What a living fossil is

The word fossil is normally associated with the preserved parts of animals or plants believed to have become extinct long ago.

However, despite the contrary sounding name there are some things or lifeforms , identified as “living fossils “ - living animals thought to have become extinct many million years ago. The coelacanth is perhaps the most ancient living fossil.

It’s a kind of fish which was first discovered in 1938, by fishermen off the coast of South Africa. Scientists proclaimed it is a member of a species who they believed became extinct over 70 million years ago.

Some of you may have seen coelacanths at exotic fish exhibitions. It has large, fleshy lobe-like fins, a tail with an unusual shape and large heavy scales. Scientists say it represents one of the earliest stages in the evolution of the bony fishes.

The tuatara, a lizard-like reptile found in parts of New Zealand is also the sole survivor of a group of reptiles that lived 170 million years ago. It could also be described as a living fossil.

Why some athletes vault higher than 50 years ago

Pole vaulting is a popular sport and you may have seen athletes attempt to go higher and higher using a simple pole.

Over 50 years ago, athletes did not attempt to reach the heights they do today. However, with the introduction of new improved designs for vaulting poles, the sport was revolutionised.

In the 19th century, the material used to design the pole was wooden. A steel spike was fixed at the top.At the beginning of the 20th century a much lighter, more flexible bamboo pole was introduced.

In the 1940s, a steel pole was used. Then came the introduction of glass-fibre poles. Initially they were heavy and stiff but in the 1960s, they became more flexible. These helped athletes to achieve greater heights. The record has risen by more than a metre in just 50 years.

Why crystals form in such beautiful shapes

Pure crystals always form in regular shapes of particular kinds. Salt forms tiny cubes and many crystalline minerals consist of beautiful formations of smaller identical crystals.

The reason they take such shapes is the way the tiny atoms inside them are lined up. The atoms are lined up in a particular pattern of rows. When the crystal forms, the atoms link together at certain angles.

The crystal enlarges as more and more atoms link to those in the crystal at the same angles. In this way the whole crystal grows in a specific shape which is very beautiful. A magnified image of a crystal shows how attractive these shapes are.

What the Bayeux Tapestry is

Despite its name, it’s not a tapestry but a needlework with the design embroidered on the fabric. A true tapestry has the design woven in when the material is made.

The Bayeux Tapestry is a band of linen about 500mm (19 inches) wide and 70m (almost 76 yd) long. It tells the story of the Norman Conquest of England on October 14, 1066 in about 72 scenes. It is actually a medieval strip cartoon. Embroidery has been done using eight different colours of wool.

Some of the fabric is believed to be missing at present. It is now kept in Bayeux in north-western France.The earliest known written reference to the tapestry is a 1476 inventory of Bayeux Cathedral.