Back
Curious Questions from Curious Minds!
Welcome to Curiopedia, where imagination and discovery take shape! Discover something new today with these curious questions from children. Click on the ‘View Answer’ button to find out the answer! If you want your (child’s) curious question answered and featured here, submit it now.
Month Year
-
UFO alert
Why are alien spaceships called UFO?
N. Maheshwaran , Puducherry
View AnswerThough there is no solid evidence or proof of the existence of extraterrestrial lifeforms — commonly called aliens, claims of sightings of strange, unexplainable phenomenons and flying objects are aplenty. The most popular claim was first made by aviator Kenneth Arnold in 1947, who narrated his encounter with nine objects of various shapes, flying in a formation, and at an incredible speed. Based on his description of the objects, the term ‘flying saucer’ was coined by the media. But it was the U.S. Air Force that come up with the term UFO, “unidentified flying object.” According to the official definition, a UFO is “any airborne object which by performance, aerodynamic characteristics, or unusual features, does not conform to any presently known aircraft or missile type, or which cannot be positively identified as a familiar object.”
-
Rush of air
The air is made up of different kinds of gases. How does our body ensure we breathe in only oxygen?
Bhavana KV , Munnar, Kerala
View AnswerIt is true that we breathe in air, of which only 21% is oxygen. The respiratory system is charged with the task of extracting oxygen from the air we breathe in and letting out all other gases. It consists of the lungs which do the major task of taking in oxygen and pumping out carbon dioxide. In the throat, the trachea, or windpipe, filters the air. It then branches into two — bronchial tubes that lead to the right and left lung. In the lungs, tiny air sacs called alveoli, transfer oxygen from the inhaled air to the blood, which carries it through the body. Meanwhile, the red blood cells collect carbon dioxide and transports it back to the lungs, which exhales it.
-
Busy as a bee
Why do bees sting?
Saafia Zohra , Chennai, Tamil Nadu
View AnswerAnimals have ways to protect themselves. An octopus can shoot ink to distract or blind a predator. Turtles have hard shells that they can hide inside when threatened. Likewise, bees have their stinger. But they rarely sting unless you provoke their hive or squish or step on one. It can be annoying when a bee is flying around your head, but it is likely just checking out your cologne or perfume, or maybe it was attracted to the brightly coloured shirt and thinks you are a flower. Once it finds out you are not food, it will fly away. However, if you stumble upon a bee hive and are viewed as a threat, bees will sting you. They will also release a pheromone that will attract other bees to the threat and they too will be looking to protect their home.
-
13, not always unlucky!
Why does Ethiopia have 13 months in a year?
Jcs Krishna , Chennai, Tamil Nadu
View AnswerThe whole world follows the Gregorian calendar, which constitutes 365 days in a year and 366 days in a leap year. But, Ethiopia uses the Coptic Calendar, which has 13 months! Twelve months of the year have of 30 days each, and a 13th month, the last of the year, known as the intercalary month, has five days and in a leap year, six.