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June 30, 2004:
Fun
Facts About Nature II
Interview
with Hampton Sides author of the book, Why
Moths Hate Thomas Edison
Mike
Carruthers:
Why is it that when you see geese flying in a group they're
always in a "V" formation?
Hampton
Sides:
Most likely what's happening is they've found a way
to fly that enables every single goose to see every single other
goose.
Hampton
Sides is editor of the book Why
Moths Hate Thomas Edison.
It's
the same reason why many air force squadrons fly in a "V"
formation. It's one pattern that allows everyone to keep a bead
on everyone else.
Ever wonder
why fireflies light up?
It's
almost strictly the males that are doing it to appeal to their
own species of female fireflies. The female is usually hidden
in the grass or underneath a tree limb of something and she
flashes back a very seductive come hither signal and commences
to do what fireflies need to do very quickly because they only
live for seven days.
And why
are rivers and lakes freshwater and oceans salt water?
As rivers
start in high altitudes and work their way down to the point
where they finally run into the ocean, they're picking up salt
all along the way. Finally they dump into the ocean, the water
evaporates but the salts stays there in the ocean. Lakes, most
lakes, they're always draining and that water, fresh water,
keeps coming in both from rain and from higher streams and underground
springs. So as long as a lake drains it'll stay fresh.
At somethingyoushouldknow.net,
I'm Mike Carruthers and that's Something You Should Know.
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