Category Fun Facts

What’s driftwood?

They are pieces of dead wood floating down a stream or river, having broken off from a tree that was growing near the water body. These woody remnants embark on a journey across the waters, creating a new future for them.

Ever seen pieces of dead wood drifting down streams or rivers? These pieces of wood are on a journey, sailing across the waters, carried by the currents as they move to embark on a new life. Driftwood refers to pieces of wood that were either the trunk or the branches of a tree that grew next to a river and which eventually broke off and fell into the water, thereby embarking on an odyssey across the river.

The driftwood that starts off on the journey from the forest can have a multitude of “afterlives”. It can either end up on the ocean bed, get washed up on the beach, or even get refashioned into an artefact!

Once a dead log of wood becomes driftwood, it starts off on an adventure, an adventure dictated by the elements, exploring uncharted waters and eventually reaching its final destination. If you have been to the beach you must have come across driftwood.

Sometimes they may just be twigs, lying like debris on the beach or they can appear like an exquisite piece of wooden art sculpted by an artist. The driftwood always enriches the ecosystem it eventually visits. It might even have inspired us to create our first wooden rafts and boats. Dead trees have even been used as small watercraft or carriers. Sometimes the driftwood is in itself a tiny ecosystem. It feeds and even gives shelter to tiny beings such as insects, birds, etc.

On some occasions, these driftwood pieces that get carried by the waters become tangled in large groups called logjams and can sometimes clog a river. We even have logjams that are hundreds of years old. But in most cases, the driftwood keeps flowing downstream, eventually ending up in a new environment like a lakeshore or beach.

They also become a buffer against erosion in erosion-prone ecosystems such as open beaches. They even carry seeds front the forest to the coast which may germinate. Large pieces of wood are used as shelter by beach-dwelling animals. For instance, some shorebirds nest beside driftwood.

Driftwood also has an aesthetic and artistic value. The many forces of nature that have acted on the driftwood lead to the formation of intricate and ornate swirls and whorls and patterns. Driftwood is sought out by artists who turn it into artefacts.

Picture Credit: Google

 

What is cross-dominance?

Most of us are either right or left-handed. But some people may write with their left hand and throw a ball with their right hand. Such a mixed preference for different activities is called cross dominance.

Well, just like we show natural preference to either of the two hands (exceptions being ambidextrous people), our ears, eyes and feet also have one dominant part. The left side of the brain controls the right side of the body and is more dominant in right-handed persons and vice versa. Normally, therefore, a right-handed person would be right-footed, right-eyed and so on. But some right-handed persons may have a more dominant left foot or left eye. This is called mixed laterality and such persons also show traits of cross-dominance.

Hand-eye cross-dominance can be quite problematic for sportspersons especially shooters and athletes. More than 20% people have some cross-dominance or the other and it can be overcome by training oneself to use the non-dominant part more often.

Many well-known people are cross-dominant. Sachin Tendulkar bats, bowls and throws with his right hand but writes with his left. Rafael Nadal plays tennis with his left-hand but uses his right hand to throw and write. The foot you use normally to kick the ball is your dominant foot. The ear you naturally turn toward a soft sound is your dominant ear.

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What is the history of chocolate ?

Chocolate is popular globally and across age groups. No wonder it has its own day! World Chocolate Day is celebrated on July 7 every year to mark the day of its arrival in Europe way back in 1550. Let’s take a bite of chocolate’s history, its benefits, the flip side, and its social and ecological impact.

Born in the Americas

Every bar of chocolate made is bom from cacao trees whose seeds- cacao or cocoa beans-are a primary ingredient in its preparation. The origin story though takes us to the Americas.  To be specific, Mesoamerica,  spanning southern parts of North America and vot parts of Central America. Scientific evidence dates the use of cacao seeds to over 3,600 year ago by Maya Aztec, Olmec and other ancient civilisations of this region. Cacao was venerated as a gift from god and drinks made from it were used especially during rituals and as energuen and medicine. However, research from a few years ago suggests that the Mayo Chinchipe culture in present-day Ecuador of South America used cocoa beans a good 5.000 years ago-pushing back the date of first use of these seeds by about 1,500 years. While it is contested if Ecuador actually domesticated cacao or if that credit goes to the Maya people, an archaeobotanist settles the argument beautifully saying the Maya turned the consumption of cacao into an art form But back then it was consumed as a bitter beverage, tasting nothing like the solid chocolate we know today. And that transformation happened in Europe

