The King of the Sea

There are 350 different kinds of sharks all over the world. Sharks were around 400 million years ago. The smallest sharks the size of an adult pinky finger and is called a Tsurangohbittom. Many sharks like the Tiger shark and the Bull shark are named after land animals. The tiger shark has dark black stripes on its back similar to the big cat. But as the sharks grows older the stripes often fade away. The Bull shark gets its name from its flat wide snout which resembles that of a bull. The biggest type of shark is the Whale shark, it can grow up to 18m long. However, the fastest shark is the Sharfin Mako shark. It swims at about 35km/h or 21.75 miles per hour. The longest living shark is the Spiny Dogfish shark which lives for between 70 and 100 years.
Habitat: Sharks are found in most oceans and seas. The more active sharks usually stay near the surface or the middle of the ocean. The smaller ones prefer the ocean floor. Some sharks live near the coast and can even enter rivers and lakes that are linked to the sea.
Diet: A shark’s only proper weapon is its mouth. The two most important parts of a shark’s mouth are the teeth and the jaws. Sharks do not chew their food but usually crush their prey into mouth-sized pieces. Sharks can crush the shells of other marine animals.
Appearance: The Great White shark is actually grey or bluish grey in colour with a white underbelly. Its colouring helps it to get close to its prey without being noticed when seen from below. The white underbelly blends in white the bright reflection on the sky quite often this shark attacks its victims by sneaking up quietly. The shark greyish colour then helps it to blend in with the dark water. I chose his project because i live them and they are interesting.

By Leon Murphy

The Black Hawk

I am sure you have heard of the Black Hawk, an army helicopter used by the U.S military service. The UH-60 Black Hawk entered service in 1979 replacing the Bell UH-1 and it is now the main helicopter for the U.S. Army. They are very expensive they cost $21.3 each.
Wars: It served in wars such as Grenada, Panama, Iraq, Somalia, the Balkans, Afghanistan and other areas in the Middle East.
Uses: The U.S. Border Patrol uses the UH-60 in its operations specifically along the southwest border. The Black Hawk has been used by the Border Patrol to interdict the illegal aliens into the U.S. and incursion of dangerous individuals. Additionally, the Border Patrol regularly uses the UH-60 in search and rescue operations.
Versions: Many armies like China, England, Israel and many more have their own modified versions of the UH-60.
Armour and Weaponry: The UH-60 comes with machine guns, free-fire and heat-seeking missiles and heavy metal armour.Death of Osama bin Laden: The biggest operation the UH-60 was in was the U.S. Special Forces operation to kill Osama bin Laden. A highly modified version of the UH-60M was used. Extra blades were added to the tailfin to make it silent. The same radar that’s on the B-2 Stealth Bomber was used to keep it hidden from Pakistani Air-Force radar. The operation was watched through a camera by Barack Obama and the rest of the U.S Defence Board.
Navy: The U.S. Navy use the Sea Hawk and it is the second largest helicopter in the US after the CH-47 Chinook. It is heavily armoured and is specifically designed for search and rescue missions at sea.

By Cian Joyce

The Wonder of Gouldian Finches

Ever wonder about beautiful birds? Well, you have wondered about a Gouldian finch then! A Gouldian finch looks like a Goldfinch with its colours. Some Gouldian finches have a black head, a green back and a purple breast. Gouldian finches are one of the brightest birds you will ever see.
Habitat: Gouldian finches live in an aviary. Gouldian finches wouldn’t be found in the wild. An aviary is a place where birds live. It is made from wood and wire. I have an aviary on my Balcony. My aviary is 6ft in width and 10ft in height. I have about 45 birds in my aviary. They have to be kept in heat otherwise they will die. They need to have a good spacious aviary.
Diet: Gouldian finches eat millet seed and normal finch seed. It costs 24euro for a four stone bag it lasts 4 weeks. Sometimes they eat lettuce and broccoli. Gouldian finches need to have their food and water changed every day.
Protection: The finches need to be protected from sparrow hawks, magpies, cats and other predators.Gouldian finches have up to six eggs at once and these eggs need to be protected too. The eggs als oneed to be kept warm.
I really ilike Gouldian finches and think they are one of the most colourful birds in the world. I hope to keep Gouldian finces when I am older like my Dad.

