Chow Chow

Do you know Chow Chow are the dogs not having a pink tongue! Chow Chow is a breed of dog that was developed in China. It is also known by Chow, Chowdren. In China it is referred to as Songshi Quan, which means 'puffy-lion dog'. An ancient breed of northern Chinese origin, this all-purpose dog was used for hunting, pulling and protection of the home. They are powerful, sturdy, squarely built having strong muscular development and heavy bones.
Chows are distinguished with their unusual blue-black/purple tongue. The bluish color extends to its lips. The Chow is the only dog breed with this distinctive bluish color in its lips and oral cavity.

It has a broad skull and small, triangular, erect ears, which are rounded at the tips. Because of its deep set eyes the Chow has limited peripheral vision and is best approached from the front. This breed has a very dense double coat (hairs that cover its body) that can either be smooth or rough. Chow Chow is available in five colors including red, black, blue, cream, cinnamon/fawn.

The Chow Chow is most commonly opted as a pet. They are very protective for their people and property and may not be an appropriate dog for a first-time dog owner! However their aggressive and timid behavior is considered unacceptable by AKC standards. The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. The Chow Chow is considered to be suspicious of strangers and protective of family. These are intelligent creatures, eager to please their masters. If they are properly introduced and treated fairly, they can be very good companions. Some people characterize it having similar personality as that of a cat. Owning a Chow Chow can raise the cost of insurance of homeowners as some companies regard them as "high risk dogs". A healthy Chow Chow can live as long as 15 years.

Many famous personalities like US President Calvin Coolidge, Indian actor R. Madhavan, American actress Janet Jackson, American business magnate Martha Stewart own this breed of dog.

Life on Titan

What is Titan ?? Titan is the largest moon on planet Saturn and the only natural satellite known to have a dense atmosphere. It is the only object other than Earth on which the traces of  surface liquid have been found. It has a diameter around 50% larger than that of the Earth's moon. Titan is the second largest moon in the solar system after planet Jupiter's moon Ganymede. Its atmosphere is largely composed of nitrogen, minor components leads to the formation of ethane and methane clouds and nitrogen-rich organic smog.

"Life on Titan" is at present an open question and a topic for scientific discussion. Titan is far colder than Earth because its distance from the sun is more and its surface seems to lack liquid water as the water ice does not melt. The surface temperature is about 94K (-179^oC or -290^oF). It has also been suggested that life could exist in the liquid methane and ethane that form rivers and lakes on Titan's surface just as the life exists on Earth with water. The creatures which would live on Titan would inhale H₂ in place of O₂, react it with acetylene instead of glucose and exhale methane instead of carbon dioxide. Moreover, its surface is thick and chemically active and is known to be rich in organic compounds.
One of the scientists has proposed that the hypothetical organisms on Titan use hydrogen and acetylene as the  energy sources. In 2007 a committee chaired by John A. Baross, an astrobiologist considered that if life is an intrinsic property of chemical reactivity then life should exist on Titan. Indeed, for life not to exist on Titan, we would have to argue with the fact that life is not an intrinsic property of the reactivity of carbon containing molecules under conditions where they are stable.
Conditions on Titan could become far more habitable in the future. Six billion years from now, as the sun becomes a red giant the surface temperature could rise enough for stable oceans of water/ammonia mixture to exist on the surface.

Buddh International Circuit

The Buddh International Circit (BIC) is a Formula One racing circuit in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is India's first F1 track. The BIC is ready to host the inaugral Formula One Indian Grand Prix on 30th October 2011. This 5.4 km long circuit is designed by the German architect and racetrack designer Herman Tilke. The circuit is said to become the second fastest track on the F1 calender after Monza and expects the fastest lap time to be under one minute 27 seconds, with average speed crossing 210 kmph. Mercedes-Benz and the Jaypee Group have concluded an agreement whereby Mercedes-Benz cars will be utilized as safety/monitor cars for all the events at the track.

WHY the circuit is named as BUDDH ??
The circuit is owned by the Jaypee Group. Originally it was named as Jaypee International race circuit but in April 2011, it was officially named as Buddh International Circuit. The name is derived from the word Buddha which is the symbol of peace and calm. Also the circuit is located in the Gautam Budh Nagar District which itself was named after the Gautam Buddha.  
The Formula one lovers can be a part of this mega event by paying Rs. 2500 onwards. The tickets are priced between Rs. 2500 and Rs. 35,000. 

Do Apple seeds and cherry pits contain poison

The attractive rose family includes apples along with cherries, almonds, peaches. Yes, apple seeds and cherry pits are poisonous. Infact if you eat enough apple seeds or cherry pits you could die. Apple seeds contain a small amount of cyanogenic acids (cyanide), which is a lethal poison but the seeds are coated with a hard seed coating which protects us from toxins. However, if you chew the seeds thoroughly you will be exposed to the chemicals inside the seeds. And if you eat the seeds without chewing then the digestive system remains untouched by the harmful chemicals.

Symptoms of  poisoning include headache, dizziness, confusion, anxiety and vomiting. Larger amount of the chemical may lead to difficulty in breathing, increased blood pressure and heart rate. It may also lead to kidney failure. As compared to the adults, children and pets are more likely to be affected by the chemicals contained in the seeds. If you eat a seed or two then there is no need to create panic as our body is able to detoxify the small quantities of cyanide compounds. They naturally occur in several foods.

Conclusion - The small quantities of cyanide compounds do not affect the human body but if taken in sufficient amount then it can be harmful and can even cause death.

Amazing Facts about Space

• Astronauts get taller when they are in space.
• The first creature in space was Laika, a little Russian dog.
• The path of the moon's orbit around the earth would easily fit inside the sun.
• Any free moving liquid in outer space will form itself into a sphere, because of its surface tension.
• If two pieces of metal touch in space, they become permanently struck together. 
• The planet Uranus was originally named as George, in honour of King George of Britain.
• Venus is the only planet that spins backwards.
• One day on planet Pluto is about the length of a week on earth.
• A day in Mercury planet lasts approximately as long as 59 days on Earth.
• The red color of Mars is due to Mars is due to oxidized(rusted) iron in its soil.
• The slowest rotating planet is Venus. It takes 243.01 days to turn around.
• The Sun has sunspots, dark spots on the sun's surface 2000 degree cooler than the rest of the surface.