Raised in Europe

Though theories abound on how exactly chocolate entered Europe, it appears to have occurred during the 16th Century and inexplicably tied to Spanish colonisation of the Americas Spanish conquistadors (conquerors) are believed to have brought it to Spain. From Spain, its popularity and demand spread to other parts of the continent, where notoriously slaves were used extensively in cocoa plantations. (By 17th and 18th Centuries, it was available in North America too.) For a few centuries, cocoa continued to be enjoyed as a beverage in Europe, enriched  with milk spices, and flavourings, and invariably among the wealthy.  Gradually, cocoa  reached  the masses, took a powder form-known as Dutch cocoa and easy to mix with water, and inevitably, the solid chocolate bar was born. Today, chocolates are available in every corner of the world and in several unimaginable forms and flavours.

Benefits

Many studies have been conducted globally to ascertain the benefits of chocolate consumption. Research shows that chocolate can help in brain function, especially in those aged 50 to 70. Dark chocolate consumption has been linked to lower risk of a heart attack. As cocoa helps increase the flow of blood around the brain, it seems to cut down the chances of a stroke too Apart from this, consuming a tiny chocolate square regularly is believed to help lower blood pressure and the chances of succumbing to cardiovascular diseases. Flavanols, substances found in cocoa, boost the body’s supply of nitric oxide to help lower blood pressure. Dark chocolate is said to bring down oxidative stress – which causes cell and tissue damage and improves platelet function. Among dark, milk, and white chocolate, studies appear PHOTO: PIXABAY to show that dark chocolate (with less sugar) fares better than the other two.

Perils

Since chocolates invariably contain sugar and saturated fat. Unchecked consumption can result in weight gain, putting individuals at risk for cardiovascular diseases. Other concems arising out of chocolate consumption include heartburn, cancer, allergies, and toxic and bacterial contamination during the processing (cacao by itself is not contaminated). Though studies show the benefits of consuming chocolate, recent reports suggest that many such studies could be funded by chocolate manufacturers and hence the findings could be exaggerated or selective in showcasing chocolates in a positive light.

Eco-social impact

While the word chocolate could conjure up happy visuals of this rich and delectable treat for s chocolate lover, its production belies a dark stony Cocoa plantations in West Africa, especially tong Coast and Ghana, are plagued by prevalance of widespread child labour employment, with poor or no wages, and hazardous working conditions. Many reports liken the situation to modern-day slaveny, making chocolates the result of unethical trade practices with little thought for human dignity. On the environmental front since the denund for chocolate is globally high tropical forests are destroyed to make way for cocoa plantations, decimating native wildlife. Not just that since chocolate production also involves ingredients such as milk, sugar, palm oil, etc.. the increased production of these items too affect the environment. As the use of chocolate has crossed, culinary territory to veer into cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries, the demand for it has never been higher Add to this the fairly recent allure of organic and single-origin (grown in a specific region) cacao, the pressure on our environment hasn’t been more severe

IT’S TRIVIA TIME!

A perfect name? The scientific name of the cacao tree is Theobroma cacao. Coined by Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus, it seems fitting because it translates to Drink of the gods, from the Greek words theos (god) and broma (beverage).
How versatile! Historic records show that chocolate was used as more than just a drink. It was used as money, face paint, a disguise for poison, and was even fought over!
Culinary experiments if you think chilli-flavoured chocolates are a recent (and fancy) invention, think again During festive times, the Aztecs seem to have had a variety of drinking chocolate, with a dash of maize, chilli, aniseed, and even flowers
Pods of pleasure Cocoa beans are encased in the fruit of the cacao tree. The fruit is in the form of a fleshy pod, and each pod contains a few dozen beans. The pulpy fruit or the seeds themselves apparently do not taste anything like chocolate. The seeds acquire this addictive flavour and smell only after they are dried and roasted
That’s a lot African countries Ivory Coast (Cote d’lvoire) and Ghana are among the largest producers of cocoa in the world, accounting for over 50% of the total global production

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What is the 2000 year old pizza Pompeii?

Even the ancient Romans liked their pizza Archaeologists in Pompeii said Tuesday they had found depicted on an ancient fresco the precursor to the modern-day pizza-but without the cheese and tomatoes.

The 2,000-year-old painting- discovered in the middle of a half-crumbled wall during recent digs at the sprawling archaeological site – depicts a silver platter holding a round flatbread, alongside fresh and dried fruits such as pomegranates and dates and a goblet filled with red wine.

What was depicted on the wall of an ancient Pompeian house could be a distant ancestor of the modern dish,” said experts at the archaeological park in a statement.

