Representation of atmospheric pressure. Link below for source.

Atmospheric pressure, put quite simply, is the power that air molecules exert against a surface. Contrary to what we may see and feel, 'air' does have mass, meaning it is comprised of different molecules, and those molecules feel the need to constantly move randomly around and put pressure on other molecules around them. In other words, air wants to occupy the most space possible, and so it exerts pressure. The only reason why most objects don't become completely squashed is because those objects have molecules of their own that push back against the air, balancing out the pressure.
Atmospheric pressure is much more dense at sea-level, and becomes less 'stuffy' the higher up in the atmosphere. The weight of air pushes down on the air underneath it, and so, a lot of air can be considered as trapped between air and a hard place. The higher up you go, the more scattered the air is, which is why when climbing a mountain you will notice that breathing becomes harder. There is simply less air to breathe.
Atmospheric pressure is actually a unit of pressure, calculated in Inches of Mercury, or Millibars, as well as a few less used units.

A mercury barometer. Link below for source.

Inches of Mercury is a column of mercury marked off with inch markings. The normal atmospheric pressure at sea level is 29.92 inches. Many weather forecasts use this method of measuring. It is better known as a barometer, although barometers do not necessarily use mercury. Most use water in place of the volatile liquid. A barometer is a little reservoir of liquid, be it water of mercury, with a pipe-like column standing in the middle. The column is closed at the top, and when atmospheric pressure pushes down on the open reservoir, the liquid rises in the tube, and using measurement marks, the pressure can be calculated.
Millibars are the same as bars, but at one thousandth of them. A bar, from the Greek 'baros' meaning weight, is a general unit of pressure used to express the amount of force it takes to move an object weighing one gram, being one centimeter, in one second. The normal atmospheric pressure at sea level is 1013.2 millibars. Millibars are used on weather indicating maps, mostly.
When forecasting weather, low atmospheric pressure, i.e. when the air is too scattered and therefore not heavy enough to push down on more air, usually means that the sky will be clear and the weather agreeable. On the other hand, high atmospheric pressure, i.e. when the air is very dense and is even heavier than normal, trapping a lot more air at ground level than usual, indicates bad weather, such as precipitation and storms. Pressure changes according to the density of air molecules, which in turn changes in accordance to temperature. When molecules get warmed up, they vibrate more violently, thus pushing other molecules away more efficiently. In the end, the air molecules end up very spaced out and scattered, giving us low atmospheric pressure. The exact opposite is true. When the molecules cool down, their pressure is constricted and thus they end up packed close together, resulting in high atmospheric pressure. Atmospheric pressure changes constantly, but it does so so minutely that the changes are not observable.

Atmospheric Pressure Representation Photo
Barometer Photo

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Saffron in the kitchen is most commonly seen as red powder, or still in its dried stigma form. Image from here.

Saffron is a spice used in cooking, medicine and as a dye. Saffron is recognised as the most expensive spice by weight. This is mostly due to the fact that saffron originates from the Saffron Crocus, a flower with red stigmas. There are three stigmas in one flower, and the dried stigmas create what we know as saffron. That is not a lot of saffron per flower, thus making it expensive. There are several cultivars all over the world, each country having its own variety of saffron, Iran being the largest producer.
The Saffron Crocus' themselves require moisture, and do not fare well in shade. They flourish best in Mediterranean maquis climates, although they can survive temperatures as cold as -10° Celsius, and could even survive a short time in the snow.
Saffron, as a spice, can yield many uses, which is why it is so desirable. Medicinally, it is supposedly helpful with depression, mild Alzheimer's, and as a PMS symptom reliever. Culinarily, it has a bitter hay-like fragance, and adds a golden yellow tinge to food. In powder form, it is red, regardless of the fact that it produces a yellow pigment. It is traditionally used in Persian, Arab, Central Asian, Pakistani, Indian, European and Turkish cuisines, and is a prominent spice in Hinduism.

Saffron Crocus

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An image of a real-looking cell used in the Biology course

I made myself an account and started the Biology course. It is quite extensive, and covers things that are much more detailed and therefore complicated than an ordinary highschool level. But do not let that scare you away! It is very interesting, and there are other things than Biology. This website is a good free (I cannot stress this enough) tool that is valuable to little home-schoolers such as myself. I did the first lesson in the Biology course, and it starts with the most basic of introductions: cells. So now I know that a nucleolus is inside a nucleus, and that those two are surrounded by the Endoplasmic Recticulum. The only problems I see with this website are that there aren't many free courses for the moment, but there are many different subjects planned, so this won't be problem for long. The last, but certainly not the least problem, is that the website doesn't work on Chrome, the browser I use. Many of the animations used in the lessons do not show up. In order to continue the course, I have to use Safari, which supports all the animations.

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Galerina Marginata

The Galerina Marginata is a deadly species of fungus. Its appearance can easily be mistaken for edible mushrooms. It is more commonly known as the Deadly Skullcap, the Deadly Galerina, Funeral Bells, or even Marginate Pholiota. It has a convex cap and the hymenium (underside) is adnexed. Colours van vary depending on age and moisture levels, but most range between ochre and tawny, with a yellow-ochre edge at the bottom of the cap when young. The gills are closely placed and narrow. They are light brown/yellow but become darker with age. The cap can reach diameters of 1.7 to 4 cm, whereas the stem can reach 3 to 6 cm. The stem starts as a solid but becomes increasingly hollow from the ground up as the Galerina Marginata matures. They are detritivores that mainly feed on conifer wood, and are found almost anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere, that is North America, Asia and Europe. Some cases can even be found in Australia.

