white tigers in the wild. They need our help because it is difficult for them to hunt. And they are also an easy target for greedy hunters.

We also need to be aware of the unnecessary breeding. Not all the white tigers we see were bred for conservation.

FAQs

1. Do white tigers live in Asia?

Yes, white tigers were initially spotted in Asia.

2. Which country is famous for the white tiger?

India and China are famous for white tigers.

3. Do grey tigers exist?

Sadly, grey tigers have gone extinct. They were also known as the Caspian Tigers.

4. Are white tigers Albinos?

No, white tigers are not albinos. Their condition is the result of defective pigment cells.

5. What do white tigers eat?

White tigers are carnivores and eat other animals like the normal orange tiger.

6. Are Serbian tigers white?

No, not all Serbian tigers are not white. But there are some Serbian tigers.

Sea Monkeys: Are they fish food or loving pets?

Sea monkeys have been taking the internet by storm. They have been marketed as small loving pets. You may have probably seen them being sold in small aquarium-like containers.

Sea Monkeys are brine fish. They are crustaceans and live in salt water or saline water. They got their name ‘Sea-monkey’ because they resemble the monkey’s tail.

Brine shrimps in the wild are comparatively smaller, they have been bred to be bigger for people to have as pets. The specifically bred brine shrimps also have a longer life span.

Sea monkeys or brine fish are translucent. As a newborn, they only have one eye. They grow another pair after a while.

They are called sea monkeys because they have long tails which makes them look like monkeys. Sea Monkeys normally live for 1 year but, people who have had them as pets have reported them to live for 5 whole years.

Sea Monkeys are proof that humans will pet anything. Sea monkeys were initially used as pet food, but now they have become pets.

They are easy pets for beginners, but you’ll have to research to create an optimal environment for them so that you can have your little aquatic friends for a long time.

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FAQs

1. What is a sea monkey?

Sea Monkeys are hybrid brine shrimp. They were initially made as fish food but are now also sold as pets: ‘Sea Monkeys’.

2. Can you drink sea monkey water?

It is not advisable to drink sea monkey water. It has high sodium levels which could affect our system.

3. Is Sea Monkey a real animal?

Yes, the sea monkey is a real animal.

4. What do sea monkeys eat?

Sea Monkeys eat algae. You can also feed them brine-shrimp food, which is most likely powdered algae.

5. What eats sea monkeys?

Sea Monkeys are eaten by bigger marine life and fish.

How old is the oldest tree on earth?

Trees are known to live for years. Depending on the species, they can live for 100 to more than 1000 years. You might wonder how old is the oldest tree on earth which you will know in this blog.

The age of the tree is measured by counting the number of rings in the base of the tree. This is called dendrochronology.

The oldest tree on earth is Methuselah. It belongs to the bristlecone pine family, these species are known to last 5000 years. The oldest bristlecone pine tree is said to be 4854 years old.

It is located in the Inyo National Forest, Eastern California. The exact location of the tree has not been disclosed to protect this ancient tree from being vandalized by the locals and tourists.

We all know that the rings at the base of the tree help us determine how old the tree is. But, it would be against the public interest to cut down a tree so old(trees in general). It is also obvious to think that as a living thing whether trees have consciousness or not.

Luckily, there is another method of figuring out the age without cutting the whole tree down. An increment borer. An increment borer is a tool that is drilled into the tree to carve out a small cylinder from the tree. Then the rings in the cylinder are counted to determine its age.

An interesting fact about the Methuselah is that it is not only the tree that has such a long life. The pine needles on the tree have been known to last 30 years. Even the pinecone takes about two years to fully mature. This helps them protect the energy that is required to produce more pine needles and pinecones.

Bristlecone pine trees usually live long. This is because they take time to grow and the wood is very dense to withstand the harsh weather conditions.

The slow growth helps them become sturdy and strong to survive the storms of the hills. This also makes them immune to fungi and other parasites which further helps them grow and survive longer than other normal trees.

The fact that the location of this amazing tree has not been disclosed speaks volumes on how humans are. So, we need to do better and create a better environment for other beings that we share this planet with.

