DiscoveryBox #166

£ 4.25 (UK only) Issue 166 September 2012 –

World

issn 1366-9028

History

EARTH

Science

SPECIAL

Nature

Fun activities

The four seasons

I live in an eco-city

Amazing planet

What can you see?

1 the cables of a suspension bridge

2 the strings of a piano

3 a trampoline close up

© Bayard Presse – Images DOC – 2012. Photo: © T. Hawley/Getty Images.

4 the inside of a toaster

Answer on page 50.

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CONTENTS nature zoom in p. 12

world photo shoot p. 4

the four seasons

amazing planet

Watch what happens on a farm as the seasons change.

S. Telleschi

© Cnes - Astrium Services/Spot Image

See Earth through these incredible satellite photos!

world life story p. 22

science pics & facts p. 29

bilia who played football barefoot

i live in an ec0-city D. Mermoux

Illustration: A. Bureau.

How does this enormous machine work?

Illustration: D. Balisevic.

activities, games and quizzes

+

cartoons and funfacts

DiscoveryBox is printed on chlorinefree paper from managed forests.

A. Houdou

DiscoveryBox is a 2012 winner of a Parents’ Choice Silver Award.

It’s our greenhouse.

diy p. 43-50

science quick look p. 38

inside a combine harvester

Eloise has moved to a new home.

Find out how things work in this environmentally friendly city.

What’s that glass building?

Amazing

Š Cnes - Distribution Astrium Services/Spot Image

Lots of satellites orbit (circle) the Earth taking photos and images that help scientists observe our planet in great detail. These photos come from a satellite that’s 830km above the ground.

It sees wonderful things!

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5

Does this river flow through a huge old forest?

No, it doesn’t! The satellite image (big picture) shows the Sao Francisco river flowing into the Parana river in Brazil. There are trees along the riverbanks. But behind the trees, the land has been farmed by people.

You can see fields, villages and roads. You can even see a bridge across the river. An image like this helps people to watch out for flooding or to choose the best place to build bridges.

World

Š Virtualtourist.com

planet

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Š Cnes - Distribution Astrium Services/Spot Image

DR

7

World

Are these flying saucers that have landed in the desert? No! This is Saudi Arabia and the circles are fields of food crops, such as wheat. The water for the plants is pumped up from deep underground.

In the middle of each field there is a hub or support, which holds up a 1km-long sprinkler. The hub turns the sprinkler above the plants, keeping them watered. The satellite’s infrared (sensitive to heat) technology lets agricultural engineers see how the wheat is growing. In the big picture, red shows where the wheat is ripening.

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Š Cnes - Distribution Astrium Services/Spot Image

DR

Why does almost nothing grow around this lake?

Because its water is very salty. An explorer who found the lake in 1897 in the desert in Australia named it Lake Disappointment. Probably he had hoped to drink the water! Today, we explore the world with satellites. Their accurate images mean that maps of very remote areas in in p. 45 re the world can be made. These are Mo I Y D useful, for example, when rescue in re operations need to be organized.

Mo I Y D

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log le b Va

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www. bayard-magazines.co.uk

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Go to ou

© Bayard Presse – Images DOC – 2012. Text: M. Beynié.

Bonu

in

DIY

World

Mo

o

The eur

Pigs

The € euro symbol

Illustration: B. Lefort.

Pigs’ tails Some people think all pigs have curly tails like this one in the photo. But that's not always true. Breeders have created different varieties of pigs that we see today. Some have curly tails and others have straighter tails. Wild boars and wart hogs have tails that hang down. Some pigs have no tails at all!

© Klein-Hubert/Bios Photo

The symbol € was the fifth letter in the ancient Greek alphabet. It’s called epsilon and was said like our letter e. It's also the first letter of the word Europa. She was a princess in ancient Greek mythology and Europe was named after her.

Rome

The Colosseum, a huge ancient theatre 57m high

50,000 seats

597m circumference

© NewOpenWorld Foundation

It was built between 70 and 80bce in Rome, the capital city of the Roman Empire. Amazing shows were held here: gladiator fights, animal hunts, pretend sea battles and public executions…

Its nickname, the Colosseum, means huge place.

It's real name was the Flavian amphitheatre (open air theatre of the Flavian emperors).

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The four seasons

Fir and pine trees are evergreen. They keep their needles all year round.

A doe can hear a stag belling (calling) from 2km away.

Calves born last spring don’t need to drink milk from their mother anymore.

A wild board is looking for acorns.

When does autumn start?

Autumn starts when day and night are the same length. This is the autumn equinox.

In 2012 it’s the 22nd of September. After that, the days become shorter than the nights.

There’s less light so the temperature starts to go down. There are more clouds. There’s also more wind and it rains more often.

What work is there to do on the farm?

It’s harvest time. Farmers collect apples and pears in the orchard. They gather ripe crops, such as wheat, from the fields. Then they plough the soil to aerate* it and get it ready for seeds to be planted in spring. Grapes are harvested in the vineyard. They are crushed and the juice is put into barrels to make wine.

• turn earth over to add air, make it softer and improve drainage.

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Autumn Wild geese start migrating for Africa.

Crows eat earthworms in the newly ploughed fields.

The last fruit to be collected in the orchard are pears and apples.

What happens to plants?

Many plants have seeds that will be carried away by the wind or by animals. The seeds will wait for winter to pass before starting to grow. Meanwhile leaves slowly begin to turn yellow, orange and brown. Soon they will fall. But there are already tiny buds on the branches, ready for next spring!

‌ and wild animals?

