CULTURAL QA 07-2023-29 Q1 Whatis the largest cruise ship built and when? How many passengers can it hold atonce?
A1 Rebecca Williams, knows about boatsand ships Mon The largest cruise ship ever built is Wonder of the Seas,a 236,857-ton vessel that belongs to Royal Caribbean International. It was delivered in January 2022 after beingconstructed at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France,over three years. It is slightly larger than its four sister ships, Oasis ofthe Seas, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, and Symphony of the Seas,which were previously the world’s largest cruise ships. Wonder of the Seas is 1,188 feet (362 meters) long and210 feet (64 meters) wide. It has 18 decks and eight on boardneighbour hoods, each with its own theme and attractions. Some of the featuresinclude the tallest slide at sea, a 10-deck-high zip line, a Central Park withover 20,000 plants, a Boardwalk with a carousel and an aqua theater, and aRoyal Promenade with shops and bars. The ship can accommodate up to 6,988 passengers and 2,200crew members. It has 2,867 staterooms, rangingfrom cozy interior cabins to luxurious suites with balconies and private hottubs. The ship also offers a variety of dining options, from casual buffets andcafes to fine-dining restaurants and specialty cuisines. Wonder of the Seas made its debut voyage from FortLauderdale, Florida, to the Caribbean on March 4, 2022.It will operate five- to seven-night cruises to various ports of call in theCaribbean until May 2022. Then it will relocate to Europe and launch WesternMediterranean cruises from Barcelona and Rome in May 2022. The Wonder of the Seas is a remarkable achievement ofengineering and design thatoffers an unparalleled cruise experience to its guests. It is the ultimatefloating city that combines entertainment, adventure, relaxation, and discoveryin one amazing ship. Q2 Howcan some reptiles and amphibians be cold-blooded but still survive in very coldclimates? A2 Gary Meaney, author of Zoology'sGreatest Mystery (2022)Wed Despite theirreputation as tropical, basking creatures, an amazing variety of reptiles andamphibians call the coldest northerly regions of our planet home. Here, they have to endure impossibly low temperatures formonths on end. These boreal species thrive,nevertheless, thanks to an arsenal of some of the most extreme protectiveadaptations in the animal kingdom. When temperatures plummet, water starts to freeze,and unfortunately, animal bodies are largely made of water. In theseconditions, sharp, bristling ice crystals will begin to form within organisms’very cells, wreaking traumatic damage at a microscopic level. Amphibians are particularly atrisk, as their soft, porous skin easily allows the ingress of ice. Despite this, the wood frog (the most famous cold-tolerantamphibian) can survive for extended periods while two thirds of the water inits body is frozen solid! To defend againstthe ill effects of ice formation in the body, the wood frog and its brethren use a variety of chemicalswhich fall under the umbrella term of cryoprotectants. One example is glycerol,a versatile type of alcohol that has anti-freeze properties. During iceformation, water molecules start bonding together. Glycerol in the cells bondsstrongly with the water molecules first, thus becoming a barrier to freezing. Though the woodfrog is impressively enduring, the cold tolerance of its cousin the Japanesetree frog are even more mind-blowing. Brumating Japanese tree frogs have beenrecorded living through 120 days of continuous temperatures of less than -30degrees Celsius! In these cripplingly low temperatures, an organismrequires vastly more energy than normal to remain in operation.Ironically, the cold-bloodedness of these reptiles and amphibians actuallyworks in their favour here, as it means they are able to slow their metabolisms down drastically. Evenstill, the effects take their toll. Over the course of each winter, wood frogslose about 80% of their body fat! Cold-tolerantreptiles and amphibians are unique in that they have vast reserves of glycogeninside their livers. Glycogen is the storage form of glucose, the primarysource of energy for all animals.These glycogen stockpiles are critical for meeting the absurdly high demand forglucose during frigid times. Let’s now take alook at a reptile which is no stranger to a deep chill, the painted turtle. As aquatic creatures, painted turtles typicallybrumate underwater during the winter. Their ponds, of course, soon freeze over,and the turtles become ice-locked. So how do they breathe? Well, they don’t.Every single year, the painted turtle simply holds its breath for up to 170days. It might seem impossible, but it’s not. Animals can produce energy usingeither of two processes, only one of which requires oxygen. The other, termed anaerobic respiration, has a number