Instant facts- Just add water 71

Reptiles are ectothermic, or cold-blooded, meaning their body temperature is regulated by their environment. Because they don't regulate their own body temperature, reptiles have few energy requirements and can go for long periods without food.
in http://animal.discovery.com

Instant facts- Just add water 70

In the northern hemisphere, the first day of the spring season is the day of the year when the Sun crosses the celestial equator moving northward (on March 20th or 21st). This day is known as the vernal equinox.
in http://animal.discovery.com

Instant facts- Just add water 69

In the natural world, raccoons snare a lot of their meals in the water. With a average life span in the wild of 2 to 3 years, and a max size of 23.75 to 37.5 in (60 to 95 cm).
In http://animals.nationalgeographic.com

Instant facts- Just add water 68

There are many ancient religions believe that cats are exalted souls, companions or guides for humans, that they are all-knowing but are mute so they cannot influence decisions made by humans.
in http://www.catfacts.org

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Worldwide, 7.2 million people die from heart disease every year.
in http://science.nationalgeographic.com

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The average human brain has about 100 billion nerve cells.
in http://www.faizani.com

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Your eyes can process 36,000 bits of information every hour
in http://converyoptometrists.com/

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Decorating eggs for Easter is a tradition that dates back to at least the 13th century, according to some sources.
in http://www.history.com

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Elvis purchased his first guitar when he was just 11 years old.
in The Sun online

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Butterflies range in size from a tiny 1/8 inch to a huge almost 12 inches.
in http://www.thebutterflysite.com

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Only female mosquitoes bite humans and animals.
in about.com

Instant facts- Just add water 60

There are five products that come from the hive: Honey, beeswax, pollen, propolis, and royal jelly.
in http://www.ontariobee.com

Old socks can for your pencils craft DIY

Today we are going o see how to reuse and recycle old socks and old glass jars, pots or cans; it’s easy and creates a great effect.

This idea is from our restless mind Maria João, thank you

What we need:

• old socks,
• old glass jars, plastic cups, or metal cans,
• super glue,
• scissors.

How to:

1. Cut the socks by the heel, about 1 inch above;
2. Place the can/jar/cup inside the top half of the sock;
3. Apply the glue on the top of the can/jar/cup;
4. Press the sock against the glue;
5. Use it to place your pencils, pens, marbles, pins...

Et voilá!
Simple things are the most beautiful!
Enjoy!

Instant facts- Just add water 59

Honey has natural preservatives and bacteria can't grow in it.
in http://www.ontariobee.com/

Overcome the force of gravity

When we add salt to water we increase its density, which will allow some objects to float.

What we need:

• 6 glass jars,
• different objects, like beans, grains, paper clips, eggs, etc.. we used dry beans, dry grain and an olive;
• salt,
• dessert spoon,
• water,
• pen,
• labels,
• your notepad.

How to:

1. Clean the jars;
2. Label them with letters or numbers;
3. Select the objects you want o test,
4. Write on your notepad which letter goes with each object, one of the jars will be the control, for example A- control; B- olive; C- bean....;
5. Fill the jars with the same quantity of water, we used 250ml;
6. Verify if any of your objects floats;
7. Write down your results;
8. Take the objects from the jar;
9. Add 1 dessert spoon of salt to the B jar, 2 to the C, 3 to the D... don't add any salt to the first jar (control);
10. Mix it well until the salt is all diluted, if you are using jars with lid is easier to close the jar and shake;
11. Test all the objects, one by one, jar by jar;
12. Write down your results.

At the end you will have precise notes about the number of spoons you need to add to water in order to float  a certain object.

These were our results:

A- 0 salt
B- 1 salt
C- 2 salt
D- 3 salt- floats: grain
E- 4 salt- floats: red bean; black bean
F- 5 salt- floats: white bean; olive

Attention: you may get different results; those depend on the beans/grain/olive trademark, size and water content.

It's possible to find on internet and some books some references to some restless minds that made heavier objects to float, like marbles, or stones, using larger amounts of salt. We didn't test those objects, in theory, yes it's possible to make it happen, but the amount of salt in the water will be hugely high.
Accept this challenge and try to float denser objects.

What happens?
As you salt the water, this will become denser, in other words, heavier. This density is closely linked to the force that water exerts on the items, if this force is higher then the force that pushes objects down (gravity) the objects are boost up and float.
With this experiment you can also observe water saturation, write down the number of salt spoons you need to saturate the water.

It is possible to do some variations to this essay:

• Use only one kind of bean but with different water levels (1 dry, hydrated but raw and 1 cooked);
• Use only one kind of bean with different water levels, from 3 different trademarks (dry, hydrated, cooked from trademark A, dry, hydrated, cooked from trademark B; dry, hydrated, cooked from trademark C);
• Use green olives or black, with pit, without pit...

Write down your results.

Et voilá!
Can you make it work with the marble?

