Animal Issue by HIP 2B2

think. what you can be

March 2009/Issue 27

THE ANIMAL ISSUE

What’s hiding in this picture?

alive? osaurs dead or in d re A D E V SOL DISSECTED The inside story on dragonflies BUSTED!

HOW TO

er animal myths

Headless cockroaches and oth

• Survive in the bush • Grow a crystal garden • Work in the wild • Make an animated film WINNER OF THE MPASA PICA AWARD 2007 & 2008 FOR PUBLISHING EXCELLENCE

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SMART READS

Animal myths: fact or fiction_ p 12 Are dinosaurs really dead?_ p 14 How long would you survive in the wild?_ p 16 Animals in science_ p 18 Shooting animals: creatures on camera_ p 23 Wild about work: careers with animals_ p 26 REGULARS

Ed’s note_ p 2 Community of Hip: your news, your views_ p 4 What’s new in science?_ p 6 PHOTOGRAPH: GALLO/GETTYIMAGES.COM • COVER PHOTOGRAPH: GALLO/GETTYIMAGES.COM

Get smart with HIP2B2 and Kellogg’s_ p 7

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Smart technology_ p 8 Deconstruct a remote-control helicopter_ p 10 Sci DIY: grow your own crystals_ p 28 Sports science: the Animal Olympics_ p 30 Smart maths: elephants’ big ears solved_ p 34 Body smart: germs – good vs evil_ p 36 Brain busters: can you crack them?_ p 46 Simply science: how geckos defy gravity_ p 48 INTELLIGENT ENTERTAINMENT

Be there – B2: what’s hot_ p 38 Movies: the ABCs of animation_ p 40 Games: there’s a jungle in your house_ p 42 Music: Jesse Clegg inherits the spotlight_ p 43 Books: The Alchemist_ p 44

CHALLENGE

JUST A RIDDLE BIT I have as many brothers as sisters, but my brothers have twice the number of sisters as brothers. How many of us are there? Email your name, school and answer to <win@hip2b2.com> to win a Bass on Tap.

2/18/09 11:40:55 AM

Editor Janna Joseph Art Director Anton Pietersen Managing Editor Desireé Kriel Junior Writer Nicklaus Kruger Copy Editor Sally Rutherford Proofreader Deanne Vorster Contributors Nikki Benatar, Ellen Cameron, Erin Classen, Simon Crundwell, Michelle Minnaar, Este Otto, Linda Pretorius, Anthony Samboer, Justine Stafford, Mark van Dijk Educational Consultants Wordwise

CHAT ROOM

Publisher Helena Gavera Executive Editor Ami Kapilevich Editorial Director Stefania Johnson BSQUARE COMMUNICATIONS EDITORIAL BOARD General Manager Cathryn Treasure Marketing & Sponsorship Lauren Terras <lauren@hip2b2.com> HIP2B2 pioneered by Mark Shuttleworth ADVERTISING & MARKETING Sales Executives Nick Armstrong +27 (0)21 417 1188 Michael Daly (JHB) +27 (0)11 263 4804 PRODUCTION, CIRCULATION & SYNDICATION Production Manager Shirley Quinlan Subscriptions John Pienaar +27 (0)21 417 1218 Subscriptions Call Centre 0860 103 662 Syndication Manager Glynis Fobb Repro by New Media Repro Printed by Paarl Print Published on behalf of BSquare Communications by New Media Publishing (Pty) Ltd +27 (0)21 417 1111 • <www.newmediapub.co.za> Advertising Director Aileen Lamb New Business Development Martha Dimitriou +27 (0)21 417 1276 Creative Director Crispian Brown Production Director Lucrezia Wolfaardt Digital Manager Heléne Lindsay Finance Manager Mark Oaten EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS Editorial Development Director Irna van Zyl Business Development Director John Psillos Managing Director Bridget McCarney All rights reserved. While precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of information, neither the editor, publisher nor New Media Publishing can be held liable for any inaccuracies, injury or damages that may arise.

PHOTOGRAPHS: DENVER HENDRICKS; GALLO/GETTYIMAGES.COM

If there was a club called Animallovers Anonymous, I’d be the first member – the kind of enthusiastic, slightly annoying groupie who bakes all the cakes for the fundraising fêtes and carries photos of dogs in my (non-leather) wallet. But there’s no such club, and I’m a terrible baker. I do have two amazing dogs, though, which I rescued from a township in 2008. See, my philosophy is if you can’t be a groupie, start your own group. Which is why I started a dog-rescuing organisation in late 2006. I won’t go into details – click to <www.africantails.co.za> for those – but I will say it celebrates the beauty of animals, as does this issue of HIP2B2. From head lice to humans, from dogs to deep-sea monsters, this issue celebrates the wild and notso-wild animals around us. Enjoy it, and here’s to a fantastic month, from one animal to another …

ABC 90 731

JANNA

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YOU

WON! We spoke to Amy Butlion, Grade 10, winner of a laptop in our Clover competition:

PRETTY BAKKER

We spoke to learners at the Fifth World Summit on Media and Children Review in Gauteng. MARNAY ANDERSON

Grade 11, Hillview Secondary School, KwaZulu-Natal I enjoyed this event because we could voice our opinions as children, and meet inspiring youth. If I could be any animal, I’d be a bird. They are free and they can migrate all over the world. My favourite celebrity is Beyoncé – she inspires young women by doing what she loves.

PRISCA D MHLANGO

Grade 8, Ndlaphu Combined School, Mpumalanga If I was an animal, I’d be a hippo, because most people love them. Print media versus the Internet? I prefer print media. In 10 years’ time, I see myself having my own shop where you could buy my fashion designs.

Grade 10, Capricorn High School, Polokwane I enjoyed this event because it showed that there are children my age who are succeeding. If I could be any animal, I’d be a giraffe – they see the world from a whole new level and they stand tall. LEE-AAN NADINE KARA

Grade 10, Taxila Combined School, Limpopo If I could meet any celebrity, I’d choose Oprah Winfrey – she inspires many people and does good work. Dogs or cats? I prefer cats. In 10 years’ time, I’d like to be a pharmacist and own a chain of stores worldwide.

JEEK MALERIA

Grade 10, Kgakoa High School, Limpopo If I could be famous for anything, I’d be a motivator, so I can change people’s lives and South Africa. Print media or the Internet? I’d go for the Internet. My mother inspires me, because she is a brave woman.

E-

JEE

PHOTOGRAPHS: SIMONE ABRAMSON, JAMES GOWANS, ISTOCK PHOTOS

YOU SAID IT

P RE

My favourite subject is biology because you get to learn about animals. After school, I always wanted to be a zoologist, but I’m not sure anymore – I don’t think I’d like to cut up animals. If I could be any animal, I would be a cat. It’s the only pet that I have, and I just really like them. My cat’s name is Tiger, and we got him from a farm about two years ago. My favourite dairy product is chocolate, of course …

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FORUM

S R E Y

EYEWITNESS

Hey Bongani … thanks for the letter and the great suggestion. We do hold workshops whenever we can, plus we’ll always keep you posted on any other interesting events that are happening. Look out for SciFest Africa at the end of March, and see page 38 for more great things to do in March. – Janna

What are electrochemical reactions? – AYANDA PRETORIUS, G10 Click to <http://tinyurl.com/ecrx1> for a fun explanation :) – Janna

Great magazines! I’d like to experience some of the careers you mentioned. – THOKOZILE MAKOBONG, G12 Stay smart, and I’m sure you’ll get to try any career you want! – Janna

I think you are the coolest magazine in our solar system. It would be great if you started a workshop for pupils where they can socialise and learn more about science and environmental issues in society. This would help create better leaders in South Africa, and we need the youth to strengthen their knowledge to create a better country for all. The workshops could also teach us a how to use our resources wisely and create there think I better economy. Through this, would be more concern for science and our economy. – BONGANI WASEEM

ON THE MOBISITE

1916

YO U W R OT E

YOU SMSED

Had a brainwave? Got something on your mind? We want to know … SMS ‘HIPCOM’ followed by your thoughts to 34978 (R2 per SMS), or comment free of charge on our MOBISITE at <mobi.hip2b2.com>. EMAIL <talk2us@hip2b2.com> or <hip2b2@newmediapub.co.za>.

The eighth of November was D-day for participants in Cape Town’s Lego Robotics Championships. Some of the teams had been working on their robots for months, and it’s no wonder – each machine had to complete certain tasks, from moving plastic balls to elevating houses, with almost no human intervention. Towards the end of the day a dance competition was held, to prove that robot designers are just as good with their feet as they are with their hands.

WRITE TO HIP2B2, PO Box 440, Green Point 8051.

Brand Ambassador James Gowans reports back on the 2008 LEGO ROBOTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS.

TALK

In an elephant was tried and executed for murder in Erwin, Tennessee (USA).

70%

Around of the brain consists of fat.

$23,4 million

is the amount NASA recently spent designing a toilet for use in space. The contraption uses suction technology to combat the fairly offputting effects of taking a leak (or worse) in zero gravity.

50 cm

is the length to which a giraffe’s tongue can grow – it can even clean the animal’s own ears!

1,7 is the factor by which a wild emperor penguin’s heartbeat increases whenever a human approaches to within 5 metres of it.

45 000 words

, or a line approximately 56 km long (that’s the length of about 560 rugby fields laid end to end), can be written with the average graphite pencil.

PHOTOGRAPH the world of science around you and email the pics to <talk2us@hip2b2.com>. 5

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SCI FILES

W H AT ’ S N E W I N S C I E N C E ? DEATH BY VOMIT

Caterpillars of the small mottled willow moth (Spodoptera exigua) are often attacked by predatory ants – and their response is to vomit on their attackers, who must immediately stop and clean themselves or die. The vomit itself isn’t toxic. In fact, when scientists add a little sugar to it, ants really like drinking it (scientists do strange things). Researchers have found that the puke is packed with surfactants (the chemicals in detergents that lower a liquid’s surface tension), allowing it to spread more easily over a surface. When the vomit hits the ant’s head, it covers it snugly and if it’s not cleaned off the icky attacker may drown. Yuk. Scientists are keen on isolating the chemicals for commercial and industrial purposes. Which means you may soon be cleaning your dishes with caterpillar up-chuck. Good times. Electric eels use blasts of electricity to defend themselves from predators and to catch (and fry) their prey. But how do they avoid shocking themselves? Find out at <www.hip2b2.com/news/eel-ectric-fun/113770>.