Some birds gather together before migrating south to spend the winter in a warmer place.

Stags bell (call) in the forest to attract females and mate with them. New fawns will be born in spring. Snakes have gone underground.

Foxes, hedgehogs, squirrels and wild boar eat plenty to build up their fat reserves.

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Mushrooms begin to grow. They are fungi, not plants.

Nature

Seasonal workers come to pick the ripe fruit.

The four seasons

Winter Deciduous trees have lost their leaves.

Snow plough

Birds fluff up their feathers to protect themselves from the cold.

A stag comes out of the woods looking for food.

When does winter start?

It begins on the shortest day of the year (about 8 hours long). This is the winter solstice – 21st of December in 2012. After that, each day gets longer by about one minute.

In winter the sun is low in the sky. Its rays hit the ground at a slant, giving less heat. It’s cold and icy and it sometimes snows.

What work is there to do on the farm?

Farmers fix their equipment and make sure it’s in good working order. They keep their animals in the stables and feed them hay*.

They also start planning what they will plant in spring. They prune (cut back branches) in the orchards and the vineyard so that next year they will have lots of healthy fruit.

• dried grass.

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A hedgehog is hibernating under this bush.

When it’s very cold, water in small ponds freezes over.

Tench and other fish hibernate in the mud at the bottom of the pond.

What happens to plants?

Nature slows down. Sap no longer flows through tree branches and the leaves fall.

They are broken down by bacteria and turned into humus. This is natural compost* that helps plants to grow when spring comes.

The cold kills parasites like aphids that feed on plants.

Birds eat berries on hedges.

Nature

The farmer trims the vines.

‌ and wild animals?

Frogs, reptiles and insects hide underground or in dead branches. They live on the fat reserves in their bodies. Small mammals like bats or hedgehogs go into hibernation.

Their heartbeat slows and their temperature goes down. The fur of larger mammals (such as foxes and wild boar) grows thicker.

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• fertilizer or plant food.

The four seasons

Spring New leaves appear on deciduous trees.

Evergreen trees

Fields of grass Calves drink their mothers’ milk.

When does spring start?

Spring starts when day and night are the same length. This is the spring equinox. After this, the days get longer. The solstices and equinoxes all happen between the 20th and the 23rd of the month. In 2012, spring began on the 20th of March. In spring there’s more daylight so the ground heats up.

What work is there to do on the farm?

The farmer looks after the milking cows in the stable. He puts the cows that have calves out in the fields to feed on the fresh grass.

Fruit trees are flowering and the wheat has sprouted. The grass grows quickly so at the beginning of June, the farmer cuts it to make hay.

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Swallows migrate back from Africa.

Wheat field

Orchard trees are flowering.

A tench catches insects.

What happens to plants?

The sunlight is stronger and heats the ground.

This makes plants start growing again. Trees that have had no leaves over the winter grow new ones. In the woods, the sunlight comes through the leaves and reaches the ground.

Some plants grow flowers, which have pollen that lets them reproduce.

Ducklings come out of their nest.

‌ and wild animals?

As the weather gets warmer, many animals that have been hibernating all winter wake up.

Hedgehogs, squirrels and grass snakes look for food to give them energy. Fish start to swim around in their ponds. Birds come back from hotter places and build nests in hedges and trees so they can lay their eggs.

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A heron catches tadpoles and frogs.

Nature

Vines

The four seasons

Summer Titre A bird of prey glides, looking for small mammals to eat.

Cut hay is rolled into bales.

Calves begin to eat grass.

Hay is stored in the barn for the winter.

When does summer start?

Summer starts on the longest day of the year (about 16 hours long). This is the summer solstice – the 21st of June, in 2012. After that, each day gets shorter by about a minute.

In summer the sun is highest in the sky at midday when its rays shine at right angles to the earth. This is when the rays are hottest.

What work is there to do on the farm?

Combine harvesters cut the wheat. Straw* and hay are stored in barns. Hay is used to feed the animals in winter. Straw is used for bedding. Some fruit is ready to be picked in the orchard. Farmers tie back the leaves of vines plants so that the fruit gets plenty of light. • dried stalks of cereal plants such as wheat and barley.

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A harvester is used to harvest the wheat.

Apple tree Apricot tree

The fruit harvest begins.

Pear tree

Wine growers check the bunches of grapes as they grow.

Plum tree

© Bayard Presse – Images DOC – 2012. Text: M. Beynié. Illustrations: S. Telleschi.

Peach tree

A heron has caught a frog.

… and wild animals?

Birds of prey and foxes hunt rodents (such as mice, voles and shrews) in the fields to feed to their young. Other birds catch insects for the babies in their nests. Fruit growing in the hedges attracts insects, birds, reptiles and small mammals. Fawns, fox cubs and young rabbits grow big.

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What happens to plants?

Plants use light energy from the sun and carbon dioxide in the air to grow and produce stores of sugar and give off oxygen into the air. This is called photosynthesis.

In the woods, the trees have a lot of leaves.

Not much light reaches the undergrowth.

Only bushes and ferns grow there.

Nature

It is holiday time.

1

The four seasons

There’s an equinox:

A. in autumn and in summer B. in autumn and in spring C. in summer and in winter

2

At the equinox, day and night are:

A. the same length B. different lengths C. very, very short

3

Calves and lambs are mostly born in:

4

The winter solstice is:

A. autumn B. winter C. spring

A. the longest day of the year

B. when the day and night are the same length

C. the longest night of the year

5

Farmers plough the fields before planting:

A. to make them look nice B. to make the ground softer and improve drainage

C. to kill insects

6

Migrating birds:

A. fly to hot countries for the winter

B. fly to hot countries for the summer

C. stay in the same place all year

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Hibernation is when: 7

Photosynthes is the process:

A. by which animals grow B. by which leaves fall from the trees C. by which plants make energy to grow

A. plants die back in winter

B. animals sleep through the winter

C. birds fly to hot countries

Answer in Readers’ DIY on page 50.

