Image is retrieved from:

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/superman_movies

According to ‘Eat This Not That!’ by David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding: “The food sources that feature calcium most prominently are sesame seeds, plain or vanilla soymilk, low-fat yogurt, cooked spinach, part-skim mozzarella cheese, raw tofu and cream cheese.

Calcium is a mineral found in bones and teeth. Calcium keeps bones strong and healthy, promotes efficient function of the nerves and muscles as well as helps blood clotting.”

Reference:
Zinczenko, David, . Eat this, not that! the best (& worst!) foods in america!. [Emmaus, Pa.] : Rodale, c2009.

If you want to read more on the topic, here are books that you can check out at our libraries.

All Rights Reserved, John Wiley, c2004.

The calcium key : the revolutionary diet discovery that will help you lose weight faster by Michael Zemel, Bill Gottlieb
Publisher: Hoboken, N.J. : John Wiley, c2004.
Call No.: English 613.25 ZEM -[HEA]
Click here to check for item availability

All Rights Reserved, Simon & Schuster Source, 2001.

Eat, drink, and be healthy :by the Harvard Medical School guide to healthy eating by Walter C. Willett
Publisher: New York : Simon & Schuster Source, 2001.
Call No.: English 613.2 WIL -[HEA]
Click here to check for item availability

All Rights Reserved, Maidstone : Amalgamated Book Services, 1999.

Super calcium counter : the essential guide to building strong bones by Harris McIlwain and Debra Fulghum Bruce
Publisher: New York : Kensington ; Maidstone : Amalgamated Book Services, 1999.
Call No: English 613.285 MAC -[HEA]
Click here to check for item availability

All websites are last accessed on 20 Aug 2010. Please refer to the terms and conditions on the homepages for use.
For the availability of the above book titles, please check the library catalogue.

Answered by Ms Lynn Koh, Associate Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

Image is retrieved from:

http://www.myplacetoo.com/index7.html

According to National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA), and eHow’s April Sanders, not all kites require a tail to stablilise them when suspended in midair. Kites fly because of their resistance to the wind and how they force the air to move around them. However, a kite tail stabilises the flight of a kite because it creates drag, lifting the front of a kite and exposing that side to the wind so that the kite moves upwards and less so sideways.

In turbulent airflow, the tail functions as a stabilising force because it adds resistance or drag. In the face of strong winds, the kite is balanced by the forces acting on it, such as from the wind, the size and shape of the kite, its tail and the person flying it. The drag is also dependent on the density of the air which is lower when the elevation is high. There is a formula behind this and if you are interested, you can read more from the website below.

Reference:
NASA. (2008). Kite Drag Equations. Retrieved Aug 18, 2010, from NASA, http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/kitedrag.html

Sanders, A. How Does a Kite Work? Retrieved Aug 18, 2010, from eHow.com, http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4586488_a-kite-work.html

If you want to read more on the topic, here are books that you can check out at our libraries.

All Rights Reserved, Firefly Books, c2007.

Kites : flying skills and techniques, from basic toys to sport kites by Rosanne Cobb
Publisher: Richmond Hill, Ont. : Firefly Books, c2007.
Call No.: English 796.158 COB -[REC]
Click here to check for item availability

All Rights Reserved, David & Charles, 2004.

The kite making handbook compiled by Rossella Guerra, Giuseppe Ferlenga
Publisher: Newton Abbot : David & Charles, 2004.
Call No.: English q629.13332 KIT
Click here to check for item availability

All Rights Reserved, Konemann, c1999.

The magnificent book of kites : explorations in design, construction, enjoyment & flight by Maxwell Eden
Publisher: Cologne : Konemann, c1999.
Call No: English 629.13332 EDE
Click here to check for item availability

All websites are last accessed on 20 Aug 2010. Please refer to the terms and conditions on the homepages for use.
For the availability of the above book titles, please check the library catalogue.

Originally answered by Ms Felicia Chan
Librarian, Children’s Services

About 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is water-covered. The vast majority of water on the Earth’s surface, over 96 percent, is saline water in the oceans. But it is the freshwater resources, such as the water in streams, rivers, lakes, and ground water that provide people (and all life) with most of the water they need everyday to live. Water sitting on the surface of the Earth is easy to visualize, and your view of the water cycle might be that rainfall fills up the rivers and lakes.