Pompeii’s director, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, said the newly uncovered fresco shows the contrast between “a frugal and simple meal, which refers to a sphere between the bucolic and the sacred… and the luxury of silver trays and the refinement of artistic and literary representations.”

How can we fail to think, in this regard, of pizza, also born as a ‘poor dish in southern Italy, which has now conquered the world and is also served in starred restaurants,” Zuchtriegel added. AFP

POMPEII’S PAST

A devastating volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 buried the Roman city in thick ash, hiding from view its many treasures that archaeologists continue to slowly bring to light.
Archaeologists estimate that 15 to 20 percent of Pompeii’s population died in the eruption, mostly from thermal shock as a giant cloud of gases and ash covered the city.

WHAT THE EXCAVATION REVEALS…

The fresco is believed to refer to the “hospitable gifts” offered to guests, following a Greek tradition dating to the 3rd to 1st centuries BC and described by imperial Roman-era writers including Virgil and Philostratus.
It reveals an atrium of a house that included an annex with a bakery.
In the working areas near the oven, the skeletons of three victims have been found in the past weeks.

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What is the surprising origin of the word ‘meme’?

In the labyrinth of internet culture, where fad trends dance across screens, .one peculiar term reigns supreme: the “meme.” Surprisingly, the concept of memes did not originate with the internet its roots trace back to the field of evolutionary biology.

And the story goes like this…

English evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkiwns coined the term ‘meme’ in his 1976 book, the Selfish Gene. He proposed a compelling idea in the book: What if ideas behaved akin to living organism, breeding, mutating, and waging a battle for survival within our mind to make a strong impact, imprint or impression? He envisioned these cerebral nations as cultural genes, birthing in the cradle of the mind and traversing far and wide, vying for attention.

He first thought of using the term mimeme, derived from the Greek word denoting “That which is replicated,” intending to describe these replicating ideas. However, he later condensed the term to “meme,” favouring its brevity and its phonetic resemblance to “gene.” He invited a pronunciation similar to “cream,” aiming to unify its sound with the concept of gene.

As language is ever-changing…

Over time, the meaning of “meme” evolved significantly. In today’s context, particularly within the vast realms of the internet, meme refer to pieces of media-images, videos, or phrases- repurposed to convey cultural, social, or political messages, usually employing humour as a tool for expression.

They often convey inside jokes, political satire, social commentary, or simply aim to amuse and entertain audiences worldwide. Moreover, memes operate within a collaborative social framework; their meanings and impact are co-created by multiple users.

Today, memes don’t just exist; they breathe, mutate, and thrive in a collective symphony. Their essence morphs and remixes across digital communities, a collaboration shaping their meaning and impact.

Tardar sauce (pictured here) became an internet celebrity nicknamed grumpy cat after its owner shared its picture on Reddit in 2012. The cat had feline dwarfism and an underbite, which gave her an unusual face. The grumpy cat’s face has become a pop culture staple and spawned many memes and merchandise.

Picture Credit : Google

What is the purpose of earwax?

Earwax which is scientifically referred to as cerumen, protects the ear. How? Read on to find out..

Earwax is vital to the problem-free working of the ears. It is produced by two glands present in the skin of the outer ear canal; the sebaceous glands and apocrine sweat glands. The former exude sebum, an oily substance, which mixes with the secretions of the apocrine glands to make earwax. The scientific name for earwax is cerumen.

Earwax collects the dead skin cells, loose hair follicles and dust that accumulate inside the ear. The ear canal is convoluted, so this waxy debris requires the help of unique migrating cells in the ear to be pushed out. These cells move continuously from the inside of the canal to the outside. They push along the earwax assisted by the natural movements of our jaws when we speak, eat, sneeze and cough. The earwax keeps the canal smooth and prevents harmful microbes from entering the ear. It is also mildly acidic so it holds bacteria and fungi at bay. Earwax discourages small insects from using the ear canal as a suitable dwelling!

Other animals also produce earwax and some, like the blue whale, never throw it out. Scientists discovered a plug of earwax the size of a banana in a blue whale. When it was analysed, it was found to contain 16 different environmental pollutants, such as pesticides.

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Do identical twins have the same fingerprints?

And how are our fingerprints determined? Read on to know the answers

Identical twins form when a single fertilized egg splits into two. Therefore they have the same genetic make-up and their DNA pattern is indistinguishable. Their fingerprints have similar patterns of whorls and ridges, but there are slight differences.

This is because genetics is not the sole determining factor in the development of fingerprints. Fingerprints are determined by the interaction of an individual’s genes with the environment in the womb and factors such as nutrition, position in the womb and the growth rate of the fingers. No two persons can have the same fingerprints.

