The Express Tribune hi five - September 7

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TICK TOCK

GOES THE CLOCK

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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

Hi light

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TICK TOCK

GOES THE CLOCK There are some things that are so ingrained in our lives that we don’t even stop to think about them. One of those things is time. Every morning, the sun rises. Hours pass steadily, merging into one another. At night, the stars come out, signalling the arrival of night. But while the passing of time is something that occurs naturally, how we measure this time is entirely man-made. A day has 24 hours, an hour has 60 minutes. You can look at a clock and tell what time it is. These statements seem like facts to us because that’s the way time has been measured for a long time. But the truth is that humans have measured time in many different ways throughout history.

Ancient ways of keeping time Measuring time is also known as timekeeping. Before the 24-hour clock was invented, humans used different ways of keeping time.

1. Sundials — Once humans figured out the connection between the sun’s position and the time of day, sundials were invented to measure time. These were devices or building structures that measured time by the shadow the sun cast. Ancient Greeks and Egyptians made obelisks, tall, four-sided towers whose shadows moved on the ground as the sun changed position throughout the day.

These obelisks acted like sundials.

2. Water clocks — The water clock is possibly the oldest timekeeping device ever invented. It was used as far back as 1500 BC. The water clock used the steady flow of water to keep track of time. The device consisted of a large bowl of water with a sprout at the end from which water would slowly drip out. There were markings in the bowl and you could tell how much time had passed by what the water level was.

3. Merkhet — While the sun could be used to measure time during the day, what about at night, when there was no sun? The ancient Egyptians invented a timekeeping device that could be used at night. Called merkhet, which roughly translates as ‘the instrument of knowing,’ this device consisted of a string with a weight connected to one end. The device was used to measure time by counting stars.

4. Hourglass — Invented in the 8th century, the hourglass consisted of two connected glass bulbs filled with material such as sand which would trickle from the top bulb to the bottom bulb. The hourglass was very popular among sailors because it was the most dependable way of measuring time while at sea.

5. Mercury clocks — While water clocks were very simple and easy to use, they had one flaw — the water would freeze in the winter or evaporate in the summer, and so the clock would become inaccurate. Zhang Sixun, a chinese engineer in the 1st century solved this problem by replacing water with liquid mercury. Mercury stays in liquid form at temperatures as low as -39 degrees Celsius, so Sixun’s clocks worked even in harsh winters.

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

Hi light

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How do modern clocks work The clocks that we use today have a design that goes all the way back to the 13th century. All clocks, whether they are mechanical, electronic or digital, have some essential components which work together to keep time. These components are: 1. A source of power to run the clock — this can be batteries in the case of digital clocks or weights and springs in mechanical clocks.

2. Oscillator — this is the part of a clock which repeats the same motion over and over again at the same speed. This is known as the heartbeat of the clock.

3. Counter — this counts the repeated movements and adds them up to get units of time, such as seconds, minutes and hours.

4. Indicator — this tells the time either through sound (old clocks used bells which rang every hour) or sight (the clock face with the numbers and hands).

Greatest clocks of the world 1. Makkah Royal Hotel Clock Tower — Located in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, this 601-feet clock tower is the tallest clock tower in the world. It also has the world’s largest clock face, with each clock on all four sides being 43 metres by 43 metres.

2. Big Ben — Officially called Elizabeth Tower, this is the most famous landmark of London, England. Big Ben is the nickname given to the great bell of this clock tower at the Palace of Westminster.

3. The Prague Astronomical Clock — Located in Prague, Czech Republic, this clock was built in 1410, making it the oldest astronomical clock still in use. An astronomical clock has special dials which display astronomical information such as the position of the sun, moon, constellations and planets.

4. The Rathaus-Glockenspiel of Munich — This clock in Germany is a famous tourist attraction. It has 43 bells and 32 life-sized figures. Every day at 11 am, it chimes and re-enacts two stories from the 16th century through tunes and the movement of the figures.

What would you like to see in Hi Five? Send an email to hifive@tribune.com.pk and let us know!

Alarm clocks You might think that the alarm clock is a fairly recent invention but in truth it has been around in one form or another ever since the time of the Ancient Greeks in around 250 BC. The Greeks built a water clock where the raising waters would both keep time and eventually hit a mechanical bird that triggered an alarming whistle.

The first mechanical alarm clock was built in 1787 by Levi Hutchins, but in his clock, the alarm would only ring at 4 am. It took another 100 years for a mechanical alarm clock to be invented that would ring at whatever time one wished it to.

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

Activity

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Q: What happens to a frog’s car when it breaks down?

A: It gets toad away.

Q: How does a lion greet the other animals in the field?

A: Pleased to eat you.