Just how much water is there on (and in) the Earth? Here are some numbers you can think about:

1. The total water supply of the world is about 333 million cubic miles (mi3) (a cubic mile is an imaginary cube measuring one mile on each side), or 1,386 million cubic kilometers (km3). A cubic mile of water equals more than 1.1 trillion gallons. A cubic kilometer of water equals about 264 billion gallons.

2. If all of Earth’s water (oceans, icecaps and glaciers, lakes, rivers, ground water, and water in the atmosphere was put into a sphere, then the diameter of that water ball would be a bit less than 1,400 kilometers across, a bit more than the distance between Chicago, Illinois and New Orleans, Louisiana.

3. About 3,100 mi3 (12,900 km3) of water, mostly in the form of water vapor, is in the atmosphere at any one time. If it all fell as precipitation at once, the Earth would be covered with only about 1 inch of water.

4. The 48 contiguous United States receives a total volume of about 4 mi3 (17.7 km3) of precipitation each day.

5. Each day, 280 mi3 (1,170 km3)of water evaporate or transpire into the atmosphere.

6. If all of the world’s water was poured on the United States, it would cover the land to a depth of 90 miles (145 kilometers).

7. Of the freshwater on Earth, much more is stored in the ground than is available in lakes and rivers. More than 2,000,000 mi3 (8,400,000 km3)of freshwater is stored in the Earth, most within one-half mile of the surface. Contrast that with the 60,000 mi3 (250,000 km3) of water stored as freshwater in lakes, inland seas, and rivers. But, if you really want to find freshwater, the most is stored in the 7,000,000 mi3 (29,200,000 km3) of water found in glaciers and icecaps, mainly in the polar regions and in Greenland.

Source: ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthhowmuch.html
(Last accessed: 16 August 2010)

Check out the following books on water:

(All Rights Reserved, PowerKids Press, 2009)

Oceans of the World
by Sandy Roydhouse
Call Number: J English 551.46 ROY
Click here to check for item availability.

Water
by Geoff Barker
Call Number: Y English 553.7 BAR
Click here to check for item availability.

Water : Discover Science Through Facts and Fun
by Gerry Bailey and Steve Way
Call Number: J English 553.7 BAI
Click here to check for item availability.

Originally answered by Shahada Selamat
Associate Librarian
Children’s Services

There is a difference between the two – the Netherlands, short for the Kingdom of the Netherlands refers to the country, while Holland – actually, North and South Holland – are two provinces out of the 12 provinces that make up the country.

However, the two names are commonly used interchangeably and this could be due to historical reasons. Holland used to be just one province during the days of the United Provinces (1581-1795), where a few provinces in the region came together to form the precursor to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and most of the nation’s governmental and commercial power was concentrated there. Hence foreigners came to think of the Netherlands and Holland as one and the same.

Though the right term for the country would be the Netherlands, matters are not helped by the country’s national tourism board also using the term Holland to refer to the entire country and in its tourism website address. Some encyclopaedias and books also refer to ‘Holland’ as another name for the Netherlands, further contributing to the common use of both terms to refer to the country.

Sources:

Name: Factiva.com
Source: The Arizona Republic
Title: Holland not the same as Netherlands
Author: Clay Thompson
Publisher: The Arizona Republic
Issue Information: 1 March 2007
Description: What is the difference between Holland and the Netherlands?
Last accessed date: 14 Jul 2010

Name: Factiva.com
Source: The Daily Express
Title: Your questions answered
Publisher: Express Newspapers
Issue Information: 4 November 2006
Description: Is there any difference between Holland and The Netherlands, or are they different terms for the same country?
Last accessed date: 14 Jul 2010

Name: Factiva.com
Source: Boston Herald
Title: Good question; It’s time to brush up on geography by going Dutch
Author: Beth Teitell and Roger Michel
Issue Information: 1 November 1998
Description: “Q: There are questions you just can’t ask after the third grade, and I’ve been carrying one around for 30 years – are Holland and the Netherlands different countries? And who exactly are the Dutch? Please help me with my secret shame!”
Last accessed date: 14 Jul 2010

You may also wish to refer to the following sources for more information on the Netherlands and her history.

