Science and magic are two separate entities, right? For example, with science fair projects you are wanting to be precise and aim at explaining phenomenon and finding answers, whereas "magic" and magic tricks leave you with more questions than answers and your mind boggles as to how what you have just seen can be possible. Right?

Well, lets think about it...

With science, which obviously includes science fair projects, the people involved are only too pleased to share their findings as it will improve life on earth in some way. For example, Mr. Edison did not keep quiet about his light bulb discovery, and now we all have instant light. Watson and Crick told the world about the double helix structure of DNA, which resulted in amazing advances in understanding biology as a whole and the positive spinoffs are more to mention in this article.

Magicians are not so keen to share information as to how their tricks work. Not knowing how a trick works is what makes it amazing and essentially magic.

There is no getting away from the fact that top magicians are talented in their slight of hand and their ability to entertain, but many of the "tricks"can be explained through science. Use of mirrors and visual illusions (what scientists call physics) are part and parcel of magic shows.

Unfortunately I do not have the talent to be a magician, but I do have a scientific knowledge to explain some "magic". The real talent of a magician, or should we call him a "entertainment scientist", is to hide the scientific phenomenon used to do the trick. So, although I cannot explain some of the tricks because of this cleverness, I can use science to do some very simple magic.

So what is the reason for me writing this article? Is it to expose magicians? Certainly not. As I have said, they are highly talented and indeed intellectual people who know science. The reason is so that young people will see science as exciting.

I guess now you are expecting me to tell you a magic trick so that you can entertain at the same time as you are doing science fair projects? Well, I have run out of space in this article and what I really want is for you, by using your scientific knowledge, to be excited about science and to work out some magic tricks yourself.

Just do science - or should I say magic!

By Neil Madgwick -
Passionate about science!
Website:
http://www.good-science-fair-projects.com

¶ 7:00 PM 0 comments

Anaconda snakes extract similar responses from most of us, a response smeared by hatred, fear and probably revulsion. The image of this serpent that we carry in our mind is that of a creature that looks vile and is widely known to be monstrous.

Apart from a few of the wealthy and the adventurous ones who want them as pets, most of us prefer to see anaconda snakes in TV and glossy travel magazines rather than in our homes and at the patio.

The natural habitat if these reptiles are the dense tropical forests in lovely South America. Found extensively in the Amazon River basin and also other tropical forests, this serpentine creature is worlds one of the largest snakes.

These snakes are carnivores, and prey a range of aquatic as well as land based creatures. While fish, turtles, frogs, dogs, sheep and deer are its favorite preys, anaconda snakes are also know to have constricted and swallowed considerably bigger animals like fully grown deer and even jaguars.

Most of us city dwellers harbor perceptual pollution and think that anaconda snakes are habituated man-eaters. In reality, it is exactly the opposite. If given a chance, these snakes will retreat when confronted, and will attack only as the last desperate act of defense. Anacondas are known to attach humans only when cornered, attacked, harmed or startled.

All anaconda snakes are perceived to be gigantic having length in excess of fifty feet and weighing more than two hundred kilograms each. Again, reality has been totally distorted by these myths.

The biggest of these snakes grow up to thirty-five feet, and do not generally cross one hundred and fifty kilos when weighed. When bred in captivity, they tend to grow to smaller sizes- think about that for a moment!

Another interesting fact is the physical superiority of females over males. As a matter of fact, female anacondas have known to grow as much as five times longer and heavier than its male counterparts. This is probably one of the extreme cases on physical disparity between two sexes of the same species.

Another interesting aspect of these majestic snakes is the way they swallow their preys. These constrictors have powerful jaws that are loosely hinged to the skulls.

While swallowing their preys, the jaws are unhinged, and as a result they can swallow considerably bigger preys. The preys are always swallowed from their head side to ensure that sharp edges like feathers do not rupture the delicate internal membrane of the snakes digestive system.

Docile creatures they are, such reptiles have been wrongly portrayed as the big, bad guys in novels as well as movies. Despite their projected bad guy image, this reptiles have been one of the most favored pet creatures for the wealthy and the adventurous people.

Be it the vast natural expanses of the Amazon or the glass cage in the zoo, they will inspire the imagination of people. Long live the king of the Amazon, the anaconda snakes.

Anaconda Snakes are scientifically studied predators being monitored today. You can freely learn more about the newest topics, videos and educational in-depth facts by visiting http://www.anacondasnakes.org

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Equine friend breeds with additional gaits that often occur natuarally include the Tennessee Walking Equine which naturally performs a running walk, the American Saddlebred which can easily be coached to exhibit a slow gait and the rack, the Paso Fino equine friend with the paso corto and paso largo, and Icelandic horses which are known for the tlt. Horses are adapted to grazing, so their teeth continue to grow throughout life. It should also have some form of regular exercise whether it is being ridden, lunged or turned out in a spacious field. Horses or ponies should be shod (hoof maintenance) every 4-6 weeks, depending on the equine and the weather. Horses are mammals and as such are all warm-blooded creatures, as opposed to reptiles, which are cold-blooded.

Horse wispering is similar to the different styles that are used to sharpen the wits Equines to accomplish some directions. There are various types of Instruction techniques that can be used to train Horses and some specific types of Horse teaching patterns to make a Equine sharp in different areas, like transport, sporting racing or other therapeutic works, for example, carrying physically disabled people.

Presently most Horses are adapted in entertainment and sporting activity. Besides, there are some Equine Breaking-in modules in the fields like crowd control, film work etc. But, the basic goal of Horse Preparing is to make a Horse aficionado enough to perform some essential works as required.

Various Breaking-in tricks are practiced by a young Horse at a young stage of 1-2 years of age. Liberty work, Desensitization, longeing, driving in ground, biting are in demand amongst them. All of these tips are aimed at all round development of a Equine. All these Exercise maneuvers should be introduced even Ahead of time a Equine friend is ready to be ridden.

After conclusion of above Training phases, horse riding maneuvers comes in to picture. The horseback riding professional tips are repeatedly termed as backing, mounting etc. A young Equine is not at all afraid of human and riding session is not a problematic matter. So at that junction of Basic training period a Horse is taught to respond to some essential commands to go ahead, stop, turn back etc. A Horse is also taught to sprout up or constrict speed responding to a particular command. Once a Equine is well aware of all necessary preliminary professional tips, advance Practice can be scheduled for specialization in a specific field.

Andy McMellan writes for the bi-monthly newsletter American Horse Care. It contains usefull information on horses and horseback riding.

¶ 6:15 AM 0 comments