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
-
Change of colour
How does a chameleon change its colours?
Vini Chelsea , Vijayawada
View AnswerMost chameleons change between green, brown and gray — their surroundings are usually the same colours. Each chameleon species has its own colour range. They can’t just turn any colour. Chameleons can change their colour because of a complex cell system. Beneath it's transparent skin are several cell layers which contain pigments. We also have pigments which cause our skin to darken in the sun. By opening and closing cells called melanophores, chameleons change their skin colour. The cells direct sun to specific pigments which reflects the light back in different colours.
-
Round and round
Why can't we feel the earth rotating?
S. Anuradha , Tanuku
View AnswerEvery 23 hours and 56 minutes, the earth completes one full rotation around its axis. The speed of this rotation is constant. At the equator, the speed of rotation is about 1,675 km per hour; this means, at this very moment, you are travelling at a speed of 465m per second! Yet, you cannot feel it. This is because along with Earth, the atmosphere and everything else on it is moving at the same speed. It is pretty much like travelling in an aeroplane. When the plane is travelling smoothly and constantly at the same speed (on an average of 900 km per hour), you cannot feel the movement; in fact, you can unbuckle yourself and even walk along the aisle. This is because the plane, you and everyone inside travelling at the same speed.
-
Flutter flutter
Why do butterflies have antennae?
Deekshitha , Chennai
View AnswerA butterfly’s antennae has chemoreceptors that are similar to the taste buds on our tongues. They are open nerve endings that transport information from the environment to the brain. Based on this information, a butterfly can smell nectar; see light and identify the time of day and position of the sun; and feel the direction of wind, helping it ride the wind currents without losing its way or becoming disoriented. Near the base of the antennae, there is an organ called Johnston’s organ, which maintain a butterfly’s balance during flight
-
Spinning silk
How do spiders make webs?
Janvi Anoob , Ernakulam, Kerala
View AnswerSpiders make their webs by producing and arranging silk strands, produced by tiny organs in their abdomens. Known as spinnerets, these tiny organs release the silk in liquid form, which becomes solid as soon as it comes in contact with air. As silk pours from the spinnerets, spiders manipulate it with their legs. The spider’s genetic code determines how the legs move, thereby influencing the ultimate design of the web. This web helps the spiders in catching prey and moving around.