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FAQs

1. Which is the oldest tree in the world?

The oldest tree in the world is the Methuselah tree.

2. How old is the oldest tree in the world?

The Methuselah tree is 4854 years old.

3. Is there a 10,000-year-old tree?

A colony of Huon Pine trees in Mount Read is said to be roughly 10,000 years old.

4. Which tree is the oldest in India?

The Great Banyan tree is the oldest in India.

5. Where is the oldest tree in the world?

The oldest tree in the world is located in California, USA. It is situated in the Inyo National Forest.

Shoebill storks: Is the bird as menacing as it looks?

With yellowish-greyish eyes, and standing 5 feet tall, the shoebill stork is almost always seen motionless. This unique, prehistoric-looking bird, is found in Africa and the east-central continent. They are large-bodied and resemble a ‘Dodo’, the bird that has already gone extinct.

The name shoebill accurately fits this bird because its beak looks like a Dutch clog and is a foot long. Their dark-blue and dark-gray feathers, help them camouflage well in the dense forest.

One unique fact about the shoebill stork is that it isn’t a stork. They are part of the Balaenicipitidae family. It is the only member of the Balaeniceps genus.

Shoebills storks prefer being alone and are solitary creatures. They come together to mate but, they prefer not to feed together. They lay up to 3 eggs in one gestation period and mostly it is the oldest shoebill stork that survives.

Even the parents do not care for the younger ones, they are merely backups for when the oldest one does not make it.

These birds are quiet and usually keep to themselves. But the sound of shoebill stork may catch you off guard and may even scare you. They clack their bills together and it sounds like the firearms going off. If you are alone in the forest and hear the sound a shoebill stork makes, you may even mistake it for a shootout.

Despite the scary sound they produce, shoebill storks have been reported to be very docile and gentle with humans but, they are ambush predators who tend to surprise attack their prey.

They live around freshwater swaps and freshwater marshes. This is their

These birds are often seen just standing still, motionless. This is them waiting for their prey and then suddenly attack. They have been known to feed on mainly fish and water snakes, but they have been caught eating baby crocodiles too.

Shoebills have unfortunately been classified as vulnerable meaning they are at risk of getting endangered. There are approximately 3000- 5300 shoebills today. So, let’s do our best to conserve this unique species and not let it meet the same fate as the Dodo.

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FAQs

1. Are shoe bill storks friendly?

Shoebill storks are not necessarily friendly but, they are very docile towards humans.

2. Are shoe bill storks dinosaurs?

No. shoe bill storks are birds and not dinosaurs.

3. Can a shoebill stork fly?

Yes, a shoebill stork can fly up to 35 to 48 km per hour.

4. How many shoebill storks are left?

There are about 3000-5000 shoebill storks left.

5. What does shoebill eat?

Shoebill storks prey on fish, water snakes, and young crocodiles.

Mt. Vesuvius, Italy: The mountain that was unnamed until it erupted

Our world has not been fully discovered but, that is because of a geological or atmospheric hindrance. Can you imagine that a mountain that is over 1000 meters tall(1281m) was unnoticed until it erupted? Well, that is the story of Mt. Vesuvius. It was unnamed and unnoticed until it erupted as if it wanted to draw people’s attention to its existence.

Mt. Vesuvius in Italy is a volcanic mountain. It is made of two different mountains; the Caldera or the crater is on top of Mt. Vesuvius whereas, Mt. Vesuvius is attached to Monte Somma.

The volcanic mountain was named in 79 AD and when it did, it supposedly blasted pumice stones into the air. This lasted for 5 whole hours, collapsing buildings. But, this raining stones was not the end of it. After 17 hours, the pyroclastic (fast-flowing solidified lava and hot gases) flow engulfed the city of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

This eruption caught everyone by surprise as the people of Pompeii were unaware of this sleeping beast. It had been 1800 years that the volcano was dormant. After the big eruption, it erupted 6 times in the 18th century, 8 times in the 19th century, and 3 times in the 20th century.

