Table of contents for Issue 349 - September 2024 in MiniMag

Living in the trees Orangutans are primarily found in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. These lush and dense rainforests provide the perfect environment for these great apes to thrive. They are arboreal creatures, which means they spend most of their lives in trees, swinging from branch to branch in search of food and shelter. Using tools to eat Orangutans are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. However, the majority of their diet consists of fruits, leaves, bark and insects. These intelligent apes use tools, such as sticks, to extract insects from tree bark or to open tough fruit shells. Orangutans are also known for their love of durian, a large and spiky fruit with a strong smell. Forest gardeners Orangutans are known as,, gardeners of the forest,,…

Imagine a huge safe, deep inside a frozen mountain near the North Pole. What could possibly be so precious that people want to keep it there? Gold, jewels or money? Nope … the answer? Seeds! Svalbard, the Global Seed Vault, was built 120 m inside a mountain on the Norwegian Island of Spitsbergen to store and protect seeds of as many plants as possible in case a huge disaster hits earth. Seeds are the ingenious way in which plants survive and spread around. Remember, plants can't just get up and go like animals do when the going gets tough! Hidden inside every seed A miniature plant, or embryo, similar in kind to the plant that made it, lies hidden inside every seed. A food supply, or endosperm surrounds the embryo…

Imagine a river made of ice, so powerful it can carve valleys and shape mountains. These are glaciers, nature’s slow-moving giants, carrying the past and the future in their frozen flow. They might seem like they’re standing still, but glaciers are always on the move, and their journey across the land is one of the most fascinating occurrences in nature. How glaciers move We are used to thinking of ice as a brittle, rather unyielding material. But, when ice is put under the pressure of thick overlying layers of ice, e.g. at the bottom of a glacier, it will deform and flow like slowly moving water. Usually, this process of flow begins when the ice mass reaches a thickness of about 60 metres (about the height of a 22-storey building).…

SYNONYM CROSSWORD: (page 29) ACROSS 3. Wealthy 5. Fearless 9. Fearful 11. Big 12. Sturdy 13. Silent 16. Needy 17. Spotless 18. Icy DOWN: 1. Sad 2. Cheerful 4. Mad 6. Exhausted 7. Funny 8. Mini 10. Fast 13. Smart 14. Noisy 15. Plush 16. Hot MAKE YOUR FUTURE COUNT: CLEVER SUDOKU: TREE GROWTH RATE: Answer: The sapling will be 175 cm tall after 4 years. (75 cm + (25 cm/year × 4 years) = 175 cm) COMPLETE THE ROW: MATCHSTICK PUZZLE: MATCHSTICK RIDDLE: Answer: A matchstick! FIND TOP VIEW: MISSING ITEM:…

Forests are magical places filled with towering trees, vibrant plants and incredible animals. They cover about 31% of the Earth’s land area and come in many different types, each with its own unique features and wildlife. Let’s take a journey through some of the most fascinating forests in the world and meet the amazing animals that call them home! TROPICAL RAINFORESTS A green wonderland Tropical rainforests are found near the equator and are known for their warm, wet climate and lush greenery. These forests are like giant greenhouses where trees grow tall and thick, creating a dense canopy that blocks out most of the sunlight. Animals Orangutans These intelligent primates live in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. They spend most of their time in trees, swinging from branch to…

Germinating an avocado seed is a fun and rewarding process that teaches us a lot about how plants grow. To start, you’ll need an avocado pit, some toothpicks and a glass of water. After eating the avocado, wash the pit and insert three to four toothpicks around its middle, creating a makeshift stand. Place the pit, broad side down, in a glass of water so that the bottom half is submerged. Now, this is where patience comes in! It can take several weeks for the seed to sprout roots, and even longer for a small stem to appear. This slow and steady process reminds us that germination requires time, the right conditions, and a bit of care. Just like the avocado seed, every plant has its own unique way of…

Forests are full of sounds Ð the rustling of leaves, the songs of birds and the scurrying of small animals. To fully enjoy these sounds, itÔs important to be quiet. Loud noises can scare animals and disturb their homes. Try to walk softly and speak in hushed tones so you can observe the forest without causing any harm. While it might be tempting to wander off the path, itÔs important to stick to marked trails. These trails are designed to protect the plants and animals by keeping people from trampling delicate vegetation or disturbing animal habitats. Staying on the trail also ensures you donÔt get lost! The forest is home to many different plants and animals. Treat them with respect by not picking plants or disturbing wildlife. Can you find…

Forests are incredible ecosystems that provide homes for countless species of animals. Each type of forest has its own unique characteristics and wildlife, making them fascinating places to explore and learn about. BOREAL FORESTS The northern harsh taigas Boreal forests, also known as taigas, stretch across the northern parts of North America, Europe and Asia. These forests have long, cold winters and short, cool summers. The trees here are mostly conifers, like pines, spruces and firs, which are adapted to the harsh climate. Animals MOOSE The largest members of the deer family, moose thrive in the cold, snowy environments of the boreal forests. WOLVES These pack animals are skilled hunters and play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of the forest ecosystem. Their presence helps maintain a balanced ecosystem…

In northern Europe, Canada and the northern United States one may find huge boulders of granitic rock (an igneous rock type) randomly spread about the countryside. When one looks closer at these granite boulders, you will realise that they are different from the surrounding rocks (which are mostly sedimentary rocks) and have therefore come from far away – these rocks are called erratics. The boulders are also scratched and grooved, like the rocks in the Alps that had been scratched by glaciers (large masses of ice occurring on land) moving over them. At first scientists thought that when Europe was covered by the sea, ice bergs containing these boulders had floated over the continent, and that as the ice bergs melted, the boulders that they contained were dropped over the submerged…

A prominent figure known for applying mathematics to forestry is Martin Faustmann. He was a German forester and mathematician who developed the Faustmann Formula in 1849. This formula is a key concept in forest economics, used to determine the value of forest land and the optimal rotation period for harvesting timber. The Faustmann Formula calculates the present value of a forest, taking into account factors such as the cost of planting, the growth rate of trees, the price of timber and the time until harvest. Foresters use maths to calculate the best times to plant new saplings, ensuring that they have enough space, sunlight and water to grow strong and healthy. By analysing growth rates, they can predict how long it will take for trees to mature, which is crucial…