Compiled by CAROLINE C. D’SOUZA
d.y.K.
Phantom rain is a natural
phenomenon in which rain
evaporates before it reaches the
ground. Characteristic of hot and
dry climates, rain pours down from
the sky but evaporates as it draws
closer to Earth’s surface. When this
happens, it forms a ‘Virga Cloud’; a
tail or wisp extending from a cloud
in a downward position.
Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for the “highest concentration
of lightning”. With 250 lightning flashes per square kilometre each year, the phenomenon is known as the Beacon
of Maracaibo or Catatumbo lightning. There is an average of 260 storm days per year occurring over the mouth ofThe pangolin, native to parts of
Africa and Asia, is the most heavily-
trafficked non-human mammal
in the world. Pangolins are traded
for their scales, which are used in
traditional medicines. The main
demand for pangolin scales is from
Asia, especially China and Vietnam.
They are the only mammals covered
entirely in scales — a defence
mechanism that works well in the
wild, but is no match for humans.
July 1 is observed as Chartered
Accountants Day in India. It also
commemorates the founding of the
Institute of Chartered Accountants
of India (ICAI), one of the oldest
professional bodies in India
established by Parliament in 1949.
It is the second-largest accounting
body in the world after the American
Institute of Certified Public
Accountants.The total population of the world
exceeds 7.71 billion people. It
took over 200,000 years of human
history for the world’s population
to reach 1 billion; and only 200 years
more to reach 7 billion. Asia is the
most populous continent with its
4.54 billion inhabitants accounting
for 60% of the world population.
China is the world’s most populous
country with a population exceeding
1.4 billion and India (1.36 billion) issecond. Together, they constitute
about 36% of the world’s population.
Vatican City has the smallest
population in the world with only
801 people. World Population Day
(July 11) seeks to raise awareness
on population issues such as gender
equality, poverty, maternal health
and human rights.“Often we
think we are
too young
or our ideas
may not
work, and
we need
to grow up
to bring
change.
I just
say no.
Whatever
you want to
do now, you can do now.”— MALALA YOUSAFzAI,
activist for female education and
the youngest Nobel Prize laureate.
July 12, her birthday, is celebrated
as Malala Day.A ‘mouse potato’
is the computer
equivalent of TV’s
couch potato —
a person who
spends a great deal of time in front of
the computer in much the same way the
couch potato does in front of the TV.the Catatumbo River as it enters Lake Maracaibo. The storms have an average of 28 lightning strikes per minute.
Globally, there are about 44 lightning strikes every second; that’s about 1.4 billion flashes a year.