The debris and artifacts of Pompeii city were untouched until the 18th century. Today, they have been recognized by the World Monument Funds for their preservation.

It has been estimated that $335 million will be required for its preservation.

The last time it erupted was in 1944 AD, making sure it was not forgotten again. Now, scientists believe that an eruption is overdue and the 154 sq miles of magma will cause a ferocious explosion.

But, for now, it is a famous tourist attraction with high-grade fruits and vegetables. The red grape Aglianico, and white grapes Fiano and Greco Do Tufo have been known to make excellent wine. The land there does not require irrigation as the spongey soil slowly releases water to the vegetation.

If there were an eruption again, this eruption would affect more than 2 million people and the entire city of Naples. However, visitors still visit this amazing site because the scientists are monitoring the volcano 24/7, just in case they need to raise an alarm to evacuate the place.

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FAQs

1. What is so special about Mt. Vesuvius?

Mt. Vesuvius was not known until the 79 AD when it finally erupted.

2. What are some sad facts about Mt. Vesuvius?

During the eruption of 79 AD, the eruption engulfed the city of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Almost 2000 citizens died and the children were also affected.

3. Why is it called Mt. Vesuvius?

Mt. Vesuvius could have been named after the ‘fesf’ which means smoke.

4. What is Mt. Vesuvius’s nickname?

Mt. Vesuvius is also known as the sleeping giant.

5. How old is Mt. Vesuvius?

Mt. Vesuvius is about 2,000,000 years old.

Things to keep in mind when working out with sciatica

Our body is capable of many things. But, some ailments keep us from doing things temporarily or permanently. It can be difficult to navigate life with Sciatica, but you can always get better. Here is a list of things you need to keep in mind when you’re working out with Sciatica.

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is a nerve pain in the Sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the longest in the human body and controls the knee and the lower leg.

When you have Sciatica, the pain originates from the buttocks and affects the backs or legs. It could be a moderate pain that will cause slight discomfort or very bad, making you immobile.

But this does not mean you have to stop living your life when you have Sciatica. You can still work out and do activities by being mindful of a few things.

What are the things to keep in mind when working out with Sciatica?

There are certain things to keep in mind when working out with sciatica, which are listed as follows:

Improve your posture

When you’re doing your Sciatica exercises, you should always check your form. These exercises are meant to help you, but the bad form can lead to other problems.

You can practice in front of a mirror or have someone check your posture when you’re exercising, to ensure you are not doing anything wrong.

Apply heat to your pelvis

You need to apply the heat to the rear end of your pelvis. Doing this for 10-15 minutes before the exercise can relax and soften your soft tissues. If your tissues are firm and rigid, it makes movement difficult and the exercise can be painful.

Applying heat can also result in blood vessel dilation, which can improve blood flow to your lower back.

Do light exercises

You need to try low-effort exercises like walking or using simple sciatica exercises. These exercises will help you be flexible without straining your nerves or muscles.

The light exercises will also not feel overwhelming, motivating you to continue with it. Keep in mind that you do not have to sweat, you just need to be consistent with your movements first. You can focus on more later.

Be consistent with exercises

Even though you should avoid doing heavy exercises, you need to be consistent with the light exercises you do. This will make your soft tissue flexible and avoid rigidity.

To be consistent with your exercise, find ways to motivate yourself. You should not be focused on how long you did an exercise, but rather on how regularly you’re doing it.

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Know when to stop when working out with Sciatica

No matter what people say, the advice that worked for your friend, may not work for you. So if you feel discomfort, don’t push yourself and shrug it off. Be mindful of how your body feels.

Exercising regularly will be difficult but, you need to understand that it should help you get rid of the pain in the long run. If the pain is persistent or if the exercises are uncomfortable, speak out about it and find something that works out for you.

Conclusion

This is not professional medical advice on how to treat Sciatica, but rather just researched information to give you comfort and some idea.

If you have Sciatica or think you have Sciatica, please make sure to seek professional help. We are not qualified, nor do we recommend just taking the help of an article for help.

