What are the chances of Earth being destroyed by an asteroid? Higher than those of being engulfed by an exploding sun. In its April edition, science and odd facts magazine Focus examined the chances of Earth's destruction by various catastrophes. With the year 2000 fast approaching, some Christian cults are predicting the end of the world, with some of the more violent ones seeming ready to help it on its way. Others are worried the Y2K computer bug will result in nuclear war, whether intentionally or due to faulty missile command computers. Apart from these pessimists, others have examined likely causes of the end of the world. The most popular, if that's the right word to use, was destruction of the world due to nuclear war, with British betting firm William Hill putting the odds at 1,000 to one. Asteroid impact came in second, with Hill giving odds of 50,000 to one. On October 26, 2028, asteroid 1997 XF11 will pass within 960,000 kilometres of Earth, which is close in astronomical terms. Earlier, hopefully incorrect, calculations had warned it would actually hit Earth. Other threats to Earth are new diseases wiping out human life (250,000 to one), environmental destruction of the planet (one million to one) and global warming (five million to one). Earth being destroyed by an exploding sun was put at a remote 10 million to one. How you collect your winnings if your bet on the destruction of the world is correct is not clear. Do camels' humps hold water? The answer is no. A camel's hump is actually a giant mound of fat. In a healthy, well-fed camel, the hump can weigh as much as 35 kilograms. Humans and most animals store their fat mixed in with muscle tissue or in a layer right beneath the skin. The hump allows a camel to survive an extremely long time (up to two weeks) without food, which is important because camels live in the desert where food can be scarce for long periods of time. A camel uses about 20 litres of water a day in the summer, but it can lose up to 100 litres of water from its body tissues without ill effects. An adult camel weighs between 318 kilograms and 680 kilograms. Camels can live up to 50 years. A camel, like a goat, will eat almost anything. In English, why is China called China, since it bears no resemblance to its Chinese name? The name China comes from the first dynasty to unite China, the Qin, which ruled from 221 BC to 207 AD. But in medieval times Europeans knew the country as Cathay. The name was popularised by the Venetian merchant and traveller Marco Polo (1254-1324). According to his account of his travels, he spent 17 years in China serving Kublai Khan. On his return to Europe he astonished people with his tales of rocks burned for fuel (coal) and paper money. The name Cathay came from the Khitai, a semi-nomadic people who ruled northern China under the Liao dynasty (907-1125).
