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Who was Frances Hodgson Burnett? Which was his famous novel?

Frances Hodgson Burnett was born on November 24, 1849, in Manchester, England. Following the death of her father in 1854, her family faced financial hardships. In 1865, the family made the decision to immigrate to the U.S. and settled in New Market, a town near Knoxville, Tennessee. However, the anticipated support from a maternal uncle did not materialise as expected, adding further challenges to their situation.

Driven by the need to support her family, Burnett started writing for magazines at the age of 19. Her first published work was a short story called Surly Tim’s Trouble, which appeared in a magazine in 1868. Burnett’s breakthrough came with the publication of her novel Little Lord Fauntleroy in 1886, which garnered immense popularity and established her as a successful writer. She went on to write numerous novels, plays, and short stories, captivating readers with her vivid imagination and memorable characters. Some of her other notable works include A Little Princess (1905) and The Secret Garden (1911), both beloved classics in children’s literature.

The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden novel was one of his popular novels. The novel centres around Mary Lennox, a 10-year-old girl living in India with her privileged British family. Mary is depicted as a self-centred and ill-tempered child, accustomed to being pampered by her domestic help while receiving little attention from her distant parents. However, her life takes a tragic turn when a cholera epidemic sweeps through the region, claiming the lives of her parents and the household staff, leaving her orphaned. After a short stay with an English clergyman’s family, she is sent to live with her widowed uncle, Archibald Craven, at his Yorkshire estate, Misselthwaite Manor in England.

In the estate, Mary uncovers a fascinating neglected hidden garden. Assisted by Dickon, a local boy, and her cousin Colin, who suffers from a mysterious ailment, she begins to restore the garden to its former beauty.

What makes it a classic?

The healing power of nature

This novel highlights the enduring connection between humans and the natural world, and the positive impact that nature can have on our well-being. In today’s fast-paced and technologically driven society, many people find themselves disconnected from nature, leading to increased stress, anxiety, and a sense of detachment. The theme of nature’s healing power in the novel serves as a poignant reminder of the transformative influence that reconnecting with the natural world can have on us. The story emphasises the restorative qualities of spending time in nature, cultivating a garden, and embracing the outdoors. The process of tending to the garden becomes a metaphor for personal growth and emotional healing. Mary, Colin, and even Archibald finds inner peace, resilience, and a renewed zest for life as they immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the garden.

A novel about self-discovery

The Secret Garden is a captivating tale of self-discovery. Through the enchanting garden, characters such as Mary, Colin, and Archibald undergo transformative journeys. Mary learns empathy and love as she cares for the garden. Colin overcomes his fears and finds his own identity. Archibald finally musters the courage to confront the unresolved issues of his past, which he had been avoiding all this time and embraces healing. The garden serves as a metaphor for their inner landscapes, guiding them towards personal growth and fulfilment.

Their journeys demonstrate the profound impact self-reflection, connection with nature, and meaningful relationships can have in unlocking one’s true potential and finding happiness.

Legal action against copycats

Frances Hodgson Burnett, the author of the beloved children’s book The Little Lord Fauntleroy, did not back down when faced with piracy of her work. When an English playwright named E.B. Seebohm unlawfully adapted her book into a stage play, Burnett took him to court. The court ruled in her favour. declaring that Seebohm had illicitly copied portions of her book for his play. As a result, a legal order was granted, effectively putting an end to the era of British authors being exploited by copycats who freely profited from dramatising popular books.

In recognition of her efforts, Frances received a diamond bracelet and ring from The Society of British Authors, who also held a gala in her honour.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Originally published in 1910, The Secret Garden made its debut in the pages of The American Magazine, a publication primarily catering to adults. This unique start as a serialised story in a magazine for adults possibly led to some confusion regarding its target audience, as it became one of the first children’s tales to appear in such a medium before being released as a standalone book.
  • The name “Mary” in The Secret Garden draws inspiration from the English nursery rhyme Mary. Mary, quite contrary. In the initial chapters of the book, the protagonist is portrayed as a rude and spoiled child. The other children mock her by reciting the nursery rhyme and referring to her as “Mistress Mary Quite Contrary”. While Burnett initially considered using Mistress Mary as the working title for the book, she ultimately settled on The Secret Garden instead.