FAQs

1. What is the purpose of the sciatica nerve?

The purpose of the sciatica nerve is to provide motor innervation to the rear end of the thigh.

2. What are the main causes of sciatica?

Tumors, spondylitis, spinal stenosis, slipped disks or pelvic injury can cause sciatica.

3. How long does sciatica last?

Sciatica can last you anywhere from between 4-6 weeks. It can keep hurting if you do not take care of it.

4. What are the top 3 exercises for Sciatica?

Pelvic title, knee to chest, and lower trunk rotation are good exercises for Sciatica.

5. Is walking good for Sciatica?

Yes, walking is good for Sciatica. But you need to be mindful and do it in moderation.

6. Can Sciatica fully recover?

Yes, Sciatica can be fully recovered with proper care and consistent exercise and treatment.

Moon cycles: What are the different phases of the moon cycles?

The moon is the natural satellite of the earth. You may have noticed that the moon is slightly different every other day. This is because the moon is going through phases.

What is a moon phase?

To understand the reason for the different phases of the moon, you need to understand what a moon cycle is.

Firstly, the moon does not have its light. It reflects the light of the sun. The sun’s rays hit the moon and this is why we can see the moon shine at night.

Secondly, the moon orbits the Earth. It orbits the Earth. Because it is constantly in motion, not all of the moon receives sunlight. This is why we see only a part of the moonshine. The part of the moon that receives the sunlight is the part of the moon you can see from the earth.

What are the different phases of the moon?

New moon: This is when the unilluminated face of the moon faces the earth. This is when you see no moon in the sky.

Waxing Crescent: This is when you see the silver of the moon in the sky. When the day-part of the moon is mostly facing away from the earth. This is called a crescent moon and looks like a ‘C’.

First Quarter: The first quarter moon is also known as the half-moon. You can see more of the moon than just a crescent. It rises at noon and sets at midnight.

Waxing Gibbous: The waxing gibbous moon phase is more illuminated than a ‘half-moon’. It is not a complete full moon, but it is not a half moon either.

Full moon: During the full moon phase, the illuminated side of the moon faces the earth and we see a full, circular moon. It tends to light up the night with its silver light.

Waning Gibbous: This is when the moon is turning away again. The moon decreases in size and this phase comes after the full-moon phase.

Third Quarter: The third quarter is also known as the last quarter. The half-illuminated portion of the moon faces the Earth, making the moon look half.

Waning Crescent: During the waning crescent moon phase, you can see only silver or white. This is because only a small portion of the moon faces the earth, making a small crescent illuminated and visible.

What are moon cycles and moon phases?

The moon cycle is the cycle of the moon around the sun.

It takes about 28 days for the moon to orbit the Earth. As the moon orbits the Earth, the moon tends to change its phases. There are 8 different phases of the moon; four primary phases and four secondary phases.

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Why does the moon cycle occur?

The moon does not have its light. It reflects the light of the sun. And because it is continuously orbiting the Earth, only part of the moon receives the sunlight. The moon absorbs the sunlight and reflects a portion of it. It is this portion of the reflected sunlight that we see from Earth.

Conclusion

It takes 29.5 days for a moon to orbit the Earth. During this moon cycle, the moon goes through 8 different phases. The earth is interesting in itself but, even the heavenly body outside is equally amazing.

FAQs

1. What are the 8 moon cycles?

The 8 moon cycles are waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent.

2. Are all the moon cycles 28 days?

It usually takes 29.5 days for a moon to cycle the Earth. During the sidereal month, it takes 27 days, 7 hours, and 43 minutes to orbit the earth and complete a cycle.

3. How long is a 12-moon cycle?

A lunar year or 12-moon cycle takes about 354 days.

4. Are moon cycles monthly?

Yes, moon cycles complete in a month.

5. What is a full moon cycle?

It is the time interval between a full moon and the repetition of the same phase. It lasts about 29.53 days.

8 interesting betta fish facts – Scientify

You may be well acquainted with bright colorful fighting fish, even if you are not a fish enthusiast. These fish are Betta Fish. They were initially discovered in Southeast Asia but were later exported to America in the 1800s because of their beautiful appearance and unique nature.

