Why Alexandra is called Shura and where did the strange Russian abbreviations for names come from
On the reverse side of the old photograph, a pencil has been written: «Shura, 1956.» The child asks the grandmother who it is. «Uncle Sasha.» «Well, that's Shura right there.» «Well...
3 October 2026
North and South America for children: how animals migrated from one continent to another
In Florida, bones of ancient relatives of llamas are being found. One of the most complete skeletons was discovered near the city of Leconte. The animal lived here long before…
3 October 2026
How the Russian question is structured and why there is no auxiliary verb in it
In February, Nicke was assigned a school project called family history. They required him to interview the oldest relative, record the conversation, and…
2 Oct 2026
«Dragunsky's »Enchanted Letter" and why Deniska laughs at her friends and the reader laughs at Deniska
Vanya had a front tooth fall out in Seattle in September; it was the first tooth in his life. The Tooth Fairy acted quickly; there was a dollar under the pillow, the tooth…
2 Oct 2026
Get your car ready, we're late for the playdate
«I have an appointment at 3:00, can you pick up the kids?» The phrase pops up in a phone conversation between two other cases, and no one in the room...
2 Oct 2026
Africa for children, as in the desert they found a shore
From a trip to Sahara in November 2005, the researchers brought back two pieces of stone, each about twenty centimeters across. They took them…
1 October 2026
Russian tea tradition and the cup that still travels on the train
In the city of Kolchugino in the Vladimir region, they are still making a product that looks as if it was forgotten to be taken off the production line years ago...
1 October 2026
The sun’s direction for children and why the south was previously called the midday
The old Pomeranian compass had no letters N and S. The compass itself in the White Sea was called a matka. It was a round wooden box…
1 October 2026
Volcanoes for children and why volcanic ash isn’t really ash
After the volcano eruption, the city might look like a giant fire pit that has been burning there all night. Grey roofs. Grey cars. You have to drive on the road...
30 September 2026
Mountains for children and how the seabed turned out to be on Mount Everest
There is something at the top of Mount Everest that would be more logically to be looked for in a completely different place: the seabed. Not water, of course, and…
29 September 2026