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Simple tips for a smooth start of school.

The schools are set to open for a new academic year. For some students, it is a time of excitement. For the others, it can be a time of anxiety. Regardless of where you fall in this spectrum, these simple tips will help you start the year on a strong, optimistic note.

The schools are opening after a long break. It is more like the start of a fresh year! Are you battling first-week jitters? Or are you excited to start the year on a fresh note? We are and we bring to you a set of tips that can help ease you into the next year. It’s going to be a great year!

  • Getting ready the night before

Instead of figuring out your notebooks and picking the outfit on the day, plan everything and keep them packed the previous night itself. This will save you enough time as well as help you start the day on a peaceful note. This ensures that you will not forget any assignments or other paraphemalia required for specific classes. Even if you missed the alarm or want to sleep an extra ten minutes, this routine will hold you well.

  • Never skip breakfast

According to various studies, children who do not skip breakfast and follow a nutritious diet perform better in academics and recreational activities. They are seen to do better at school because they have more energy, are attentive, and get to concentrate better in classes. Consider food as the fuel to your brain.

  • Get a calendar

Keeping a calendar will help you focus on your work and tasks and accomplish them in a better, steadfast manner. You will have not just your day planned, but even your whole week planned. This ensures that you will not miss out on assignments, projects, and other deadlines. Check your calendar regularly and update it.

  • New school, new opportunities

If you are about to move into a new school, then it can feel like a challenging time. But remember that the initial few days at school are going to be a bit chaotic for every student. Even those who aren’t new will be faced with the task of starting all over again as most schools shuffle the students in the classes. Adjusting to new situations, classrooms, classmates, or teachers can be a time of anxiety for most students, regardless of their age. So like you, they will also have to make new friends, get acquainted with the new class, a new set of teachers, and so on. If need be, you can visit the school a few days prior with your guardian and familiarise yourself with the surroundings and class. But when everything is new, it also gives you an advantage. The school is like a clean slate to begin again. The possibilities are limitless. Also, remember that teachers are aware that the first few days can be stressful for newbies and they will do everything to make your settling in easier.

  • Make a routine

Ever since the school closed for summer vacations, most students would have found it hard to stick to a routine. After all, vacations are meant for indulging in leisure activities and spending time away from school and studies. For most kids, their whole routine would have changed. So the first step is to plan and make a routine that you will stick to this academic year. Make a list if needed. Analyse your last academic year and consider the areas where you want to change. This can also bring in some perspective on how to plan for the new academic year. Plan your sleep routine, and set yourself a timetable that allocates enough time for leisure and studies. Start waking up early one week before the classes start. This will help you fall into the routine easily.

  • Reading as a new habit

Regardless of whether you are a bibliophile or not, make it a point to do some extra reading on a daily basis. Start reading newspapers, go to the school library and ask the librarian for book suggestions. Making reading a habit can reward you in countless ways. You will be abreast with what’s happening in the world and it can also make you a more aware, interesting person.

  • Reinvent yourself

A new academic year is a fresh start for everyone. It offers you a chance to leave all the baggage of the past year and work on your weaknesses as well as your strengths. Say you found the subject of English a bit problematic. Allocate more time every day for that subject. Listen and take notes in the class. Ask questions and do some extra readings. Clear all your doubts on a daily basis. Further, take this year as a new beginning, where you can focus on personal growth. Learn new skills and challenge yourself to do better this year.

  • Build good homework & study habits

Ensure that you have a good environment to study. Such a separate workspace will prevent distractions and help you manage time better. Set enough time for homework. It is equally important to stick to a proper study habit of learning the portions on a daily basis. Finishing off the day’s work on that day itself can set you ahead no matter where you are in life. Learning the portions daily ensures that there is no carryover. This avoids the unnecessary rush to learn everything a few days before a test. This gives you even time to revise the topics you learned. Bringing in the discipline from the start of the academic year will help you study effectively and stress-free.

