You do not like to travel in buses, carpooling doesn’t match your standards, and you love your expensive car, like to drive it to wherever you need to go and why not? This is your status symbol. Isn’t it right? You love to take a long shower and a well-lit home with lights glowing at every corner of the house. But have you ever given a second thought that how adversely it can affect your environment? Surely, you love to go on a holiday in the lap of nature, where there is not industries, hustle-bustle around. Ever wondered that the place where you live has been the same before the forests were cut down to setup cities? It won’t be wrong at all to say that man is becoming greedier day by day. In order to match up his needs or say unhealthy wishes, he is blindly depleting the natural earth. The ruthless use of everything has posed a threat to the earth and its existence. If it goes on like this it won’t be long that everything will finish up and there won’t be anything left for the future generations. The taken for granted usage of water, petrol, electricity is causing a scarcity in earth’s reserves. Many resources take millions of years to form and the speed with which human beings are using it, it’s pretty sure that these resources won’t exist for long and there won’t be any alternative left other than to read it in history books. Can you imagine your life without water, electricity, petrol, paper and plants? Your future generations may be made to live without all these because you are too comfortable in using them in more than needed quantities. The need of the hour is to control this usage to save the resources for the future generations. There are many ways to do so and here we are listing the top ten ways by which you can help saving the environment:

1. Plant a tree

The best way to save the planet is to plant a tree and take a good care of it. Take it a pledge to plant a sapling in your backyard. Not just it will save the planet but also increase the beauty of your surroundings. It is very necessary to keep your green friends around you and remain close to nature.

2. Switch off the light 

The best way to keep your carbon footprints low is by switching of the lights when not in use. For example just switch off your charger when you have finished charging. Remember to turn off the lights and fans while leaving the room. Wash clothes in washing machine when fully loaded. Use energy saving appliances in your place, to make it more eco friendly.

3. Use smarter transport

Way to reach your work place by carpool rather than by your own car is a smarter step towards saving the planet. Carpools are also fun at the same time if you and your neighbors work at the same place or nearby then just plan carpools. Well said that every bit counts so get to the nearby grocery store by foot or bicycle than to go by your car or motor bike this will not only help you remain healthy but also saves fuel and the planet.

4. Say no to plastic

Plastic has become a necessary part of our daily life. We use so many plastic products in our day to day life such as polythene bags, plastic cutlery and cups etc. which are use once and thrown away, but these non biodegradable substances add to the pollutants. They clog sewage lines and pollute land and also fatal if swallowed by mistake. So, try to use plastic judiciously and reusing, reducing and recycling plastic is the key for a greener world.

5. Go organic

Promoting organic foods and beverages is one of the ways to save your environment as processed food consumes energy during the procedure. Freezing and processing of food contribute to the amount of harmful gases like carbon-Di-oxide in the atmosphere by the use of machine which uses energy. And fertilizers and pesticides play havoc to both soil and marine life as they get washed off during rains and mixes with soil or water bodies to increase toxicity in environment. Opting for organic farming and organic foods is a better way to make your surrounding healthy.

“You see that pale, blue dot? That’s us. Everything that has ever happened in all of human history, has happened on that pixel. All the triumphs and all the tragedies, all the wars all the famines, all the major advances… it’s our only home. And that is what is at stake, our ability to live on planet Earth, to have a future as a civilization. I believe this is a moral issue, it is your time to seize this issue, it is our time to rise again to secure our future”

Ever since Al Gore chose to call it an “inconvenient truth”, global warming has become a buzzword in newsrooms and classrooms alike. While some may choose to call the matter a hoax or conspiracy, the scientific community has been unequivocal in its stance that human activities have adverse affects on the environment. So what is global warming? Wikipedia tells us:

“Global warming is the rise in the average temperature of Earth’s atmosphere and oceans since the late 19th century and its projected continuation.”