Web Resources

Source: http://www.holland.com/global/aboutholland/history/
Title: History – History – The Official Website of The Netherlands Board …
Last accessed date: 14 Jul 2010

Source: http://www.minbuza.nl/en/You_and_the_Netherlands/
About_the_Netherlands/Highlights_of_Dutch_History
Title: Highlights of Dutch History – MinBuza.nl
Last accessed date: 14 Jul 2010

Source: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/
travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/
europe/netherlands/
Title: Country Profile: Netherlands
Last accessed date: 14 Jul 2010

 Answered by Ms Lynn Koh, Associate Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment

Students performing at the 1966 National Day Parade
Source: www.nhb.gov.sg

National Day Parade, 9 August 1967
Source: www.nationalartgallery.sg

August marks a very special month in Singapore’s history as Singapore holds its national day celebrations on 9 August every year.

9 August is a significant date because on 9 August 1965, Singapore broke away from Malaysia and became a fully independent country. Prior to this, on 27 May 1961, the Malayan Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman proposed merger between Singapore, Malaya and other British colonies like Brunei, Sabah and Sarawak to form Malaysia for political and economic reasons.

However, due to political differences that later led to 2 racial riots in Singapore in 1964, as well as economic incompatability, on 7 August 1965, the leaders of Malaysia and Singapore signed the separation agreement and on 9 August 1965, Singapore became a fully independent country.

This year, Singapore will celebrate its 45th year of independence and the National Day celebrations and parade will be held at the Padang where the first National Day Parade (NDP) was held. The theme this year is ‘Live Our Dreams, Fly Our Flag’ as the organizers hope that Singaporeans will “reflect upon the nation’s achievements and be inspired to work towards their own dreams”.

Do catch the parade and the celebrations in action if you have a chance!

For more information on this year’s NDP celebrations, do log on to the NDP official website :
http://www.ndp.org.sg

Sources:
1) The Living Past
2) NDP 2010 Official Website: www.ndp.org.sg

Posted By:

Ms Chen Wanying
Children’s Librarian
Children’s Services

The colour of your nails may indicate the state of your health.  Below is a guide and does not necessarily mean it reflects actual health conditions.  It is best to seek professional medical advise if you suspect your health is affected by the colour of your nails. 

- If some or all of the nail is white in colour, it could be a sign of fungal growth or liver problems.

-  White dots may indicate a zinc deficiency, or a slight injury to the nail.

-  Brown nails may indicate fungal growth or kidney disease.

-  Yellow nails could be due to jaundice.

-  Blue nails can indicate poor circulation, or a heart, or lung conditions.

-  Pitted nails may suggest a skin condition, such as psoriasis or ezcema.

-  Nails that break or spilt easily could indicate a thyroid problem. 

-  Nails that have a yellowish tint and pink colouring at the base may be linked to diabetes.

-  Curved nails may indicate a respiratory disorder.

(Taken from “Why is yawning contagious?: everything you ever wanted to know about the human body – and some things you’d rather not” by Francesca Gould, p.27).

Below are suggested titles on the human body and its functions which are available in the libraries.  To check their availability, please visit our online catalogue:  http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg/

    (All Rights Reserved, Portrait, 2007)

1.  Why is yawning contagious?: everything you ever wanted to know about the human body – and some things you’d rather not

By Francesca Gould

Publisher: London : Portrait, 2007

Call No.: 612 GOU -[HEA]

       (All Rights Reserved, Dorling Kindersly, c2009)

2. The concise human body book
By Steve Parker
Publisher: London : Dorling Kindersley, c2009
Call No.: 612.00222 PAR -[HEA]

      (All Rights Reserved, Intelligent Body Press, c2006)

3. The busy person’s guide to easier movement : 50 ways to achieve a healthy, happy, pain-free and intelligent body
By Frank Wildman
Publisher: Berkeley, Calif. : Intelligent Body Press, c2006
Call No.: 613.71 WIL -[HEA]

  
Posted by Kweh Soon Huat, Librarian,  Adult and Young People’s Services

With the recent influx of 3-D animated movies like Shrek Forever After, Toy Story and the most recent Despicable Me, have you ever wondered how does a 3D movie work?