THE COLOUR OF DREAMS

Like most people, you probably dream in colour. In the early years of the 20th century, though, dreams tended to be in black and white, according to surveys conducted back then. Around 100 years later, Eva Murzyn, a scientist at the University of Dundee, has re-examined the matter. She has found that today’s older folks still report significantly more black-and-white dreams than youngsters. She has also come up with an explanation: in the good old days, black-and-white photography and films ruled. This may have affected the form of people’s dreams or influenced their beliefs about the way dreams should look. Either way, the message is clear: if you’re finding your dreams a little dull, be sure to watch only the biggest, brightest stuff you can find – preferably on a nice big-screen colour TV.

Crows are smart. But they’re also vengeful critters, according to John Marzluff, a wildlife biologist at the University of Washington. To test their mental recall, he used a caveman mask designated as a ‘dangerous’ face, and a Dick Cheney mask (former American Vice President) designated as ‘neutral’. Researchers wearing the ‘dangerous’ face trapped and banded crows on campus. For months after that, volunteers wore both masks, walking prescribed paths and ignoring the crows. The birds did not forgive or forget, scolding the ‘dangerous’ faces far more than before, even when the mask was disguised with a hat or worn upside down, and ignoring the ‘neutral’ face. Two years later, the effect is more noticeable than ever – even among crows that weren’t around when the initial study was done. MURDER MYSTERY

A gathering of crows is called a murder. It’s unclear just what these birds may have done to deserve such a bad rep, but it could have something to do with the way they flock to the site of a battle and start feeding on the corpses’ eyes. Mmmmm.

BY NICKLAUS KRUGER • PHOTOGRAPHS: DREAMSTIME.COM, NIGEL CATTLIN/ SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY, GALLO/GETTYIMAGES.COM

WHO YOU CALLING BIRDBRAIN?

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BRAIN FUEL HIP2B2 + Kellogg’s = even

Okay, so you did really well last year but now you want to do even better. And if it’s true that you are what you eat, then you need to be sure you’re eating smart. That’s why HIP2B2 has joined forces with Kellogg’s to give you all-year brain power. But why Kellogg’s? Well, let’s just say it helps you pump iron.

THE IMPORTANCE OF IRON

You may be more familiar with iron in security gates and other heavy objects, but it’s also found in your body. This metal helps maintain your red blood cells – which transport oxygen – and assists your immune system to function. It’s a component of haemoglobin – the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells – and plays a major role in transporting, releasing and storing oxygen for aerobic respiration. Iron is also part of myoglobin – a protein found in muscle cells – and aids in the release of energy from glucose and fatty acids in the gut.

HIP PARTNER

better grades

restless and distracted – some of the earliest symptoms of low iron levels and among the first to disappear when healthy iron status is restored.

IRON

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for iron is 14 mg per day. One of the best sources of iron is red meat, so keep those braai tongs handy. Alternatively, look out for foods that have been fortified with iron, such as Kellogg’s Corn Flakes. Can’t find iron on the Periodic Table? That’s because its chemical symbol isn’t ‘I’ or ‘Ir’ or anything similar to its name. In fact, it is ‘Fe’, derived from the Latin word ferrum, meaning ‘iron’ (go figure).

PHOTOGRAPHS: iSTOCK PHOTOS

LOW IRON = LOW ENERGY

Many body processes fail without enough oxygen, so people with iron deficiency usually feel weak and tired. They have a shortened attention span, a poor appetite and a cranky attitude, and they’re more susceptible to infection. When iron reserves in the body run dry, iron-deficiency anaemia develops. With low iron levels, you’ll struggle to concentrate and perform at your best. You’re more likely to become irritable,

THE YEAR IS ONLY JUST GETTING STARTED, SO WATCH THIS SPACE FOR MORE EXCITING VENTURES AND ACTIVITIES WITH KELLOGG’S!

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You can’t be in two places at once. Unless, that is, you have an Anybot QA Telepresence Robot, which lets you view, hear and converse with its surroundings – wherever it is – while you’re chilling at home. If a Segway and a videoconferencing phone were to breed (don’t think about it too hard) their kids might look something like this. It has a top speed of just under 10 km/h, two cameras, full audio and video capabilities, a built-in laser pointer and the ability to bend at the knees while remaining upright. It doesn’t have any hands, so you can’t send it to school or PE in your place. But maybe they’ll upgrade that laser pointer to a shrink ray and make the world a much more interesting place. <www.anybots.com>

A GUIDING LIGHT In the great outdoors, there are two things you can’t do without – a map and a torch. That’s why Boston-based designer Owen Song came up with a handy device that can function as both. The Map Light consists of two sheets of paper, one with the map and the other with two electrodes on the back. Between the sheets are a thin battery and LEDs*. Roll the map so the electrodes touch and the LEDs switch on, turning the map into a torch. The only problem is you can’t read the map when it’s rolled up – but at least now you have to remember only one item to make or break your wilderness experience. *Light Emitting Diodes MAP TO ORDER

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Want to see what the world map would look like if countries and continents were sized according to education levels, HIV status, etc? Click to <www.worldmapper.org>.

LOW-TECH MOMENT: KEEPING IT CLEAN

Knives, forks and chopsticks are wonderful tools, but sometimes there’s just no substitute for eating with your hands. Unfortunately, some of the best foods are also greasy and messy, and that’s where Trongs come in. These little guys are designed to slip over your fingertips, allowing you to claw at your food while keeping your actual flesh out of harm’s way. No more greasy, saucy, slippery or downright dirty hands after a good, not-so-clean meal. Just remember to wash them off before the next meal or all your food will taste the same. Of course, they’re not going to stop you from spilling sauce all over your shirt, but that’s just a risk you’ll have to take. <www.trongs.com>

BY NICKLAUS KRUGER • PHOTOGRAPHS: iSTOCK PHOTOS, ANYBOTS.COM, TRONGS.COM, THINK GEEK, FIREWINDER, OWEN SONG

SMART TECHNOLOGY clever, cool or crazy

TALK TO THE ROBOT

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SMART TECHNOLOGY NIGHT, WIND AND FIRE These are dark days, what with our Eskom issues and global warming, and we could all use something to brighten up our nights. Firebox’s Firewinder fits the bill: hanging from your roof or wall or in a tree in your garden, it’s an ecofriendly way to give your space a little bling. By day, it’s an ordinary decoration that spins in the wind. But when night falls and the wind picks up, it uses the gusty energy to light up, creating a pretty spiralling effect. The device is light enough to catch even the slightest breeze from any angle. And since it glows brighter with faster gusts, it’s another good excuse to stay home on those dark and stormy nights. <www.firebox.com>

COFFEE POWER What would the human race do without coffee? Probably stagger around in a sleepy fog, leaving the economy to crash as we all go slow. But if coffee is such a good human-charger, why shouldn’t it do the same for our electronics? The Powercup Inverter belongs in every car, where it fits nicely into the cup-holders that most vehicles are fitted with. It converts the car’s DC power into two 120-volt AC (alternating current) outlets, perfect for powering cellphones, game consoles and other portable electronics. It also has a USB charging port, to recharge your MP3 player and other digital devices. And of course, you can use it to store your holy brew. <www.thinkgeek.com>

FUN TECH THE TETRIS TREATMENT After experiencing a really traumatic event, there’s only one fun way to deal with the stress. Play a few rounds of Tetris. Researchers at Oxford University’s Department of Psychology found that playing this blocky puzzle game half an hour after watching traumatic scenes on video helped people experience fewer flashbacks. It works like this: for the first few hours after the event, short-term memory is fragile and easily disrupted. Tetris makes use of the same mental resources as the flashbacks do, and the brain has trouble multitasking (try holding a conversation and solving maths problems at the same time). By keeping the right parts of your grey matter busy, the game basically drives the bad thoughts away. With any luck, we might soon see disaster victims being led off the scene for a quick bout of gaming before they head home, happily untraumatised. Too bad they can’t just skip straight to the Tetris … FREE FUN

Had a traumatic day? Click to <www.freetetris.org>, the world’s most popular (and free) Tetris site.

FIGHT FAT WITH CAFFEINE

Caffeine has been shown to have cellulite-conquering properties – when smeared onto the skin in concentrations around 30 times as strong as your average cup of Java. So no, you can’t drink your way to a thinner you.

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DECONSTRUCTION

we take it apart

CLOVER FACT

Dreaming of that round-the-world trip but worried about the jet lag? Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stress: a cup of hot milk with a pinch of ginger and nutmeg can help prevent the symptoms.

Flybar helps stabilise the helicopter in flight and reduces the strain on the servos Hollow shaft rotates lower rotor blades

Ball-link driver attaches to servos

Swash plate allows the pitch of the blades to change Tail motor (4)

Main motor (3) Bearing

Tail rotor (2) (not functional in a coaxial model)

Servo bell crank

Aileron servo Rudder servo (6) Receiver with integrated gyro (5)

Horizontal stabiliser

Main frame houses motors and servos Upper gear attaches to hollow shaft

Lower gear attaches to inner shaft

Lithium-polymer battery (7)

Skid landing gear with battery box

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TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS: ANTHONY SAMBOER â&#x20AC;˘ PHOTOGRAPH: GALLO/GETTYIMAGES

Inner shaft rotates upper rotor blades

Rotor blade (1)

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DECONSTRUCTION: DRAGONFLY HELICOPTER THE INNER WORKINGS

Like the four-winged insect it’s named after, the Walkera Dragonfly radiocontrolled (RC) helicopter has four rotor blades (1). A smaller rotor in the tail (2) is required to counter the torque of the main rotors, which would otherwise cause the helicopter to spin. Coaxial helicopters* like ours don’t need a tail rotor, though, as the two sets of rotor blades counter each other. Synchronicity is key to the flight of the Dragonfly. The main motor (3) and tail motor (4) must spin at exactly the same speed for it to fly properly or even lift off the ground. The gyro (5) is also critical for stability, as it senses sudden movements of the tail and commands the rudder servo (6) to compensate for it. In our case, the gyro is integrated into the receiver’s circuit board. The Dragonfly is powered by a lithium-polymer battery (7), which is lighter, smaller and stronger than other batteries. Still, expect only about 10 minutes of flying time per charge. But thankfully this is where the machine beats the bug: real dragonflies also have fairly short life spans – just four to six months in all – but when they touch down for that final time, there’s no handy charger on standby. A final note: although this particular model is marketed as RTF (ready to fly), you might not be, so we recommend a few hours of practice before flying it around (and not into) your friends. *A coaxial helicopter has a pair of rotors that turn in opposite directions.