Studies have shown that the Earth’s average temperature is projected to rise by 4 degrees Celsius while the mean sea level is also set to rise by about 0.5 metres. Such drastic changes are cause primarily by four agents:

• Greenhouse gases

• Deforestation

• Ocean’s absorption of carbon dioxide

• Loss of sea ice

Climate Risk Index is a figure that expresses the extent to which countries are affected by changes in climate. Only four developed countries figure in the top 20 worst affected countries. Poorer, developing nations are hit much harder by the phenomenon. Here’s a look at some of the countries that are worst hit by global warming.

1. Bangladesh

Bangladesh is subject many of the effects of climate change due to its geographical location, hydrological regulation from monsoon rains and regional water aggregation patterns. The country receives too much rain during the monsoons and too little water in the dry season. This situation will be exacerbated by a warmer climate, resulting in increased flooding and droughts which threaten to adversely affect agricultural output. What worsens the situation is the fact that the sea level is rising from the south and the increase in reception of water from Himalayan glaciers will cause an inundation of the regions located in the base of the mountains.

Projections indicate that sea level rise will cause heavy flooding in certain areas of the country. A rise of 45 cm in the sea level will likely result in the inundation of about 10 percent of the country. For sea level rise of 1m, 21 percent of the country will go under saltwater (IPCC, 2005). Such a rise is likely to inundate coastal wetlands and lowlands, cause an increase in coastal erosion, increase frequent and severe floods and create agriculture related issues.

2. Sudan

The competition for natural resources, increasingly lacking due to global warming, is looked at as the trigger of the conflict in western Sudan. The UNEP has noted that Sudan, along with other countries in the belt, has suffered several long and devastating droughts in the past few decades. The most severe one lasting 5 years, from 1980-1984. It was accompanied by severe famine and displacement of locals.

The UNEP report also mentions the erosion of natural resources caused by climactic variations as among the root causes of internal strife in the country.

3. Siberia

Siberian environment seems to be transforming due to global warming. Evidence shows that carbon cycles are displaying rapid change, with potentially grave consequences for the region’s flora and fauna. Descriptions of energy and water cycles, changes in surface reflectance due to snow, ice and vegetation coverage are indices that dictate the regions susceptibility to climate change. The area is perfect to study the effects of climate warming, as the forest-permafrost relationship is subject to abnormal variations in temperature and precipitation.

4. Australia

Australian drought are now directly liked with global warming in the region. Record high temperatures are increasing evaporation, damaging greenery and causing a fall in the water levels in agricultural basins. Prolonged high temperature periods are equally hazardous to plants and human life. An average of 1,100 people lose their life to climate related irregularities and this number stands to increase.

Australia’s Great barrier reef, a wonder of the natural world and the only living thing visible from space, has already experienced massive bleaching. It is a hugely popular tourist destination, visited by thousands every year. The warming of water is not only affecting Australia’s wildlife but also its economy.

5. Myanmar

In Myanmar the problem of environmental changes is compounded by the fact that the polity has been mired in turmoil and this has resulted in environmental considerations being placed on the back-burner or not being taken up at all. Climatic changes from the cold to warmer seasons led to the rise in temperature and caused the spread of water borne diseases . The change in weather leads to the growth of parasites in the water which impairs the natural processes in marine conditions. Fish seem to be dying due to a lack of oxygen and the proliferation of parasitic organisms.

Even though the UK is a country admired by all nowadays, its royal history was violent and filled with tragedies upon tragedies. I am not just talking about some of the fictional stories from Shakespeare, I am for real! Without further ado, let’s review the ten most unfortunate fates of British monarchs.

1. Oliver Cromwell

Granted, Oliver Cromwell never became king of Britain and preferred to take on the title of Lord Protector, which frankly is kind of the same thing. However, considering that he commanded over 40,000 men, he did manage to dissolve the Rump Parliament. In spite of Cromwell’s good intentions to stop the civil wars and bring peace to Britain, the aristocracy and commoners alike didn’t forget about the absurd reforms and bans during his reign. Once the monarchy was reinstated, the preserved body of Cromwell was hung on display near the Tyburn gallons, then dismembered and fed to the pigs.