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She brushes her teeth too much!

Why do you say that?

Shall I tell you something about your mum, Minnie?

What?

Come on, let’s explore.

I’m not sure that’s a good idea.

You know I just said that your mum brushes her teeth too much?

Hey, come and see!

I have found a cave!!!

This is great.

We can make a den in here!

Yeah, don’t worry about it, Germ!

A cave?

Actually, Minnie…

What I should have said was she doesn’t brush them properly!

To be continued…

© Bayard Presse – Images DOC – 2012. Text and illustration: Dab’s and Matt.

Because they’re really slippery!

Maybe it’s because you don’t look where you’re going.

The amazing story

of Bilia

who played

football

barefoot I

t was late afternoon in a dusty neighbourhood of K inshasa, capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo in A frica.

Pffffttt… A whistle blew. A game of football was starting!

The pitch was sandy so clouds of dust rose up around the players as they chased the ball. But they didn’t take any notice of it. The

dust was part of the game. The boys on the prison team were playing in bare feet. Some wore socks. They were 12 to 16 years old. The rival players were the same age. They wore bright green t-shirts. Their shoes were slightly worn and some were too big or too small for them, but at least they weren’t barefoot!

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But just after the start of the second half, a long shot by Mbo c a u g ht t h e p r i s o n t e a m’s goalkeeper off guard and hit the back of the net.

Goal!

It was the only goal of the match. Afterwards, the prisoners lined up with Bilia was so fast that sore feet and t hei r t- sh i r t s his feet hardly seemed soaked in sweat. to touch the ground.

Someone in the crowd shouted, “Well done!”

Milanga tried to cheer his players up. “You played well… and remember, the important thing is that you played!”

It was true, they had played.

They had managed to prove that people who ended up behind bars were not always good for nothing.

World

ilia had number 27 on his t-shirt. There wasn’t usually a number 27 on a football team but he had chosen it because it was his favourite number. He was in prison because he had stolen some bananas from the market when he was hungry.

That afternoon on the football pitch, Bilia ran so fast that his feet hardly seemed to touch the ground. His best shot was an amazing header to pass the ball to Justice. But Justice was looking the other way and his feet weren’t in the right position. It was a wasted chance. Too bad!

They played on. The score at half time was nil-nil.

“Well done, boys! But now you really have to go for it. Show them who we are!” said the boys’ trainer, Misu Milanga.

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B

A

n Italian journalist called R iccardo was in t he crowd, watching the match with interest.

“That number 27 is really talented,” he thought. “He has g reat cont rol of “Bilia, it seems the ball with his you’re some kind of left foot and a good football genius!” understanding of the game too! He could be a champion…”

The next day Riccardo went to the prison to talk to Corporal Katanga who was in charge.

“My name is Riccardo Cerruti.

I’m an Italian reporter. I love football and I’m very impressed by your number 27.”

“Oh, you mean Bilia? Well, let me tell you, that boy is no good!

He has committed very serious crimes and may be kept in prison for some time.”

“But Corporal, the boy is only 13 or 14 years old…”

“That’s old enough to do bad things,” said Katanga in a harsh voice. He shouted at a guard, “Fetch Bilia!”

A few moments later the boy stood in front of the men. His grey prison uniform was too big for him and he was wearing sandals made from a tyre.

“Bilia,” said the corporal.

“This man thinks you are some kind of football genius.”

Bilia was amazed but he managed to smile at the Italian and say, “Thank you, Sir!” “Do you want to leave here?” asked Katanga.

“Only if I deserve to,” said Bilia. “I believe everyone should get a second chance. If you let me leave, I promise that you will never see me again, Sir!” The corporal spent an hour talking to Riccardo. Finally, Bilia left the prison with the reporter.

The World Cup took place in South Africa in 2010. It was the first time Africa had hosted the competition. Africa is an amazing continent but it has a lot of economic problems. Many young Africans dream of becoming footballers.

For them, the sport stands for hope of a better future. There are African players in many of the biggest, most successful teams around the world.

© P. Wang/Bureau 233

Africans are mad about football!

These South African supporters are cheering their team at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, a big city in South Africa. This was one of ten stadiums that hosted the World Cup matches in 2010. in

Mo

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Mo in

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DIY

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DIY

p. 46

World t was time to speak to the boy’s family. Bilia took Riccardo to his home in Ndjili, outside the city.

Here a child belonged to the whole community, not just to their parents, and their success or problems were shared by everyone.

Riccardo shook lots of people’s hands and won everyone over with his charming smile. Then he met Bilia’s parents and brothers.

“I would like to take Bilia to Italy. He will become a great footballer,” Riccardo told them.

“Dad,” said Liau, one of Bilia’s brothers. “This is a great chance for Bilia. We have to let him go.”

“But do you realise that your brother might go and never come back!” said their father, Mbuta Kiesse. “He’s so young! When will we see him again?”

“Would you prefer to see him rot in prison?” said Liau.

Then he asked the Italian, “Will he be able to study where you are taking him?”

“Of course,” said Riccardo.

“Bilia will go to school.”