Balance block

Ball-link driver Motor Tail truss

Rudder servo (6) Canopy

Main gears (rotate rotor blades) Power cable

MACHINE VS BUG

In many European folk tales, dragonflies were considered sinister and given nasty nicknames such as ‘devil’s darning needle’, ‘Hell’s mare’ and ‘eye poker’.

Ever compared a helicopter to a dragonfly? Besides having similar shapes, it turns out that they also have similar flying mechanisms. Like helicopters, dragonflies can fly at high or low speeds, hover on the spot and even fly backwards. But how? Scientists attribute the bug’s superior skycraft to its ability to move each of its four wings independently. Other insects – like the fly – can’t do this, using their two wings as a single pair. Biologists in London and Germany have also found that a dragonfly uses 22% less energy to generate the same lift produced by two wings.

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WET

’

K CAN’T E C

Don’t bet on it. Scientists at the University of Salford recently handed the mike to Daisy the duck to prove it’s untrue: in a room designed to test for echoing sounds, her quacks clearly resounded. Echoes are heard when sound bounces off hard surfaces and then reaches the listener later than the original sound. A duck’s quack is nothing more than a normal sound wave, so there’s no reason for it not to echo. Because quacks are longish, soft sounds, the scientists think the myth could have started because the fading original sound masks any reflecting sound.

C UA

LTHY DOG

THE TRUTH ABOUT C (AND OTHER A

Is your cat really happy when it purrs? Can a cockroach really live without its head? They can’t tell you … but we can. S

CKROAC

A H E

FOR M T

WEEK

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Disgustingly, this fact is true. Cockroaches don’t need their heads to breathe – tiny air tubes growing inwards from slits in their tough exterior deliver oxygen to the body. Also, although their heads house a tiny brain, nerve centres elsewhere control most of the neural activity. So without a head, another centre simply takes over. Admittedly, without eyes and antennae it’ll be a bumpy crawl. Eventually the mouthless thing will die of thirst. Good riddance!

A dog’s nose print is as unique as our fingerprints.

DID YOU KNOW?

Should you worry if Spot’s nuzzling nose is a bit dry? ‘Not necessarily,’ says Onderstepoort-based veterinarian Dr Martina Crole. ‘The tip of a dog’s nose is skin without fur, and mucus from nearby glands helps keep it hydrated. If it’s dry, your dog could be a bit dehydrated, but not necessarily ill. Associated loss of appetite, lethargy and a fever are better signs that something’s wrong.’ Dehydration can be a symptom of another underlying illness, so the half-truth may exist because people think a dry nose is the reason for Spot’s illness, rather than the other way around.

Wanna hear Daisy quack? Click to <www. acoustics.salford.ac.uk/acoustics_info/duck>.

2/17/09 1:28:21 PM

A C S

ANT

FAST FACT

Slave-maker ants, such as Polyergus Rufescens, abduct other ant species and use them as slaves who must provide food, raise the young and even carry their masters when the colony moves!

It’s true. And thank goodness – can you imagine the mighty thud when such a heavyweight hits the ground? (An adult bull elephant can weigh almost seven tons, while a cow weighs about half of that.) Elephants never have all four feet in the air simultaneously. ‘But no-one knows why elephants cannot, or perhaps will not, jump,’ says Dr John Hutchinson, biomechanist at London’s Royal Veterinary College. It may be their knee structure, leg muscle strength, tendons, bone structure or something else. ‘It’s unlikely to be purely a size issue,’ he says. Baby elephants, which weigh around 100 kg, don’t jump either; yet rhinos, which tip the scale at more than two tons, easily lift all four feet simultaneously.

S CAN’T

AT Y C

Not always, it seems. Cats certainly purr when A they’re content, but they often purr when stressed, injured or during labour. Scientists think that purring may be more than just a social communication signal: intermittent muscle actions of the voice box and diaphragm produce a low frequency purring sound of around 25 to 100 Hz. Studies show that these sound frequencies can improve bone density and muscle tone – the purr-fect way to stay in shape.

E OVEN

ING CAT I S

R ANIMALS) RR

FACT OR FICTION?

T CATS AND DOGS a ? .

IVE IN A

No doubt about this one. In microwave ovens, high-frequency radio waves zap between the metal panels of the box, forming areas of intense heat – called ‘hot spots’ – where the waves cross one another. Fortunately for adventurous ants, these hot spots are spaced a few centimetres apart, leaving much cooler areas in between. The bugs are able to survive the fry by dodging the hot spots and staying in the cooler zones. Of course, this becomes even more impressive when the turntable is moving, but the effort certainly beats what will happen if the ant gives in to the heat.

FAST FACT

Sir Isaac Newton didn’t just discover gravity and plot the planetary orbits. He also invented the cat flap. PHOTOGRAPHS: DREAMSTIME.COM, iSTOCK PHOTOS

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THE AGE OF Don’t look now, but there’s a dinosaur in your garden … PREHISTORIC PLANET

Dinosaurs ruled the planet for around 160 million years, developing incredible diversity. There were pachycephalosaurs with bony heads they could ram together like … well, like rams. There was Ostriomimus, which resembled a scaly ostrich with claws instead of wings. There were ankylosaurs with clublike tails, stegosaurs with spikes and plates on their spines, carnosaurs that were the size of chickens and megalosaurs that could swallow a man whole. All this variety helped dinosaurs thrive just about everywhere, from deserts to swamps to jungles. They were way at the top of the food chain (at least on land), while little mammals and amphibians scurried around trying not to annoy the big guys. SO WHAT KILLED THEM?

nce upon a time, in a land not so far far away, there were dragons. For real. Pretty much every culture on Earth has legends based on the supersized fossils they found. To some, the creatures were giants or ogres or trolls or razor-mouthed monsters. To Sir Richard Owen, they were dinosaurs – or ‘terrible lizards’ – a name he coined in 1842 for those massive beings that once roamed the Earth.

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For a long time, scientists thought that dinosaurs were simply too slow and stupid to keep up with the evolving mammals. Another theory proposed that they couldn’t cope with the changing climates and sea levels, as well as continental drift. But the beasts had survived this stuff for longer than Homo sapiens has even existed, so that seems a bit unlikely. The prime murder suspect in the dinosaur mystery is the enormous meteor scientists think hit Earth 65,5 million years ago. Evidence suggests that a five to 15 kmdiameter meteor hit the Yucatan Peninsula

2/17/09 12:22:57 PM

DINOSAURS

in Mexico, carving out the 170 km-wide Chicxulub Crater. The collision kicked up clouds of dust, blocking the sun and creating a violently destructive heat wave. It may also have triggered massive volcanic eruptions, which probably didn’t help. And so ended the Age of Reptiles. And let that be a lesson: no matter how big you are, something even bigger can fall from the sky and really ruin your day. BUT ARE THEY REALLY GONE?

BY NICKLAUS KRUGER • PHOTOGRAPHS: GALLO/GETTYIMAGES.COM, iSTOCK PHOTOS

It may be hard to imagine, but when you see a pigeon strutting its stuff, you’re actually looking at a dinosaur, whose ancestors probably ate your ancestors for breakfast (and possibly lunch and supper). In 1868, anatomist TH Huxley proposed that birds descended from dinosaurs – seven years after a fossilised dino-bird was discovered. Named Archaeopteryx, the creature had feathers, wings, teeth and claws, and other characteristics of both birds and reptiles. Most of the feathered dinosaurs that have been found wouldn’t have been able to fly, at least not in the early days. This means that feathers originally evolved for some other purpose, such as heat regulation or courtship display. At least one dinosaur has been found with feathers on all four limbs. But that’s just plain weird. BIRDS?! WHAT ABOUT THE REAL THING?

Okay, so dinosaurs are (mostly) long gone, but what if we could bring them back? That’s the plot of Michael Crichton’s most famous book, Jurassic Park, which became one of the big screen’s biggest successes.

For those who don’t know the story, it basically goes like this: scientists extract dinosaur DNA from a mosquito in amber and use it to clone new dinosaurs, bridging gaps where the code is degraded with frog and/or lizard DNA. The snorting giants then take over the Park and start killing people. Pure science fiction, right? Actually, maybe not. Scientists have recently announced that they’ve almost constructed a working sequence of the woolly mammoth genome, using DNA from specimens preserved in ice. In a few years, they may be able to recreate the mammoth by implanting the genetic code into an elephant egg. This would make a welcome change from our normal habits (of erasing the species we’ve already got). Of course, it’s incredibly expensive – sequencing the mammoth cost nearly $10 million – and there are major problems with applying it to dinosaurs (older DNA, no similar species that could lay a T-Rex egg, and so on). But who knows? In a few decades, we could be eating T-Rex steaks (provided they don’t eat us first)! BIG BEASTIES

The largest animal ever known to roam the land was Argentinosaurus, a sauropod (long-necked herbivorous dinosaur) that reached over 30 m in length and weighed more than 100 tons (around 20 African bull elephants). Tyrannosaurus rex (or T-Rex to friends, pictured opposite) is the most famous giant carnivorous reptile, growing up to 13 m in height. Giganotosaurus, which resembled TRex, could reach nearly 14 m in length, with a skull that was bigger than a man’s body.