2. Henry IV

Even though Henry IV didn’t really want to become King of Britain, somehow he was convinced by his closest friends to kill the current ruler and seize power. As he was about to learn later on, anyone who gets the throne by force will be constantly faced with various plots and attempts of seizing it back. Henry lived in a constant paranoia and is even said to have slept in his armor while leading campaigns. Not to mention the fact that he spent most of his life suffering from poor health!

3. Richard II

What started out as a promising reign eventually turned out to be one of Britain’s darkest moments. When he first came to power at the age of 14, Richard managed to save the day and London by putting an end to the peasant rebellion. But that was about the only “good deed” recorded, because soon after his beloved wife’s death Richard’s behavior altered radically. Simply put, he was dishonest, a vain sovereign and most of his “friends” stated they are afraid to be in his presence. It is his bad temper and unpopularity among English nobleman that lead to the quick and simple overthrowing by Henry IV followed by Richard’s imprisonment and suspicious death.

4. Edward II

Despite the fact that Edward the Second married the very beautiful princess Isabella of France, historical evidence suggests that he wasn’t really “into girls”. In fact, the king managed to irritate a lot of the court nobleman due to his close friendship with shady characters like Piers Gaveston or Hugh le Despenser. This is why his charming wife found comfort in the arms of another and plotted to overthrown the king and put their son in charge. Even though he fled London, Edward was confined in the Berkeley Castle, where it is said he suffered a terrible death; in short, his royal posterior was impaled with a roasting spit.

5. Henry II

Without a doubt, Henry the Second was one of the best British monarchs who – in the 35 years of reign – managed to bring peace and prosperity back into his kingdom. However, when he was almost reaching his twilight years, Henry made the mistake of favoring his second son over the rightful predecessor to the throne. Richard Lionheart, the older son allied with King Philip of France, Henry’s worst enemy and invaded Britain. Burdened by age and weakened by sickness, Henry lost and was hunted like an animal by Richard, to whom he surrendered. He died a few hours later and, since his servants stole everything they could – including the clothes – he had anything but a royal funeral.

Although the learning process has been a hot topic of various sciences, including neuroscience, psychology, pedagogy and the learning theory, the truth is that humankind has yet to discover the full array of factors involved. For the time being, learning is defined as a process that implies constantly altering the existing skills, behaviors and information by synthesizing and acquiring new types of information.

Simple as it may sound, it is necessary to mention that people know only a low percentage of the info and about the facts present in the world and most of the knowledge is attained via the subjects we study. And, as you probably know or remember from school, some subjects are more difficult to comprehend than others. Following is a list of the hardest subjects to understand.

1. Quantum physics

The first attempts to understand physical phenomenon at a microscopic scale can be traced back to the 17th century to Christian Huygens and his inquiry on the wave nature of light. However, it wasn’t until the 20th century that quantum physics was defined by Albert Einstein. An advanced branch of physics, the quantum theory tries to understand reality at a microscopic scale, making it confusing and puzzling overall. In fact, the high level of mathematics and physics involved in comprehending this science can even confuse modern scientists who employ it in the finest real time applications.

2. Thermodynamics

If you are curious about the motion of substances on our planet, then you should look no further than thermodynamics, the subjects that explains the rules and implications of heat transfer. Even though thermodynamics is based on three basic rules and their applications, which on a side note most students understand relatively quickly, the other topics such as the elemental properties of materials, cycles and particularly the entropy related topics are not very simple.

3. Rocket science

Even though it is generically dubbed rocket science, the subject integrates a plethora of concepts from other fields of study. In fact, it is impossible to study or understand the basic notions in this field without a solid knowledge of mathematics and physics. In addition, let’s not forget that you need to fully comprehend aerospace, travelling in outer space, fuel chemistry and many other without being able to put your knowledge into practice. This is perhaps why you should expect a considerably higher rate of failure than success if you want to study and understand this subject.

