What is SARS?

Severe acute respiratory syndrome.  It is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus.  A person infected by SARS experiences acute respiratory distress sometimes leading to death.

The disease first made its appearance in 2003.  Within six weeks of its discovery,  it had spread to thousands of people.  Since international travel was found to be a major factor in the spread of the disease,  it caused a global scare that affected national economies.

Lighting and Thunder

When there is a strom we often see dark fast moving colud masses which make rumbling noise.  The noise is generated by the lighting when it arcs across the sky.  The electro static discharge in the atmosphere causes the lighting effect.  It is very dangerous to be outside when there is a lighting strike.

Lighting bolts are mostly drawn by objects like lamp posts which are tall and  are good conductors of electricity.  Often tall buildings are deployed with lightning arrestors that help limit the effect of the lightning strikes. The cause of initial formation of lightning is still under debate.  Lightning can also occur during volcanic eruptions in the ash clouds.  Lighting aids in formation of nitric acid that is beneficial to plant life.

The study of lightning is called fulminology, and someone who studies lightning is called a fulminologist.

Marsupials

Kangaroo is a Marsupial.  The marsupials are mostly found in Australia.  The mother Kangaroo has a pouch attached to its body where it nurses the new born.  The new born kangaroos are very small in size.  the young ones of a Kangaroo is called a Joey.  Kangaroos have extremely strong back legs.  The hind legs help it to take giant leaps.  Kangaroos are herbivorous.  They are usually very timid in nature.  They usually attack with their hind legs.

Did you Know?

The Olympic torch weighs about 3 pounds only.

The biggest bug in the world is the Goliath beetle which can weigh up to 3.5 ounces to 4.5 inches long.

 Octopus and squid are the most intelligent vertebrates.