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What are some interesting facts about mangoes?

Though the summer season is almost over, the love for mangoes is not. Recently, the world’s most expensive mango Miyazaki was showcased in the seventh edition of three-day-long mango festival in West Bengal Let us discover some interesting facts about mangoes.

Origin

Mango, a member of the cashew family, is native to southern Asia, especially Myanmar and Assam. However, today numerous varieties of mangoes are grown in various parts of the world such as Africa Apple mango, Kent mango, Tommy mango, and Ngowe mango, are different varieties of Kenyan mango.

Though the tree is evergreen, the finer varieties of mangoes are grown in a well-marked dry season. The mango trees begin to blossom in the months of March and April. Its scientific name is ‘Mangifera indica.’

Often nicknamed the ‘king of fruits’, the name is likely to have been derived from the Malayalam ‘manna’, which the Portuguese adopted as manga when they came to Kerala in 1498 for the spice trade.

It is said that legendary Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang had carried back stories about the uniqueness of the fruit. There are numerous folk tales around the mango According to one such folk tale, a royal courtesan in the kingdom of Vaishali was named Amrapali because she was found under a mango tree as a baby

Traditional significance

It is an indicator of national happiness and fulfilment Mentions of mangoes can be found in the ‘Puranas’ and epics such as ‘The Ramayana’ and ‘The Mahabharata’

During religious ceremonies mango leaves are hung by a string. It is said that the mango tree provided shade and solace to Gautam Buddha on one of his spiritual journeys.

Nutritional benefit

Mangoes help improve immunity and play an important role in digestion. They are low in calories and are the best choice when reducing calorific intake. They are rich in vitamins A, C and D.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has three outstanding centres involved in mango research: the Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture at Lucknow, the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research at Bengaluru, and the Fruit Research Station at Sangareddy in Telangana.

Story of Alphonso

The Alphonso mango derives its name from Afonso de Albuquerque, a Portuguese military expert who led Portuguese invasions into India in the 1600s. The Portuguese helped in introducing varieties of mangoes in India such as Alphonso. The Alphonso was introduced to the Konkan region in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and parts of south India

It is said that the fruit was shipped for the first time to London for the Queen’s coronation in 1953 from Mumbai’s legendary Crawford Market.

Today, the fruit is exported to several countries, including Britain and the United States. Among the best and most expensive of Alphonso are said to grow on a small Natwarlal plantation in Ratnagiri, and are hand-harvested.

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Did you know Velcro which is used in a number of products today was an accidental invention?

Did you know that the same Velcro that allows you to strap on your floaters in an instant, is also used in the Jarvik-7 artificial heart to attach the chambers? NASA astronauts find Velcro indispensable-it holds down objects which would otherwise float away in zero gravity.  

Swiss engineer Georges de Mestral got the idea for Velcro in 1955, when he hike with his dog. When he returned home, he found innumerable burrs stuck to his coat and socks and to the dog’s fur. Curious, De Mestral examined a burr under a microscope. He discovered that it had tiny hooks on its surface that caught in the loops of the fabric (and animal fur). De Mestral devised a way of reproducing the hook and loop arrangement in woven nylon. He called it Velcro-from the French velours (velvet) and crochet (hook).

Velcro can be reused hundreds of times, sometimes outlasting the product to which it is attached! It is peelable and has enormous shear strength or resistance to sideways forces. A piece less than 1.2 cm square can support a load of 1 tonne! Today Velcro is used in an infinite number of products, comes in various colours and is made not only from nylon but also from steel and plastic.

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What are the interesting facts about Croatia?

Croatia is located in the northwestern part of the Balkan peninsula. The country declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. However, it faced four years of war and a decade of authoritarian nationalism under President Franjo Tudjman.

History

Historically, Croatia was a bridge connecting the central European and Mediterranean worlds.

The first Croats settled here around 500 AD. From 1868 till the end of World War II, it was ruled by Hungary and then it became a part of Yugoslavia.

In the early 1990s, Communism collapsed in eastern Europe. While being part of Yugoslavia, different ethnic groups in the Croatian region began to fight for power and independence.

After Croatia declared its independence in 1991, a civil war began between the Croatians and Serbians. The war came to an end with the signing of the Dayton Agreement in December 1995.

After the fall of Communism in Croatia, the government converted the economy from the Yugoslav system of socialist self-management to market-oriented capitalism.

Geography

The country is small, crescent-shaped, and geographically diverse. It has low mountains and highlands near the Adriatic coastline.