4. Electromagnetic field theory

Granted, you won’t come across or have to be tested on your knowledge in electromagnetic field theory unless you decide to take electronics 101 in college. Even in the situation where the subject is taught to knowledgeable students, true comprehension still requires the ability to imagine things in 3D, not to mention the plethora of proof that validates Maxwell’s equations.

5. Anatomy

Anatomy or studying the parts of the human body in detail can be classified as one of the most interesting subjects you can actually learn, unless of course you are a medicine student. While for the vast majority of people anatomy implies simply knowing some general aspects regarding the human body, for future physicians and medical specialists the subject is all about memorizing a lot of data regarding every single bone, muscle and nerve as well as their branches and divisions.

Mars is one of the planets in our proximity that has continued to fascinate humankind from the early days. Bearing the name of various gods of war – from Har Decker and Nergal to Ares and Mars – the Red Planet is the host of the most violent dust storms, the tallest volcano and the largest canyon in the solar system. Still, these are not the only mysteries this huge cold desert holds as you are about to find out.

1. There is water on Mars!

The main reason why space exploration is such an exciting topic resides in the fact that humankind actually hopes to find proof of extraterrestrial life. In order to validate this theory, missions on Mars have struggled to find one of the basic elements that are responsible for life as we know it: water. So far, only Martian mission Phoenix has confirmed that the existence of water in the North Pole of Mars, although it is not in the liquid form we’re accustomed to.

On a side note, Curiosity also brought solid evidence that rivers and oceans once existed on Mars. NASA had a press release in January this year where they announced the rover found several traces in the minerals that, according to our current knowledge, could not have developed without the presence of water.

2. The planet’s atmospheric pressure will make your blood bubble

The atmospheric pressure on Mars is 100 times less than the one on Earth and one of the main consequences of this fact is that all liquid substances will start to bubble almost instantly. Therefore, considering that the adult human body is on average 57% – 60% water, stepping on Mars without wearing appropriate protection equipment means your blood will start bubbling and you will die instantly.

3. The Red Planet “hosts” the largest dust storms in the entire solar system

In all fairness, even the deadliest storms in history like the Bhola Cyclone (1970), Typhoon Nina (1975) or Hurricane Kenna (2002) are no match for the Martian dust storms. As a matter of fact, a single dust storm on Mars has the tremendous power to cover the entire planet for months!

4. Valles Marineris is the largest canyon in the solar system

If you think that the Grand Canyon is an impressive sight, just wait until you hear about the largest canyon in the solar system. Valles Marineris measures over 4,000 kilometers long, meaning that it is practically ten times longer than the Grand Canyon. In addition, the Martian canyon is approximately 7.2 kilometers deep, four times deeper than our own.

5. Mount Olympus is the biggest volcano of the solar system

Majestically standing 25 kilometers high above the plains of Mars, Mount Olympus is known as the tallest volcano in the entire solar system. In addition to its impressive height, the volcano also has a fairly large base, enough to cover the entire state of Arizona. While you could say this is ironic given the fact that Mars is actually half the size of Earth, there is an explanation to the phenomenon. To put it simply, unlike Earth the hot spots on Martian soil are stationary, whereas the tectonic plates tend to move above the crust.

Because of some similarities with the Christian religion, many people are often confused about what the Jehovah’s Witnesses stand for. Even though they share the same passionate criticism when it comes to the theory of evolution and common concerns about religious apostasy with Christians, it is necessary to mention that these two doctrines differ significantly on the important doctrines. Let’s explore some of the most shocking beliefs associated with what some might dub a very dangerous cult.

1. The “disfellowship”

In the eventuality that a member commits a sin that the Watch Tower society perceives as serious or if a person stops believing in the authority and teachings of JW blindly, the punishment is excommunication. The disfellowshipping of a member usually has severe emotional impact on the individual, especially since members are required not to associate with such a person. In fact, according to the society’s teaching even a simple “Hi’ is forbidden because it can lead to a conversation and even – god forbid – a friendship.

