Slightly to the side

Did you know that Earth's tilt affects the school year?

We might refer to Planet Earth as ‘the globe’, but we know it is more like a slightly flattened sphere —experts would say it’s an oblate spheroid— that is also askew. These two details have major consequences for the climate, the night sky, the way we register locations, and even the way schools plan their academic year. How much does the Earth's being at an angle affect us? Let’s find out!

Why is Earth’s axis tilted? The most widely accepted theory is that, millions of years ago, a young planet Earth collided with another celestial body and was left permanently askew. Earth’s axis, supposedly straight before, now has a tilt of 23.5 degrees. It is also believed that the Moon is a product of this collision.

The Earth is permanently tilted, but it’s not static. The degree of the tilt varies slightly across a cycle of thousands of years, which would explain why seasons were harsher or milder across history. But what keeps the Earth from having a more extreme shift? The Moon. All celestial bodies have their own gravity, and they can affect each other. Moon’s gravity has a pull on the equatorial bulge (Earth’s widest part) and prevents it from being affected by other surrounding planets, while also keeping the axial tilt stable.

The different seasons are the first major consequence of the axial tilt. As the Earth orbits around the Sun, it remains tilted in the same direction, which means that, for half of the orbit, one pole is directly facing the Sun, while the other is directly away. For the next half of the orbit, the positions are reversed. The pole closer to the Sun experiences Summer, while the opposite pole goes through Winter (which means that yes, the Southern hemisphere celebrates Christmas during Summer).

When a compass signals North, what is it pointing towards? Spoiler: not the North Pole. The North Pole (also known as True North, or Geographic North) it is a fixed point in the Arctic Ocean intersected by the rotational axis. Maps and coordinates use this point as a reference for the North. A compass, however, points towards the North of the Earth’s magnetic field, which is constantly shifting. The difference between the two Norths is called declination, and is essential for navigation and map reading.

The Earth is a sphere, but most maps are flat. Something is not adding up, and it’s all the fault of a man called Gerardus Mercator, who, in the 16th century, mapped the Earth in a way that represented the meridians and parallels as straight lines. While this was excellent for navigation, it had its negatives: a size distortion. The farthest land masses are from the equator and closest to the poles, the most inflated in size they appear. For example, in the Mercator projection, Greenland appears close in size to the entire African continent, when in reality it is closer in size to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

We all know the difference between the Northern and the Southern hemispheres, but did you know the difference between the Eastern and Western ones? Unlike North and South (which are divided by the equator and experience opposite seasons), the Eastern and Western hemispheres are more of a cultural division, even though they are separated by the Prime meridian and antimeridian. The Eastern Hemisphere is commonly associated with "the Old World" (though it includes Australia), and the Western Hemisphere is "the New World".

Hemispheres split the world equally in size, but not in content. The Northern Hemisphere contains the majority of the Earth’s land mass (around 68%), while the Southern Hemisphere holds the majority of the water (around 80%). As the Northern side has more land, it also houses the majority of the world’s population, around 90%.

North and South experience opposite seasons, but what else is opposite? Storms and whirlpools spin depending on their location—clockwise in the South, counterclockwise in the North—, and the shape of the crescent moon is perceived inverted —a waxing crescent looks like a D from the North and a C from the South.

While bigger celestial objects, such as the Sun or Moon, are visible from any point on Earth, some can only be seen depending on your location. Constellations that are located closer to the Poles are only visible from that hemisphere, and have traditionally been used for navigation and orientation. In the Northern hemisphere, the main examples are Polaris (the north star), Ursa Major (a constellation that contains the Big Dipper), Ursa Minor, Cepheus, and Cassiopeia. For the Southern Hemisphere, the main examples are Crux (the Southern Cross), Centaurus, and Carina.

Most institutions plan their year around Summer, which means that in the Northern Hemisphere, the Academic year usually starts around September and ends in May or June of the following calendar year, while there’s a Winter break in time for Christmas and New Year. In the Southern Hemisphere, the calendar and academic years are matched: the academic year usually begins in March and ends mid-December, right before the Holidays, while Winter break usually falls in July.

Which one stole your heart?

