What is the largest animal in the world? Detailed answer

BIG ENCYCLOPEDIA FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS
Free library / Directory / Big encyclopedia for children and adults

What is the largest animal in the world? Detailed answer

Big encyclopedia for children and adults

Directory / Big encyclopedia. Questions for quiz and self-education

Did you know?

What is the largest animal in the world?

In prehistoric times, giant creatures lived on land and in the sea, which were much larger than all animals living today. The largest animal of our time is the blue whale. It reaches more than thirty meters in length and weighs about one hundred and twenty-five tons. And what is remarkable: about a third of the length of this animal is its head! But perhaps the most interesting thing about a whale is not its size, but the fact that it is a mammal, not a fish. Like other mammals that live in the water (such as dolphins and sea lions), whales are descended from ancestors who once lived on land. This assumption is proved by the structure of their body. The fins are, in essence, the bones of the "hands" with five fingers, covered with skin and muscle tissue and turned into a kind of oars. Some whales even have hind limb bones embedded in body tissue.

Since whales are mammals, their cubs, like the cubs of other animals of this class, are fed with mother's milk. They do not hatch from eggs like fish, but are born alive and stay with their mother for some time after birth.

Whales do not have gills, they breathe with lungs. Their tail fin is located horizontally and helps them to easily rise to the surface of the water when they need to breathe. The internal organs of whales, their skeleton, circulatory system and brain are very different from fish. In the process of adapting whales to life in the water, their body has undergone serious changes: for example, a fatty layer has formed.

Mammals are warm-blooded animals and it is very important for them to maintain a certain body temperature. Whales have a fibrous tissue layer under their skin that is filled with blubber and keeps them warm. In large whales, this fat layer can reach from thirty-five to fifty-five centimeters in thickness. On the top of the whale's head are two holes that make it easier for the whale to breathe on the surface of the water. Under water, these "nostrils" are closed by small valves, and the access of air through the respiratory channels is stopped, eliminating the danger of water entering the lungs. Whales can stay underwater for as long as three-quarters of an hour!

Author: Likum A.

Random interesting fact from the Great Encyclopedia:

What is a Gordian knot?

In the 334th century BC, the great commander Alexander the Great "thrown a spear to the East." A powerful army moved to conquer Asia. When the Macedonian army passed through Phrygia, Alexander was shown the chariot of the ancient king Gordias, the drawbar of which was tied to the altar of the temple with a complex knot that no one had been able to untie until then.

There was a legend: whoever manages to untie the Gordian knot will gain power over all of Asia. Alexander, without hesitation, took out a sword from its scabbard and, without further ado, cut the ill-fated knot. And in fact, in fact, he soon became the ruler of Asia, having achieved this with his sword in battles with the previously invincible troops of the Eastern leaders

Since then, implying some kind of decisive action that resolves a complex and confusing situation, they say: "Cut the Gordian knot."

Test your knowledge! Did you know...

▪ How fast is the speed of light in a vacuum?

▪ What are reliable brakes made of?

▪ Why is a camel depicted on the flag of the Chelyabinsk region, although they are not found there?

See other articles Section Big encyclopedia. Questions for quiz and self-education.

Read and write useful comments on this article.

<< Back

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

Machine for thinning flowers in gardens 02.05.2024

In modern agriculture, technological progress is developing aimed at increasing the efficiency of plant care processes. The innovative Florix flower thinning machine was presented in Italy, designed to optimize the harvesting stage. This tool is equipped with mobile arms, allowing it to be easily adapted to the needs of the garden. The operator can adjust the speed of the thin wires by controlling them from the tractor cab using a joystick. This approach significantly increases the efficiency of the flower thinning process, providing the possibility of individual adjustment to the specific conditions of the garden, as well as the variety and type of fruit grown in it. After testing the Florix machine for two years on various types of fruit, the results were very encouraging. Farmers such as Filiberto Montanari, who has used a Florix machine for several years, have reported a significant reduction in the time and labor required to thin flowers. ... >>

