Shark Week
There might be other sharks out there named for their shape, but... they really hit the nail on the head with this one.
What is the hammerhead shark?
Mont Blanc is the highest of these mid-European mountains.
What are the Alps?
"A turtle with a chipped tooth, wearing a hoop earring and a black whistle around his neck."
Who is Coach Brody?
Awhile ago we learned about owls, though we may not have focused on northern saw-whet owls. That's the kind of owl this little guy was, who was found in New York's giant Christmas tree they put up every year.
Who is Rockefeller?
This is one weird fish, hardly able to swim but able to grab onto things with its prehensile tail. Sadly, they're too small to ride.
What are sea horses?
These iconic body parts of sharks actually get replaced every few weeks, since they get damaged or lost so often. It sure makes it easier to find fossils of them, at least.
What are teeth?
These massive cliffy valleys carved by glaciers and full of water are most often found in Northern Europe. More importantly (to me), it's just a really fun word to say.
What are fjords?
"Her hair was yanked back in a stubby ponytail, with lots of frizz around the edges. When the coach blew the whistle, (she) broke out in a flash zooming down the track..."
Who is Patina "Patty" Jones?
Awhile ago, we learned that the 2020 Summer Olympics would be postponed due to the pandemic. This week, we learned this nation has done what it can to convince people they can still host it in 2021.
What is Japan?
This practice is generally outlawed to protect the water ecosystem, because even though we love getting more food (and money for that food), it just makes it all harder for everyone once it's gone.
What is overfishing?
This big "most dangerous shark" is actually just an ambush predator that hunts seals, and from below surfers kinda look like seals. Once it bites your arm off, it usually realizes you're not a seal and swims away, unlike in Jaws.
What is the Great White Shark?
Though Europe is generally considered its own continent, it shares a landmass with Asia to such an extent that some people call the combined area by this name instead.
What is Eurasia?
"The weird-looking dude... was decked out in the flyest gear. Fresh Nike running shoes, and a full-body skintight suit. Like a superhero."
Who is Lu?
This week, this ancient person came up twice: once in CNN10, in their story about Egypt; and once in Ghost, where Ghost called himself "Castle the Worst" in comparison.
Who is Alexander the Great?
This type of large fish may always have dark blue backs and white stomachs, but different kinds have different-colored fins.
What are tuna?
This shark of many names is one you might catch fishing off the Gulf of Mexico, like in that video we saw... the name we used is based on the fact they tend to hunt in packs.
What are dogfish?
You may remember from last week that "boreal" means "northern". That helps explain why the scientific term for the Northern Lights is this.
What is Aurora Borealis?
"...looks just like James Brown if James Brown was white..."
Who is Mr. Charles?
Awhile ago, when we started the fish section, I made a Jeopardy question about the biggest kind of fish. Then this week, it got mentioned again in "Types of Sharks", as an example of a shark that eats plankton, just like its namesake.
What is a whale shark?
The SpaceX Crew Dragon ship for the Crew 1 mission by NASA was named this by its crew, in recognition of how tough 2020 has been to get through.
What is "Resilience"?
Sharks do not have swim bladders; instead, they use the oil in this organ to help them float.
What is liver?
In summer, the sun never sets in the Arctic Circle, leading to this poetic name for the areas where this happens.
What is "The Land of the Midnight Sun"?
"She had to be almost 6 feet tall in the seventh grade. And she had a birthmark that covered her light-skinned face in dark brown, like a comic-book bad guy or something. But (she) wasn't a mean girl. She was actually kinda cool."
Who is Shamika Wilson?
Awhile ago, we studied different kinds of algae. One interesting kind is kelp, which is the source of this substance used to thicken everything from candy and ice cream to car tires.
What is algin?
This condition affecting many Americans has the appropriate nickname of SAD, because the shorter days of winter can get people feeling depressed.
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?