  • Celebrate the start of a new school year

It is time for new friends, schoolmates, a new set of books, outfits, and new opportunities. So start celebrating the first day of school instead of worrying about what could go wrong.

  • Extracurriculars

Extracurriculars are as important as your academics. Pick up a new hobby or skill. If you enjoy music, take music lessons or start learning an instrument. If you are the outdoorsy type, find the adventure club in your school and join it. Make it a point to join one club in your school and take an effort to participate in their activities. It can be a reading club, art club, environment club, or even science club. Most of these do not need a prerequisite skill to join. It can feel like something very new at first but there is a whole academic year to hone your skills and perfect it! Who knows you might even surprise yourself by taking part in the Annual Day events!

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What are some idioms related to weather?

It’s time to spruce up your language skills. Let’s learn a few idioms that are based on weather.

EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING

The idiom “every cloud has a silver lining” means that every sad or bad situation has a positive side to it. It means to be optimistic and hopeful that good can come out of a bad situation. Perhaps it originated from the fact that when clouds float in front of the sun, they will sometimes have a “silver lining” around their edges. The earliest record of the usage of a shorter version of the idiom, silver lining, was in a book titled Comus: A Mask Presented at Ludlow Castle by John Milton in 1634.

LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES THE SAME PLACE TWICE

“Lightning never strikes the same place twice” means that if a bad thing has happened, it will not happen again. It is mostly used to comfort a person, saying that if someone has gone through an unfortunate circumstance, such a misfortune is not likely to happen again.

CALM BEFORE THE STORM

Ever noticed that there is one surreal moment, where everything goes quiet before a storm? This is exactly what is meant by the idiom calm before the storm. It is a short period of quiet before the start of a difficult period. The saying was popular among ancient sailors whenever they observed that the weather was unnervingly calm before a storm. The phrase has been in use since the 1700s.

UNDER THE WEATHER

If you say that you are “under the weather, it means you aren’t feeling well or have some illness. It is also used when one has to convey that the person is overly exhausted. It has its roots in the nautical terminology. Back when a sailor fell ill or seasick, he would be sent below the decks under the weather rail. The phrase “under the weather rail” got shortened over time and turned to just “under the weather. The phrase began to be used in the mid-1800s.

CHASE RAINBOWS

Can you chase a rainbow? A rainbow is an optical phenomenon and is not a tangible thing. So you cannot chase a rainbow because it doesn’t exist in a specific spot in the sky. So if one is referred to as chasing a rainbow, it means that the person is trying to achieve the impossible or pursuing unrealistic goals. The term perhaps evolved from the story of getting a pot of gold if one were to dig at the end of the rainbow. But such a thing never exists and so the term started to be used on people with unrealistic dreams and were called “rainbow chasers”.

RAINING CATS AND DOGS

When you say that “it’s raining cats and dogs”, it means it is raining heavily outside. The expression is from the 17th Century but its origin is still uncertain. The reference perhaps comes from Norse mythology where cats were thought to have influence over storms. The modern version of “raining cats and dogs” is believed to be first recorded in Jonathan Swift’s “A Complete Collection of Polite and Ingenious Conversation.”

COME RAIN OR SHINE

When you use the idiom “come rain or shine,” you mean to say that something will be done regardless of whatever happens.

It is used to express certainty that an activity will happen irrespective of the weather or circumstance. According to sources, the earliest printed record dates back to 1699 by John Goad.

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Why Hungary rich in culture?

Budapest, Hungary’s capital, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its rich architectural legacy.

Ranu Joardar

Hungary, one of the several landlocked countries in Europe, is unique in itself. Having a language that is not related to any European language, the country has felt isolated through much of its history. It has produced a number of scientists, mathematicians, economists, anthropologists, musicians, and artists.