1. Betta Fish originate from Southeast Asia.

Betta Fish can be found in almost every fish store and aquarium in the USA. But despite their availability, these fish are not native to America. They are found in Southeast Asian countries like Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.

They are found in puddles and paddy fields and have been known to live in harsh conditions. No wonder their average lifespan ranges from 4-5 years.

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2. Betta Fish are also known as Siamese fighting fish.

This may not come as a surprise because betta fish are known as fighting fish worldwide. Their name comes from the territorial nature of the fish. Female fish can stay in groups until the places become crowded. But male betta are very territorial. They fight each other for breeding grounds.

Betta Fish are known as ‘Siamese Fish’. They were bred to fight and even the King of Thailand enjoyed watching them fight.

3. Male Betta Fish are loving dads.

Although they are known as ‘fighting fish’, Betta fish turn a leaf for their children. The male betta fish takes care of the eggs and raises them. He makes bubble nests and ensures that none of the eggs go astray.

Betta fish may be territorial and they may be feisty little fish, but they have a soft spot for their babies. The mela Betta fish keeps the eggs in the bubble nest they’ve built and protects them fiercely.

4. Betta fish have both labyrinth organs and gills.

Their labyrinth organ allows them to breathe air without using gills. The labyrinth organ is similar to the lungs, allowing Betta Fish to breathe even when out of water. But they need water to survive and mainly depend on oxygen to survive.

Betta Fish are known to survive an hour on land. This shows how tough these marvelous creations can be.

5. Betta fish can jump 3 inches high on average.

Betta Fish are not just intelligent but athletic too(as athletic as a fish can get). If they do not like the environment of the aquarium or if they are constantly being dominated by other Betta Fish or other territorial Fish, they can jump out of the water. They do this in search of better living space.

Betta fish can jump 3 inches high and that is on average. If you own a Betta and see them out of the aquarium, it is a sign that something is not right with the aquarium. It could be a lack of enrichment or harsh water with high nitrate contents.

6. Betta fish can learn the tricks.

They need a lot of enrichment because they are highly intelligent fish. It has been noticed that these intelligent fish can recognize their owners and swim toward them. This is a reason why the betta fish tank needs to have proper enrichment like caves, rocks driftwood, etc.

7. Betta fish are carnivores

These beautiful fish that look like angels are carnivores. Many betta fish owners who need to do proper research, make a common mistake of not providing the proper diet. These fish have sharp teeth meant for a carnivore diet.

Unfortunately, this leads to the fish falling sick and even dying in extreme conditions. They should not have worms and small insects in addition to the packaged fish food. Packaged food does not contain the essential nutrients that it is for us.

8. Betta fish have over 70 different variation

Betta fish has over 70 different variations. The Betta Fish in the market are comparatively more colorful than the ones found in the wild. It makes sense, the ones in the market are selectively bred to look more appealing to the eyes, and the ones in the wild need to camouflage in the wild to survive.

And they have about 14 different tail variations. The different varieties are made because of selective breeding to get a certain color or a certain shape like crown tail, comb tail, etc.

Conclusion

Betta Fish are lovely and it is natural to want them as companion pets. But, you need to be very conscious and alert if you get them as pets. They require at least 10 gallons of water and if you pair them wrong, it could stress both of them and make them sick.

Moreover, it is the diet you need to focus on too. They have small larvae and insects in the wild and you need to incorporate them into their regular diet and not just depend on the packaged die.

FAQs

1. What is special about betta fish?

The labyrinth lungs allow them to breathe out of water. They can survive without water for 1 hour.

2. What cool things can betta fish do?

Betta fish can learn tricks and they can jump 3 inches high on average.

3. How smart is a betta fish?

A betta fish can learn tricks like going through hoops recognizing their owners and swimming toward them.

4. What keeps beta fish happy?

Betta Fish need a lot of enrichment and space to be happy.

5. Is Betta Fish lucky at home?

Betta Fish is considered to be lucky and bring prosperity.