Fast Facts Answers to Outside the Box puzzles from page 48 1. Pretty as a picture 2. What a drag 3. You’re out! 4. Adjoining suites 5. Darkening skies 6. Undershirt Cloud Bank Deposit this collection of cloud data into your memory vault. ▶ The word “cloud” comes from the old English word “clud” or “clod” applied to lumps of water in the sky. ▶ Thunderstorm clouds can be green. ▶ Extraterrestrial ones are rarely made up of water. ▶ Interstellar clouds (nebulae) are made up of cosmic dust, hydrogen and helium gas, and plasma. ▶ An average cumulus cloud (a white fluffy one) weighs the same as a 500-tonne jumbo jet. ▶ There’s a cloud appreciation society that has more than 40,000 members. ▶ Dandruff, pollen, algae, fur and bacteria floating in the atmosphere help form clouds. ▶ Fog is a cloud that develops on the earth’s floor. ▶ Clouds can travel at speeds up to 100 miles per hour (160 km). ▶ The average cloud droplet is roughly 50 times smaller than a raindrop. ▶ Pyrocumulus clouds form as a result of intense heat from wildfires and volcano eruptions. ▶ The study of clouds and their role in the Earth’s atmosphere is named nephology. ▶ Clouds can form as high as 12 miles up in the atmosphere. The Rear-View Mirror 1925 Global events that occurred a century ago. ▶ The Phantom of the Opera was released. ▶ Newfoundland women won the right to vote. ▶ Jazz pianist/composer Oscar Peterson was born. ▶ Longest winning streak in Toronto Maple Leaf history (nine games). ▶ The first film on an airplane was shown (British Air). ▶ The Chrysler automobile corporation was founded. ▶ Canada House opened in London, England. ▶ Margaret Thatcher was born. ▶ The United Church of Canada opened for service. ▶ First ascent of Mount Logan, highest mountain in Canada. ▶ F. Scott Fitzgerald published his novel, The Great Gatsby. ▶ William Lyon Mackenzie King was invited to head the Liberal party. ▶ The Royal Canadian Legion was formed. Bug Life Take a look at the unusual world of spiders. ▶ Black widow spiders are known for cannibalizing their mates. ▶ They are air-breathing arthropods with eight limbs and fangs. ▶ Some of them fling hair at predators. ▶ Certain species form colonies. ▶ For its weight, spiderweb silk is stronger and tougher than steel. ▶ Certain species of spiders mimic ants. ▶ There are 47,000 different species. ▶ All spiders are predators. ▶ They are unable to eat solid food. ▶ Most spiders have eight eyes. ▶ They eat a large number of insects. ▶ Mating usually involves some sort of courtship. ▶ Most spiders live for a year or two. ▶ They use venom to subdue their prey. ▶ The name for fear of spiders is arachnophobia. Random Trivia Get on board for some interesting stuff. ▶ Wearing a tie can reduce blood flow to the brain by 7.5 per cent. ▶ Octopuses don’t actually have tentacles; they are scientifically classified as arms. ▶ Because of their physical makeup, comets smell like rotten eggs. ▶ Ants don’t have lungs. ▶ Snails have teeth. ▶ Human signatures can reveal personality traits. ▶ Hippos can’t swim. ▶ Fish form orderly queues in emergencies. ▶ Most ginger cats are male. ▶ Your nails grow faster in the summer. ▶ LEGO bricks can withstand pressure better than concrete. ▶ A rainbow on Venus is called a “glory.” ▶ All mammals get goosebumps. ▶ A lightning bolt is five times hotter than the surface of the sun. ▶ Giraffes hum to communicate with each other. 54 | www.snowbirds.org
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