algae.
SmellyMoon_Final 4/21/08 10:30 AM Page 82
SmellyMoon_Final 4/21/08 10:30 AM Page 83
Better than the Best Tropical
Fish Tank
The most complex, densely packed ecosystems on the Q
planet are tropical rainforests and coral reefs. A whopping 25% of all ocean fish species, as well as hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of varieties of UNDER
life call coral reefs home. The numbers are even more amazing when you consider that reefs cover less WA
than 0.1% of the sea floor. All the world’s coral reefs, TER
put together, cover less area than Spain. They’re RAINFORESTS
spread out across the world in 80 geographical loca-tions. When it comes to having the largest areas with coral reefs . . .
What are the top four countries?
a) Australia, Fiji, Belize, Mexico
b) Belize, Australia, U.S., Cuba
c) Indonesia, Australia, Philippines, France
d) Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Greece 83
Better than the Best Tropical
Fish Tank
What are the top four countries?
A
a) Australia, Fiji, Belize, Mexico
b) Belize, Australia, U.S., Cuba
c) Indonesia, Australia, Philippines, France
UNDER
d) Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Greece WATER
CORRECT ANSWER:
RAINFORESTS
c) Indonesia, Australia, Philippines, France
The top three countries, with half of the world’s coral reefs, are Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines.
So what’s France doing in the top four? You had to factor in France’s many warm weather territories with impressive reefs, such as Martinique and French Polynesia. Most of the world’s coral reefs are in trouble these days, due to the triple threat of climate change, pollution, and overfishing. Have you ever snorkelled or dived on a healthy coral reef? It’s awesome — better than the best tropical fish tank you’ve ever seen, by a factor of a gazillion. If the underwater rainforest experience appeals to you, get to it as soon as you can. If conditions don’t improve, the reefs will never be better than they are today.
SmellyMoon_Final 4/21/08 10:30 AM Page 84
SmellyMoon_Final 4/21/08 10:30 AM Page 85
DIGITAL ANATOMY
Powerful Digits
If you’ve ever tried rock climbing, or even just Q
watched someone else do it, you know that it takes balance, coordination, and strength. Sometimes
climbers have to hang on by their fingertips. So they must have super strong fingers, right? Have you ever wondered how many muscles there are in your fingers? If not, you will now.
How many muscles are there in your fingers?
a) 0
b) 12
c) 14
d) 28
85
Powerful Digits
How many muscles are there in your fingers?
A
a) 0
b) 12
c) 14
DIGIT
d) 28
AL
ANA
TOMY
CORRECT ANSWER:
a) 0
Would you believe there isn’t a single muscle in any of your fingers? Your grip strength comes from muscles in your palms and forearms. Your finger bones are connected to those muscles by tendons, which pull on, and move your fingers, a lot like the strings of a marionette. In a sense, your fingers move by remote control, and they’re controlled not just by tendons, but by the puppet master in your head, your brain.
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SmellyMoon_Final 4/21/08 10:30 AM Page 87
A Digital Advantage
Athletes are always looking for the edge in competi-Q
tion, that special something, that little bit extra, that can make the difference between winning and losing.
But no matter how hard they train, or how mentally DIGIT
prepared they are, there are some things that athletes AL
can’t learn or practice because they’re either born ANA
with it, or they’re not. Like toes, for example.
TOMY
What would be an advantage for a sprinter?
a) big toe and second toe of equal length
b) big toe longer than second toe
c) second toe longer than big toe
d) short toes
87
A Digital Advantage
What would be an advantage for a sprinter?
A
a) big toe and second toe of equal length
b) big toe longer than second toe
c) second toe longer than big toe
DIGIT
d) short
Jess Vallance
Alan; Sillitoe
Susan McBride
Karolyn Cairns
Christopher Ward
Maureen Smith
Richard Paul Evans
Drew Perry
Selena Blake
Kent Conwell