History

Hungary is referred to as Magyarorszag or the land of Magyars’ by its citizens. Some believe that the country came into existence after the Magyars, a Finno-Ugric people, occupied the middle basin of the Danube River in the late 9th Century. However, archaeologist Gyula Laslo has opined that the country’s history dates back to 670 with the arrival of the Late Avars, who were the early Magyars. The Magyars had a thriving society till 1241 when the Mongols invaded the region. The Mongols were defeated by the Magyars twice. It later became a part of the Ottoman Empire and remained so for several years. From 1699 till the First World War, Hungary was part of Austria. During the Second World War, Hungary fought alongside the Axis powers – Germany, Italy and Japan.

Geography

Hungary is bordered by Slovakia and Austria to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Slovenia to the west, and Croatia and Serbia to the south.

The country is mostly flat and has a large lowland area known as the Great Hungarian Plain. The Danube River, the largest river in the country, cuts through the middle of the country. It crosses 10 countries on its way to the Black Sea. There are three key freshwater lakes including Lake Balaton, the largest in central Europe. Lake Balaton was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1989. Lake Heviz, which flows alongside the northern slope of Mount Keszthely, is one of the world’s largest thermal lakes. Near the Slovakia border is the Aggtelek National Park, which was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the late 20th Century. Of eight World Heritage sites, the caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst, is a natural site.

Flora and fauna

While half of the land is used for farming, about one-sixth is used for non-agricultural purposes and the remainder comprises meadows, rough pasture, forests and woodland. The Great Hungarian Plain is the grasslands covering the central and eastern part of the country. In the north of the plains is a mountain range known as the Northern Hills. The hilly areas in the west of the Danube River are known as the Transdanube.

The Great Hungarian Plain is home to several species of animals such as roe deer, wild boars, red foxes, mouflon sheep, and birds such as the imperial eagle and great bustard. In 1999, the United Nations designated Hortobagy National Park, the largest of Hungary’s 10 national parks, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many threatened and endangered species of fish such as sturgeon and the Danube salmon are found in the Danube River.

People

Since the 10th Century, Hungary has been a multi-ethnic country with the Magyars as the dominant population. The Hungarian language, Magyar, is part of the Finno-Ugric group of the Uralic language. It is written in Latin alphabet, but has 44 letters in total.

Music is integral to the Hungarian culture. Their folk music is based on the daily experiences of peasants in the countryside with themes ranging from joy and sadness to weather and farming. The two greatest composers – Bela Bartok and Franz  Liszt – were from Hungary. It is the birthplace of many famous people such as Erno Rubik, inventor of the Rubik’s Cube.

Red meat forms an important part of their cuisine such as Gulyas (a thick beef soup cooked with onions and potatoes) and Hungarian sausage. Paprika is common in most Hungarian dishes. The Hungarian national anthem is based on the poem ‘Hymnusz’ written by Hungarian Romantic poet Ferenc Kolcsey in 1823. It was officially adopted in 1844.

The Hungarian capital Budapest has a rich architectural legacy from various periods that led to it being designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Danube Banks and the Buda Castle District (having medieval and characteristically Baroque style) were the first sites in Budapest to have been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987. Budapest has the remains of monuments such as the Roman city of Aquincum and the Gothic castle of Buda, which influenced the architecture of various periods.

Government

Hungary is one of the new democracies. Throughout the 19th and 20th Centuries, the country’s political system had elements of autocracy. While between 1867 and 1948, the country had a parliament with a multiparty system, in 1948 the communists took over and a Soviet-style political system was followed. In 1990, the country held its first democratic elections. It became a part of the European Union in 2004. The country is now a parliamentary republic, led by a President is elected by the public. The Prime Minister is the head of the government. The current President Katalin Novak is the first female President of Hungary.

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The curious case of the cheetah

When the Indian government brought the big cat to India last September, there was palpable excitement. However, in a matter of months, at least three adults – and a few cubs born in India – have died, turning the focus once again on the viability of such an ambitious project. In five points, here’s a quick look at all that’s been happening.