It is toxic when ingested, and causes major liver damage, inducing diarrhea, vomiting and hypothermia. It is lethal unless treated very soon after ingestion. Some of the very few poisonings recorded can be ascribed to people confusing the Galerina Marginata with the Psilocybe because of their very similar aspects. The Psilocybe is more commonly known as the Magic Mushroom, because of its hallucinogenic properties.

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European Magpie

European Magpies are birds found in Europe. They are black and white and are counted among the most intelligent animals. They are very territorial and often form groups in the winter to increase their food gathering. Mates stay together forever until one of them dies, at which point the widow/er will choose another mate, if still of age to raise younglings. Mating takes place in spring with a display of chases and feathers on the male's behalf to attract the females' attention. Nests are preferably built in tall trees. A magpie nest is large and sturdy, with a dome like roof and a concealed entrance. During the winter, the nests are very visible with the lack of leaves. Each bird has an average of five to eight eggs in a hatching. Magpies have only one hatching unless some unfortunate disaster wipes out their previous young'uns. Eggs are laid in April and hatch around three weeks later. Another three weeks later the fledgelings have learned to fly.

A European Magpie Nest

Magpies are very intelligent, perhaps the most intelligent bird. They have episodic memory, meaning they remember the general who/where/what of certain situations. They most certainly remember which human face to trust, which garden has the most worms, and also where they stole that shiny object. Yes, Magpies are very fond of shiny things, such as wedding rings left out in the open, and they are not afraid to take what they want. Their intelligence is further proved by the ability to make tools and use them, something seen done by apes. Also, it has been proven that European Magpies have mirror self-recognition, something very few animals possess. In fact, for a while there, humans believed they were the only ones who had it. Another amazing thing Magpies can do, is they have the potential to imitate other bird's songs, and, to an extent, other noises they hear around them and human voices, like a parrot.

Part of the family close by, eating with an open window.

Magpies are omnivores and eat various fruit, grain, eggs, insects and other small birds, sometimes snatching them in flight, something thought to be found only in birds of prey.
Recently a new family of Magpies has settled in the area. Magpies usually stay around their area, not really much of long distance flyers. They often come to feed from our birdfeeder and hang out around the garden. I have recently been placing oatmeal on my window sill, and they have gotten quite used to the area. I have been slowly progressing my interaction with them, now getting them to feed with the window open. More recently, I have just shown my face, unmoving and without any sound, with the window open. My hope is that they will all (or at least one) be used to me and allow me to hand feed them, allowing for a 'tame' Magpie coming to visit me for food once in a while.

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Contents for Chilli, Pumpkin, Radish Seed Planting Experiment

1. Phase 1
2. Phase 2
3. Phase 3
4. Phase 4
5. Phase 5
6. Phase 6

5/5/11

After some delay, I have planted the grown seeds in a large container, placed outside. This container had been bought quite some time ago, but after some de-weeding, the earth was in excellent condition. With a slight tearing, I managed to separate the trays into individual little pots. I placed these pots separately into the container. The pots are biodegradable, so the roots will have no problem breaking through the already crumbling pots.
The next and final update will be when the plants are ready for harvest.

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Contents for Chilli, Pumpkin, Radish Seed Planting Experiment

1. Phase 1
2. Phase 2
3. Phase 3
4. Phase 4
5. Phase 5
6. Phase 6

27/04/11:

All seeds now have tall green stalks, two for the pumpkin compartments. However, behind the glass, the water evaporates almost instantly, and they require daily watering. I sometimes forget this watering, and in consequence, a third of the radishes have dried and died. The other seeds seem very healthy.
In the box, all that seems to be happening is moulding, and no growth is visible, apart from the radishes, whose tiny stems become more withered and pale with every day. I conclude that these seeds need soil.
There is a remaining three days until repotting.

Pumpkin leaves are very hairy in their first few days.

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Contents for Chilli, Pumpkin, Radish Seed Planting Experiment

1. Phase 1
2. Phase 2
3. Phase 3
4. Phase 4
5. Phase 5
6. Phase 6

15/04/11:
Radishes grew taller, leaves having a large heart shape. I rotate the tray from time to time so that the stems do not always bend in the same direction, towards sunlight. One of the several sunflower seeds has grown two large leaves. The leaves have many hairs on them, giving them a fluffy feel. Chillies now all have thin curving stems. The soil dries out very quickly, and I must water it constantly. The seeds in the box are not fairing well, on the other hand. Two radish leaves have stems and roots buried into the kitchen paper. One of the chilli's has a tiny white stem protruding. The rest, however, have not evolved.

Radish

Pumpkin

Chilli

Box

There are 14 days left until repotting. I think by then that every seed will have strong stems and many leaves. The days have gotten colder and temperatures are now average 20º Celsius.

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