Table of contents for Issue 333 - May 2023 in MiniMag

“May” this issue bring you endless hours of fun and entertainment! We have filled the pages with mythical mermaids, marvellous Moms and mischievous mice. But there are also beautiful birds, buzzing bees and a bountiful biodiversity! How can we go wrong! If anything, this issue has taught us how everything on this planet is connected – pheromones that are essential for the continuance of species, migration of birds to ensure their survival and even the tiniest insects that play a monumental role in the intricate web of life! Make sure your presence on this magical earth makes a difference. Happy reading! Can you spot all 15 differences in the pictures above?…

Imagine somebody you love needed to go to the hospital for an important operation. Who would you prefer to operate? A doctor with a small medicine case or a doctor with a whole room full equipment and instruments and a team of assistants. The latter right? Diversity is power, especially if you don’t know what you might need. Variety is the very reason for the success and resilience of life on planet Earth. Why bother with biodiversity? High levels of biodiversity are really healthy for our planet, especially to deal with change. Scientists found that ecosystems with healthy biodiversity, meaning many species with enough individuals to offer a wealth of variety in their genes, are more able to cope with pressure like a volcanic eruption or a chemical spill. What…

Wouldn’t it be lovely to have summer all year round? About 1400 different bird species have figured out a way to do this! These migratory birds travel thousands of kilometres without a map, GPS or calendar, but they know exactly when to leave and where to go. Some species are so precise that they arrive at a specific site on the same date every year! But how do they do this? Birds would like to escape winter’s icy fingers as much as any human, but their real reason for migration has to do with their stomachs. Birds have a very healthy appetite, with many species eating about 20% of their body weight (that’s equivalent to you eating 6-8 kg of food every day). Food becomes scarce in winter and large…

Animals and insects have what are called pheromones. The word pheromone comes from the Greek word pherein, which means to carry, and the word hormone. Pheromones are produced by hormones in the body; they are basically little particles of smelly stuff which are produced by animals to communicate over long distances. Since it is not always possible for animals to communicate with sight or sound, it is important that they can communicate by smell. You get different types of pheromones which are produced for different reasons, for example alarm pheromones, food trail pheromones and sex pheromones. How it works Although technically pheromones aren’t really smelt, mammals have what is called a vomeronasal organ, which detects pheromones released by others of the same species. That is then transmitted to the brain,…

“Biodiversity can’t be maintained by protecting a few species in a zoo, or by preserving greenbelts or national parks. To function properly, nature needs more room than that. It can maintain itself, however, without human expense, without zookeepers, park rangers, foresters or gene banks. All it needs is to be left alone.”– Donella Meadows Biodiversity is threatened by human activities, such as habitat destruction, overexploitation of natural resources, pollution and climate change. Test your biodiversity knowledge! Use the clues on the right to complete this crossword. Fish provide 20 per cent of animal protein to about 3 billion people. Over 80% of the human diet is provided by plants. As many as 80% of people living in rural areas in developing countries rely on traditional plant-based medicines for basic healthcare.…

The planet’s highest levels of biodiversity can be found in the tropics. Tropical rainforests cover less than 10% of the Earth’s surface but host about 90% of the world’s species. Biodiversity is important because it helps to keep our planet healthy and balanced. For example, plants produce oxygen that we need to breathe, while animals help to pollinate plants and spread seeds. Even tiny microbes play important roles in breaking down waste and recycling nutrients in the soil. These 10 items are hidden in this picture! Can you find them all? Unfortunately, biodiversity is at risk due to human activities such as deforestation, pollution and climate change. It’s important for all of us to learn about and protect biodiversity so that we can continue to enjoy a healthy planet full…