By Tyrek Doran

The Silent Assassin of the Sky

Have you ever wondered about the average price of a B-2 Spirit Bomber? Well it’s 2.1 billion dollars!! Wow, slightly more expensive than a family car! Let me tell you a little more!
The B-2 is a triangular shape. The B-2 is originated in the United States of America. The speed of a B-2 is 1,010km/h. That kind of speed would break the sound barrier!! The length of the B-2 is 21 metres and the wingspan of it is 52 metres. It can fly over a base without being detected. This bomber has only been used for tests and war. There was only 21 built and 20 are left in the world.
The first ever flight was on 17th of July 1989. The guns and bombs that are used on a B-2 are hellfire missiles, nukes and a machine gun underneath it. In case of emergency the pilot’s seat can shoot out if it’s about to explode.
The B-2 is only used by the U.S. Air Force. It is made of composite plastic. Built at great cost, The U.S. Air force B-2 Stealth-Bomber is designed to approach targets without being noticed. It is made of composite plastic materials and has a special shape which makes it difficult to detect by radar. I studied this aircraft because it’s something you can fly and I love flying.
I have seen pictures of the B-2 bomber and it is big. A B-2 bomber crashed on my 8th birthday on the 22nd of February 2008. So you better keep your eye on the sky because before you hear it it’s always gone!

By Kian McDonagh

The King of Greenland

Ever wonder if there’s a shark that can eat a polar bear and at the same time get eaten by a parasite? Such a shark exists, it’s called the Greenland shark.
Habitat: The Greenland shark is found in the North Atlantic Ocean and in parts of Greenland and Iceland. This shark prefers cold-water temperatures and will usually only ascend from the depths if the surface drops to around 33 degrees Fahrenheit. During the summer the Greenland shark inhabits depths of 600 to 2400 feet. This is one of the largest living species of shark of dimensions comparable to those of the Great White shark.
Life cycle:The Greenland shark can live up to 200 years old. They can grow up to 23 feet long and when the sharks are babies they are 90cm long. They weigh 1,000kg (2,200lb) and some can possibly weigh up to 1,400kg (3,100lb). Also called the “sleeper shark,” this species is often inactive and indeed appears to be sleeping. The Greenland shark is often found with a “best friend forever,” a parasitic copepod that lives on the shark’s eye and feasts on its corneal tissue.
Appearance:The Greenland shark’s skin is grey and black and it looks like stone. Its flesh is very poisonous. It is often mistaking by divers as the ocean floor
Diet:The Greenland shark eats polar bears, reindeer and seals. When feeding on large carcasses, the shark employs a rolling motion of its jaw. The teeth of the upper jaw are very thin and pointed, lacking serrations. These upper jaw teeth, numbering from 48 to 52 teeth act as anchor while the lower jaw does the cutting. The lower teeth are interlocking and are broad and square, 50 to 52 in count, containing short, smooth cusps that point outward. Teeth in the two halves of the lower jaw are really powerful.
Other Interesting Facts:The Greenland shark is the largest member of the dogfish family. The Greenland shark was first discovered around the coast of Greenland in 1995. The next time you think about swimming in Greenland, think again!

By Jonathan Dowdall

The Beast of the Sky

Guess what one of the most deadly machines in the world is? Give up? Well ever heard of the B-2 Stealth Bomber. Well the B-2 Stealth Bomber is designed to fly over any army base and not come up on the radar. It is also built for speed.Do you know where the B-2 is from? No? Well do you know California, USA, tha's where it's from. Here’s a little fact for you everybody thinks that the Americans made the B-2 but really the British did. Now to its appearanceThe B-2 is a kind of triangular shaped death machine. Do you know what speed the B-2 can go? The speed of the B-2 is subsonic, that’s as fast as the speed of sound. But the only time they would go that fast is if another plane or jet or especially the F-22 Raptor is after them. The weapons on a B-2 are hellfire missiles, heat seeking missiles, nukes and machine gunners.The B-2 is suited up with all that stuff because it goes into war. Do you know what the B-2 is made from? The B-2 is made from composite plastic and other materials. Do you know what plane is similar to the B-2? No? Well the name of it is the Night Hawk. So the next time you look at the sky and think is it a plane, is it superman, it's better than that! It might be a B-2 Stealth Bomber so watch out!

By Lee Byrne