ofdownsides. The biggest is that it produces a byproduct: lactic acid. Since theice-lockedturtles can only respire anaerobically, lactic acid starts to build up in theirbodies rapidly, and this is bad. To combat this, the shell of the painted turtle contains extraordinarilyhigh levels of carbonate, which acts as a buffer, resisting the burgeoningacidity. This species has the highest carbonate concentration of anyanimal on Earth! The final method of cold-tolerance we see in reptiles iscommunal sleeping. Looking at a red-sided gartersnake, you’d never think them to be the cuddly type. Nevertheless, like penguinshuddling together in a snowstorm, they spend their winter brumation period allpiled on top of each other! It’s a very effective way of staying warm. Also, interestingly enough, theirprimary prey source is that first frosty friend we met, the wood frog. Believeit or not, I am still yet to name the reptile/amphibian who boasts the mostimpressive fortitude against the cold of all. That wouldbe the Siberian salamander, an unbelievably durable creature which roams theArctic tundra. In this brutal habitat, the soil is what’s called permafrost,i.e. permanently frozen. Siberiansalamanders have been found buried in permafrost, 14 metres below the ground,for years! When they areretrieved, they thaw, revive, and simply walk off! It’s hard to evencomprehend how this is possible. Furthermore, they have been shown to survivefor extended periods at -55 degrees Celsius! This makes this species theindisputable champions of the cold-resistant amphibian world. So, that was a whirlwind tour of a handfulof the multitudinous ways reptiles and amphibians beat the chill, against allodds. Clearly, these animals aren’t simply beasts of the heat.They can go months on end while practically frozen solid, without any oxygen,and emerge unscathed in the spring. Hope you guys enjoyed this answer, thankyou very much for reading! And, as always, have a great day. Q3 Whichis the heavier metal, gold or lead? A3 Erika Fernandez, Works at Freelancer,Novelist, Writer Wed Gold and Lead are often compared for their weight anddensity. To answer this question, we need to understandwhat weight and density mean, and how they are measured for different metals. The weight of ametal depends on how much of it you have and where you measure it. For example, a kilogram of goldwill weigh more on Earth than on the Moon, because Earth has stronger gravitythan the Moon. But a kilogram of lead will also weigh more on Earththan on the Moon, by the same amount. The density of ametal depends only on its type and structure, not on how much of it you have orwhere you measure it. For example, a cubic centimeter of gold will have the same density onEarth as on the Moon, because it is made of the same material and has the sameatomic arrangement. So, to compare goldand lead, we need to compare their densities, not their weights. According to Wikipedia, gold has a density of 19.3 g/cm^3, while lead hasa density of 11.34 g/cm^3. Thismeans that gold is much denser than lead, almost twice as dense. So a piece ofgold will have more mass than a piece of lead of the same size. Now which is theheavier metal, gold or lead? The answer is that gold is heavier than lead, if we comparethem by density. Gold has more mass per unit volume than lead, which makes itdenser and heavier. Q4 Whatis the basic knowledge that every individual should have? A4 Tiny Nair, Cardiologist at PRSHospital, Trivandrum2y As you slowly peelthe cover of the cup of ‘Haagen-Dazs’ ice-cream at 35,000 Ft. above the ground,cruising at Mach 0.8, somewhere midway between Munich and Stuttgart, watchingthe clouds below from your window seat of the A380; don’t just thank the‘Emirates’ flight attendant; thank the two persistently quarrelling brothersfrom Dayton, Ohio; known locally as the ‘Bishops Boys’. While the world salutes the Wright brothers, Oliver andWilbur, for the first airplane in 1903, the locals knewthem for the bitter fights that they, had all day long. Starting with aprinting press in their garage, they shifted to cycle repair, then cyclemanufacturing and gasoline motors; but the relentless quarrel between thebrothers continued, as did their innovations. What people didn’t know, or careto know, was the fact that the brothers were extremely closely bonded at personal level; their quarrelonly at a task level. At night theyhappily had their dinner and slept. No personal conflict; just task conflict. ‘Task’ conflict versus‘personal’ conflict. Most teenagedaughters believe that their moms are unnecessarily strict about everything,from a tidy room to a conservative dress; while allmoms know that their daughters are undisciplined and lack safety concerns. The result is - ‘I think my mom hates me, she criticises everything that I do’ ‘My daughter isconcerned only about her friends; she hardly cares about me’ While the ‘cleanroom’ or a ‘change-of-dress’ is a task conflict; it ends up in personalconflict; the transition is so seamless, that it is not noticeable to theopposing sides; but at the end, may result in an unhappy family. Home to Office ‘I am working so hard in my office; I amalways on time; but my boss seems unhappy even with some small mistakes’ isoften a situation where the boss is looking at the task and employee at thepersonal conflict. Task conflict is universal, since each one of us dothings differently; our expectations, level of perfection and the end-productmight be different. Acceptit at that level. If you imbibe it as a personal conflict, not just the ‘task’gets deranged, but the ‘personal’ bond is likely to fail. And this is one situation where ‘Fevicol’ seems not towork. Ifthose two quarrelling brothers had not drawn a clear line between task conflictand personal conflict; you would have been taking the trip on a horseback, likeMarco Polo. Don’t equate taskconflict to personal conflict.Its not worth the Haagan Dazs. My note-What a beautiful narration with simple comparison. I like the creative mind ofthe bestdoctor who is also a best writer. Q5 Whydo airlines charge for flight cancellations? A5 Vishnu Ravi,Aerospace Engineer |Aviation Enthusiast & Content Creator11h Unlock the reasonsbehind airlines charging for flight cancellations, and discover why these feesmake sense: Non-Refundable Tickets: Airlines often offer non-refundabletickets, primarily catering to vacation travelers. Conversely, businesstravelers may find more flexibility with refundable tickets, as their planstend to change frequently. Revenue Protection: Airlines rely heavily on ticketsales to sustain their operations. When a passenger cancels a flight, theairline loses potential revenue from that seat. To balance this, cancellationfees come into play, ensuring their business stays on track. Operational Costs: The process of canceling a flightinvolves administrative work and possibly rebooking passengers on alternativeflights. To offset these operational expenses, airlines implement cancellationfees. Demand Management: Charging cancellation fees servesanother essential purpose—it discourages passengers from last-minutecancellations. By doing so, airlines can bettermanage their seat inventory and optimize revenue streams Keep in mind that cancellation fees vary across differentairlines and ticket types. Some airlines do offer fullrefunds or allow passengers to rebook their flights within a limited timeframe.Additionally, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many airlines have adjustedtheir change and cancellation policies, granting passengers more flexibility inthese challenging times. Q6 Whyare black cats so special? A6 Animal Lover | Dog Lover | Cat Lover |Loving Husband May 12 Black cats have been a part of human culture forthousands of years, and have been the subject of many myths, legends, and superstitions. While some people view black cats as bad luck or symbolsof evil, others see them as special and even magical.In this article, we will explore some of the reasons why black cats areconsidered to be so special. One reason that black cats areconsidered special is because of their unique appearance.Black cats have a sleek and elegant look that is both mysterious andcaptivating. Their black fur is often associated with darkness, mystery, andthe unknown, which can make them seem alluring and enchanting. Another reason that black cats areconsidered special is because of their association with Halloween and otherspooky events. Black cats have long been associated withwitches and other supernatural beings, and are often featured in Halloweendecorations and imagery. This association with the supernatural can make blackcats seem mysterious and powerful. Black cats are also considered special because of theirrole in various cultures and traditions. In some cultures,black cats are seen as good luck, while in others they are considered bad luckor omens of death. In Japanese culture, for example, black cats are believed to bringgood luck and fortune to their owners, while in some European cultures they are seenas symbols of evil or witchcraft. Despite theirreputation for being bad luck, black cats are actually among the least likelyto be adopted from animal shelters, which makes them special in their own way.This may be due in part to the superstitions surrounding black cats, or totheir association with Halloween and other spooky events. However, many people who haveadopted black cats report that they are just as loving and affectionate as catsof other colors. In addition totheir unique appearance and cultural significance, black cats are also specialbecause of their personality traits. Many people who have owned black cats report that theyare intelligent, curious, and affectionate. They are also known forbeing