Q: What do you call a sleeping bull?

A: A bull-dozer.

Q: Why didn’t the chicken cross the road?

A: Because there was a KFC on the other side.

Q: What do you get from a pampered cow?

A: Spoiled milk.

Q: Why did the lion spit out the clown?

A: Because he tasted funny.

Q: Why do gorillas have big nostrils?

A: Because they have big fingers.

Q: What do you call cheese that isn’t yours?

A: Nacho cheese.

Q: Why are fish so smart?

A: Because they live in schools.

Q: Why shouldn’t you tell an egg a joke?

A: Because it might crack up.

Books and Movies Meet Friday Barnes, an 11-year-old detective.

Clever and observant, Friday can solve any mystery she puts her mind to. She is almost as smart as her role model, Sherlock Holmes. When the novel Friday Barnes: Girl Detective

by R. A. Spratt begins, Friday has just solved a bank robbery and received tons of money as a reward.

Deciding to spend the money wisely, she enrolls in Highcrest Academy, the most prestigious and exclusive boarding school in the country. But when she gets there, Friday is

shocked to discover that the well-reputed school is actually a hotbed of crime.

Putting her detective skills to work, she’s soon investigating everything from disappearing homework to the Yeti running around the school swamp. Making things difficult for Fridayy is Ian Wainscott, a boy in n school who inexplicably hates Friday and loves nasty pranks. Read all about bout Friday and her quest est to solve all of Highcrest est Academy’s mysteries, ries, and the trouble she gets ets in along the way.

Do you have a favourite book or movie you would like us to review?

Write to us at hifive@tribune.com.pk and tell us all about it.

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

Get your weekly dose of the unusual and funny news from across the globe!

Not a cat Adults and children alike were flabbergasted when news broke out that Hello Kitty, the Japanese character that can be found everywhere in the world, is not a cat at all. The pop culture icon turns 40 this year, as she had been developed by the Japanese illustrator Yuko Shimizu in 1974. To celebrate Hello Kitty’s 40th birthday, the Japanese American National Museum in LA, USA is holding an exhibition titled Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty. The exhibition is curated by Christine R. Yano. Yano told media channels on this occasion the shocking news that Hello Kitty, which looks remarkably like a cat, is in fact not a cat at all but a little girl who is studying in the third grade. “She’s a cartoon character. She is a little girl. She is a friend.

But she is not a cat,” said Yano. It turns out that Hello Kitty’s actual name is Kitty White. What’s more, Kitty actually has a pet cat, called Charmmy Kitty. The details of Hello Kitty’s family and pets can all be found on her official website, but for some reason, the world still thought that Hello Kitty was a cat.

JEZEBEL.COM

Beware of the wasps A huge wasps’ nest was found in a woman’s guest bedroom, with a full colony of 5,000 wasps buzzing around. The woman who lives in the home called wasp exterminators after her son went to look for something in the unused spare room and found the wasps had colonised the space, most likely through an open window. “I have never ever in my 40 odd years [on the job] seen something like this before,” John Birkett of Longwood Services Pest Control told The Huffington Post. The nest, which burrowed into the mattress took three months for the insects to build, he estimated. Although he had a job to do, Birkett felt “a bit sorry” that he had to destroy something the wasps had worked so hard to build. “I stood with amazement looking at it,” he said. “If we could get humans to work together like this, we’d be in business.” HUFFINGTONPOST.COM

World wide weird

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Smart dolls

Move over Barbie, because a new line of dolls is about to take over the doll market. Two former engineering students, Supriya Hobbs and Janna Eaves, have designed the Miss Possible doll collection which is different from the other conventionally girly dolls out there.

This collection, which will be released in 2015, sends out a powerful message to young girls as it includes the characters of real women who have done pioneering work in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The dolls will include the two-time Nobel Prize winning chemist, Marie Curie. There will also be a doll of the high-flying aviator, Bessie Coleman and of the world’s first computer programmer, Ada Lovelace.

These smart and pioneering women are great role models for kids, say the creators. The dolls will come with an app that will bring the dolls’ work to life for children. Research shows that toys impact children’s life choices, self-esteem and future career paths, so it is important for them to see dolls doing work in science and technology, and not just dolls going to the beach or staying at home. MIC.COM

Fishing with otters In southern Bangladesh, fishermen take the help of an unlikely group to catch fish — short-haired otters. The fishermen and otters work together as a team to catch fish in rivers near Dhakka.