  1. Cheetah goes extinct

India has been a proud host to several big cat species, including the Asiatic lion, the Bengal tiger, and the snow leopard. More than seven decades earlier, it was also home to the Asiatic cheetah, found in the wild today only in Iran. Plagued by hunting habitat loss, and reduction in prey base, their numbers plunged dramatically over the years; the last of this carnivore died way back in 1947. Five years later it was declared officially extinct in our country – “the only large mammal to become extinct since independence”.

  1. Bringing the big cat home

For decades, India had considered bringing the Asiatic cheetah from Iran. However, since Iran itself was host to only a small number of this animal, India could not move ahead with that plan. (Today, the number of Asiatic cheetahs in Iran stands at a paltry 12: the country recently lost a 10-month-old cub born in captivity.) Meanwhile, the idea of ‘African Cheetah Introduction Project in India’ shaped up in 2009, but it failed to take off for over a decade. When it appeared as if it could come to fruition after 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic set in, delaying it further. The wait finally ended in 2022, when the world’s fastest land animal came to our country.

  1. The reintroduction begins

With great fanfare, as many as eight cheetahs arrived from Namibia last September. A few months later, 12 more arrived from South Africa. (It is said that the plan is to bring a total of 50 in the next five to 10 years.) They reached an enclosure at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Since they arrived from a different country (and even a continent), they need time for acclimatisation (getting used to their new surroundings). So, gradually over a period of time they are to be released into the wild from their enclosures. But, it seems, not all 20 will survive the relocation.

  1. Births and deaths

In March, a female cheetah brought in from Namibia died, possibly due to kidney ailment. That would be the first of a few more deaths to follow. In April, a male, belonging to the batch from South Africa, died, due to cardiac failure. In May, a female cheetah from South Africa died, believed to be from injuries during mating. Meanwhile, just a couple of days after the death of the first cheetah, a female from Namibia gave birth to four cubs. But that joy was to be short-lived – in May, at least three of them died due to reasons such as weakness and dehydration.

  1. Hope and reality

The government and the supporters of the project have hoped the reintroduction is a chance to restore the biodiversity link that was broken due to the animal’s extinction. Viewing it as a step towards wildlife education and conservation awareness, they also believe that the species can revive the grasslands it once roamed. However, many conservationists and critics have all along said that the project is unviable due to several reasons. One of them is that Kuno has neither enough space nor prey for the big cat. In fact, following the deaths of the cheetahs, the Supreme Court itself has come down heavily on the government, urging it to home some of these carnivores in other States, including Rajasthan. While stating that such deaths are not unusual, the government has said it would explore other places for the animal’s release into the wild.

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Have you ever wondered why different spots are chosen for different shots by your doctor?

Have you ever wondered why different spots are chosen for different shots by your doctor? Read on to find out

DID YOU KNOW?

Muscles are good places for injecting vaccines because they contain immune cells that immediately recognise the disease-fighting antigens in the vaccine and transport them to the lymphatic system.

Time to scream! Because we are talking about your least favourite topic: injections! From babyhood onwards, you’ve probably wailed your way through any number of injections or shots. A lot of them are vaccines, but some are medicines.

Most shots are injected into the arm, but for some, the doctor may tell you to pull down your shorts or pants and poke the needle into your butt or into the stomach. There are also intravenous injections where the medicines are introduced directly into a vein in your arm or hand via a needle.

Have you ever wondered why different spots are chosen for different shots?

It depends on the type of medicine being injected, the amount of medicine and the time it takes for the medicine to be absorbed in the body.

Since intravenous (IV) injections go directly into the vein, the medicine goes into the body really quickly. For example, saline or glucose is administered intravenously in the hospital during emergency medical care.

Some shots are injected directly into a muscle. They are called intramuscular (IM) injections. The medicine is absorbed more slowly by the blood than in IV shots. The most common locations for IM shots are the deltoid muscle of the shoulder or arm (where you got your anti-COVID vaccine), the gluteus medius (a fancier name for the butt), or vastus lateralis or thigh muscle for little children (your mom will probably tell you that’s where you got your DPT vaccine as a baby).