Enjoy!

Instant facts- Just add water 58

The oceans occupy nearly 71% of our planet's surface.
in http://www.savethesea.org/STS%20ocean_facts.htm

Turtle recycled can to your pencils, great father's day idea

This is an idea o reduce and recycle the metal can's. With a bi of imagination we can use them to keep pens, pencils, paper clips, marbles... or you can offer it to your dad in father's day.

What we need:

• empty can,
• double tape or super glue,
• scissors,
• pliers,
• pen,
• charcoal pencil,
• tracing paper,
• craft knife, with a new blade,
• felts, in your favorite colors.

How to:

1. Clean the can, remove all the glue and paper;
2. With the pliers fold the  sharp edges inwards, this is a easy procedure that can avoid accidents;
3. Choose your base color, the one that will cover all the can;
4. Cut out a felt rectangle, a 1/2 inch larger then the felt you will need to cover all the can, the easiest way to do his is to roll the can on the felt, and mark the spot where you have to cut;
5. Trace the design on your tracing paper, use the pencil, in this tutorial the design is a turtle;
6. Chose the colors, we are going to use 2 different shades of green;
7. Trace the felts, like we did here;
8. We are going to give depth to the turtle, trace the body, the shell and the spots, like in the picture;
9. Cut out the pieces, note: cut all the pieces the same way, inside the line, outside the line or in the line, otherwise the puzzle will not fit;
10. Assemble the turtle with super glue or double tape;
11. Glue the assembled turtle on the rectangular felt you cut out on the step 4, glue it 1 inch above the base;
12. Apply the glue /double tape on the can, in all area;
13. Quilt the can with the base felt;
14. Cut out the excess with the craft knife;
15. Use it well :)

Attention:
Ask an adult to help you with the craft knife and the scissors! Be smart! Avoid accidents!

Et voilá!
It looks nice!

Enjoy!

Felt door sign DIY

Do you know those Hotel signs? Today we will learn how to do a felt sign to hang in your bedroom door. This is a great idea and you can recycle at the same time.

What we need:

• felts of different colors, depending on the design,
• scissors,
• tracing paper,
• charcoal pencil;
• pen,
• glue, or double side tape,
• cereal box,
• ruler,
• roll of scotch tape.

How to:

1. Choose your design;
2. Trace it with the tracing paper, don't draw the background;
3. Open the cereal box with the scissors;
4. With the tape roll draw 2 circles, one interior and another one exterior;
5. Use the ruler to draw a rectangle exactly with the scotch roll width, as in the picture;
6. Cut the sign;
7. With the charcoal pencil trace the draw to the cardboard;
8. Use your imagination and add the background, we used horizontal strips;
9. Trace the background elements to the tracing paper; ignore any other elements, like the pillow.
10. Trace the bed sheet fold and the blanket strips;
11. Choose the colors for those elements;
12. Trace the felt, use felt back side;
13. Cut them out;
14. Apply the double side tape to glue the background elements, like the image;
15. Do a new tracing for the pillow, chose the color, trace it, cut it out, and apply it in place;
16. Repeat it all over again for the baby, baby elements are: face, hair, hands and body;
17. With the pen draw the face elements, like eyes, mouth, nose, freckles....

NOTE: You can choose other designs; the important thing is to be able to separate the design into layers. First the background, second the middle elements, like the pillow, and finally the most important element, in this case, the baby. Of course you can do all the design, and make the pieces fit like a puzzle, but this will take a lot of time, precision and patience, and the design will not show depth.

Et voilá!
Write DO NOT DISTURB on it!

Enjoy!

Instant facts- Just add water 57

Yin and yang are the two opposing and complementary forces that make up all phenomena of life. Both proceed from the Supreme Ultimate and together they represent the process of the universe and all that is in it.
in http://www.religionfacts.com

Instant facts- Just add water 56

Marbles are made from recycled glass.

International Chocolate Festival in Obidos- Portugal

Visit until March 25

International chocolate festival

Et voilá!
yammy

Enjoy!

World Chocolate Wonderland

World Chocolate Wonderland, China's first theme park made entirely of chocolate has opened in Shanghai.
unfortunately alredy ended but here are some pictures of that tasty and wonderful Theme Park

Sources:
http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/885227-world-chocolate-wonderland-opens-with-terracotta-army-replica-in-shanghai#ixzz1nxGl0i2p http://www.amusingplanet.com/2011/12/world-chocolate-wonderland-in-shanghai.html
http://www.cnngo.com/shanghai/life/world-chocolate-wonderland

Et voilá!
chocolate dreams!

Enjoy!

Instant facts- Just add water 55

Beans contain no cholesterol, and they can help lower your cholesterol level because they are one of the richest sources of fiber.
in http://www.foodreference.com

Instant facts- Just add water 54

Apiculture, dates back to at least 700 BC.
in http://www.benefits-of-honey.com