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| So you're into sci fi? But what about sci fact? Sometimes fact is stranger than fiction... Each month our very own Voyager Science Queen* will bring you interesting, quirky and downright bizarre tasty morsels from the world of science. And its all completely, totally, 100% true! April Sci-Facts |
Water-Saving Tips Hi-de-ho everyone. I live in Southeast Queensland, which is experiencing a drought. It appears to be that we are dry all over. I went to a seminar on how to save water, and I thought I might share a few of the more obtuse water-saving tips. Use Less Power: All our power sources in Australia are dependant on the consumption of water, directly or indirectly. So, by taking the opportunity to turn off unnecessary lights and appliances, you are saving water. Recently, Sydney took this tip to heart, and turned off many of its inner city lights for an hour, including the lights on the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Mulch: Put mulch on everything. Any bare patch of earth can dry out, and then it will suck the water out from the moister earth underneath your mulched garden. So, leave no particle of soil unmulched! As well, an unused lawn should be converted to paving, trees, or into a mulched garden. Lawn needs many litres of water to stay green and lush, and a dry lawn acts in a way that is similar to dry earth. Plant: This may seem like strange advice, when you can’t water a young plant with a hose. However, a lot of native plants need very little water to grow and thrive. Trees shade your house and gardens, reducing water consumption in the long run. Ground covers will protect your soil from drying out. To get seedlings started, take an empty milk bottle, punch a whole in the lid, fill it with water and bury it upside-down near your baby tree or bush; it will act as a trickle irrigation. |
| *The Voyager Science Queen is also known as Lynne Green So, who is this woman who attempts to entertain us with Science? Well, I really am a scientist. I have a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Queensland, in Zoology. And, at the moment, I am working in a Pathology laboratory. I have always been intensely curious about every aspect of our universe, from the teeny tiny workings of the gene right up to the mind-bending forces that are twisting and knotting inside a blackhole. So, now I am sharing a brain stuffed full of trivia...and hopefully entertaining people at the same time. As well, I write Fantasy stories and novels. One day, I hope to have a book published, but don't hold your breath. Reading is my other major love, and my favourite authors are Terry Pratchett and Isaac Asimov, though I could list hundreds of others. If I had one wish, I ask for more time to write! Read previous Sci-Facts: The Dark Side Looking for more scientific oddities? Have you checked out Dr Steven Juan's website? He is, quite literally, the wizard of odds! |
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