Earth surface is curved, not flat. Due to the curved earth surface, some part of the earth surface gets direct and straight solar radiations than others.
For example, the regions located near equator get direct and straight solar radiations imparting them higher temperature. On the other hand, the regions near poles obtain slant solar radiations. This is the reason that polar regions have colder climatic conditions.
The alkaline/alkaline results could indicate that only the protein was utilized by the organism, but it could also be a result of prolonged incubation. The organisms could have exhausted that available sugar and then reverted to protein catabolism.
It's the same thing that Pavlov did with the dogs, but instead of a can opener, he used a bell. The dogs drooled at the sound of the bell because they knew that the food was coming.