While watching 3-D movies, you are actually looking at two still images that appear to be nearly identical simultaneously. It is set up in such a way that your left eye sees one of the images and the right eye sees the other. These images are not identical as they were shot using two cameras. Your brain is able to combine the 2 different images and form a 3-D image that looks incredibly realistic.

In the early days, to view 3-D movies, we used the red/blue glasses. Both left and right images appear on the screen at once but one is tinted red and the other is tinted blue. The problem with this is that it disrupts the colour of the images. Thus, to handle this, we now use polarized light.

This technique makes use of a property of light called polarization. The film is still recorded using two camera lenses placed side by side. However, in the cinema, the two film reels are projected through different polarized filters. Thus, images for the viewers’ left eyes are polarized on a horizontal plane while images for the right eyes are polarized on a vertical plane. Our glasses use the same polarizing filters to separate out the two images again and our brain will put these two separate images together and create the 3D effect.

(Reference: How do 3D films work? | Explore | physics.org
www.physics.org/article-questions.asp?id=56
Last accessed: 20 July 2010)

Originally answered by Aslin Harminah
Associate Librarian
Children’s Services

Source: How To Make A Terrarium: http://www.katyelliott.com

Source: Paperus, The Bottle Garden Specialists: http://www.paperus.com.sg

A terrarium is a minature garden of small plants that is grown in a closed or partially open container. It has made a comeback as a fuss free gardening project for urban dwellers since its popularity in the 1970s and 1980s and you can buy a ready made one or purchase a starter kit at the Singapore Garden Festival! It is a convenient solution for busy office workers and people who do not have green thumbs as a terrarium is a self sufficient ecosystem that requires little care. All you need to do is to water it every few weeks depending on the size of the terrarium. Not only will making a terrarium spruce up your living space with little effort, it will also help to recycle your unused transparent jars and containers!

How do you create a terrarium? All you need is to place stones, or gravel, charcoal ( to provide drainage for the plants), small plants in a transparent bottle and voila! You’ve got your own minature garden in a bottle or container!

For more information on the steps needed to create your own terrarium, do check out these useful sites!
1) The Garden Management System Gardening Software: Terrariums

http://www.hmk.on.ca/terrarium.html

2) National Geographic Kids: Grow Your Own Minature Garden

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/

3) Paperus: The Bottle Garden Specialist: What is a Paperus Bottle Garden?http://www.paperus.com.sg
4) Katy Elliott: Home, Art And Food: How To Make A Terrarium

http://www.katyelliott.com/

Also, do check out the books that are available in the library for creating your own terrarium!

All Rights Reserved, Hockessin, Del. : Mitchell Lane Publishers
A Kid’s Guide To Making A Terrarium by Stephanie Bearce
Call Number: J English 635 BEA
Publisher: Hockessin, Del. : Mitchell Lane Publishers, c2010
View item availability here

All Rights Reserved, North Adams, Mass. : Storey Publishers
Tabletop gardens : 40 stylish plantscapes for counters and shelves, desktops and windowsills by Rosemary McCreary
Call Number: English 635.965 MAC -[HOM]
Publisher: North Adams, Mass. : Storey Pub., c2006
View item availability here

Posted By:

Ms Chen Wanying
Children’s Librarian
Children’s Services

Quoting from the National Marine Sanctuaries (U.S.), the functions and purposes of marine sanctuaries is as follows:

“The primary objective of a sanctuary is to protect its natural and cultural features while allowing people to use and enjoy the ocean in a sustainable way. Sanctuary waters provide a secure habitat for species close to extinction and protect historically significant shipwrecks and artifacts. Sanctuaries serve as natural classrooms and laboratories for schoolchildren and researchers alike to promote understanding and stewardship of our oceans. They often are cherished recreational spots for sport fishing and diving and support commercial industries such as tourism, fishing and kelp harvesting”.

[Source: "National Marine Sanctuaries: FAQ." 03 Aug 2006. . 19 May 2010.]