They discussed Bilia’s future for a long time. At last Mr Kiesse said the family needed a day or so to think things over. They would call Riccardo when they had made a decision.

Three great African football teams South Africa The South African team is called Bafana Bafana.

Cameroon The Indomitable Lions have taken part in six World Cups. This is a record in Africa.

Ghana The Ghanaian team is called The Black Stars.

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I

hen he spoke to Riccardo again, Mr Kiesse told him, “This child was born feet first. For us, that means his feet are his destiny. If they bring him work, happiness and a family, then so be it. I give Bilia my blessing to go with you. Riccardo, you will have to help him along the way.

Wherever he goes, the spirit of our ancestors will be with him. I have spoken.”

Illustrations: Aline Bureau.

Riccardo smiled and looked at Bilia. “What about you, Bilia? Do you still want to go?”

“If you think I’m really gifted, I’m ready to follow you and I will try my best not to disappoint you.”

“Thanks, champion! Thank you all! I understand what a big sacrifice it is for you to let Bilia go. But don’t worry, he will be back soon.”

Samuel Eto’o – a success story

© Bayard Presse – Images DOC – 2010. Text: Paul Bakoto Ngoi.

From a story

by Congolese author P. Bakolo Ngoi

LMS Pictures/Icon Sport

W

This 31-year-old striker from Cameroon is one of the top footballers in the world. He has played for Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Russian team Anzhi Makhachkala. He’s captain of the Cameroon national team.

But Samuel hasn’t forgotten where he came from. “All Africans dream of a better life. I have realised that dream. But when you have played barefoot like me, you never think you are better than other people.”

He has set up a foundation for young footballers in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon.

Samuel Eto’o at the Africa Cup of Nations

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ing

Cnes 2012 -Distribution Astrium Services/Spot Image

ak Map-m

Satellites make 3D maps There are hundreds of satellites in space. The military uses some of them while others are earth observation satellites. These can take pictures to produce detailed maps. The images are so clear that it’s even possible to spot human activity. Some of the newest satellites can see things on the ground that measure just 50cm!

This is a photograph of the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates in the Arabian Peninsula. You can see dots on the beach. These are umbrellas or sunbathers! The latest satellites can even make 3D images by taking pictures from a number of different angles. Engineers use these images to make maps of cities that show the buildings clearly.

P ro f e ss o r B a tt y ’s mad machines This machine chooses lunch for you.

Broccoli soup or chocolate ice cream?

Broccoli ice cream!

Broccoli ice cream!

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Text and illustrations: P. Cerf

Broccoli ice cream.

Okay, well, it’s not quite ready yet…

Tusko Livingroom Leopold By corcal

What are those green monkeys called?

Stanley

Tarzine

They’re ‘eco-logical mandrills’.

They’ve made an eco-city in this part of the rainforest…!

This is where they collect rainwater in tortoise shells.

Over here they produce ecoelectricity with a ‘parrot-turbine’.

pf!

G

s

s las

ther Fea s

kins

ana

Ban

Leaves

Grum

That means they sort things for recycling!

Oh! Look at that! Bins made out of different coloured shells!

Oh dear! I have a feeling we’re about to be thrown out!

That’s not quite right, Livingroom…

No… we’re being recycled!

Look out!

Reling cyc

lass

d stuff

Unwante

anted nw

Ban

p S weeep S we

t u ff

U

ana

Here come the rubbish collectors!

© Bayard Presse – Images DOC – 2012. Text and illustrations: Corcal.

Ooops!

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Eloise

Malik

Leah

Matt

Science

All over the world new environmentally friendly neighbourhoods are being built.

They have roads without pavements and few cars. The buildings are energy efficient.

There are lots of green spaces too. Eloise has just moved to one of these modern eco-cities*. Come and find out all about it with her!

Naima

Hello!

Are you new?

Yes, we moved in yesterday.

This is Eloise who is joining our class.

Right. What are we doing this afternoon?

Gardening!!!

* based on an eco-city in France.

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Hi, everybody!

The children leave the classroom.

Aren’t you coming?

What’s that glass building?

Yes, but I’m on lightswitch duty, this week.

It’s hot in here.

Is this the garden?

I walk to school.

I live round the corner.

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* take in.

Let’s go and plant these seedlings in the garden.

That’s weird!

The stair lights go on by themselves when you walk down.

No it’s the green or living roof.

The plants absorb* the rain and stop the rooms below getting too cold or too hot.

On the way to the garden…

That red bike is mine.

And there are no radiators!

It’s our greenhouse.

I’m scared of falling in the water.

Don’t worry, you will soon get used to it!

Where does the water go, Miss?

It’s rainwater.

It collects in the canal and can then flow into the stream slowly, without making it overflow.

School is over.

Do things grow well here?

Eloise!

Have you finished your homework about the eco-city for tomorrow?

Eloise, our cat has run away!

Science

Yes. My grandpa told me there used to be vegetable gardens here.

Don’t worry…

Oh no!

How will I find him, Mum? I don’t know the area.

We will help you…

Here, I have a map.

Eloise’s house

The old vegetable gardens taken over by local families.

The stream was underground but has been dug up and is now in the open air.

Canal

No chemical fertilisers are used in the park.

Naima lives here.

School Multimedia library Matt lives here.

Where shall we start?

Leah lives here.

Malik lives here.

Let’s start in the main square.

That’s where I live!

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Tram line

In the square

I hope Fleabag hasn’t drowned!

If he had come this way, Quack would have flown away.

Quack is the duck that lives on our pond!

There are no cats here!

There are loads of cats around here but I can’t remember seeing one like that!