Subcutaneous (SC) injections are directed into fatty tissue, where there is less blood supply. The medicine is taken up by the body more slowly than IM shots. SC shots are usually injected into the abdominal fold. For instance, insulin shots are given in the stomach.

The last kind are intradermal (ID) injections. They are aimed into the middle layer of the skin and are absorbed slowest of all. The inner surface of the forearm and the upper back, under the shoulder blade, are chosen sites for testing allergens and injecting some kinds of local anaesthetics.

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What are solar trees and solar canopies?

Solar trees and solar canopies are all about the idea of taking solar energy to another level. Solar energy is a renewable source of energy. It is cheaper, perennial, and environmentally friendly.

Tapping into solar energy is a revolutionary way to drive renewable energy production and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels which release harmful greenhouse gases and thereby lowers our carbon footprint.

And to promote the use of solar energy, sustainable, aesthetic-looking solar structures such as solar trees and solar canopies have come up. Here we harness the energy of the sun to generate electricity.

Ever seen the Supertrees in Singapore? Remember those colossal structures that look like trees right out of a science fiction novel. Those are solar trees.

A collection of 18 artificial Supertrees ranging in height upto 50 metres, were set up in Singapore at “Gardens by the Bay” (a botanical project). These solar trees also serve as vertical gardens with ferns and vines climbing up the steel framework.

So what are solar trees? A solar tree is a structure resembling a tree and generating solar energy using photovoltaic (PV) panels.

How does a solar tree work?

 In a solar tree, the photovoltaic “leaves” will capture the sunlight and convert it into electricity. This is then conducted down through the framework that resembles the trunk of a tree to an internal battery.

Some designs of solar trees feature rotating panels and these can move throughout the day and absorb more amounts of sunlight.

These are futuristic “trees” and can be set up even in rural communities or other off-grid locations. They can be used to supplement other methods of harnessing sunlight.

Why solar trees?

One of the main perks of setting up solar trees is that they help save land as they are vertical. Due to their towering height, they can also receive more sunlight than solar panels mounted on a lower ground.

If you were to take a look at the Supertrees in Singapore, you can see that the steel framework is covered by climbers and floral species, increasing the aesthetic value. Thus it also adds to the biodiversity of the urban locale. Moreover, these trees require less maintenance compared to other means of solar energy production. They also help cool the heat islands by reducing the thermal energy that gets reflected off surfaces. These structures can thus help offset the effect of climate change.

Solar canopy

Now what are solar canopies? A solar canopy is a structure that is designed to cover an outdoor area. They are rooftops that are used to harness solar energy using photovoltaic panels.

They also provide shelter in expansive areas. One can even say that the future of parking lies in solar canopies. They are slowly becoming popular in public places and businesses. These green roofs are mostly used as transportation infrastructure (bus shelters, or parking lots) or in recreational areas.

Solar canopies help in decentralised energy production and have an edge over huge grid-based power systems as these can help avoid grid failures and power outages. Despite their advantages the solar canopies are not that common. This is expected to change over time.

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When chemistry meets myth

Step into the captivating realm of chemistry, where elements bear the names of legendary figures from myth and folklore.

Titanium

British mineralogist William Gregor made a significant discovery, in 1791, when he detected an unfamiliar metal in a black mineral known as menachanite. However, it was not named until four years later German chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth independently identified the same metal in a different mineral called rutile. Upon learning about Gregor’s findings. Klaproth realised that the two metals were, in fact, the same. In honour of the Titans, a group of Greek deities known for their strength and power, Klaproth named the element “titanium.” This name befits the metal perfectly, as it exhibits remarkable resistance to corrosion and possesses an impressive tensile strength, especially considering its low density.