This is a rare technique that has been handed down for centuries in the country. It used to be employed in other countries of South Asia as well, but the practice has died down everywhere but in Bangladesh. When the fishermen drop their nets, the otters jump into the water after the nets. The otters do not catch the fish themselves. Instead they chase them towards the fishing net placed next to the boat. “Our job depends on the otters,” said Shashudhar Biswas, a fisherman in his 50s, whose family has trained the animals to help them fish for generations. “If we did it without them, we wouldn’t be able to catch as many fish.” Short-haired otters are an endangered species in Bangladesh and otter fishing plays a key role in their conservation. DAILYMAIL.CO.UK

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

6 Did You Know?

Do we really only use 10% of our brains?

“You know, you’re only using 10% of your brain. Just imagine what you could accomplish if you used the other 90%” Chances are that you have heard this statement before, whether it is in movies or from someone who’s trying to make you study harder. Wherever you have heard it, one thing is certain — it’s not true. We use all of our brains, not just a small percentage of it. The idea of humans only using 10% of their brains is an exciting one — it means that there is a possibility that the rest of the 90% can be unlocked, leading to super brain powers. But it is really just a myth, and one that has been around since a 100 years.

Researchers say that this myth started in the early 1900s, possibly when a psychologist William James wrote that “We are making use of only a small part of our possible mental and physical resources.” Modern medicine and technology has disproven this theory.

Brain scans clearly show all regions of the brain being active even during normal tasks like walking or talking. Every region of the brain has been found to serve some purpose. Also, if the myth was true, it would mean that people who suffer from brain damage don’t notice any effects, but this is not the case. No matter what area of the brain is damaged, there is always a consequence. However, despite scientific proof to the contrary, the 10% myth has continued to be widespread. Many movies, advertisements and television programmes use this myth as a plotline and a lot of motivational speakers tell people about it to encourage them to fulfil their potential. It is true that humans have amazing potential — it’s just that we use 100% of our brains to accomplish these amazing things.

How to say ‘cake’ in different languages Afrikaans Azerbaijani Bosnian Catalan Czech Danish Dutch French Galician German Igbo Irish Latin Spanish

: : : : : : : : : : : : : :

Koek Tort Torta Coca Dort Kage Taart Gâteau Bolo Kuchen Achicha Císte Crustulam Torta

Cool facts 96 elephants are killed every day in Africa.

The most common name given to a pet goldfish is ‘Jaws.’

When Koko, the Gorilla’s kitten was hit by a car, Koko signed that she was sad and could be heard making sobbing noises.

In China, killing a panda is punishable by death.

Your IQ does not stay the same for life, because human intelligence continues to develop over time.

Dogs suppress their innate intelligence for the sake of their human masters.

In Russia, if you step on somebody’s foot accidentally, you are expected to put your foot out so they can equally step on yours.

The pineberry is a white strawberry that tastes like a pineapple.

Laughing 100 times is equivalent to 15 minutes of exercise on a stationary bicycle.

Rabbits have been known to sleep with their eyes open.

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

7

Drawings

Notable Entries for the Liberty Books Cards Competition Mehreen Khan

Mumtaz Mir Mehnaz Mir Winner

Ayesha Fawad

Ibrahim Vardag

Maaz Raza

Zainab Fawad Winner

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

Fake Lung Experiment You will need: • A plastic bottle

The lungs are an essential organ to all mammals. It is the organ that allows for gaseous exchange to ensure we get oxygen into our bodies. Today we’re going to find out how lungs work by making a fake lung.

• A straw

Method:

• A rubber band

1. Cut the bottle in half and keep the top half.

• Scissors

2. Tie a knot on the end of a balloon from where the balloon is blown up, and cut open the other end of the balloon.

• Two balloons • Playdough

3. Stretch this end around the bottom of your plastic bottle.

4. Put a straw in the neck of the other balloon and secure tightly with the elastic band but not so tightly that you crush the straw.

The air must flow through, so test it with a little blow through the straw to see if the balloon inflates.

5. Put the straw and the balloon into the neck of the bottle and secure it by making a seal of playdough around the opening of the bottle.

6. Hold the bottle and pull the knotted end of the balloon at the bottom of the bottle. Watch what happens.

What is happening: You should find that when you pull the knotted end, the balloon inside the bottle inflates, and that as you let go of the end, it deflates. As the knotted balloon is pulled, it creates more space inside the bottle. Air then comes down the straw and fills the balloon with some air, which expands to fill this space. When you let go of the knot, the space no longer exist, so the air from the balloon is expelled and it deflates. This demonstrates how our lungs work. Air is taken in through the mouth and nose, passes down the windpipe and into our lungs. The diaphragm at the bottom of our chest moves down to create more space.

As we breathe out, the diaphragm rises again. The knotted balloon represents the diaphragm, the balloon represents the lung and the bottle represents the rib cage.

SOURCE: SCIENCE-SPARKS.COM