She’s looking for her cat.

Funny balconies!

I live on the 3rd floor.

The sliding panels protect the flats from noise, heat and wind.

He’s black and white and quite big…

Further on…

That’s weird, a tree growing out of paving stones!

Underneath there’s a layer of sponge-like material.

Don’t worry, the stones are porous* so rainwater can get through them.

It stops flooding.

This is the way to my place!

Are they flats or houses?

Both…

Each one has a garden or a yard.

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* allow water to pass through.

There’s loads of space!

Is your house big too?

Yeah! I have my own room.

Come and see.

Water passes through these solar panels and is heated by the sun’s rays.

Malik’s room

These lowenergy houses are cheaper to build and to heat.

Science

Wooden window frames for better insulation

Room facing south-west gets most heat from the sun.

Ma lik ’s h ou se

It sounds brilliant!

Ne igh bo ur s’ h ou se

The walls are made of concrete, which is produced nearby.

Yard Bamboo plants hold rainwater and keep the garden cool.

Micro-garden

Don’t you have a car?

Yes, we park it underground.

The entrance is about 100m away.

So you have to walk to your car?

Yes. That way we meet our neighbours! My parents go to work by tram, anyway.

The car park is locked. Your cat could not have got in.

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On the way out of malik's house…

the search goes on.

Cars can’t park on this street.

There are plenty of cars here!

What’s that?

Yeah, this is the visitors’ car park.

It’s a ditch that fills up with water when it rains!

No cats, though… they talk to everyone.

Hi, Dad. We’re looking for Eloise’s black and white cat.

You haven’t seen it, have you?

Is that where you put your rubbish?

There’s an underground container for glass, one for packaging and one for rubbish.

No, sorry, love.

In the square

Mum, can you take my schoolbag?

We’re helping Eloise find her cat.

I hope my cat didn’t fall in there!

Yes, we don’t keep rubbish in the flat.

Go to the gardens. There are lots of cats there.

No way! A cat could not open one of these.

My uncle is coming to live here soon.

Thank you!

That’s where they’re building the nursery where my mum will work.

Shush!

Look over there!

What’s that?

That’s handy if my mum has another baby.

It’s a water tower that stores water for the gardens.

Oh, a fox…

What if it attacks my cat?

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At the vegetable gardens

Does your cat often run away?

Each plot has a hut for keeping tools

Garden waste turns into compost (plant food) in one year in these bin.

Science

It’s the first time. We used to live in a flat.

Here we have a house so he can get out.

Water butts store rain water.

These plots are for people who don’t have a garden.

Hello, have you seen a black and white cat?

Yes, that’s him!

What a wonderful idea!

A big fellow with a long black tail?

Suddenly…

Which way did he go?

Come and shelter in here!

That way.

Thank you!

Bye!

He crossed the road!

Good luck!

35

* about 30km per hour.

Don’t worry.

There’s a 20 mile* per hour speed limit around here.

In the park

This park isn’t very tidy!

Wow! It’s huge…

It’s meant to be like that.

Plants and animals can live wild here.

Plenty of places for a cat to hide!

Wow, this stream is beautiful!

Before they improved this area, the stream went underground through a pipe.

Why isn’t there more water in the stream with all the rain?

Looks like he already knows the way home…

Look over there!

Fleabag!

Back at Eloise’s house

Your parents went to the meeting for new residents.

You can find them at the library.

Thanks to you, Fleabag, I know all about this eco-city, now. The homework will be easy!

First I’m going to see my cat.

THE END

© Bayard Presse – Images DOC – 2012. Text: N. Tordjman. Illustrations: D. Mermoux.

It flows in gradually through the ditches and canals…

36

1

2

Recycling me ans turning u sed things into ne w so that: A

is energy If something efficient: ergy

A. it uses no en energy B. it uses little f energy C. it uses a lot o

. we have more to buy B. nothing is bro ken C. there’s no wa s te

4 3

Seedlings are:

A. flowering trees B. young plants C. a kind of vegetable

A greenhouse is used:

A. to grow plants in when it’s cold outside

B. as an outdoor dining room C. for keeping plants out of the rain

5

6

Solar pan els turn the sun’s rays into: A.

nspa

A. tra tal B. me ous C. por

B. energy C. bricks

8

Illustrations: D. Mermoux.

:

y is short for

Eco in eco-cit

A. ecological B. echoing C. economical

Eloise’s cat is called:

A. Fleaboy B. Leatherbag C. Fleabag

Answer in Readers’ DIY on page 50.

37

plastic

7

er s wat : t e l l d calle ateria If a m rough it’s th pass rent

Inside a combine

harvester

This combine harvester swallows up wheat plants and spits out the grains*. It harvests 9 tonnes of grain in 9 minutes!

In the Middle Ages, a farmer using hand tools took 3 weeks to gather that much grain‌ First, it cuts

Out in the fields, the farmer uses infrared cameras** to position the combine harvester in exactly the right position. The pick-up reel pushes the wheat plants towards the cutter bar, which cuts them off 10cm above the ground, like a huge mower.

Dividers on each end of the pick-up reel bend the plants at the edges of the rows inwards so none are missed.

Airconditioned cabin

Divider

Pick-up reel

Infrared camera

38

* seeds that we can eat. **sensitive to heat (instead of light like normal cameras).

Cutter bar

Lastly it unloads

Once the grain is clean and all the straw and husks have been removed, the elevator pushes it up into the tank. When the tank is full, the elevator pushes the grain out through the unloader pipe into a trailer.