There are flat plains near the Hungarian border. Near the mountainous regions, winters are snowy and the summers are mild. The coastal areas have hot, sunny summers and mild winters. The highest mountain here is Dinara, located in the central mountain belt.

Flora and fauna

Due to the country’s diverse geography, the flora and fauna are also varied. While on the Dalmatian coast, grapes and olives are grown, Istria is covered with firs, and Slavonia has oak forests.

The country has wolves, bears, hares, foxes, boars, wildcats, and mouflons (wild sheep). The sea life in the Adriatic includes several coral reefs, and underwater caves serve as habitats.

People

There are several ethnic groups in the country. Croats are the largest ethnic group. Serbs are the largest minority group though their population decreased after the 1990s war of independence.

The other populations include Bosnian Muslims, Hungarians, Italians, and Slovenes as well as some Albanians, Austrians, Bulgarians, Czechs, Germans, and other nationalities.

The diversity in population has influenced its cuisine. Along the coast, fish is served with blitva, which is a Swiss chard mixed with potatoes and garlic in olive oil.

The country’s literary history dates back to about 1100. The first book in the Croatian language was Hrvoje’s Missal, a liturgical text printed in 1483.

UNESCO has included several sites on its World Heritage List, such as the old city of Dubrovnik and Split, which contains the ruins of the palace of Roman emperor Diocletian.

Sports in Croatis dates back to the Roman times (medieval knights’ tournaments). The organised sport began in the country in late 19th Century, when the first sports associations were founded. In 1874, Hrvatski Sokol (Croatian Falcon) was founded. It soon became the largest organisation in the country promoting modern gymnastics and other branches of sports such as cycling, fencing, equestrianism, athletics, skating, tennis, etc.

Government

By early 2003, Slovenia became the second former Yugoslav republic to have applied for membership in the European Union (EU). On July 1, 2013, the country became the 28th member state of the EU.

The President is elected by a popular vote to a five-year term. However, his role is mainly ceremonial. Though the President appoints the Prime Minister, the parliament approves the nomination.

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When does a paper set on fire doesn’t burn to ash? Let’s find out by an experiment!

What you need:

A lighter or a matchbox, a piece of plain paper, water, rubbing alcohol (70% strength), a glass, a measuring cup, a pair of tongs, adult supervision.

What to do:

In the glass, mix 30 ml of water and 90 ml of rubbing alcohol. Stir the mixture well.

Using the tongs, dip the paper into the mixture. Soak it completely.

Lift the paper out of the liquid and shake off any extra droplets. Stow the glass with the mixture away from your experiment table.

Now, using the lighter or a matchstick, set the bottom part of the paper on fire while still holding it with the tongs.

What happens:

If all goes well, the paper should catch fire but it doesn't bum to ash. In fact, the flame goes out, leaving your paper intact.

 Why?

The key is water. If you had dipped the paper into a pure alcohol solution, the paper would have burnt to a crisp.

But when you ignite the paper that is soaked in a water-alcohol mixture, the water absorbs most of the heat generated by the flame and starts to evaporate. This absorption and evaporation of water does not allow the temperature to rise to the point where the paper starts to burn. Needless to say that if the ratio of the alcohol and water is altered, the paper will burn!

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Can microorganisms blow up balloons?

What you need:

Three small balloons, three packets of yeast, sugar, warm water, three one-litre plastic bottles

What to do:

  • Fill up each bottle with about one inch of very warm water.
  • Put one packet of yeast into each bottle.
  • Now, in the first bottle, put one teaspoon of sugar; in the second one, put two teaspoons, and three teaspoons in the third. Cap all the bottles and shake them well.
  • Open the caps and put the three balloons on the bottles' necks. Leave the bottles undisturbed for a couple of hours.

 What happens:

The balloons begin to inflate in a while. The bottle with the maximum amount of sugar has the most inflated balloon.

 Why?

Yeasts are nothing but a kind of microorganism. They like to feed on sugar. Which is why they are used mostly in baking.

Yeasts require warmth and moisture to become active.

When yeasts begin to feed on sugar, carbon dioxide gas is released. This gas fills the bottle and then inflates the balloon. The more sugar the yeasts get to eat, the more gas they release and the more the balloon inflates.

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Can you use an inverted jar to lift a ball? No lids allowed! Here how you do it.

What you need:

A small ball, a jar with a mouth larger than the ball

  • What to do:
  • Keep the ball on a flat surface, like the floor or a table.
  • Invert the jar over it.
  • Try to pick up the ball with the jar. Can you?
  • Now, start to move the jar in a circle around the ball. Gradually, increase the speed.