2. Jehovah’s Witnesses hold the most accurate translation of the Bible

Unlike the Catholic Church that pretends it is infallible, Jehovah’s Witnesses leaders are renowned for constantly changing their beliefs and policies. The explanation for this rather strange behavior is that it is perfectly normal for their knowledge to be imperfect and that the Governing Body is allowed to make mistakes. However, as Armageddon draws near they will be able to presents more accurate information.

3. Jesus has returned since 1914

The JW’s publications teach the heavenly kingdom has been literarily formed in 1914 and since that date Jesus has been ruling along with the anointed ones. In addition, the main role of the kingdom is to make sure that God’s original purposes can be accomplished here on Earth. In short, God’s Messianic Kingdom is a new paradise where sin, crime, sickness and poverty have no place.

4. Jesus was in fact Michael the Archangel

Michael the Archangel is the only real creation of God – “the Word” – while the rest of the universe represents an indirect creation built under Jehovah’s guidelines. In addition, because their scriptures say that Jesus came to Earth with a seraph voice and Michael was the only archangel mentioned in the Bible (except Gabriel), witnesses believe that Jesus was in fact Michael prior to his first coming.

5. Only the anointed will go to Heaven

Because the Governing Body tends to interpret the Holy Scriptures word for word, a further shocking JW belief is that only a bundle of faithful and true believers will end up in heaven and rule alongside with Christ. To be more precise, the witnesses talk about 144,000 true Christians, the number indicated by God in the Book of Revelations. Even though the anointed or the “born again” are part of a very exclusive group, it is necessary to mention that they do not benefit from any preferential treatment in the society. However, they are the only ones allowed to partake in a yearly ceremony where they feast on unleavened bread and wine.

1.

In physics, light refers to electromagnetic radiation. The light we normally talk about in everyday life refers to the visible spectrum (the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that the human eye can see).

2.

Other animals can see parts of the spectrum that humans can’t. For example, a large number of insects can see ultraviolet (UV) light.

3.

UV light can be used to show things the human eye can’t see, coming in handy for forensic scientists.

4.

The wavelength of infrared light is too long to be visible to the human eye.

5.

Scientists study the properties and behaviors of light in a branch of physics known as optics.

There really couldn’t be a better time to be a teacher, than today with all of the modern technology that we have at our fingertips. From laptops to iPhones to iPads, there are all sorts of great tools available to make teaching more productive and more fun for everyone. Check out the top 10 awesome iPad apps that are available right now.

1. Dropbox

Anyone who has used Dropbox on their PC knows how great it is. If you are not familiar with it, you should: Dropbox is an online file storage app that lets you say ‘so long’ to the days of flash drives and other storage devices. All you need to do is sign up to store files online, and then you can access them from your iPad or your computer.

Once setup, Dropbox will allow you to save files to the Dropbox servers and transfer files from one device to another. You can event transfer files to your PC, which is a great way of uploading photos without going through the hassle of connecting your iPad to your PC.

To download DropBox click here.

2. Alge-Bingo:

Helps you to teach algebra to your students. They can develop their skills in solving algebra equations by playing Bingo. This was actually created by a high school teacher with more than 20 years of teaching experience.

Click here to download.

3. Evernote

You no longer need to have a notebook or a daily planner to keep track of your lesson plans. All you need to do is to enter your plans and notes into your iPad by text or by voice.

Use what you love. Evernote works by connecting all the computers, phones and tablets you use. Anything you add to your account is made searchable and accessible wherever you are. Create an account and get Evernote downloaded on all your devices to get started.

For example, it capture whiteboards. All you have to do is snap a photograph of a whiteboard full of class notes, brainstorms and presentations. We’ll make the image searchable and even recognize handwriting.

You can also use Evernote for Professional Development: If you use the summer break or vacations to improve your skills or continue your education, keep all your notes, resources, lessons and new ideas learned in Evernote. This also works well for teacher in-services, conferences, workshops and seminars that you attend.