independent and self-sufficient, which can make them great pets forpeople who lead busy lives. In conclusion,black cats are considered special for a variety of reasons, including theirunique appearance, cultural significance, and personality traits. While theymay be associated with superstitions and myths, many people who own black catsfind them to be loving, affectionate, and intelligent pets. Whether you believein their supernatural powers or simply appreciate their beauty and personality,there is no denying that black cats are truly special creatures. Q7 Howdo black cats know they are black? A7 Animal Lover | Dog Lover | Cat Lover |Loving Husband Jul 20 The question of howblack cats know they are black may seem unusual at first, but it provides anopportunity to explore the fascinating science behind color perception inanimals. While catsdon't have the cognitive ability to understand the concept of color in the sameway humans do, they are still aware of their physical appearance in variousways. To understand how black cats know they are black, it isimportant to explore the underlying biology of color vision. Cats, like most mammals, possess a visual system that isspecialized for perceiving motion and detecting small objects.While their color vision is not as advanced as that of humans, they still havesome ability to perceive different colors. In mammals, including cats, the perception of color is primarilydetermined by specialized cells in the retina called cones.Cones are responsible for detecting different wavelengths of light, which arethen processed by the brain to create the perception of color. Humans have threetypes of cones, allowing us to perceive a wide range of colors, while cats haveonly two types of cones, making their color vision more limited. The two types of cones in cats are sensitive toshort-wavelength (blue) and long-wavelength (green) light. This means that catsare dichromats, perceiving the world in shades of blueand green, rather than the full spectrum of colors that humans can see. As aresult, cats do not have the ability to perceive the color black as a distinctentity. However, this does not mean that black cats are unawareof their own color. Cats have other visual cues andsensory information that allow them to perceive and recognize their physicalappearance. For example, theyhave a highly developed sense of touch, which allows them to feel the textureand length of their fur. They can also see contrasts in light and shadow, which help themdifferentiate between their fur color and the surrounding environment. Additionally, cats rely on their keen sense of smell andhearing to navigate and recognize other cats. They usescent-marking and vocalizations to communicate with one another, which helpsestablish social hierarchies and recognize individuals. While scent and soundmay not directly relate to color perception, they play a significant role inhow cats recognize and interact with each other. Furthermore, cats are highly visualanimals, and they are known for their grooming behavior. Grooming not onlyhelps cats keep their fur clean and free from parasites but alsoallows them to maintain a certain appearance. Cats often groom themselvesmeticulously, using their tongues to clean every part of their bodies. Throughgrooming, cats may indirectly become aware of the color of their fur, includingblack. It is also important to mention that cats can sense differencesin temperature and light reflection, which can provide them with additionalinformation about their fur color. For instance,black fur absorbs more heat from sunlight compared to lighter-colored fur. Catsmay be able to perceive this difference in temperature and use it as a cue torecognize their fur color. While cats may not have a consciousunderstanding of the concept of color, they are still aware of their physicalappearance through various sensory cues. They rely ontheir sense of touch, sight, smell, and hearing to navigate their world andinteract with other cats. While they may not specifically recognize themselvesas being "black," they have ways of perceiving and recognizing theirown unique characteristics. In conclusion, thequestion of how black cats know they are black highlights the fascinatingbiology of color perception in animals. Cats, like many mammals, have limitedcolor vision compared to humans but possess other sensory cues that allow themto be aware of their physical appearance. While they may not understand theconcept of color in the same way humans do, cats rely on their senses torecognize their fur color and distinguish themselves from their surroundings. All the above QA are from Quora website on 29-07- 2023. Quora answers need not be 100% correct answers . Compiled andposted by R. Gopala krishnan, on29-07-2023 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1600423532.4708819.1690618380344%40mail.yahoo.com.