Despite its fearsome appearance, Styracosaurus was a herbivore that ate palms and cycads. LIVING ON THE EDGE

Dinosaurs aren’t the only animals to have taken the long dirt nap. Here are a few of today’s many animals who are living on death row. • Giant bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus): Southern Africa’s largest frog species. Formerly found in large numbers across the country, this croaker is struggling with the loss of its breeding habitat. • Blue iguana (Cyclura lewisi): one of the world’s longest-living lizards. Predation by feral pets, however, may make sure it doesn’t hold on much longer. • Red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus): used to live all over south-central and eastern Asia. Now only found around Nepal, thanks to poisoning. • Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica): the largest cat in the world. Fading fast thanks to habitat destruction and disruption of its ecosystems.

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HOW LONG WOULD YOU

SURVIVE IN THE WILD? Are you a city slicker or a jungle junkie? Take this quiz to find out.

1. When you realise you’re lost and the sun is setting, what’ll you do first? A. Find shelter. B. Build a fire. C. Start walking as fast as you can to where you think you lost your way. 2. When night falls, how will you keep predators at bay? A. Build a fire. B. Scream all night long. C. Hide in your sleeping bag. 3. How will you keep warm at night? A. Make a small shelter and sleep on layers of clothes and blankets. B. Lie close to the fire. C. Put as many clothes, blankets and leaves on top of you as possible.

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FAST FACT

Scorpions like the warmth of your sleeping bag so be careful. The most dangerous ones are not the thugs with the enormous pincers – these are just for show. The ones to avoid have big thick tails (all the better to sting you with) and small, thin pincers. 4. What is most likely to kill you in the African bush? A. Extreme heat or cold. B. Lack of water. C. Predators. 5. Which of the following insects is the most dangerous? A. Button spider (Black Widow). B. Mosquito. C. Rain spider.

6. Which of these berries will you eat for breakfast the next day? A. Blue or black berries. B. Red berries. C. Yellow or white berries. 7. The berries didn’t quite fill you up. What’s your next food source? A. Worms. B. Mushrooms. C. Frogs. 8. What will you do first if a snake bites you? A. Take a photo of the snake before it slithers away. B. Tie a tourniquet around the affected limb. C. Kill the snake.

2/17/09 12:25:48 PM

QUIZ

9. To lighten your backpack, which of the following will you discard? A. Gas burner. B. Excess clothing. C. Hat.

13. Which part of the plant has the highest nutritional value? A. Fruit and seeds. B. Roots. C. Leaves.

10. The water in your backpack won’t last long. How will you find more? A. Follow other animals such as baboons. B. Look for the place with the most lush vegetation. C. Dig a hole in the ground.

14. What’s the best way to attract help? A. Place coloured clothing on trees and write SOS across a large open space (preferably on fire). B. Keep the campfire going and shout ‘Help’ from time to time. C. Retrace your steps and send up a flare every few hours.

BY MICHELLE MINNAAR • PHOTOGRAPHS: GALLO/GETTYIMAGES.COM, iSTOCK PHOTOS

11. If you’re confronted by a lion, what will you do? A. Freeze. B. Scream like a mad person and flail your arms. C. Run. 12. What will you do if you are charged by an elephant or buffalo? A. Run to the nearest tree and climb as high as possible. B. Run for as long as you can. C. Stand dead still.

HOW DID YOU SCORE?

For every A, you score 3 points. Answer B scores 2 points and C scores 1. Add up your total, then read the verdict. 15 to 25 Survival time: 1 to 2 hours Lions may be dangerous, but you could be your own worst enemy in the wild. You still need to learn the basics of the bush, so if you insist on exploring, we suggest you read the provided Wilderness Wisdom*. 25 to 35 Survival time: 1 to 2 days You have a fair knowledge of survival in the

15. Which of these animal tracks mean you should retreat … fast? A.

DID YOU KNOW?

Bushmen use the poison from the Diamphidia beetle to make their arrows strong enough to kill a giraffe. If mammals eat the beetles, though, they’re completely harmless. Turns out the bugs can only harm you if their poison enters your bloodstream. wild, but there’s still more to learn. Find out about edible plants and become familiar with dangerous animals and bugs – often the things that seem the scariest are in fact the most harmless (like rain spiders). 35 to 45 Survival time: 1 to 2 weeks (or more) Stand aside, Tarzan – there’s a new king (or queen) of the jungle. You may be really comfortable out there, but to ensure you do eventually get rescued, try to stay in one place as much as possible, and conserve your water, food and energy.

*WILDERNESS WISDOM: READ ONLY AFTER YOU’VE SCORED!

• Remember the Rule of Three: human beings can’t survive more than three minutes without air (oxygen), three hours at extremely low temperatures, three days without water and three weeks without food. Shelter is top priority. • When sleeping in the wild, contact with the cold earth will cool your body through conduction – the transfer of heat from a region of higher temperature (your body) to a region of lower temperature (the ground). Sleep on something to stay warm. • White and yellow berries are poisonous 90% of the time, while 90% of blue and black berries are good to eat. Red berries are 50/50. Bumpy berries like raspberries and blackberries are almost 100% safe. • When bitten by a snake, tying a tourniquet around the affected limb can cause more harm than good – it’s thought to prevent the poison from spreading, but it also concentrates the venom in one area, causing necrosis (tissue death) and the potential loss of a limb. • Leopards (Question 15.A) are shy and evasive, but can become very dangerous if disturbed or cornered. Our advice? Don’t follow their tracks. Cheetahs (15.B) aren’t a threat in the wild, as they’ll simply run away from you. Still, if you can help it, stick to tracking meerkats (15.C). • Never run from a lion, as you’ll become the tastiest not-so-fast food around. Lions clock 80 km/h when hunting and the fastest a human has ever run is 54 km/h. Do the maths. The best response? Stay still – with any luck, kitty will pass you by. If he still approaches you, start screaming and flap your arms – lions tend to be more afraid of us than we are of them.

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2/17/09 12:26:16 PM

ANIMALS IN S THE FLOATING FARMYARD

THE CLONED SHEEP

If you could clone a person, would you do it? Sir Ian Wilmut says he wouldn’t, which is strange coming from the guy who was involved in the creation of the first cloned mammal. Dolly the sheep was created using a process called somatic cell nuclear transfer – basically, the nucleus (containing DNA) of an adult cell is injected into an enucleated (meaning, nucleus removed) egg cell, which then develops into an embryo that can be implanted into a surrogate mother. Dolly’s story has a sad ending, but it served as an important warning to scientists. ‘In the first experiment we reported, five lambs were born alive and three died quickly,’ Wilmut told Salon magazine. It turns out that Dolly was the only cloned lamb that survived into adulthood from 277 attempts, and even she died at just six years old. Guess you can thank Dolly, then, for the fact that you still have only one headmaster. FAST FACT

The first genetically modified animal to be made available to the public as a pet is the GloFish – a zebrafish (Danio rerio) with glow-in-the-dark red, green and orange colouring.

Say you and your brother are brilliant inventors but your dad says you can’t try out your latest invention. What do you do? If you’re Jacques and Joseph Montgolfier, you get some animals to try it out for you. In 1783, the Montgolfier brothers were tinkering with bags made of paper and fabric, when they noticed that if they lit a small flame near the opening at the bottom, the bag would fill up with hot air – and black smoke – and start to float. What the brothers thought was magical smoke (which, in their excitement, they called ‘Montgolfier gas’) was actually just heated air, which made the bag buoyant because it had lower density than the colder air outside. The Montgolfiers built a large ‘hot air balloon’, and presented it for demonstration in the court of King Louis XVI. Their father refused to let them be the first passengers, though, so the king ordered a rooster, a duck and a sheep to hop on. The pioneer flight lasted about eight minutes, before they touched down safely just over three kilometres away.

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N SCIENCE

RESEARCH

Meet the dogs, sheep, monkeys and mice that have contributed to scientific research.

THE CHILLED-OUT CHICKENS

RIA NOVOSTI / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

BY MARK VAN DIJK • PHOTOGRAPHS: GALLO/GETTYIMAGES.COM , DREAMSTIME.COM

THE SPACE MONKEYS

The first animal in orbit was the dog Laika, a canine cosmonaut aboard the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 2. But Earth’s first space pioneers were monkeys, who boldly went where humans (and dogs) were still too scared to go. On 14 June 1949, a rhesus monkey named Albert II* reached space altitude aboard an American V2 rocket. Sadly, his parachute failed on his return to Earth and he died on impact … but he paved the way for dogs, mice, more monkeys (the first ones to survive space flight, in May 1959, were named Able and Baker) and eventually humans to go into space. *You can probably guess what happened to Albert I. He died of suffocation in his cramped capsule before his space rocket had even left the ground.

On the all-time list of great animal lovers, Louis Pasteur would have to rank pretty near the top – just a little lower than Noah and way above Paris Hilton. The French microbiologist found vaccines or cures for chicken cholera, rabies and pébrine (which affected silkworms). But one of his greatest achievements was finding a vaccine for anthrax, which was wiping out many cows and sheep in late 19th-century France. After noticing that chickens have high body temperatures (+43 °C) and are immune to anthrax, Pasteur lowered a chicken’s body temperature to 37 °C, and found that it lost its immunity to the disease. So he heated up some anthrax germs and injected them into 25 sheep. He injected 50 sheep with normal anthrax, and watched as only his 25 inoculated sheep survived. This proved that the weakened anthrax could spread immunity, but couldn’t spread the virus … and provided a vaccine for the disease! CLOVER FACT

DID YOU KNOW?

The first Earthlings to be sent into space were fruit flies that caught a lift on some corn seeds aboard an American V2 rocket in 1947.

Louis Pasteur’s most famous achievement was the aptly named process of pasteurisation, which enables cows’ milk to stay fresh and free of disease.

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2/17/09 12:34:00 PM

THE DEAD AND KICKING ELECTRO-FROG

In 1771, Italian biologist Luigi Galvani was dissecting a frog’s leg when his steel scalpel bumped the brass hook holding the leg in place. There was a sudden spark as the metals touched and the frog’s leg kicked to life. Galvani theorised that this was caused by ‘animal electricity’, a mysterious life force in the frog’s muscles. He was wrong. His friend Alessandro Volta correctly proved that the two metals touching had created electricity, and that the frog’s leg had merely reacted to it. To prove his point, Volta piled up alternating pairs of copper and zinc discs, and built the world’s first electric battery. FAST FACT

Volta gave his name to voltage, which is the measurement of electric potential difference (as in the 220 volts of your household plugs). Galvani gave his name to galvanism, which is when a muscle contracts when stimulated by electric current.