Another advantage? You are able to scan graded tests, including scantrons and add them to Evernote. You can then enter them into your preferred grade-book or spreadsheet when you have time. This is also great if you have a teacher’s assistant. You can share the notebook with them and have them help with the grading process.

To download click here.

4.Things for iPad

A great task manager to help you keep track of things you need to do in your classroom and your appointments outside of it.

5. QuickVoice Recorder

QuickVoice is a useful recording application that is easy to implement into your daily life.  You can record new ideas, voice memos, shopping lists  meetings, classes, interviews, teacher evaluation, or even an entire class period. This can be used in the professional, educational, and/or personal setting. It could even help students with studying such as recording useful information for a test or a classroom lecture.

QuickVoice can be used in multiple capacities in the classroom or in your own daily lives. This application is easy to use and implement.  According to QuickVoice it is “the most popular, full-featured iPhone/iPad/iPod voice recorder available.” Check it out today!

Are you getting tired of Facebook and the insecure and childish behavior friends exhibit on it? Facebook is the most popular social media site with over 425 million active users. And with great popularity comes some very shameful and disturbing behavior and people who look to tap into Facebook’s viral market to sell you their crappy selves or scheme your money through affiliate links and the like.

So if you happen to find yourself doing any of these top 10 irritating things on Facebook, you should look to stop doing so immediately before all of your friends look to jump ship and get rid of you. If you are losing friends on Facebook like sunflower seeds, you really need to find another approach to social media management.

1. Tagging Random People in Photos

You should quit tagging people you barely know in photos that have nothing to do with you or met at a party. It’s one thing when your buddy tags you in an unphotogenic pic, then sends it out to friends for them to laugh at. At least in this situation it’s you and your friends with the person who tagged you. But the people I’m talking about upload photos and tag as many people as they can to try and gin up as many likes as possible. This is a classic move by spammers so be cautious of anyone tries strategy out. I’ve had to call out several individuals over the years, even friends for their random tagging, and you should do the same if you suspect anyone doing this. Sending a personal message to them to stop could do the trick, but I feel like if some goofball wants to tag me in every one of his posts, he must be looking for my input so I give it to him publicly right then and there. Revenge is just a dish that is best served cold…

Worst of all… they know how picky you are about your pics and that you like to approve them before they hit the WWW. BUT, if they look good, they don’t give a flying monkey what you think They will post them and tag you anyways! Who cares if you look like a loser or cock eyed. It’s all about them! Cause they look like god!

2. Cross-Posting with Twitter

Look, we social media marketing experts understand that you are a little short on content and intelligent things to say on Facebook, but there is no need to post random stuff that no one cares about. We all post the same stuff on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, but at least have the guts to not automatically send your Twitter tweets to Facebook, because people will just mute you, dislike you, or defriend you. For one, you’ll get much less engagement posting to Facebook via any third-party app let alone Twitter which basically disregards Facebook etiquette. If you do this, it’s a clear sign you’re not really engaging with anyone on Facebook or are just too lazy to post new content manually, either way you will fail and friends and followers will keep disappearing.

3. Liking Your Own Posts

So you’ve just posted the new dog or the cutest baby pictures of your best friend. That’s cool, right? But then you go ahead and like your photo yourself. Well, we know you already like the post, aren’t you the one who just shared the thing? Besides being annoyingly repetitive, the real reason people feel the need to do this is that the action of liking the post will again show up in the streaming news ticker, giving the post even more exposure, sometimes double as much. These are typically the moves of self-proclaimed “social media gurus” or people who just feel insecure about their status posts. It’s obvious that you like your own content, you posted it yourself.