In one hour, this machine harvests 60 tonnes of wheat grain, which can be turned into enough flour to make a million bread rolls!

Elevator

Unloader pipe

Science

Tank

Nothing is wasted!

Threshing drum

Then it shakes

The threshing drum then beats and shakes the wheat so that the grains fall into the separation system. Mixed in with the grains there are bits of straw (dry stalks of the wheat plant) and husks (the hard outer shells of the grains). These are removed here. Then straw walkers carry the straw towards the back of the machine. The grains fall onto a sieve that separates out any remaining bits still mixed in with them.

ID card Length: 1 0 metres Width: 3.5 0 without th metres e cutter b ar, 12 metres with it.

Weight : 1 9 tonnes Working s p 7km per h eed: around our

© Bayard Presse – Images DOC – 2011. Text: M. Beynié. Illustrations: D. Balisevic.

Sieve

39

Separation system Straw walker

The straw falls out of the back of the harvester. It’s collected by another machine and used for animal bedding.

Pets

Deadly

© ToggenburgBIble, 1411/DR

The black death This was a terrible disease that spread through Europe in the 14th century.

The name came from the ugly black patches sufferers got on their arms and legs. The disease also caused swellings that oozed pus, as well as vomiting and fever. The black death killed 25 million Europeans in 5 years – that’s one in three people! It’s believed to have been brought from Asia by rats travelling on merchant ships. The rats had fleas that spread the illness to people.

bert /Biosp

hoto

Rabbits live in h want to be th erds in the wild. Some e leader bu t others ma not want to y be led. Two males will fi to be the ch ght ief of the he rd and two females ma y fight for th e best spac In a cage, ra e. bbits have le ss space an can’t choos d e th careful in ca eir companions. Be se one of yo ur rabbits is stopping th e other one eating. But rabbits can also accept each other and m ay not fight at all. © Klein-Hu

How much a footballer earns depends on the country he plays in and which team he’s in… and of course his talent and popularity. Football is a show, or spectacle, a bit like the film industry.

There are some very well paid stars (Samuel Eto’o earns more than £18 million a year). But there are also plenty of professional players who find it hard to live on their earnings.

Illustration: B. Lefort.

Footballers’ wages

Keeping ra in cages bbits

Body

Eye colour

© O. Rossi/Getty Images

££££

The coloured part of your eye is called the iris. It contains pigments, which are materials that give colour. If there’s a lot of pigment, your eyes will be dark brown. If there is only a little pigment, your eyes will be pale blue. Between those two there are many other possibilities, giving all the different eye colours. The amount of pigment depends on your parents, grandparents and other ancestors.

We call this heredity.

40

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Krogg and Alienna A spacecraft is heading for Earth at 2O,OOOkm per hour.

When it enters the atmosphere...

... the friction on the fuselage starts to produce a lot of heat.

Soon the temperatuve of the outside of the spacecraft is more than 1,OOO degrees Celsius!

No! Krogg... DON’T!

I bet the kebabs are burned!

I have to, Alienna!

It’s the only way!

Yeah! We should really get our cooker fixed!

© Bayard Presse – Astrapi – 2012. Text: P. Martin. llustration : N. Hubesch.

Fire!

42

Make sprouting seeds You can harvest and eat sprouting seeds anywhere and in any season… They’re very good for you!

need: You will ans

Mung be ss jar l a gla uze (or ce of ga h netting, l a pie ne mes

l

other fi osquito net) m such as nd bber ba l 1 ru th l 1 clo

1 Put the beans in the jar. Cover them with water. Cover the jar with the gauze and use the rubber band to hold it in place. Leave the beans to soak overnight.

Then without taking off the gauze, pour away the water and rinse the beans.

2 Turn the jar upside down and prop it at an angle so all the water drains off. Cover with a cloth so that the beans are in darkness.

3 Every day, rinse the beans with water in the morning and evening. When the shoots are 1 or 2cm long, put the jar in the light.

Mini qu 4 After about 3 to 6 days, the beans will have sprouted thin, green shoots. You can eat them in a salad or sandwich.

Beans ar e: cereals tubers

iz

pulses

Answer in Readers’ DIY on page 50.

Why are sprouting seeds good for you?

They contain fibre, mineral salts and more vitamins than dried seeds. Some sprout more easily and taste better than others. You can use all sorts of different seeds and pulses.

Pulses: mung beans, aduki beans, lentils and chick peas.

Cereals: wheat, buckwheat, quinoa. Vegetables: alfalfa and radish seeds.

44

ds ing see t u o r p s ure: DIY Nat os 3D phot : e c n e ame DIY Sci ot-out g o h s y t l ld : pena

Send us your artwork, jokes, animal questions and any other contributions by post to: DiscoveryBox Bayard Magazines PO Box 61269 London N17 1DF UK or by email: contact@bayard-magazines. co.uk

43

Photo: Alice Houdou

DIY Wor art! heck it c : y r o t s DIY Hi ers d Answ n a s e k o Your j

Make these photos 3D To do this experiment put this page on a flat surface, in a place where there’s plenty of light.

These images were taken by a satellite, over the Pyrenees mountains in Spain.

You will ne ed: l a mirror

What can you see?

this page

Open your right eye and tilt the mirror until the reflection of image A is superimposed on (appears on top of) image B. Use the lake as a marker.

Image B

l

© Cnes-Astrium Services/Spot Image

Place the mirror on the dotted line and facing left. Then rest the left side of your nose against it.

Close your right eye.

You should see image A in the mirror.

Image A

Place your mirror here.