Advanced Infrared Microscope 02.05.2024

Microscopes play an important role in scientific research, allowing scientists to delve into structures and processes invisible to the eye. However, various microscopy methods have their limitations, and among them was the limitation of resolution when using the infrared range. But the latest achievements of Japanese researchers from the University of Tokyo open up new prospects for studying the microworld. Scientists from the University of Tokyo have unveiled a new microscope that will revolutionize the capabilities of infrared microscopy. This advanced instrument allows you to see the internal structures of living bacteria with amazing clarity on the nanometer scale. Typically, mid-infrared microscopes are limited by low resolution, but the latest development from Japanese researchers overcomes these limitations. According to scientists, the developed microscope allows creating images with a resolution of up to 120 nanometers, which is 30 times higher than the resolution of traditional microscopes. ... >>

Air trap for insects 01.05.2024

Agriculture is one of the key sectors of the economy, and pest control is an integral part of this process. A team of scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Potato Research Institute (ICAR-CPRI), Shimla, has come up with an innovative solution to this problem - a wind-powered insect air trap. This device addresses the shortcomings of traditional pest control methods by providing real-time insect population data. The trap is powered entirely by wind energy, making it an environmentally friendly solution that requires no power. Its unique design allows monitoring of both harmful and beneficial insects, providing a complete overview of the population in any agricultural area. “By assessing target pests at the right time, we can take necessary measures to control both pests and diseases,” says Kapil ... >>

Random news from the Archive

Titanium Dioxide Increases the Emission Intensity of Laser LEDs 30.01.2023

Titanium oxides significantly increase the efficiency and photoluminescence of LEDs. The dominance of white LEDs as the main source of light may soon end with the emergence of a new alternative.

The photonic crystal or nanoantenna, a two-dimensional structure with a periodic arrangement of nanosized particles, is being developed as an advanced optical control technology. Exposure of light to a combination of a nanoantenna with a phosphor plate produces a harmonious combination of blue and yellow light.

White LEDs have already received an improvement in the form of white laser diodes (LD), which consist of yellow phosphors and blue laser diodes. Blue LDs are highly directional, while yellow phosphors radiate in all directions, resulting in unwanted color mixing.

To solve this problem, the researchers developed phosphor plates in combination with nanoantennas using aluminum metal, which allows increasing photoluminescence. Aluminum nanoparticles effectively scatter light and improve its intensity and direction. However, aluminum also absorbs light, reducing power output. This is a major bottleneck, especially for tasks that require high light intensity.

A team of researchers from Kyoto University has achieved a tenfold increase in direct photoluminescence by replacing aluminum with titanium dioxide.

"Titanium dioxide turned out to be the best choice due to its high refractive index and absorption in low light," said study lead author Shunsuke Murai.

Although the light scattering intensity of titanium oxide initially appeared to be less than that of aluminum metal, the team used computer simulations to develop an optimal nanoantenna design.

“The new nanoantenna phosphors are advantageous for very bright but energy-efficient solid-state lighting because they can suppress the temperature rise during irradiation,” explains Murai. “In the process of finding optimal sizes, we were surprised to find that the thinnest phosphors produced the brightest photoluminescence, demonstrating how increase the intensity of both direct radiation and the total power".

Other interesting news:

▪ Intel Optane drives

▪ Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2+ headphones with thermometer and heart rate monitor

▪ Slug Wing

▪ Trassir Digital Video Surveillance Systems

▪ Washing with almost no water

News feed of science and technology, new electronics

Interesting materials of the Free Technical Library:

▪ section of the site Palindromes. Article selection

▪ article Where it is good, there is the fatherland. Popular expression

▪ article How many planets are there in the solar system? Detailed answer

▪ article The functional composition of Pedcock TVs. Directory

▪ article Tube amplifier on EL-34. Encyclopedia of radio electronics and electrical engineering

▪ article Standards for testing electrical equipment and devices for electrical installations of consumers. Standards for the characteristics of sulfuric acid and electrolyte for storage batteries. Encyclopedia of radio electronics and electrical engineering

Leave your comment on this article:

All languages of this page

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews