Posts by Early To Rise

To “confute” (kun-FYOOT) – from the Latin for “to put down to silence” – is to overwhelmingly prove to be false

Zoo veterinarians have always found it difficult to draw blood from their animals. Large animals often need to be sedated first, and with small animals it is difficult to find a vein.

We often comfort people who are under stress by putting our arms around them and giving them a hug. According to recent research from scientists at Liverpool John Moores University, chimpanzees do the same thing.

We’ve told you about two rather peculiar experiments being overseen by Japanese astronauts at the International Space Station: the planned launch of a paper airplane into Earth’s atmosphere and the successful flight of a boomerang inside the station. Well, the Japanese have now topped themselves.

“Durance” (DUR-unts) – from the Latin for “to endure” – is imprisonment or restraint by force. It is usually used in the phrase “durance vile.”

“Invective” (in-VEK-tiv) – from the Latin for “to inveigh against” – is insulting or abusive language.

“Sub rosa” (sub ROH-zuh) – Latin for “under the rose” – means secret or private. The phrase comes from an ancient legend associating roses with confidentiality.

New Zealand scientists have discovered what are believed to be the largest eyes found on any animal in the world. The peepers in question measure nearly 11 inches in diameter and belong to a colossal squid, a species first discovered in 2003.

In ancient Greek drama, the "deus ex machina" – from the Greek for "god from the machine" – was a god introduced into the action, by means of a crane, in order to resolve the plot. Today, we use the term to refer to someone or something that unexpectedly appears to solve an apparently insoluble…

A Danish company has produced a water filter that removes 99 percent of water-borne pathogens.

“Raillery” (RAY-luh-ree) – from the French for “to mock” – is good-natured banter or teasing.