No, Golden Retrievers weren't bred to fetch gold: Dog breed names 101

Image: Glenn

Do you love dogs? From royal companions to fearless hunters and from German badger dogs to barkless African hounds, the names of our favorite breeds often hold surprising stories. Whether you’re a fan of the stoic Mastiff, the sassy Poodle, or the majestic Husky, there’s a tale behind each name that might surprise you. Let’s dig in!

Image: photo nic

The beautiful, blue-eyed Husky is inseparable from dog-sledding lore. The breed’s name evolved from the word "Eskimo."

English sailors once slurred "Eskimo" into "Uskee" or "Huskemaw," which eventually transformed into "Husky."

Image: Alondra Pavón

What’s not to love about wiener dogs? Their original name, however, refers not to their iconic sausage shape but to the purpose for which the breed was developed.

Dachshunds were bred to hunt badgers and other burrowing animals, with their long bodies and short legs making them ideal for digging into tunnels. The name is a German compound of Dachs (badger) and Hund (dog), meaning "badger dog."

Image: Irene

There are three beloved varieties of Schnauzer—miniature, standard, and giant—and each has had its moment in pop culture.

The breed takes its name from its distinctive "mustache" or schnauze (snout) in German, literally meaning "snouter" or "muzzle." Originally, Schnauzers were used as rat-catchers and guard dogs in Germany.

Image: Anna Kozakova

Often portrayed as guard dogs or police K-9s in film, Dobermans were named after Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann, a 19th-century German tax collector who developed the breed as a loyal and protective companion for his dangerous rounds.

Image: Alvan Nee

Queen Elizabeth II’s beloved Welsh Corgis made the breed internationally famous. In Welsh, cor means "dwarf" and gi (a soft mutation of ci) means "dog," so Corgi translates to "dwarf dog." Indeed, the breed originated in Wales, where it was used for herding cattle by nipping at their heels. Over time, Corgis also became a cultural symbol of British royalty.

Image: TomasHa

Known as the "barkless dog" of Central Africa—because of its unique larynx structure, which produces a yodel-like sound (baroo) instead of a bark—the name "Basenji" comes from a Bantu language and roughly translates to "village dog" or "bush thing." The breed is ancient and was used for hunting in the Congo.

Image: Joshua Köller

Did you know the Labrador Retriever has been America’s most popular dog breed for decades? Despite its name, the breed did not originate in Labrador but in Newfoundland.

It was called "Labrador" because British breeders associated the dogs with the Labrador Sea and the nearby region, while "Retriever" refers to the breed’s role in hunting.

Image: Justin Aikin

So, did Golden Retrievers retrieve gold? Short answer: no. Like Labradors, they were bred to retrieve game for hunters, but the "golden" part of their name refers to their beautiful coat.

The breed was developed in Scotland in the 19th century by crossing several breeds to create an obedient, water-loving gun dog.

Image: Rahul danga

Snoopy is perhaps the most famous Beagle out there, even though we only saw him in black and white.

The origin of this beloved breed’s name is debated. It may derive from the Old French begueule, meaning "open throat," a nod to their baying howls. Others trace it to Celtic or Old English words meaning "small."

Image: Tra Tran

Always pampered and impeccably groomed! If the term "Poodle" has always reminded you of "puddles," you are not far off. The name comes from the German Pudel or Pudelin, meaning "to splash in water." Poodles were originally bred as water retrievers, so their name reflects this aquatic work.

Image: Bruce Galpin

Pugs’ features and expressive faces have made them a source of comic relief in pop culture. There is no consensus about the origin of their name, however.

Some say that it derives from the Latin pugnus, meaning "fist," perhaps referencing their squished, fist-like face. Others say that in 18th-century England, "pug" was also a term of endearment for something small and compact-looking.

Image: Jackson Jorvan

Athletic, energetic, and full of protective instincts, Boxers are true family guardians. But why the name?

It is thought to come from the breed’s tendency to use its front paws in play, like a boxer in the ring. Another theory links the name to the German word Boxl, a nickname for the breed in Bavaria.

Image: Sophie Hollies 🇨🇭🇫🇷 🇬🇧

As calm and noble as they are huge, Mastiffs were named after the Old French mastin or the Latin mansuetus, meaning "tame" or "domesticated." Despite their imposing size, Mastiffs were bred to guard homes and estates while remaining loyal and gentle with their owners.