THE EARMOUSE

Don’t believe everything you read on the Net. In 1997, a photo showing a lab mouse with a human ear growing on its back did the rounds. Groups opposed to genetic engineering claimed that it was ‘an actual photo of a genetically engineered mouse with a human ear on its back’. The only part they got right was the ‘actual photo’. The mouse was from an experiment by University of Massachusetts scientist Dr Charles Vacanti, who made a mould of a human ear, then implanted it under the skin of a mouse and grew cartilage cells (from a cow’s knee) inside the mould. But why, you might ask? To prove that complicated cartilage structures could be created for transplanting into humans. But this particular ear wasn’t fit for human use – the mouse had a genetically inhibited immune system, but a normal human immune system would reject the ear because it was made of cow cells.

A N I M A L T E S T I N G RIGHT OR WRONG?

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0 0 00

‘IT’S NECESSARY, BUT IT MUST BE ‘IT DOESN’T WORK … AND THERE’S DONE CORRECTLY’ NO TRANSPARENCY’ Professor Anthony MBewu, Michele Pickover, Animal Rights Africa President of the Medical Research ‘Obviously, we’re against the use of animals. Council of South Africa But before we can even question that, we ‘Animal testing is sometimes necessary, but need to have transparency. Who’s doing the we try to avoid it if at all possible. As our experiments? How many animals are used? methodologies develop, the use of animals None of this is in the public domain. becomes less and less necessary, Testing on animals tells us but there will be instances about animals, not people. where animals must be used Aspirin can be fatal to to avoid harm to human cats; penicillin kills participants. guinea pigs; arsenic The estimated The Medical Research poisons humans but number of vertebrate Council has a committee not sheep. Medical animals used to prevent abuse of progress requires in experiments every animals, and the strictest continued focus on year across the guidelines must be humans and their globe. followed.’ susceptibility to drugs.’

IS THERE ANOTHER WAY? Actually, yes. It’s called microdosing and it allows researchers to study the effects of test medicines on living humans. Basically, they give you a tiny dosage of the medicine (about one-hundredth of the amount that would have a pharmacological effect), and then study the specifically targeted cells. Microdosing doesn’t eliminate animal testing (they’ll still run the early tests on animals), but it will introduce humans at an earlier point in the testing cycle. Around 90% of the world’s pharmaceutical companies plan to use microdosing by 2010. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Animal testing: helpful or horrible? Email your opinion to <talk2us@hip2b2.com> to win a HIP2B2 Bass on Tap!

2/18/09 1:09:31 PM

PHOTOGRAPHS: GALLO/GETTYIMAGES.COM

SHOOTING

Many creatures are too small, too weird or too wild to see without a microscope or a submarine. That’s why we caught them on camera. This crystal jellyfish, or Aequorea victoria, is never afraid of the dark, because it comes with built-in lights. Armed with GFP (green fluorescent protein), it gives off a ghostly glow under blue light. It also gave the Nobel Prize to three scientists who isolated GFP for research – turn to page 25 for an example of it at work.

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GREGORY OCHOCKI / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

A snake-mimic hawkmoth caterpillar, reacting to a threat. It draws its legs and head towards its body and expands its front to intimidate predators.

A reef octopus on the hunt. It uses the membranes between its arms to trap creatures hiding in the coral.

DR GEORGE BECCALONI / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

GEORGETTE DOUWMA / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

The viperfish is a deep-sea dweller.

The hairs, or setae, under a gecko’s foot. To find out what these tiny ticklers are for, turn to page 48. STEVE GSCHMEISSNER / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

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As the human-like expression on this four-week old orangutan’s face suggests, we share 97% of our DNA with these primates. TONI ANGERMAYER / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

2/17/09 12:37:25 PM

PHOTOGRAPHY

This two-headed angulate tortoise is a type of Siamese twin, formed when a developing embryo splits to form twins but doesn’t separate completely.

A fluorescent mouse, genetically modified to produce GFP (see page 23).

The surface of a cat’s tongue. The projections, or papillae, face backwards and are used for grooming and scraping meat off prey. STEVE GSCHMEISSNER / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

TONY CAMACHO / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

EYE OF SCIENCE / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Scanning electron micrograph of a head louse on a human hair. It lives in the hair and glues its eggs to individual strands. Pass the shampoo! PHOTO INSOLITE REALITE / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

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Can you see the creature that’s camouflaged in this picture? Email the type of animal to <win@hip2b2.com> to win a Bass on Tap.

2/17/09 12:39:14 PM

WILD ABOUT WORK Love animals? Turn your passion into a money-making career.

ANIMAL BEHAVIOURIST << AKA THE LION TAMER >> Imagine counting a pride of 40 lions as part of your family. If you can’t, pay a visit to Kevin Richardson, who swims with lions and plays with hyenas at The Lion Park in Lanseria. As an animal behaviourist, he analyses everything the ferocious felines do so as to better understand their behavioural patterns and to find out what makes them happy, sad, angry or irritated. It doesn’t matter what furry friend you choose to study, just know that it takes many years to gain their trust, respect and friendship. And just like people, they have their bad days. ‘One of my lionesses literally wanted to kill me when

I stopped her from hurting a young cub,’ says Richardson. ‘The next day, I lay in the enclosure with the male lions and she eventually walked over, looked me straight in the eye, and then lay next to me, as if to say, “OK, all is forgiven”.’ Flaking out on your animals isn’t an option either – just like family, they rely on you, so you have to be 100% committed. STUDY IT as part of a Zoology degree at the University of the Free State. Call 051 401 2427 or visit <www.uovs.ac.za>. FAST FACT

Lions only start to roar when they are two years old.

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2/18/09 9:14:42 AM

CAREERS

BY JUSTINE STAFFORD • PHOTOGRAPHS: GALLO/GETTYIMAGES.COM, iSTOCK PHOTOS, DREAMSTIME.COM

Not all marine scientists rub shoulders with sharks: you could also research species that are over-fished, a coastal ecosystem that’s under threat, or an endangered type of coral. No matter what you do, though, expect long hours at the lab analysing the data you collect. It may sound like a drag, but hey, it’s hard work saving the planet!

THE MARINE SCIENTIST << AKA THE SHARK FINDER >> Would you ever go face-to-face with a Great White? Ryan Johnson does it every day. He recently spent over 100 hours tracking ‘Big Mama’, a Great White shark in Mossel Bay, to catch her breaching (jumping vertically out of the water) and feeding at night. He filmed it for Sharkville, a National Geographic documentary that helps debunk scary Jaws-type myths about this ancient and awesome aquatic species. ‘It astounds me how close sharks actually get to the surfers and swimmers in Mossel Bay without ever harming them,’ says Johnson. ‘I only wish we could be as tolerant of them.’

BEASTLY BUSINESS

STUDY IT at The University of KwaZulu-Natal. Call 031 260 1111 or visit <marinesci.ukzn.ac.za/Biology/ content/view/223>.

VETERINARIAN << AKA DOCTOR DO-LOTS >> Dedicating your life to helping others is probably the most noble of professions, especially when they’re sick or injured and they can’t tell you what’s wrong. ‘Being a vet can be stressful, but it’s also very rewarding, especially when you save an animal’s life,’ says Jacky Bredin, a vet at Hout Bay Veterinary Hospital in Cape Town. Although your local vet probably specialises in domestic animals like cats and dogs, many vets prefer to focus on farm or wild animals. No matter what direction you choose, though, be prepared: it’s not an easy career to get into. The Onderstepoort campus of the University of Pretoria is the only faculty that offers Veterinary Science in South Africa, which consists of two degrees that take seven years to complete. STUDY IT at the University of Pretoria. Call 012 529 8000 or click to <http://web.up.ac.za>.

For information on other great animal careers and where to study them, click to <www.hip2b2.com>.

Humans aren’t the only hard-working species out there … these animals also have serious careers.

AVIAN ACTOR Meet Mr Penelican, the African pelican that played Goose, the Mafioso hitman, in the movie Racing Stripes. Goose may not have been the star of the show, but his bad-boy antics and mobster accent made him the funny guy to watch. Described as the ‘Tom Cruise of pelicans’, Mr Penelican is a tough guy, just like Goose. And when he isn’t on the red carpet, he performs at bird shows to educate people about his kind.

ECOWARRIOR Shadow is one eco-aware cheetah. Tourists from around the world pay to visit him and the cheetahs he lives with at Spier Wine Estate. As the programme’s main ambassador, he also visits schools, malls, community clubs and corporate functions, to raise awareness about these over-hunted hunters. Today, there are only 600 cheetahs left in South Africa, so the work Shadow does is literally a matter of life and death.

LIFETIME LEADER Thornton is a typical fun-loving Labrador. But that doesn’t mean he can’t handle a serious job. As a guide dog for the blind, it’s Thornton’s responsibility to help his owner, Pieter van Niekerk, get around. Labradors are perfect guide dogs because they’re friendly, docile and smart. They usually stay with their owners until ‘retirement age’. Then they either stay on as pets or return to the training centre as honoured senior citizens.

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2/18/09 9:14:58 AM

SCI DIY

CRYSTAL GARDEN CULTIVATE YOUR OWN

YOU’LL NEED

• 75 ml Laundry Blue or Prussian blue (from pharmacies) • 75 ml water • glass jar or beaker • 2 tablespoons table salt • 15 ml ammonia solution (from pharmacies or hardware stores) • lumps of coal or large stones • plastic container just large enough to hold the coal or stones in a single layer • food colouring WHAT TO DO

1 Pour the Laundry Blue or Prussian blue and the water into the glass jar or beaker and stir. 2 Add the table salt and stir to dissolve. 3 Add the ammonia solution and stir – the liquid should turn from blue to brown. 4 Decoratively arrange the coal or stones in the plastic container, leaving some space between each one. 5 Add the solution, making sure to wet the entire surface of your arrangement; the solution should reach about a third of the way up the lumps of coal or stones. 6 Add drops of food colouring – you can use several colours, but to make sure they don’t mix add them as far apart as possible. 7 Leave your would-be garden in a warm, dry place, out of direct sunlight. The first crystals will appear within an hour, but leave it for a few days to grow into a garden you’ll be happy to show your friends. SO WHAT’S THE DEAL?