Mini quiz

space can A satellite in Earth: spot insects on false true

ders’ DIY Answer in Rea on page 50.

45

© Cnes-Astrium Services/Spot Image.

Make a penalty shoot-out game If you’re a football fan, then this game is for you…

need: You will uit box d fr ardboar

How to play

1 large c ard box r cardbo e ll a m s lastic l 1 aker’s e m s s e r d e l som ruler nife + 1 k ft a r c l 1 ky tape l stic t l pain ball bouncy ll a m s 1 l

l

You need 2 people:  1 striker who uses the elastic to flick the ball.  1 goalkeeper who moves the goalie to stop the ball.

For the goalie, fold and stick down a strip of cardboard (40cm x 2cm) as in the drawing. Draw your goalkeeper on a rectangle of cardboard (5cm x 9cm). Stick it to the folded strip of cardboard.

Mini qu

iz

In 2010, the Wor ld Cup t ook plac e in: South A frica Brazil America

e Glu

Answer in Reade on page rs’ DIY 50.

For the goal, cut a piece of cardboard (40cm x 12cm ) out of the smaller box. Cut an opening in it (16cm x 9cm). Bend the strip of card and stick it in place as in the drawing.

Make a slit in each side of the big box, 14cm from the corner.

Thread the elastic through the slits. Hold it taut and tie each end around a small piece of cardboard to secure it.

Paint your football pitch green with white markings.

Cut an opening 14cm long and 8cm high.

46

Check it art!

© Paris, BNF

This picture comes from a book about hunting from the 15th century. It’s called Huntsman and his hounds.

He trained dogs to fetch a stick.

1.

e dogs 2. He made sure th were fed.

e dogs 3. He managed th during a hunt.

4. He sold dogs to

the king.

DIY on page 50.

Answer in Readers’ 47

In the 15th century every king and important lord had huntsmen and packs of hounds that they used for hunting. Hunts were regularly organised as entertainment for guests.

They were also an excuse for getting rid of any animals that were ruining the crops, such as foxes, rabbits, birds…

The animals that the hunters killed would be brought home and cooked.

This was always a welcome addition to a meal, especially in winter when there wasn’t much to eat.

What was the job of the chief huntsman?

Choose one of the answers 1 to 4. ]

Your jokes We love getting your postcards! Keep sending us your jokes, drawings, photos, pet questions and tips, or email us at: contact@bayard-magazines.co.uk

d of me!”

Answer: “That’s the en

Leroy

What fish is famous?

Answer: a starfish!

say when What did the pig its tail? the farmer pulled

Zachary

What type of music are balloons afraid of?

say when What do pharaohs they’re scared?

Answer: pop music!

MMY!” Answer: “I want my MU

iving to A woman was dr en she came to Disneyland wh d id, “Disneylan sa at th gn si a turned around left”. So she ! and went home

Luey

Why did the hedgehog cross the road?

Answer: to see his flat mate!

Chung

Charlotte Lottie

the sea Answer: because

weed!

Andrew

What do you call two banana skins on the carpet?

Answer: a pair of slippers!

nd wet?

Why was the sa

Oscar

48

Football competition results (DiscoveryBox 161) with

Andersen Press

The winners are: Emily Ramsay, ChloĂŠ Stylemans, Reena Kurvists and Richard North.

Well done to everyone who took part! art o f W hich p d all groun the foo tb ys never s ta the same?

The chan

ging roo

m

From The Funniest Football Book Ever

by Carl McInerney which is the prize for this competition.

W hy is it so ho t in a stadium aft er a foo tball gam e?

Beca us e the fans have all left!

49

Jeremy

ANSWERS Maxi quiz Page 20 1. B in autumn and in spring; 2. A the same length; 3. C spring; 4. C the longest night of the year; 5. B to make the ground softer and improve drainage; 6 A fly to hot countries for the winter; 7. C by which plants make energy to grow; 8. B animals sleep through the winter.

Maxi quiz Page 27 1. C there’s no waste; 2. B little energy; 3. A to grow plants in when it’s cold outside; 4. B young plants; 5. B energy; 6 C porous; 7. A ecological; 8. C Fleabag.

Mini quiz: false. Satellites can see things up to about 50cm long. They can see a bike in your garden, for example, but not the number of your house. Satellites can see people but it’s not possible to see faces in satellite pictures. That’s because the satellite flies through the sky above us and can’t get at the right angle to photograph faces.

World DIY Pages 46 Mini quiz: South Africa

History DIY Page 47 Check it art: 3

Nature DIY Page 44 Mini quiz: pulses (this is the name given to certain plants that have seeds in pods, such as alfalfa, lentils and beans). Cereals are grasses that have grains we eat (such as wheat, barley and oats). Tubers are root vegetables (such as potatoes).

Science DIY Page 45 Make these photos 3D: the satellite took these images one after the other. As it was travelling through space, the images were taken from a slightly different position. Each eye also sees things slightly differently and from a slightly different position. Your brain notices this. When the two images are placed on top of each other, your brain can reconstruct a 3D image.

DiscoveryBox 165 What can you see?

No it wasn’t a seaweed-flavoured jelly sweet. Though we reckon someone should make one! And it wasn’t the head of a pygmy elephant because… pygmy elephants may be small but they’re still grey like other elephants. So as you probably guessed it was a caterpillar’s tail or back end. It has two marks that look like scary eyes, which the caterpillar uses to frighten away any hungry birds that try to attack it.

