Innehållsförteckning för November 2024 från What on Earth! Magazine

A BOLT FROM THE BLUE This breathtaking photo was taken by Francisco Negroni in Chile. It shows Villarrica, one of the most active volcanoes in South America, being dramatically struck by lightning as it erupts. STOP ‘LION’ AROUND! In this hilarious photo, a lioness seems to be yelling into a lion's ear. The photographer titled his picture ‘Nagging Is a Universal Concept’, as it seems like it could be a scene from a couple's row! In reality, lions don't pair up and get married in the way humans do. They live in groups of about 15. LADY OF LEMONS This photo was taken during the Fête du Citron – or Lemon Festival – which takes place every year at the end of winter in Menton, France. In 2020, when the…

You have probably heard of the pyramids in Egypt, which are shown here under a spectacular starry sky. They are some of the oldest pyramids in the world, built long before modern construction techniques. The people who made them had to work very hard to cut and carry the stones and think up ingenious ways to stack the stones to create these enormous structures, which are still standing today, more than 4,000 years later! The pyramids of Egypt are some of the most famous pyramids in the world. But did you know that cultures in other countries have been building pyramids for centuries, too? In fact, people are still building them today! Pyramid are popular for lots of reasons. They are grand in size and very sturdy. And can be…

Scientists often divide rainforests into four layers: the emergent layer, the canopy, the understorey, and the forest floor. Each layer is different because of the differing amounts of light and water found there. Here are some of the animals you might find living in a rainforest. RAINFOREST LOSS The maps below show two of the world's largest rainforests. The light green area on Map 1 shows the rainforest on the island of Borneo in Asia. The light green area on Map 2 shows the Brazilian Amazon rainforest in South America. The patterned dark green areas on both maps show areas of deforestation, where the forest has already been cut down and cleared by humans. In 2021, 3.8 million hectares of the world's rainforest were lost. That's equivalent to an area…

SpaceX rocket hits the bullseye! For the very first time, part of a space rocket has been caught in mid-air and returned safely to Earth. The SpaceX Starship blasted off from Texas, USA. The bottom part of the rocket, which usually falls into the ocean, was slowed down and caught by mechanical arms on its return. This test will help to design new reusable rockets. What bananas do to your brain… Using AI, scientists have found a single brain cell that responds to the smell of a banana! The same brain cell, or neuron, also fires when a person sees a picture of a banana or even just hears the word ‘banana’. This type of research helps us to understand how the brain stores information. Do axolotls have their own…

The Great Pyramid of Giza (which is also called the Great Pyramid of Khufu, after the Egyptian king who ordered its construction) is among the oldest and most awe-inspiring monuments on Earth. In fact, it is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that is still standing today. The details of the Pyramid's construction are staggering. It was built from an estimated 2.3 million blocks of stone, each weighing 2.25 tonnes. The final structure took around 20,000 workers two decades to complete. Initially standing at 147 metres tall, the Pyramid remained the tallest building on Earth for 3,800 years, until it was surpassed by Lincoln Cathedral in England in 1311. WHERE ARE THE PYRAMIDS OF GIZA? You might think that the ancient Egyptian pyramids are found…

THE BIG READ JULY 15, 1620 Mayflower sets sail from the port of London. JULY 19 She lands at Southampton to take on supplies. JULY 22 Another ship, the Speedwell, sets sail from Delfshaven in the Netherlands carrying a large group of Pilgrims. JULY 25 Speedwell lands at Southampton but needs to be repaired. AUGUST 5 Both ships set sail from Southampton. However, the Speedwell starts leaking again. AUGUST 12 Both ships dock at Dartmouth, where Speedwell is repaired a second time. AUGUST 23 Both ships depart from Dartmouth. AUGUST 26 Both ships turn back again because Speedwell is still leaking. AUGUST 28 Both ships dock at Plymouth, where it is decided that Speedwell is not fit to sail. SEPTEMBER 16 Mayflower, now crowded with all of the travelling Pilgrims, departs for America…

Send It In! We want to hear your best meerkat impressions! Record yourself making the noises listed here and email the file to letters@whatonearth.co.uk The best meerkat will win a copy of the new book How to Chat Chicken!…

GREAT PYRAMID OF GIZA Giza, Egypt Height: 138.8 m (was 146.5 m) Built around 2560 BCE, it was originally covered in limestone and probably had a gold or gold-covered capstone called a pyramidion at the very top. QIN SHI HUANG MAUSOLEUM Xi'an, China Height: 47 m (was 76 m) This massive mausoleum was built for the first emperor of the Qin dynasty. The famous Terracotta Army of clay soldiers was found near here. PYRAMID OF DJOSER Saqqara, Egypt Height: 62.6 m The Pyramid of Djoser, which was built around 2610 BCE, is thought to be the world's oldest pyramid. PRANG TEMPLE Koh Ker, Cambodia Height: 36 m (was 40+ m) Construction on this temple began in about 928 CE. It is part of a remote and inaccessible temple complex with…

During the 1500s, many European people who left their home countries to explore and colonise ‘new’ lands were trying to get rich quick. But in northern Europe, a massive shift in the way people thought about themselves and their God was about to change that. It is called the Protestant Reformation. You see, while rulers and merchants were making fortunes by exploiting the people and places they had ‘discovered’ in other parts of the world, everyday people were no better off than before. And the Church wasn't helping. Imagine going to church on a Sunday morning only to be told by the priest that you are so sinful that what awaits you in the next life is eternal damnation in the fires of hell. Understandably, you'd feel terrified. ‘Luckily,’ says…