WHAT EXACTLY IS A CRYSTAL?

A crystal is a solid substance in which the components are arranged in a regular pattern in all three dimensions. Perfect crystals display these shapes on a macro scale as proper polyhedrons – think of ice crystals or diamonds, for example.

It’s actually really simple: only a certain amount of a substance can be dissolved in a given volume of water. When you exceed that amount, the solute starts to precipitate out and form crystals. Water evaporates from the surface of the coal or stones and the solution, raising the concentration of solute and depositing crystals.

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2/17/09 12:43:13 PM

ADVERTORIAL

Reaching new frontiers Sasol is more than just a fuel company – it uses science and technology to create magic and improve the lives of others. Did you know that this innovative company was founded out of the wacky idea of turning coal into petrol? Today, more than 50 years later, it is an established market leader in the energy industry.

Choose a great career in science BY NICKLAUS KRUGER • PHOTOGRAPHS: DENVER HENDRICKS; iSTOCK PHOTOS

INDUSTRIAL CRYSTALLISATION

Industrial crystallisation uses principles of inorganic chemistry to make and manipulate crystals. It’s one of the oldest chemical engineering operations to have been commercially exploited. The process is used to make pharmaceuticals (aspirin and insulin) as well as food (chocolate and cheese). It’s also very important in mining – when ore is collected, crystallisation is used to extract each valuable metal. Materials engineering relies on products made by crystallisation, as does most modern technology and jewellery. This field will suit you if you’re meticulous and thorough, enjoy working with chemicals and have a flair for maths. A lot of patience and a hands-on approach to experiments would also help.

JOBS FOR AFRICA Are Mathematics and Science your favourite subjects? The Sasol bursary scheme is especially geared towards learners who have a passion for these disciplines. ACHIEVE YOUR DREAMS Sasol offers exceptional opportunities to talented people – your curiosity and enthusiasm can help you achieve your dreams and reach new frontiers. BRILIANT BURSARIES Sasol offers bursaries for full-time university studies in BSc Engineering, BSc and BCom. Click to <www.sasolbursaries.com> or call 0860 106 235 to find out more. Bursary applications for 2010 closed on 28 February 2009.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO STUDY THIS?

The way to a career in Industrial Crystallisation lies in a four-year BSc degree in Chemical Engineering or a three-year BSc Chemistry degree at any of several South African universities, or a three-year diploma at a technical institute. In addition to writing an entrance exam, you’ll need to score at least a four in Mathematics and Physics to register for either of these courses.

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2/17/09 12:44:59 PM

Who are the sports stars of their species?

CATEGORY 100 m DASH PRONGHORN ANTELOPE

90 km per hour

Ever heard of a buck that can’t jump? Well, this antelope is the only one. But what it lacks in leaps is easily compensated for by its hoofblistering speed. Sporting a large heart and lungs, this athletic North American antelope has an impressive history of escaping even the recently extinct American cheetah. CHEETAH

TOP SPEED

AND THE WINNER IS … the cheetah. With a light, streamlined body and a bounding 7 m stride, it shoots ahead to the finish line.

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110 km per hour

Speaking of cheetahs, let’s hope this guy doesn’t eat the competition before the race begins. Built for speed with a long, lean body and the ability to accelerate faster than most super-cars, this famous sprinter uses his semi-retractable claws to provide traction at high speeds, while his tail steers him through sharp turns.

BY ERIN CLASSEN • HOTOGRAPHS:: i GALLO/GETTYIMAGES.COM , STOCK PHOTOS, DREAMSTIME.COM • ILLUSTRATIONS: SIMON CRUNDWELL

TOP SPEED

2/17/09 12:52:05 PM

SPORTS SCIENCE

AYE-AYE CAPTAIN

The Madagascan Aye-aye may not be fast or strong, but he doesn’t have to do much to stand out from the crowd. To see why, click to <www.hip2b2.com/news/freak-of-nature/36714>.

CATEGORY WEIGHTLIFTING AFRICAN ELEPHANT

% BODY WEIGHT LIFTED

25 %

As the largest land animal on Earth – weighing in at around 5 000 kg – this bruiser has been known to uproot trees without flapping an ear. But think twice before you boo it from the sidelines – despite all that brawn, it can run at 40 km per hour.

DREAMSTIME.COM • ILLUSTRATIONS: SIMON CRUNDWELL

RHINO BEETLE

% BODY WEIGHT LIFTED

85 000 %

The smallest contestant in this category happens to be one of largest of the rhino beetles. Found in South America and measuring more than 17 cm in length, the Hercules beetle is the strongest animal on Earth relative to size! Even from far, it can be easily identified by its distinctive horn, which is used in combat.

BLUE WHALE

% BODY WEIGHT LIFTED unknown As it lives underwater and is therefore weightless, it’s difficult to calculate the maximum mass this giant could lift. But we do know it’s the largest living animal on Earth, weighing 180 tons and no doubt hiding some serious power under all that blubber. And without any natural predators, nothing can stand in its way.

AND THE WINNER IS … the rhino beetle. The other athletes may hoist heavier weights, but neither comes close to lifting 850 times its own body weight! So maybe size doesn’t count after all …

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2/17/09 12:50:26 PM

SPORTS SCIENCE

CATEGORY SWIMMING SWORDFISH

TOP SPEED

CATEGORY HIGH JUMP SAILFISH

90 km per hour

Taking its name from its long, sharp bill, the swordfish is a popular sport fish. Its elongated, rounded body makes it quick and agile in the water, but it’s actually faster while leaping than swimming. The big question is, how would this fighter fare in a race against its own relatives?

TOP SPEED

110 km per hour

AND THE WINNER IS … the froghopper. With an elastic catapult system between its back legs and wings, this little beauty can hop to over 100 times its own body length!

This game fish also has an elongated bill. Of the two species, though, the Indo-Pacific sailfish has been clocked faster than its Atlantic cousin. When the sailfish goes for gold, almost all its fins are pulled towards the body, to create a streamlined speed machine. Watch out, cuz!

BLUE MARLIN

80 km per hour

Talk about a family feud! A cousin of the swordfish and the sailfish, the marlin is highly migratory, luring anglers from around the world for just one chance to catch it. If they do bait one, though, beware: it’s so fast that it can break a fishing line in seconds.

AND THE WINNER IS … the Schumacher of the seas: the sailfish. With just the right body modifications to give it the edge, this elusive speed freak gets the gold.

TIGER

MAXIMUM HEIGHT 3 to 4 m In recent years, many reports have emerged of tigers scaling enclosure walls, as it turns out this kitty can leap almost twice its height! Weighing up to 300 kg and growing up to 4 m long, this frisky feline is proof that you can’t keep a good cat down. FROGHOPPER

MAXIMUM HEIGHT 70 cm Otherwise known as the spittlebug, this hopeful has successfully outhopped the flea. Weighing 60 times more than the flea and still able to jump 70 cm into the air, this 6 mm springer earned its nickname by blowing froth out of its rear end.

BY ERIN CLASSEN

TOP SPEED

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SMART MATHS

BIG EARS? WHY DO ELEPHANTS HAVE

r you with …

better to hea And it’s not all the

What is the S/V ratio? Surface area is the sum of all the exposed sides of an object, and volume is a measure of how much space that object occupies. To calculate the S/V ratio of any shape, you simply divide the surface area by the volume. LENGTH OF EACH SIDE CUBE A

3 cm

Finally, back to elephants With such a high-volume body, an elephant has a very low S/V ratio, making its large listeners important for temperature control. On hot days, you’ll notice that elephants flap their ears. With a wide surface area of outer ear tissue, the blood is cooled by the breeze as it’s filtered through the vast network of capillaries and veins. So next time you see an elephant’s ears, take note: they may not make the big guy look cool, but he certainly thinks they do.

The heat is on But what if these cubes, like our bodies, produced heat? The larger the volume (where the heat is held), the more it will overwhelm the surface area (where the heat is released). This means a big cube wouldn’t cool off as quickly as a little cube. The same goes for a cube that’s too cold, because the surface area is the only region that can absorb the sun’s warmth.

SURFACE AREA (IN cm2)

VOLUME (IN cm3)

6 x area of one side = 6 x (3 cm x 3 cm) = 54

Length x width x height = 3 cm x 3 cm x 3 cm = 27

54/27 =2

S/V RATIO

CUBE B

6 cm

216

CUBE C

8 cm

384

512

0,75

CUBE D

12 cm

864

1 728

0,5

Solve it Use what you’ve learnt to answer the following questions: 1. Who will lose more heat in a given period, a mouse or an elephant? 2. Why is it more dangerous to leave a baby in a hot car than an adult? DID YOU KNOW

Asian elephants’ ears are at least three times smaller than those of African elephants. This is partly explained by the places they call home – because the Africans live near the warm equator, they need to release more heat to stay cool, while the Asians live further north where it’s colder.

BY ESTE OTTO • PHOTOGRAPHS: iSTOCK PHOTOS

Ever wondered why the African elephant has such enormous ears? Well, as it turns out, enabling these giants to hear freakily low sound frequencies isn’t their only function. In fact, the greatest value of these ears has to do with the mathematical ratio of surface area to volume (called the S/V ratio).

But what’s this got to do with elephants’ ears? First, let’s look at the four cubes in the table below (remember that the area of a square is the product of its length and height). This table shows that a cube’s surface area increases faster than its volume, meaning that its S/V ratio decreases as it grows.

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ILLUS BA

E IA

GER M They may be a little small and smelly,

No man – or woman – is an island. Actually, we’re more like giant cruise liners, carrying billions of microorganisms from place to place. And as with any successful cruise, our germy passengers far outnumber our own human crew cells. Some of the travellers pay their way and behave, while others just want to have a good time and smash up the joint before jumping ship. And that’s when we end up sick, and try our best to evict the annoying freeloaders. But that’s only the bad kind of germs. Some – maybe even most – of the creatures in our bodies are happy to pay their way.

