Why is the Bible a holy book for both Christians and Jews? Most religions have a holy book that contains teachings which show people how to lead a good life. There may also be stories about the lives of the people  who began the religion. The old Testament of the Bible tells the history of the Jewish people and is therefore regarded as a holy book by Jews who follow Judaism,...

What is the structure of the eye and how does it work?   The eye is shaped like a ball, but it is not perfect sphere, each eyeball has a thick white converging which has a transparent section in front called the cornea. There is a space behind the cornea which is filled with a clear fluid, and behind that is the iris- a ring of muscles which forms the coloured...

How do we Hear? Sound  is caused by pressure waves that vibrate. These vibrations are funneled by the outer ear to the ear drum. The ear drum is extremely sensitive, and it, in turn, vibrates.  The vibrations of the ear drum are then transmitted to the three bones of the middle ear : the hammer, which touches the inner surface of the drum, the anvil and the stirrup. These tiny boens...

How do we taste and smell? Taste is sometimes confused with smell. It is easy to mistake a smell for a taste. An onion, for example, has no taste. Anyone with a heavy cold may complain of losing his taste, when , in fact, he has lost his smell. Quite what sort of smell or taste  we get from anything depends upon its physical and chemical properties. So before we know...

What is man’s nervous system? The nervous system is made up of the brain, the spinal column and the nerves. It is responsible for detecting and processing information form within and outside the body, and it produces and controls movement by stimulating the muscles. Among other things, the brain is the site of 12 pairs of nerves which look after the senses of  seeing, hearing, taste and smell; while the spinal...

How did the English Heralds get their names? Edward III (1312-1377) loved the idea of knightly chivalry, and he created many of the heralds whose ceremonial duties still exist today. You have probably seen heralds take part in state occasions. Edward honoured many of his sons by appointing heralds to their households. The Chester herald is named after on e of the titles of his eldest son, the Black Prince, and...

What happened near the village of Agincourt in 1415?   Edward III of England claimed the throne of France in 1337 and began the conflict known as the Hundred Year War. It started with spectacular victories for Edward and his son, the Black Prince, but these early promises of success were not fulfilled, and the fighting became very spasmodic. When Edward’s great- grandson, Henry V, came to the throne, hostilities were...

What was a Victorian education like? While Britain was the richest country in the world during the reign of Queen  Victoria (1837-1901) there were many people who were very poor and life was hard for them. Many country people went  to live in towns during the nineteenth century because there was work for them in the newly built factories. Housing conditions were often appalling and children were forced to work in...