Have you ever noticed how some foods taste and smell really good, while others don’t? Our sense of taste and sense of smell help us experience and enjoy different flavours and aromas in the world around us. You will need: • A potato• An apple• A washing peg• A blindfold• A friend to test on! Experiment! Taste and smell are closely related senses that work together to allow us to perceive the flavours of the food we eat. APPLE OR POTATO? STEP 1: Have an adult help you to cut the potato and apple into pieces the same size. STEP 2: Have your friend put on the blindfold and the washing peg on their nose. They must not be able to see or smell anything. STEP 3: Give your friend…

Be inspired and draw, paint, cut and colour the shapes of flowers and leaves for this unusual Mother’s Day bouquet for Mom. Surprise her with a delicious breakfast and decorate the tray with these cute stand-alone flowers. Make sure to pick her favourite colours – it’s all in the thought that counts! There once was a mom full of grace Whose love shone on her child’s face She worked day and night to make things just right And brought joy to each special place. Creating your own gifts and recycling materials not only benefits the environment and your wallet, but also brings joy and satisfaction in the act of making something with your own hands. It also shows that you care enough to put in the effort and time to…

What action will you take today? For each of the 17 Goals there are many positive actions you can take to make a real change. Support campaigns collecting items for victims of emergencies. Donate your clothes, food supplies, etc. to support those in need. Any donation, big or small, can make a difference! This list was made by: THE UNITED NATIONS an International Organisation that counts virtually every country in the world as a member! The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of targets relating to future international development. They are created by the United Nations and promoted as the Global Goals for Sustainable Development. They replaced the Millennium Development Goals that expired at the end of 2015. The SGDs run from 2015 to 2030. There are 17 goals…

Mermaids are said to live in the depths of the ocean, and their songs are said to be so mesmerising that sailors are lured to their demise. While mermaids are not real, they continue to be a popular subject of stories and movies filling our thoughts with fantasy and wonder. Where did it all start? The history of mermaids can be traced back to ancient times, with stories of half-human, half-fish beings appearing in the mythology and folklore of many cultures around the world. In Greek mythology, the Sirens were beautiful women who lured sailors to their doom with their enchanting songs, while in Norse mythology, the mermaid-like creatures known as the Merrow were said to have the power to control the seas. In many cultures, mermaids were believed to…

We all know that bees make honey and that their sting really hurts, but have you ever wondered how the life of a bee actually works? Read on to find out … How is honey made? Honey bees are the only insects that produce food edible by man. Field bees collect nectar with their tongues and store it in sacs in their bodies. They then regurgitate the nectar into the mouths of house bees that mix it with enzymes, which evaporate the water and make it thick. Finally the mixture is stored to ripen and become honey. Life in the hive A colony of bees consists of 20 000 to 60 000 honeybees and one queen. Worker bees (female) live for four to nine months in winter, but only six…

Idioms exist in every language. They are words or phrases that aren’t meant to be taken literally. For example, if you say someone has “cold feet”, it does not mean their toes are actually cold. Rather, it means they’re nervous about something. 1 ......... duckling – one who is unattractive, but becomes more beautiful as they mature 2 ......... eye – watchful and having a keen eyesight 3 ......... like a bird – to eat lightly or be a picky eater 4 Graceful as a ......... – elegant, beautiful and sophisticated 5 Take someone ......... your wing – to offer protective guidance and mentoring 6 Free as a ......... – easy freedom or escape 7 Like ......... off a duck’s back – to easily disregard or shrug off 8 Night…

Verymuch screwed his courage to the sticking point and pressed the creep switch on the Blind Mach III. Suddenly his worst fear came true – the creep switch stuck on Boomerang Thief Mode and the tickle beam turned into a gyropull magnesiumstretch. As he flew-paddle-floated back into Vichigreenland, Home of the First Ostradilliducks, he realised that the Mach III was still strapped to his middle and that, with any luck he might not de-metamordilliduckphorise back into an ostradilliduckling. This is a word game with a difference. We want you to invent words that sound English and could be English, but in fact do not exist. These are known as neologisms, by the way. Then write your own story. Some neoclogisms in this story come from previous episodes of “Unreal Words”…