#ScienceFactFriday
#ScienceFactFriday

Fireworks were first recorded in Britain at the wedding of King Henry VII in 1486
November 7, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Did you know? Some birds have dexterous feet

By having two toes forward, and two back instead of the 3v1 system of many birds, parrots, owls and some woodpeckers, can handle food and climb on vertical surfaces easier

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November 7, 2025 at 9:30 AM
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The orange colour of pumpkins comes from beta-carotene, a pigment your body can turn into Vitamin A.

This makes them one of the best natural sources of this vitamin.
October 31, 2025 at 9:31 AM
#ScienceFactFriday spooky edition!

Did you know? Many owls and nightjars have mirror eyes

The reason some nocturnal birds' eyes shine in the dark is because they have a set of cells at the back of their eye (called a tapetum lucidum) which act as a mirror, helping them see in lower light.
October 31, 2025 at 9:30 AM
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Your ears secrete more earwax when you are afraid. 

Your body's 'fight or flight' response can influence the glands in your ear during stress or fearful situations.
October 24, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Did you know? Gannets' nostrils are in their mouths

By having their nostrils in the corner of their mouths they are protected from water gushing in when they dive at high speeds, hunting for fish at sea

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October 24, 2025 at 8:30 AM
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Uranus was almost called “George’s Star” after King George III, but thankfully that didn't stick.

Instead science went with the Latinized version of Oranous, the Greek god of the sky.
October 17, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Did you know? Whiffling helps birds land safely

When some birds, like geese and other waterfowl, come into land they zig-zag and swerve, losing height quickly (whiffling). This behaviour is thought to help avoid predators

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October 17, 2025 at 8:30 AM
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The point in its orbit when a planet is closest to the sun is termed perihelion from the greek 'peri' - 'near' and 'helios' – 'sun'.
October 10, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Did you know? Most birds can see in UV

Unlike humans, birds have an extra type of light receptor in their eye allowing them to see into the UV spectrum, this can help them spot food and make feathers look more distinctive.

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October 10, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Did you know? Some bird noses leak salt

Seabirds like Fulmars and storm petrels, drink seawater and use glands at the top of their beak to excrete excess salt, their tube-shaped nostrils then help funnel it away from their eyes.

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October 3, 2025 at 8:47 AM
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The longest name for a phobia is Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia, which is unfortunate for sufferers as it is the fear of long words.
October 3, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Did you know? Plumicorns aren't for hearing

The long, pointy feathers on some owls' heads are neither horns not ears, but specialised feathers called plumicorns. Their function is not yet fully understood but could help with camouflage

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September 26, 2025 at 8:42 AM
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The first humanoid robot named Elektro (pictured), was first displayed in 1939, was seven foot tall and spoke more than 700 words.
September 26, 2025 at 8:31 AM
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Musician William Herschel was fascinated by astronomy but couldn’t afford a telescope.

So he built his own and discovered Uranus.
September 19, 2025 at 8:31 AM
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The word millipede comes from the Latin mille (thousand) and pedis (foot), meaning “thousand-footed.”

Though in reality they don’t actually have that many legs.
September 12, 2025 at 9:02 AM
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111,111,111 x 111,111,111 =

12, 345, 678, 987, 654, 321
September 5, 2025 at 8:31 AM
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A singultus is an involuntary contraction of the diaphragm accompanied by closure of the larynx.

Also known as a hiccup!
August 29, 2025 at 8:31 AM
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The largest eyeball on the planet is 12 inches wide, about the size of a football, and it belongs to the colossal squid.
August 22, 2025 at 8:31 AM
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Humans and giraffes have the same number of neck vertebrae (7) despite the giraffe’s much longer neck.
August 15, 2025 at 8:31 AM
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Platypuses don’t have stomachs - their oesophagus connects directly to their intestines.
August 8, 2025 at 8:31 AM
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The Eiffel Tower can be 15 cm taller during the summer when the metal expands in the heat.
August 1, 2025 at 8:33 AM
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Goats have rectangular pupils. It gives them panoramic vision
July 25, 2025 at 8:31 AM
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You can’t burp in space.

Without gravity, gas in your stomach doesn’t separate from liquids, so burping becomes... complicated.
July 18, 2025 at 8:31 AM
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Your belly button is basically a tiny jungle. It can house over 2,000 different species of bacteria, some unique to you.
July 11, 2025 at 8:31 AM