THE GOOD GUYS Value your stomach? You can thank bacteria like Lactobacillus rhamnosis, which help to keep the pH level in there just right. Without them, you might not be able to digest your food – or your digestive juices could attack your own stomach, which wouldn’t be pleasant for anyone. Some of the bacteria on your skin fight off other germs, especially freaky fungi. They only do this so they can live on your skin instead but, hey, they aren’t hurting you while they

do it, right? The same goes for many bacteria that live in your mouth, throat and intestines. Friendly bacteria in your gut release useful compounds like vitamins B and K. Get rid of these and you could experience trouble with blood clotting and some uncomfortable haematuria (blood in your urine). To boost the good bugs in your system, try eating yoghurt containing live AB cultures (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacteria). And spare a thought for the methanogens in your gut, which make the smelly gases you release when you fart. Other than bugging the people around you, they aren’t really doing any harm. In fact, they aid in the digestion of certain foods and may help control the pressure in your intestines. It’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to do it. CLOVER FACT Mighty microbes

Outside our bodies, germs play important roles in our lives and technology. They produce nutritious dairy products like yoghurt and cheese, extract precious metals from underground rock and even help make stonewashed denim!

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OLA VI R

BODY SMART

R MS

but some of your best friends are germs. THE BAD GUYS

BY NICKLAUS KRUGER • PHOTOGRAPHS: GALLO/GETTYIMAGES.COM, iSTOCK PHOTOS, DREAMSTIME.COM

Most of Earth’s microorganisms are bacteria (in fact, most forms of life are bacterial). But when it comes to germs that cause disease, fungi, protozoans and viruses also count. Some of these creatures like to keep to themselves, while others hitch regular rides on the human highway. Bacteria can infect any part of your body and cause everything from dental cavities to pneumonia and tuberculosis. Basically, if something can go wrong in your system, bacteria can make it happen. And when they do, it’s seldom pretty. Fungi are mostly responsible for yeast infections, but they also take the blame for athlete’s foot, ringworm and oral thrush, among other equally icky things. They’re mostly surface pests, who prefer to stay on deck (ie your skin) and absorb the fresh air. Protozoans (single-celled but more sophisticated than bacteria) are mostly found in the intestines, causing nasty gut problems like dysentery and malaria. Then, of course, there are the vicious viruses, like the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the Ebola virus. They may be fairly puny in size, but don’t underestimate their power to floor a fully grown, healthy human being.

THE ART OF INVASION

When diseases first appear in the human body they’re extremely vicious, but over time they start to respect their host. The reason is simple: sinking a ship only works if there’s another ship to jump onto. The more violent the infection, the more obvious it becomes that the host should be avoided or treated for the disease, reducing the bug’s chance of infecting new victims. So it’s in a germ’s best interests to keep its host alive long enough to spread the love.

ENDOSYMBIOSIS

Not only are we walking homes for bacteria, but it also turns out that we’re part bacteria. Mitochondria – the tiny structures that make energy inside our cells – were once independent organisms that either invaded or were swallowed by larger cells. Over time, they inserted most of their DNA into the larger cell’s genome, sacrificing independence for cellular security and a regular supply of nutrients. To find out more – set to an early ’90s hip-hop soundtrack – check out <www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC0caKJFYPY>.

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INTELLIGENT ENTERTAINMENT

BE THERE –

ual CANSA

and your hair. Shavathon by donating R50 port for of colours to show your sup shaved or sprayed an array .org.za> nsa .ca 6 and 7 March • <www a cancer survivor. • When? GET TO GRAHAMSTOWN! SciFest Africa takes over

Rhodes University this month. Over 58 000 people attended last year’s event, to experience the excitement of maths, science and technology. • When? 25 to 31 March • <www.scifest.org.za> HI-TECH TOYS The DigitalLife Expo will be on at Joburg’s Sandton Convention Centre. Look out for the digital home on display, with every kind of techie toy you can imagine – not only can you play with all the gadgets, but one lucky person will win everything inside the digital home! • When? 27 to 29 March • <www.digitallifeexpo.co.za>

ROO CULTURE The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees is back in Oudtsh oorn, filling the town with dance, theatre, music and a selection of up-and-comin g artists. • When? 4 to 11 Apr il • <www.kknk.co.za>

The Science Unlimited Festival A TALE OF TWO CITIES

moves to certain high starts at the Tshwane Events Centre, then 200 science shows, over it schools in Stellenbosch, carrying with 6 March (Tshwane); to 2 n? workshops and demonstrations. • Whe eunlimited.co.za> ienc w.sc <ww • ) 30 March to 2 April (Stellenbosch

BY ERIN CLASSEN • PHOTOGRAPH: GALLO/GETTYIMAGES.COM

ann T? Participate in the NEED A HAIRCU You can have it

B2 DIARY • Human Rights Day 21/03 • World Water Day 22/03 • Easter weekend 10–13/04

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2/17/09 1:01:20 PM

MOVIES

The art of animation Who needs a video camera anyway? THEN

Movies aren’t called movies for nothing – they use moving pictures to tell a story. But it’s not always easy to film real actors looking like dragons and hobgoblins, so sometimes you have to resort to animation. Some of the best stories ever told were made this way, from The Little Mermaid to Beowulf, and that’s probably not going to change any time soon. Technically, animation is the rapid display of artwork to create an illusion of movement. Traditional animation – made

this way – has largely been replaced by CGI (computer-generated imagery), but it ruled animated movies for most of last century. Drawings were first made on paper, then copied onto cels (transparent acetate sheets). These cels were then photographed onto motion-picture film, against a painted background (if the background also needs to moving, it’s a bit more complicated). When you consider that dozens of frames could be played per second, that amounts to a heck of a lot of hard work.

NOW

Nowadays, backgrounds and drawings are scanned into – or even drawn using – computer systems. Programs are utilised to add colour and simulate camera movement and effects. This preserves the traditional look, while making new effects possible. Plus it’s rather less labour-intensive. TOONS ON TV

Don’t miss the HIP2B2 TV shows in May, where you’ll see a real animator in action. Mondays on SABC2, 16:30.

MAKING ANIMATED MOVIES: THE MODERN WAY FOUR SIMPLE STEPS TO CREATING THE NEXT BIG HIT 1 Do the research. Find out how things happen in the real world (how fish swim and jellyfish drift if you’re making Finding Nemo, for example, or how the sea surface looks from the ocean bottom). 2 Draw pictures based on that, tweaked in the appropriate way (fish don’t really smile but you’re going to have to make sure yours do). 3 Make a clay or plastic model of your characters (so you can see the way light bounces off them, and so on). 4 Transfer the model’s vital stats to a good computer program, and start making your movie!

B2 fact • don’t miss this year’s oscar-nominated animated films: bolt (about a dog),

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ANIME: EAST IS EAST

BIG IN JAPAN NEVER SEEN AN ANIME MOVIE? START YOUR EDUCATION WITH THESE: AKIRA (1982) The movie that began the anime craze in the West, telling the story of a hi-tech city about to be devastated by an orphan’s sudden development of superpowers.

They never do things just halfway in Japan. That’s why their animation industry is a multibillion-dollar affair, producing almost as many animated movies as the rest of the world combined. Japanese animation is known as anime (say: ah-ni-may), and dates from 1917. The success of Disney’s Snow White had a strong influence on Japanese animation: seeing the power of exaggerated features (like big eyes) and American animation, Osamu Tezuka (known as the ‘father of anime’) adopted many techniques,

simplifying them to reduce costs. Anime uses fewer frames and slower frame rates to give a more choppy, dynamic feel, and uses different camera angles, lighting, and moving backgrounds to fool the eye into thinking there’s more to it. That’s not to say anime isn’t good. The stories tend to be more complex than Western animated films, and there’s more variety (it’s not all ninjas, you know). But it still doesn’t explain the crazy hair most anime characters have, though …

GHOST IN THE SHELL (1995) In 2029, the world is a network of networks, a computer system linking everything and everyone together. Cyborg Major Kusanagi is on the trail of the Puppet Master, a hacker with a dark secret – but she has a secret of her own. PRINCESS MONONOKE (1997) When brave but cursed Prince Ashitaka sets off from his village, he finds himself in the middle of a war between the ordinary folks of IronTown and the Great Forest animals, along with their beautiful friend, Princess Mononoke.

The first fully computer-animated film sees oldfashioned cowboy doll Woody trying to cope with his owner Andy’s love for his newest toy, Buzz Lightyear.

WALLACE AND GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT (2005)

In a world where Toons and real humans coexist, a private eye must find out why someone wants Roger Rabbit to go down for a crime he didn’t commit.

TOY STORY (1995)

The first featurelength animated film by Walt Disney. The story introduced the now famous princess with a wicked stepmother and a happy ending.

WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT? (1988)

The first animated film, created by French artist Emile Cohl. The main character was a stick figure, and the film sometimes showed the animator’s hands!

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARVES (1937)

FANTASMAGORIE (1908)

BY NICKLAUS KRUGER • PHOTOGRAPHS: © INPRA/REX

A BRIEF HISTORY OF ANIMATED HITS

The first stopmotion movie to receive an Oscar for Best Animated Feature, featuring a man and his dog confronting the mystery of … well, the were-rabbit.

kung-fu panda (about, well, a panda) and wall-e (about a trash-compacting robot).

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The Big Five have taken over your TV room.

Are you game?

Magnificent animal footage shot in the Serengeti National Park by Hugo van Lawick (an eight-time Emmy Award winner and one of the world’s most famous wildlife film directors) is combined with a classic boardgame format that tests your general knowledge about Africa’s furred, feathered and four-footed friends. HOW TO PLAY

If you know the name of the only mammal that can’t jump, how old a lion must be before it can roar and which animal can go without water for longer than a camel*, then you’re going to go wild for Identity Games’ new multimedia Wildlife DVD Board Game.

