Slithering
Creatures
Snakes have slithered across
the surface of the Earth for millions of years. They
are part of the reptile group, primitive beings in
the evolution of life. They have always captivated
the imagination of humans, who give snakes a leading
role in various mythologies.
Snakes are members of the subgroup
''serpents'' and, according to scientific
classification, are divided among some 20 families
for a total of more than 2,900 species.
The most numerous family is the
colubridae, but the most remarkable are cobras, rattlesnakes,
or the enormous constrictors, like the anaconda.
Though serpents appear frequently
in our cultures and legends, they tend to be rejected
by our collective unconscious. Many people fear snakes
because some are truly very dangerous, capable of
biting and injecting their victims with deadly venom.
But there are those of the opposite
opinion, evident in the fact that most Internet
websites about snakes are maintained by people who
keep these creatures as pets. And they assert that
there are plenty of reasons to promote the peaceful
coexistence between snakes and humans.
Thesnake.org
Snakes
Snakebite
Emergency Information
Scientific
Classification
Rattlesnake
Museum
Anacondas:
Biggest Snakes
A
Big Little World
Ants appeared on Earth some 100
million years ago, and even became one of the planet's
most representative inhabitants, with social practices
that continue to amaze children, strategists, engineers,
psychologists and scientists alike.
These small creatures are the
object of study in the scientific discipline known
as myrmecology.
And it is no accident that they are the target of
investigation because the word ''ant'' describes approximately
20,000 species.
According to the scientific
classification, they are members of the family Formicadae,
of the order Hymenopteron. But their best-known trait
is that they belong to a group known as ''social insects.''
Ants build amazing homes
- ant's nests or anthills - where they establish communities
in which each member serves a purpose. Some theorists
say that these insects have thus been able to put
the idea of ''super-organism''
into practice.
Ant
colonies begin with the fertilization of the queen
ant. The fascination produced by the abilities, loyalty,
specificity and perfection of the ants' work has led
some people to develop the hobby of creating artificial
ant colonies in an attempt to get a closer look at
how they function.
On the Internet, there are portals
on ants, educational websites that cover the complex
existence of these tiny
creatures, and some sites that focus on certain
species, such as the fire
ants, considered a plague in the United States.
Portal:
Myrmecology.org
Portal:
Antcolony.org
Ants:
Photo Encyclopedia
Nova:
The Little Creatures Who Run the World
Ant
Information
Fire
Ants in the United States: Pest and Health Hazard
Light
Gives Life
Photosynthesis is essential for
all plant life on Earth. Millions of years ago, this
complex process arose as the key for triggering the
proliferation of organic life - and it is repeated
everywhere and every day.
Photosynthesis is the transformation
of solar energy and other compounds, such as carbon
dioxide and water, into the chemical energy that sustains
life. The resulting products are oxygen, which we
all know is vital for all living beings, and ATP (adenosine
triphosphate), source of energy for all organisms.
Plants play a leading role in
this process by storing chlorophyll, the compound
that makes the transformation of light into chemical
energy possible.
Information on photosynthesis
can be found
long and wide on the Internet. Some sites focus on
simple explanations of the amazing process, aimed
at schoolchildren,
while others provide a more
detailed look.
Directory:
Photosynthesis on the Internet
What
is Photosynthesis?
Hypertextbook:
Photosynthesis
International
Society for Photosynthesis Research
Alien
Explorers: Photosynthesis
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