Thorium & Cerium

 Jons Jacob Berzelius, a Swedish chemist, made an exciting discovery while examining mineral samples from Norway and Sweden in 1815. He named this newfound substance thorjord, meaning “Thors earth,” in honour of the powerful Norse god of thunder. However, further investigation revealed that thorjord was, in fact, yttrium phosphate, an existing compound. Nevertheless, Berzelius later had the opportunity to pay tribute to Thor once again when he successfully identified a new element, which he named thorium in the late 1820s. Berzelius had a penchant for bestowing mythological names upon elements, and his naming of cerium was no exception. In 1803, while working alongside his colleague Wilhelm Hisinger, Berzelius discovered a silvery rare earth metal. Inspired by the recent sighting of the asteroid (now considered a dwarf planet) Ceres, they named the element cerium after the celestial body. The name Ceres, in turn, originated from the Roman goddess associated with agriculture and abundant harvests. It is worth noting that the word “cereal” is also derived from the name of this goddess.

Vanadium

Vanadium was discovered in 1801 by the Spanish-Mexican mineralogist Andres Manuel del Rio. He found a new mineral in a lead ore from a mine near Zimapan, Mexico. Del Rio initially believed that the mineral was a form of chromium, and he named it “panchromium” due to its ability to exhibit various colours when oxidised.

However, in 1830, Swedish chemist Nils Gabriel Sefstrom rediscovered the element independently while working with iron ores. Sefstrom recognised that the mineral previously identified as panchromium was a distinct element and named it “vanadium” in honour of the Scandinavian goddess Vanadis (also known as Freyja) Vanadis was associated with beauty and fertility, which Sefstrom felt was appropriate due to the many vibrant colours exhibited by vanadium compounds.

Promethium

During the development of the atomic bomb as part of the Manhattan Project in World War II, American chemist Charles Coryell and his colleagues Lawrence E. Glendenin and Jacob A. Marinsky were involved in the identification of elements produced during nuclear fission of uranium. Surprisingly, they discovered an unknown rare earth metal during their research. Credit for the name of this radioactive element goes to Coryell’s wife, Grace Mary. She proposed naming it after Prometheus, the Greek Titan who famously stole fire from the Olympians and gave it to humans. However, Prometheus faced severe consequences for his actions. He was bound to a mountain by Zeus, and every day an eagle would come to peck out his liver, which would then regenerate overnight. This punishment served as a reminder of the dangers associated with defying the gods.

When Glendenin described the name “promethium” in 1976, he explained that it not only symbolised the remarkable manner in which the element is created through the harnessing of nuclear fission energy but also served as a warning about the potential consequences and perils of engaging in war, as represented by the eagle punishing Prometheus.

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How soil came to be?

Soil is almost everywhere around us that we don’t give it much thought. But it is so crucial that life as we know it will cease to exist without soil. Here’s a peek into how soil came to be.

Though Earth is over 4.5 billion years old, the soil it holds is less than 500 million years old. Before soil came about, the continents of our planet were “dusty, barren and rocky landscapes similar to the surface of Mars”. All that dramatically changed with the birth of soil. It was earlier believed that rivers weathering bare rock resulted in soil, but more recent research suggests that land plants are largely responsible for the formation of soil.

Freshwater algae gradually evolved to become land plants, which quickly gained complex forms. So quickly that 385 million years ago, there were forests the world over. These forests “sucked carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere at a rapid rate”. This resulted in global temperatures falling and causing widespread glaciations. These “helped to grind down Earth’s rocks”. But there was also something else at play – roots.

There’s evidence that early plant roots were not the way they look today. There were just thin stems covered in tiny hairs, which helped “anchor plants to the planet’s rocky surface and absorb water and nutrients”. The new hairy stems intertwined with decaying older stems to result in a thin-layered peaty soil enough to offer a foothold for more plants to grow. In about 20 million years, plant roots evolved and “drilled down over a metre in depth”, transforming soils and letting plants gain access to deep reserves of water and nutrients. “This below-ground revolution provided an entirely new ecosystem for life to diversify into.” From fungi and mites to roundworms and early arachnids, the soil was just bursting with life. Meanwhile, the penetration of roots into the ground also helped broad sheets of water on land to flow deeper to become what we now call rivers. It is said plant roots may have evolved further since then, impacting soil.

Given how important soil is for water, nutrients, and absorbing carbon, it is worrying that globally our soil is in peril due to several factors, including erosion. And this is a reminder that we must protect it.

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