Choose your 4x4 and set off on safari around the board. Move ahead after watching segments of the DVD by being the player with the best knowledge of wildlife trivia. Each time you get a question right, you can draw an animal card. The first

to spot the Big Five is the winner. (By the way, can you name Africa’s Big Five?) It’s not as simple as it sounds: mixed in with the animal cards are sneaky forfeit cards you can deal to your opponents to slow them down. Tactical thinking and strategic sabotage are essential for survival and success. A safari to the Serengeti may be out of your league, but this Wildlife DVD Board Game is the next best thing to being in the great outdoors … and you don’t even need to take malaria tablets. Don’t bother with the very confusing game-rules booklet; go straight to the ‘How to play’ section of the DVD.

HIP TIP

BOARD GAME RANGERS OUR SERENGETI SAFARI TEAM GIVES FEEDBACK

Jessica Tuckniss, 15, G09, Springfield Convent

Caitlin Tuckniss, 18, G12, Springfield Convent

Claire Mitchell, 18, visiting student from England

Nick Trueb, 17, International School of Hout Bay

‘The video clips and wildlife are really beautiful and interesting, but the game was hard!’

‘The game rules are difficult to understand at first, but the game is fun once you get going and really educational.’

‘The game provides great information, but it’s a bit slow: I didn’t manage to get my 4x4 out of first gear.’

‘Great footage, but I thought the game lacked momentum and wasn’t challenging enough. Dig the voice-over …’

A zebra’s stripes may make them easy for you to spot, but predators wouldn’t agree. When faced with a herd, the sea of stripes confuses their eyes so they can’t distinguish an individual zebra.

‘It was very hard but fun. You have to know a lot about animals and natural history and things.’

To win your very own Sea Life DVD Board Game, email your name, school, grade and favourite game (of any kind) to <win@hip2b2.com>. *ANSWERS: AN ELEPHANT; TWO YEARS OLD; A GIRAFFE.

DID YOU KNOW?

Meghan Tuckniss, 11, G05, Sun Valley Primary School

BY SALLY RUTHERFORD • PHOTOGRAPHS: iSTOCK PHOTOS

GAMES

B2 note • look out for the grey's anatomy video game, scheduled for release in march.

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MUSIC

We speak to

Jesse Clegg, singer, songwriter and son of Johnny Clegg.

BY NIKKI BENATAR • PHOTOGRAPHS: THE DAVID GRESHAM RECORD COMPANY (PTY) LTD

ON FAMOUS FATHERS, FIRST PETS AND FINDING YOUR OWN SOUND

Am I musical because I was exposed to music or because it’s in my DNA? I’d say it’s a combination of the two. Obviously, my father is very musical. Both my grandmothers were jazz singers and both my grandfathers were drummers. So music is clearly in my family. I think exposure to music is also very important and it definitely sparked my interest. Of course, you have to have some talent too. My first pet was a huge bull mastiff called Rex. I was a year old and he was three times my size, but we got on really well. My debut album When I Wake Up wasn’t planned. I wrote most of the songs in my gap year after matric and, to be honest, I never thought they’d be released. My musical hero is my dad – I grew up on his music. I also listen to Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Radiohead, Oasis and West African musicians, like Wes. My dad is my all-round role model. He steered me in the right direction when I doubted myself or lost my way, and he’s over the moon about my album. He released his first album when he was 28. I’m 20, which is pretty young. I think he’s also pleased that I’ve found my own unique sound and vibe. I couldn’t live without my guitar, my family and my friends. Last year, I completed my first year of Law at Wits. I’m quite surprised by how much I enjoyed the subjects. Music is my first and foremost career choice, but I’m not closed to the idea of giving law a shot. The three words that best describe me? Intense. Perfectionist. Curious.

JESSE REVIEWS ...

Dark Horse They’ve found a brilliant formula: good guitar lines, catchy melodies and satisfactory lyrics. My favourite track is ‘Something in your Mouth’ – the guitar line is heavier than the other songs. This album is full of strong, commercial rock songs, which is exactly what you’d expect. But that’s also my criticism – it sounds like the previous album. NICKELBACK:

Like this? Try Seether and One Day Remains. STAIND: The Illusion of Progress Staind’s early stuff was outstanding and, in fact, one of my musical inspirations. ‘Believe’ is a really good song with a catchy chorus. My only criticism of the album is that it’s too samey – it’s a blur of similar sounds and themes and although there is a handful of strong songs none of them really jumps out.

Like this? Try Prime Circle and Audioslave.

B2 byte • ‘Talent works, genius creates.’ – composer, Robert Schumann

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BOOKS

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho NOLOYISO MTANA

Grade 12, Cape Academy of Maths, Science and Technology, Cape Town

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was interesting and deep, but still simple enough for any teenager who wants to discover how the little things in life we take for granted can mean so much.

OLIVIA BURTON

Grade 10, Reddam House, Cape Town

I enjoyed the way this book shows that anyone can do anything, and I enjoyed Santiago’s adventures. It think it could have been less centred around religion, though.

My favourite character is the Alchemist – he listens to what the world is saying. I especially liked the scene when Santiago realises where the treasure really is. It shows that everything is done for a reason. The best advice Santiago receives is from the king: ‘The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world and never to forget the drops of oil in the spoon.’ I’m not sure why I like this, but it seems pretty clever and, if followed correctly, could actually lead to a happy life.

THE ALCHEMIST (Jonathan Ball, 2008)

Santiago is just a shepherd boy, but he dreams of great treasure in the pyramids of Egypt. Advised that he must pursue the treasure to realise his destiny, he sells his sheep and sets off for Egypt. Along the way, he has many adventures, meeting thieves, merchants and an Englishman searching for a 200-year-old alchemist and his secret desert oasis. It’s up to Santiago to discover the greatest alchemy of all, and to find the treasure he’s been searching for.

The message I got from this book is that all things happen for a reason. Whether it’s a dream, a thought, an event or a split second, it all means something, even if we don’t realise what it is at the time. I think dreams are as important as they are reachable. I used to dream of travelling the world with my school because of academic achievement, and now I have. The character I disliked the most was the merchant. He was a sad reminder of how fear can close our eyes to our true potential and dreams. So when is the movie coming out? I would love to see a preview of it!

IF YOU LIKED THIS, CHECK OUT ...

Life of Pi by Yann Martel (Canada: Knopf 2001). The story of Piscine ‘Pi’ Patel, an Indian boy from Pondicherry who finds himself exploring the meaning of life while stranded in the Pacific Ocean with only a female orangutan, a wounded zebra, a spotted hyena and a tiger for company.

REVIEWS COMPILED BY NICKLAUS KRUGER

I think the main message of the story is that you should follow your destiny and listen to your heart at all times.

This book is about destiny and all the trials and tribulations that come with seeing your own destiny through.

FORTHCOMING ATTRACTION

Last year, producer Harvey Weinstein announced that a movie version of The Alchemist is in development. Lawrence Fishburne will be co-producing, directing and starring, and it’s reported to have a $60 million budget.

Would you like to review a book for us? Write to HIP2B2 Book Reviews, PO Box 440, Green Point 8051 or email <talk2us@hip2b2.com>. Please include your name, contact details, address, school and grade.

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BRAIN BUSTERS ASCERTAIN THE ANSWER!

Using only the letters contained in the word ‘ASCERTAIN’, find the solutions to the following questions and fill them in on the grid to reveal the mystery word in red. Each letter may be used only once per word. A

A chemical element with many poisonous compounds. A tiny creature with six legs. A skilled craftsman. A water-storage tank.

WHAT’S NEXT?

A half-conscious state characterised by lack of response to stimulus.

What are the next two terms in the series? 7; 4; 1; 8; 5; 2; 9; __; __ (Hint: if you get stuck, use your cellphone or PC to help you.)

A horse’s gait between a trot and a gallop. A type of well that spurts water upwards due to underground pressure.

W HA T’S NE XT

CUBE RO UTE

A I

C R

T A E

R A

I N C S I C S

A T

N E

E T S

E A

T E

ASCE RTAIN TH E A NSW ER!

6 and 3 (in that order). Using a standard number keypad, the pattern emerges when you type the numbers vertically.

The numbers in the cells below tell you how many sides of each cell must be drawn in. The final result must form a continuous, solid shape – something like this:

BY ELLEN CAMERON-WILLIGER • ILLUSTRATIONS: ANTON PIETERSEN

AN SW ERS

CUBE ROUTE

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SIMPLY SCIENCE

WHA T REALLY HAPPEN S WHEN ...

A GECKO STICKS TO THE CEILING It just doesn’t seem fair. We’ve all seen geckos running happily along walls or strolling upside down on the ceiling, unconcerned about the dizzying drop below. They can even walk across glass without trouble. But when we want to climb the outside of a building (as some crazy people do), it’s a long, slow and laborious process.

BY NICKLAUS KRUGER • PHOTOGRAPHS: iSTOCK PHOTOS

So what are we missing? Geckos don’t have suction pads. And they don’t secrete sticky solutions (which is nice, because you don’t have to wipe your windows every time one comes along). Instead, they make use of intermolecular forces called van der Waals forces – weak attractions that molecules have for one another when brought close together. On each of a gecko’s toes are about two-million densely packed hairs called setae, each about 1/3 to 1/36 the width of a human hair. The end of each seta is further subdivided into hundreds or thousands of fine structures called spatulae, which are about 200 nanometres long – below the wavelength of visible light! These minute spatulae can be brought into extremely close proximity with the molecules of a surface, producing electrical attractions that effectively glue the gecko to the surface. The adhesive force depends on how rough the surface is, the angle of the gecko and so on, but it can be as much as 21 Newtons/mm2 – as strong as the stickiest commercial superglues. A gecko could hang from a single toe while lifting more than six times its own body weight (though why it would want to is a mystery). But how do they get unstuck? If a gecko’s feet are so stupendously sticky, how do they let go? Simple: their toes bend backwards, letting them peel each foot from the surface, tips first. This changes the angle between the setae and the surface, reducing the van der Waals forces and allowing them to go on their merry way. DID YOU KNOW?

Teflon is specifically engineered to resist van der Waals forces, so geckos can’t stick to Teflon-coated surfaces. But unless you want to cover your ceiling with the coating from your frying pans, you probably won’t be able to bring those geckos down to Earth.

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