Pasti kenal dong sama hewan yang bernama kunang-kunang? Ternyata
hewan yang datang dari keluarga kepik ini nggak cuma bisa mengeluarkan
cahaya lho. Ada banyak keunikan lain yang juga dimiliki hewan ini.
Pigmen cahaya
Cahaya
dari kunang-kunang adalah sebuah reaksi kimia. Cahayanya dihasilkan
ketika oksigen bercampur dengan sebuah pigmen bernama luciferin, enzim
luciferase dan zat kimia yang menghasilkan energi untuk sel.
Reproduksi tujuan utama
Setiap
malam ketika terbang dan bercahaya, kunang-kunang membuat pola khusus
yang bertujuan untuk satu hal: reproduksi. Pasalnya, kunang-kunang
betina duduk diam nggak bergerak dan hanya kembali berkedip ketika
mereka melihat seekor pejantan dengan dengan penampilan menarik.
Hihihi….
Tiap pejantan punya polanya sendiri
Ketika
terbang mencari pasangan, tiap pejantan menggunakan pola cahayanya ciri
khasnya sendiri. Menurut American Museum of Natural History, pejantan
terbang dan mencari betina dengan tampilan cahaya khusus.
Bisa membunuh
Meskipun
bentuk dan cahayanya imut-imut, kunang-kunang sebenarnya bisa membunuh.
Ketika predator menyerang, kunang-kunang mengalami proses yang disebut
pendarahan refleks. Kunang-kunang meneteskan darah yang mengandung
tetesan darah yang mengandung zat kimia yang beracun bagi vertebrata.
Jumat, 29 November 2013
Sabtu, 23 November 2013
DIY - Bird Cage Lanterns
What You'll Need:
An assortment of patterned and colored card stock String or crochet thread Double-sided tape Plastic lids (ice cream pint lids work great!) Small brads Small hole punch Paper cutter or straight edge and X-acto knife Scissors |
Instructions: 1. Begin by cutting 12" x 1/4" strips of paper with your paper cutter or straight edge and X-acto knife. You will need four strips per bird cage. (see image A) 2. In the center of each paper strip, punch a tiny hole with your hole punch. Set aside. (see image B) |
3.
Download your bird template and print it out on heavy card stock. Cut
out the bird, and trace around it on one of papers. Cut out your bird,
and punch a hole in the center of it's back. (see image C)....Click HERE to download your template. 4. Cut a 14" length of string. Tie your bird to the end of the string, and the tie a not in the string 1.5" above the bird. (see image D) 5. Thread the string through the holes in your four paper strips. Slide them down the string until they meet the knot. (see image E) 6. Secure the strips together (just above the knot) by running a small brad through the holes. (see image F) |
7. Run a strip of double-faced tape around the edge of the lid. (see image G) 8. Take your bundled strips, and fan them out like a starburst. Stick the ends of the strips to the edge of the lid, keeping them evenly spaced. (see images H, I and J) 9. Cut a strip of card stock 1.5 inches wide and long enough to wrap around the lid diameter. If your lid diameter is greater than the width of your paper, cut two strips. |
10. Wrap the strip around the tape-coverd edge of the lid. Press down and smooth with your fingers. (see image K) |
Create several lanterns to display. Hang them in a tree or from large branches in a vase. |
You can also string several together and create a garland.
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