What happens:

You can't lift the ball with a stationary jar. But when the jar is moving in a circular motion, the ball also starts to move along the rim until it gradually moves up into the jar. If you continue the circular movement, you can lift the jar right off the table without dropping the ball! This takes a little practice though.

Why?

When the circular motion of the jar is smooth, the ball also begins to move in a circle inside the jar. This happens due to a force called 'centripetal force’.

Centripetal force is the force that acts on a body that is moving in a curved path. While the speed of the ball (and the jars shape) makes it move in a circle, it is centripetal force that keeps it going.

You can lift up the jar when the centripetal force on the ball becomes more than the gravitational force acting on it. Once you slow down or stop rotating the jar, the centripetal force decreases and gravity takes over once more, causing the ball to drop out.

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How to make Candy rocks at home? Let’s find out by an experiment.

It certainly does! And even more if you can make rock-shaped candy at home!

What you need:

A clean wooden stick, water, sugar, a clothes-pin, a tall, narrow glass jar, a pan, food colour (optional), paper towel

 What to do:

Heat water in a pan.  Bring it to a boil. Ask help from an adult for doing this.

Keep adding in sugar to the boiling water one spoon at a time. Wait for one batch to dissolve before you add the next spoon. There will come a time when no more sugar can dissolve into the water. Stop adding the sugar then and allow the water to cool down.

Dip the wooden stick into the sugar solution and then roll it in some sugar (on a plate). Let it dry completely.

If you want, add food colour into the solution, the darker the better. Pour the sugar water into the glass jar filling it almost to the top.

Clip the stick to the clothes-pin. Let the pin rest on the mouth of the jar as the stick is submerged into the sugar water. It should hang straight without touching the sides of the jar.

Leave the jar undisturbed for a week. You can keep monitoring it though. Cover the top with a paper towel to keep dirt out.

What happens:

Sugar crystals start to grow on the stick. By the end of a week, you have candy on a stick!

Why?

You made a ‘super saturated’ solution when you mixed sugar into the water until it could hold no more. Heating the water added to its capacity of letting sugar dissolve. But once the water cooled, it could not hold that much sugar. So it started forming crystals again. More crystals form as the water evaporates.

The reason these crystals form on the stick is because the stick already had some sugar crystals on it which acted as grabbing points for the other crystals.

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Have you ever seen water crossing a bridge on its own? Let’s find out by an experiment.

What you need:

Thick tissue paper towels, three glasses, food colours or poster colours

What to do: Arrange the three glasses in a row.

Fill the glasses on both ends with water, leaving the middle one empty.

Add lots of blue colour to the glass on the left, and to the glass on the right, add yellow.

Fold one of the tissues in half lengthwise and place one end in the first glass and the other end in the second. Make sure the tissue touches the bottoms of both glasses without having its middle stuck up too high in the air. If that happens, you can trim the length of the tissues.

The next tissue is placed in a similar manner between the second and the third glasses.

Leave the arrangement, but make sure to keep checking on it intermittently.

What happens:

In a few minutes, we start seeing the coloured water from both the glasses on the edge, climb up the tissue papers. In an hour (maybe more, depending on the thickness of the tissues), the water crosses the paper bridge and starts dripping into the empty glass. In another hour or so, the water level in the middle glass rises as more water from the other two glasses crosses into it. The water in the middle glass is greenish-a mix of yellow and blue colours.

Why?

Water travels up the tissues through a process called 'capillary action’. Capillary action is the movement of a liquid against gravity, through narrow spaces. This is the same principle that allows water to be absorbed by a tree's roots and transported to its leaves.

In this case, the narrow spaces or capillaries are present in the tissues that absorb water, pull it upward and allow it to flow into the middle glass.

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Can sound travel through empty space? Let’s find out by an experiment.

What you need:

Empty glass bottle with a cap, small bell, short firm wire, adhesive tape, matches, and paper

What you do:

  • Attach the bell to the piece of wire. Fix the opposite end of the wire to the inside of the bottle cap with tape. Check if the bell rings when you shake the wire.
  • Screw the cap onto the bottle. Shake the bottle to ensure that the bell jingles inside without touching the sides of the bottle.
  • Unscrew the cap. Tear the paper into shreds and drop the pieces into the bottle.
  • Light two matches and drop them into the bottle. As soon as you do this, quickly screw on the cap with the bell. (Take the help of an adult to do this step.)
  • Wait till the matches and the shredded paper burn out and the bottle cools.
  • Shake the bottle. Can you hear the bell?
  • Open the cap to let in some air and screw it on again. Shake the bottle again. Can you hear the bell now?