In addition, the New South Wales Marine Parks website lists the ways in which marine sanctuaries help the marine environment. They do so by:

- protecting habitats and ecosystems;
  – improving commercial and recreational fisheries by protecting juvenile habitats or adult breeding grounds;
  – providing opportunities to appreciate and enjoy the marine world;
  – protecting threatened species;
  – supporting research and education;
  – providing a buffer for the effects of climate change;
  – improving management of introduced marine pests;
  – reducing the risk of pollution by excluding oil and gas developments;
  – improving opportunities for ecotourism for local communities; and
  – conserving cultural heritage.

[Source: NSW Marine Parks. "About Marine Sanctuaries." "Marine Sanctuaries: National Parks of the Sea." 2005. , 19 May 2010.]

You can find out more about marine sanctuaries from the two source websites listed above. You can also read aggregated news reports about local efforts to start a marine sanctuary at Pulau Hantu at the following page on Wild Singapore’s website (http://www.wildsingapore.com/): , 19 May 2010.

Book Recommendations:
1) Title: Endangered oceans / Louise I. Gerdes, book editor.
Publisher: Detroit : Greenhaven Press, c2009.
Call No.: Y English 333.95616 END

2)Title: The marine heritage of Thailand : kingdom of infinite biodiversity.
Publisher: PTT Exploration and Production Public Co. : National Park, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation Dept., 2006.
Call No.: RSEA English 333.916409593 MAR

3) Title: Marine parks of Malaysia / text by Mohd Taupek Mohd Nasir, Nor Ainy Mahyidin.
Author: Mohd. Taupek Mohd. Nasir
Publisher: Kuala Lumpur : Dept. of Fisheries Malaysia, Ministry of Agriculture, 2001.
Call No.: q333.916409595 MOH

4) Title: Wild ocean : America’s parks under the sea / by Sylvia A. Earle and Wolcott Henry.
Author: Earle, Sylvia A., 1935-
Publisher: Washington, D.C. : National Geographic Society, 1999.
Call No.: q333.7830973 EAR

5) Title: Marine reserves in the Philippines : historical development, effects and influence on marine conservation policy / by Angel C. Alcala ; with a foreword by Edgardo D. Gomez.
Author: Alcala, Angel C
Call No.: RSEA 333.916 ALC

To check the availability and locations of the above titles, please use our online catalog

Originally answered by Goh Peck Keong, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment

Image is retrieved from:

http://www.elegantgoldbuys.com/page/1202355

Most of us have heard of Aesop’s fable: The Hen That Laid The Golden Eggs (in some versions, it is a goose). In real life, there are no animals that can lay golden eggs. However, there are blue eggs!

According to Henerson’s Chicken Breed Chart:  
Eggs can come in different colors, such as shades of white, creamy white, brown and blue, depending on the breed of the hen. The most unique egg color will be blue. The hens of Ameraucana and Araucana breed lay blue eggs.

Reference:
Henerson’s Chicken Breed Chart (http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html) Last accessed on 30 June 2010.

If you want to read more on the topic, here are books that you can check out at our libraries.

 
All Rights Reserved, Picture Window Books, c2004

The goose that laid the golden egg : a retelling of Aesop’s fable by LarocheMark White
Publisher: Minneapolis, Minn. : Picture Window Books, c2004.
Call No.: JP 398.2 WHI -[FOL]
Click here to check for item availability

All Rights Reserved, Children’s Press, 2009, c2008.

How an egg grows into a chicken by Tanya Kant
Publisher: New York : Children’s Press, 2009, c2008.
Call No.: JP 636.5 KAN
Click here to check for item availability

All Rights Reserved, Minn. : Millbrook Press, c2007.

Guess what is growing inside this egg by Mia Posada
Publisher: Minneapolis, Minn. : Millbrook Press, c2007.
Call No: J 591.4 POS
Click here to check for item availability

Here are websites for information on the topic:
Title: Egg
URL: http://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/egg-info.htm

All websites are last accessed on 30 June 2010. Please refer to the terms and conditions on the homepages for use.
For the availability of the above book titles, please check the library catalogue.

Ms Chen Luojia
Associate Librarian, Children’s Services