4. New Page Invites

Look, as social media marketing experts, we understand you need to create a page for your business, but do everyone else a favor and stop inviting them to your half-ass Facebook pages. Instead post interesting content to your own page, share it on your profile as well (so your friends see it), and if people are interested they will follow. There is also the new social graph that will allow others to network, who are not on your friends’ list. It’s almost not your fault, as creating a page and inviting all your friends can seem tempting, but most of your friends won’t like your page and maybe they won’t like you either and defriend you. And the ones who do like it would’ve probably found it anyways without your begging them to do so. So like the funny Oatmeal comic, don’t do this…

5. Useless App Requests

If you’re on Facebook all day playing CafeWorld and Hotelville, that should be embarrassing enough, and the last thing you should ever want to do is invite your friends and alert them to your obsessions. And I can’t even explain to you the ill feeling we get when we receive a request to join Vampire World, for example, even though we’ve already registered to be  friends with some  less intelligent friends who do not have a life or do not work.

Rule of thumb: Step off with the application requests! Only send the ones that are absolutely necessary, the awesomeness you’ve ever seen, etc. We don’t care, at all, what shape cocktail glass we are, we don’t want a shot, we don’t want to compare our favorite ‘Hills’ characters. No, no, and no.

While flowers typically attract humans and insects with their  beauty and luscious smell, some rather perverse stinking flowers entice flesh and fecal-loving insects to their foul-smelling blooms in the guise of meat, which include some of the largest and most bizarre flowers in the world. So without further ado, let’s take a look at the list of 10 smelliest plants in the world.

1. Titan Arum

This huge plant is often referred to as the corpse flower. It’s three meters tall when fully grown and emits a horrible stench that people flock to from around the world. It takes a long time to reach full size and when it gets there it will begin to heat up to somewhere around human body temperature. This helps to intensify its smell, which attracts pollinators.

Because of its bad odor, which is reminiscent of the smell of a decomposing mammal, the titan arum is characterized as a carrion flower, and is also known as the corpse plant. The title “corpse flower” is also similar to the genus Rafflesia which, like the titan arum, grows in the rainforests of Sumatra.

In 2003, the tallest bloom in cultivation (2.74 m high) was recorded at the Botanical Garden of the University of Bonn in Germany. The event was acknowledged by the Guinness Book of Records.

2. Talipot Palm

This tree is around six to eight meters tall and at the top branches out with loads of little flowers. It only flowers once in its life span, when it’s about 30 to 80 years old. It takes about a year for the flowers to become fruit and after fruiting it then dies. It smells sweet and the sap is used for palm wine.

The flowering Talipot Palms have been the focus of attention for the past few months at Singapore Botanic Gardens. It is a majestic sight and a lifetime treat to see the massive flowering structure.

3. Rafflesia arnoldii

This is the largest flower in the world and it grows on the floor of rainforests. It doesn’t have the usual parts — such as leaves, roots or stem — as other flowers because it doesn’t need them. It gives off a stench of rotting flesh, which attracts carrion flies.

Before it flowers it is almost invisible, it then grows into a cabbage-like plant that opens into the huge flower that only lasts for a few days. There’s a lot that’s not known about how the plants reproduce as scientists are struggling to recreate the environment in which the plant lives. Because of this, they haven’t been able to fully study them.

4. Dead Horse Arum Lily

This ornamental plant is native to the Mediterranean region and gives off a smell of carrion to attract blowflies and other insects. It’s a rare thermogenic plant, which means it can raise its temperature to attract even more insects.

Female flies are attracted to the flower because they normally lay their eggs in carrion. When they crawl inside the flower, they become trapped for up to six hours until the male parts of the flower begin to produce pollen. The chamber then opens and, as the fly leaves, it brushes past the pollen and then carries it to other flowers, fertilizing them in the process.

After observing the effect the flowers have on the flies, the researchers wanted to know exactly what the flies were responding to. So they exposed fly antennae – which act as the insect’s ‘nose’ – to chemical odorants from both the flower and from rotting meat.

5. Hydnora African 

This is a parasitic plant that grows on the roots of the Euphorbiceae species that grows underground in the deserts of South Africa.

The flesh-coloured flower emerges from the soil and gives off a smell of faeces to attract pollinators such as dung beetles and carrion flies. The flower will trap the beetles that enter so they can cover themselves in pollen. Then when the flower fully opens again they are allowed to leave.