What do you observe?

You can hear the bell faintly immediately after the matches extinguish. After you open the cap and screw it on again, you can hear the bell ring louder.

Why does this happen?

Sound needs a medium like air or water to travel through. Sound waves vibrate the particles of the medium. When these vibrations reach our eardrums, we hear sound.

In the experiment, the burning paper and matches used up the oxygen in the sealed bottle, creating a partial vacuum. As sound cannot travel in a vacuum, you cannot hear the bell well until you let in some air into the bottle.

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What is the importance of camping?

We live in an age of high connectivity, smothered by information online isn't it time to disconnect and recharge? And what better way to do that than in nature? Everything is magical in the wild. The best way to experience the beauty of the wilderness is by going camping. An outdoor activity which involves spending the night in the nature with bare necessities, camping lets one experience the wilderness in all its magnificence. So why not go camping to hill stations during your holidays?

Imagine waking up to a glorious sunrise in the outdoors, as you breathe in the crisp air. Walk barefoot, sinking your feet into the earth. The only sound here might be the sound of a river gurgling or the cackle of birds. The nights are breathtaking, as you sleep under a star-spangled sky, with the stillness of the night getting cut in occasionally by the chirps of crickets. The sky is your roof and the earth is your floor. Where are we? We have come camping!

We live in an age of high connectivity, spending most of our time online. Shouldn't we disconnect and recharge? And what better way to do that than in nature? Everything is magical in the wild. And the best way to experience the beauty of the wilderness is by going camping. An outdoor activity that involves spending the night in nature with bare necessities, camping lets one experience the wilderness in all its magnificence.

A brief history of camping

Thomas Hiram Holding was the founder of modern recreational camping. In 1908, he came up with the first edition of "The Campers Handbook". As a boy, he travelled widely and went on many camping adventures and these provided a base for the books he wrote on camping. He even used a bicycle as his camping vehicle. The book "Cycle and Camp" (1898) was written based on this.

He also founded the first camping club in the world. Christened the "Association of Cycle Campers", the camping club was established in 1901. Come 1907, the club merged with other clubs to form the Camping Club of Great Britain and Ireland. Famous Antarctic explorer Robert Falcon Scott was the first president of the Camping Club in 1909.

Organised camping

However, organised camping started in the U.S. with a boys' camp in 1861. This was run for the students of the Gunnery School for Boys in Washington, Connecticut. It became an instant success and was carried on for 18 years. Soon other similar camps started to be held. In 1888, the first girl’s camp was established on the Thames River in Connecticut. Other youth organisations soon took to camping and made it an integral component of their activities.

Modern camping

Camping has changed over the course of time. It is not just bare necessities that you get at a camp. Recreational camping now provides all the modern amenities. Camping in vehicles a.k.a caravanning (live in a caravan, camper-van) is also preferred by many travellers.

Another type of camping that has caught on is glamping. This falls in the more luxurious and high-end spectrum of camping. Here, you camp in the wild but amidst al the creature comforts such as electricity, running water, mood lighting, comfy blankets, lavish meals, and so on.

But the authentic camping experience is what would help you connect with nature, away from civilisation and come back well refreshed.

Camping checklist

Camping is a fun, adventurous outdoor activity but should not be taken light-heartedly as well.

This is because you will be in the wild and maintaining the unwritten laws of the wild is necessary to have a safe camping trip.

It starts right from the things you wear to how you dispose of the trash generated. If you are a first-timer, then it is advisable that you go camping with a travel company. They can help you pitch the tent and also offer everything needed for camping. Sleeping bags are an essential part of camping trips. They offer a warm and comfortable sleep as it can get much colder at night in nature.

Whilst camping, you will be cooking food on your camping site and you may need a camping stove for that.

Camping chairs, hammocks, and blankets will help you have a relaxed stay in nature. Other essentials you may need to carry include a flashlight, wet wipes for hygiene purposes, quick-drying towels and cloth, power banks, first-aid kits, trash bags, and so on.

*Clothing

What you wear will depend on the season and the type of weather at the destination you are going to. While camping, you will be out in the sun, in the dirt. So always pack moisture-wicking clothes so that you dry faster while outdoors. Carry sunscreen and a sun hat. And if you are camping in the winter, then take appropriate clothing. The trick is to always be ready for the weather. In nature, weather conditions can change unexpectantly and this needs to be taken into consideration while packing essentials.

