Did Whales Come From The Land?
It’s hard to imagine a whale on land. And while we can distinguish between different species of whale, none of them have obvious characteristics that would help them out of the water. Yet here’s where it gets interesting: according to evolutionary theory whales, or their descendants at least, once walked on the earth.
It is thought that they may have evolved from a group of land mammals, the Mesonychids. read more
Great Surfing Waves
How does a reef create great surfing waves?
The tide is a force of nature, the result of the moon’s gravitational pull. Waves break in the open seas as well as just offshore, and for very different reasons. It’s often thanks to undersea reefs that coastal waves get their shape. So it’s little surprise that the favored surf spots are often in regions that have coral reefs. read more
Why Great Ingredients Matter
Why great ingredients matter
Master chefs don’t use a magic wand. And just by making inspired combinations, they can’t guarantee any dish will taste special. So how do they do it?
Ask any dedicated cook or restaurant chef and they will tell you: it’s all about the ingredients. You can make lasagna for next to nothing if you select the cheapest mince and powdered bechamel, just don’t expect it to taste good.
Most chefs start their day read more
Native American Pottery: A Potted History
The Pueblo Indians from southwestern America made some of the most interesting pieces of pottery of their time, and they were making it long before European settlers arrived. So what makes their work so unique?
Use of pottery was commonplace in the settlements of American Indians. Those tribes that roamed as hunter-gatherers found little use for pots and vessels, for obvious reasons. But where tribes settled, they made all manner of vessels. read more
Railways: On a fast track to recovery
For a while the US train network attracted little interest: ignored by investors and consigned to the history books by travelers, it was as if its days were numbered. But, things are changing!
Investors are back. The multi-billionaire Warren Buffet staked his interest with a huge investment of $US 34 billion into railway firm BNSF back in 2009, and governments the world over are upgrading rolling stock. read more
Let’s Tango
Why is the Tango so controversial?
This once persecuted step is perhaps the most seductive and dramatic of dances. But why all the fuss? Just what makes the Tango such a hotly debated dance step?
Well, the dance is steeped in controversy. First discovered in the brothels of Buenos Aires, Argentina, it was also danced by men in an attempt to seduce a woman (the town had many more men than women, so you needed to be good!).
Whether it was born in the brothels or backyards of working class houses is up for debate, however it is also said to have been practiced by men together, as they developed their moves. read more
Hang gliding: How far can it take you?
Hang Glider In Flight
In hang gliding, as with most sports, there are competitions, amateur and professionals standards, championships to be fought over and medals to be won.
This year the World Championships were held in Tegleberg, Germany. Well, if there’s any sport that can be affected by weather it’s hang gliding. That said, it was still a surprise when the organizers were forced to stop the competition – no one was expecting snow in April. read more
How to take ‘The Racing Line’
You may have heard commentators talk about the perfect ‘racing line’. But what is it? And how is it different for race car driving and racing bikes? Let’s find out…
If you love watching motor racing you’ll know each team is after every little advantage it can get. However, there is always one set route through each bend all drivers take – this is the racing line: simply, it’s the fastest way through a corner. read more
Sailing: True eco-power
Sailing boats have been made from all types of material: wood, fiberglass, even aluminum. Well, have you ever seen a boat made from recycled plastic bottles?
The ‘Plastiki’ is the brainchild of expedition leader David Rothschild, and is constructed of 12,500 plastic bottles. Devised not as a gimmick, but to be good enough to sail around the world, the ship was tested to the full on a recent 8,000-mile ocean voyage. It left San Francisco in March heading west into the Pacific, and at the end of July arrived in Australia. On route the ship and its crew visited Hawaii, Bikini Atoll, the Gilbert Islands and Fiji. read more
Boom! How we break the sound barrier.
In the development of flight there have been several notable moments: the first solo crossing of the Atlantic (Charles Lindbergh,1927), the moment the first African American woman got her flying license (Bessie Coleman, 1921) and the day that the round the world non-stop record was set (Dick Rutan and JeanaYeager, 1986).
Although when it comes to speed, it’s the breaking of the sound barrier which was perhaps the noisiest. read more
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