Mega quiz

1. B the 30th Games; 2. A a gymnasium 3. B Addis Ababa 4. A 5 players in a team 5. A the cheetah; 6. C an albatross 7. C a crown of olive leaves 8. A anything that burns

You can answer the back-over Mega quiz on our website from 1st September www.bayard-magazines.co.uk The answers will also appear in your next issue.

To subscribe call + 44 (0)1858 438898 or visit our website: www.bayard-magazines.co.uk

50

In your next issue Nature C. Hamilton James/naturepl.com

Kingfishers Champion divers!

World

e

Scienc

Solar-powered transport Drum kit

© Jourdren/Deal Team

/Sipa © P. Sakuma/AP

The man who wanted to put a computer in every home

P. M. Va lat

Steve Jobs

Bang bang boom!

And lots more funfacts and cartoons

y

Joan of Arc goes to war

Managing publisher: Christophe Mauratille. Editorial Manager: Elena Iribarren. Editor in Chief: Simona Sideri. Art Director: Pat Carter. Text and research: Liz Shepherd.

Editor: Caroline Pook. Sales and promotion: Andréa Chhan. Budget Controller: Elda Frey.

For editorial queries please contact: Bayard Magazines, PO Box 61269, London N17 6DF, UK. For a subscription in Switzerland: Edigroup SA - 39, rue Peillonnex 1225 Chêne-Bourg (Switzerland) - tel: (0041)22 860 84 02 - fax: (0041)22 349 25 92 - email: abobayard@edigroup.ch DiscoveryBox is published by Bayard Presse S.A, a Limited Liability company with a board of Directors and Supervisory Board and a capital of 16,500,000 Euros and having its principal place of business located at 18 Rue Barbès, 92120 Montrouge, France. Board of Directors and Management Committee: Georges Sanerot (Board President and Publication Director), Hubert Chicou, Alain Auge, André Antoni (Managing Directors). Main Shareholders: Assomption, Saint Loup Ltd, N.D.S. Association.

Printers: Varoprinter, c/Artesania, Madrid, Spain and Allion printing co. Ltd, Hong Kong. Under law n°49956 of 16/07/1949 relating to youth publications. All rights reserved to the publisher © Images Doc, Astrapi – Bayard Presse. CPPAP: 0514 K 78793. ISSN 1366-9028 The name, surname and address of our subscribers are passed on to our in-house departments and all organisations under agreement with DiscoveryBox unless we receive a formal instruction not to do so from the subscriber, in which case the above information will only be used to carry out the subscription.

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51

J. Maffre

Histor

N. 166

MEGA QUIZ 1. Wheat is a food crop:

2. Lake Disappointment is in:

A

like pasta, pizza and soup

A

Azerbijan

B

like oak, hawthorn and elm

B

Australia

C

like barley, corn and rice

C

Algeria

3. To harvest means:

4. A satellite:

A

to put reins and a saddle on a horse

A

orbits a planet

B

to collect fruit and vegetables that are ready to eat

B

takes passengers to other planets

C

to hunt or kill with a long spear

C

dives deep into the sea

5. Birds of prey:

6. The capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo is:

A

hunt for their food

A

Brazzaville

B

eat seeds and berries

B

YaoundĂŠ

C

catch insects as they fly

C

Kinshasa

7. Wheat grains have hard outer shells called:

8. An orchard is a place where:

A

seeds

A

fruit trees grow

B

husks

B

vines grow

C

pips

C

wheat grows

Answer this Mega quiz from 1st September at www.bayard-magazines.co.uk

In your sue next is

lots more cards to collect

DiscoveryBox Bayard Magazine PO Box 61269 London N17 1DF United Kingdom

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What’s this?

Science

World

Science

Roll on!

Where in the world?

Roll on!

Steam dray

Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House

This steam-powered cart was invented in the 18th century.

It was the first vehicle that moved without being pulled by animals. It had handlebars for steering and could go backwards and forwards.

Soldiers used it to carry heavy loads. It was the car’s ancestor, even if it went at only 4km per hour!

Sydney is the biggest city in Australia. It’s built around a natural harbour. The bridge, nicknamed ‘The coat hanger’, was built in 1932. The Opera House, a centre for the performing arts, was built in 1973. Together they are a symbol of this modern city.

Stage coach This covered wagon carried passengers and goods.

It was pulled by four horses and driven by a coachman.

From the 17th century in Europe, stage coaches made regular trips between stops (called stages). This was the first form of public transport.

These coaches travelled at about 6-11km per hour.

Illustration: O. Hubert

Photography Match/DR

Illustration: Donald Grant

Nature

Game

Nature

Strange pets

What can you see?

Strange pets

Eastern chipmunks

A bone in a pedal bin

Chipmunks are small, striped squirrels mostly found in North America. Their name comes from the language of the Ottawa people of Canada.

Chipmunks are very active during the day. They have lots of energy and like to rush around, jumping and doing somersaults.

Test your family and friends.

Photo: Fotolia

Illustration: R. Saillard

House crickets These insects come from Asia but are now found all over the world.

The males make chirping noises by rubbing one wing against the other.

They are omnivores so they eat anything. They’re also scavengers and will feed on rotting matter. They even eat their own dead if there’s no other food available.

Photo: Terra Nova/DR

World

Photo: World City

Game

Riddle

When it’s being chased by a cat!

Test your family and friends.

Illustration: R. Saillard

Your age: Your name:

It’s in St Petersburg in Russia.

It was built between 1883 and 1907 by Tzar Alexander III in honour of his father who was assassinated on that spot.

It’s decorated with colourful mosaics and has lots of towers with gold and turquoise roofs that look like onions.

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The Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood

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