Gross Universe: Your Guide to All Disgusting Things Under the Sun

by Szpirglas, Jeff; Cho, Michael

• ISBN13: 9781894379649
• ISBN10: 1894379640
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-03-01
• Publisher: Maple Tree Pr

Summary

"Gross Universe" is an eye-opening, sometimes stomach-turning exploration of the many physical things about animals, plants, and of course young readers themselves that often go politely unmentioned. From mucus to vomit, from farts to phlegm, nothing is off-limits. With topics including sweat, mold, pus (a Perfectly Understandable Secretion), our gross microscopic friends, and even fossilized dinosaur poop, the book holds myriad delights waiting to be discovered. Irreverent illustrations enliven the amazing parade of weird scientific facts. Special features include Games You Should Never Play (such as Komodo Kissing Booth), gross activities (example: create a Dandruff Landing Pad), and Scientist A and Scientist B, recurring characters whose bickering back and forth helps elucidate the facts. "Gross Universe" reveals a universe that may not always be pretty, but is sure to keep children engrossed, laughing, and learning.

Table of Contents

A Note to the Reader Before We Begin... A Word About Your Gross Friends Sickening Skin [More Sickening Skin]

The Horrible Truth of Hair!

A Flood of Blood Hideous Healing Mad About Mucus Sweet on Slime House of Wax (and Other Leaky, Oozy Things)

Pool of Tears Eye Didn't Want to Know Open Up and Say ...Eugh! Facts That Will Make You Lose Your Lunch One Parasitic Page [Another Parasitic Page]

What a Gas!

Gassing Up Things That Go ""Boom!"" Spectacular Stenches [And Other Sweet Smells]

You're in the Urine Mind Y

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

Before We Begin... A Word About Your Gross FriendsIf you think you're going to be reading this book alone, think again. Living on and inside your body are thousands of creatures: some good, some bad, and most just plain ugly. It's a Mite, Mite WorldMembers of the arachnid class, mites are some of the oldest animals to walk the earth, with a lineage stretching back over 370 million years. But mites don't just walk the earth, they can live in fresh and saltwater, and thrive in deserts and the tropics. Some have even been found in Antarctica, where they survive by producing a chemical that resembles antifreeze. House Dust MitesThere's no point in cowering under a pillow to hide from the dust mites (of which there are dozens of species). That's where dust mites call home! Hordes of these guys live on our pillows, rugs, and mattresses. They thrive in a humid environment -- often provided by our warm, moist breath. These flesh-eaters dine on skin that has flaked off our bodies. One healthy dust mite can poop around 20 anal pellets a day. Their pellets get scattered in the air with our movements, which can cause people to suffer from problems including allergies, eczema (a skin inflammation), and asthma. Demodex MitesThese eight-legged critters are shaped like tiny cigars. Their stubby legs all poke out near their front ends, forcing the mites to drag their long rear ends across your skin at speeds up to 1 cm (less than 1/2 inch) an hour. Demodex mites make themselves at home on your head, in your nose, and even around your eyelashes. Don't Forget Bacteria!Though bacteria make up less than 0.5% of your body weight, there are more bacteria living on you than there are people in the world (a thousand of them alone could fit on the head of a pin). It's been estimated that humans have 50 million individual bacteria per square centimeter (1/2 inch) of skin! Oily, sweaty places like your armpits have many more. But there are some places where you'll find little to no microbial life, like your urine storing bladder or the lower regions of the lungs. And just so you know, it's been estimated that there are nine times more bacteria in and on the human body than there are cells in the human body!