*Pitching the tent Pick a spot that is not exposed much to the elements of nature. Ensure it has some shade so that it will stand you in good stead in case it were to rain or snow heavily.

*First-aid kit

A first-aid kit is essential on a camping trip. This should include painkillers, antibiotic creams, bandages, gauze, mosquito repellents, medicines for common ailments, and so on. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

Ecological concerns

Whilst out in the wild, ensuring the sanctity of the wilderness is cardinal. The best way to leave no trace is to carry trash bags. When out in the wild and camping, you are sharing the space with many other wild animals.

No trash should be left on your camping site. This is essential for the health of the ecosystem and the wild animals inhabiting the region. Even a tiny plastic article can prove fatal for wild animals.

Why go camping?

The benefits of time spent outdoors are countless and more so when camping. The fresh and clean air can work wonders for your body and the mind and you might feel instantly recharged. There are also chances that you will be away from network connectivity and this will give you time to reflect on yourself, and your goals and can serve as the ultimate social media detox.

Camping can also strengthen the bond between friends and family. It is also a physically enduring activity and you learn new skills such as setting up a tent, tying knots, starting fires, cooking meals, and more. It also helps connect with nature, watch wildlife and experience the natural world in all its glory.

And more than that, you learn the minimalist way of existence, one in line with nature. So why not try camping?

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Scientist make accurate measurements with the help of various measuring tools. Let’s look at a few of them today.

pH Meter

A pH meter is an electric device that measures the concentration of hydrogen ions (or pH) in a solution to determine whether it is acidic or alkaline. It was invented in 1934 by the American chemist Arnold O. Beckman to measure the sourness of lemons.

It consists of a glass electrode that is sensitive to pH and another reference electrode. The device reads the potential difference between the two electrodes to arrive at results that are displayed electronically in the form of a pH value. This knowledge is critical in chemical lab work and healthcare.

Stethoscope

A stethoscope is a diagnostic instrument commonly used by doctors to listen to sounds made inside the human body-in the lungs, heart and pulse points. The device has two ear buds that are connected by a flexible cord to a sensitive sound detector at the other end.

French physician Dr René Laennec first used a cylindrical roll of paper to listen to chest sounds instead of using his ear in the early 19th Century. Later he improved upon this to create the first stethoscope for medical use (‘Stethos' meaning 'chest’ in Greek).

Barometer

A barometer is an instrument that measures the pressure exerted by the weight of the air in the atmosphere.

As changes in atmospheric pressure are directly related to changes in weather, a barometer is a useful instrument at all weather stations.

The device can be also used to measure altitude since atmospheric pressure changes with altitude.

Breathalyser

It is an instrument used to estimate blood alcohol content (BAC) in one's breath. The instrument that is presently used by the police to discourage drinking and driving is a prototype developed by Robert Frank Borkenstein in 1954. The person exhales into a tube attached to the device which then reads the level of alcohol in the sample breath.

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How Edgar Allan Poe inspired Scrabble?

When it comes to classic board games, few have stood the test of time quite like Scrabble. This beloved game has entertained players of all ages and skill levels. It is speculated that the concept of the game was inspired by a short story titled ‘The Gold Bug’ by one of the greatest American writers Edgar Allan Poe.

Welcome to the world of Scrabble, where words reign supreme and strategy is key. For over seven decades, this classic board game has been captivating players with its unique blend of skill and chance. But did you know that Scrabble's origins can be traced back to a short story by the American writer Edgar Allan Poe?

The Great Depression

During the Great Depression of the early 1930s, millions of Americans were struggling to make ends meet and find any kind of relief from the economic downturn. It was during this challenging time that Alfred Mosher Butts, an unemployed architect from New York, began to conceive the idea for a game that could provide a much-needed distraction from the harsh realities of everyday life. Drawing on his own love of puzzles and wordplay, Butts set out to create a game that combined chance, strategy, and language skills, hoping to provide people with a fun and engaging way to pass the time. And thus, the idea for what would become Scrabble was born.

When inspiration strikes

 Butts' childhood fascination with Poe's short story ‘The Gold Bug proved’ to be a key source of inspiration as he began to develop his own word game.

The idea of decoding symbols to uncover a hidden treasure map (which was the basis of the story) resonated with Butts, and he began to experiment with ways to incorporate similar elements into his own game. One idea that particularly intrigued him was the notion of ranking letters by their frequency of use in the English language, as Poe had attempted to do in his story. Butts set out to put together his own ranking system by meticulously counting letters in various publications, including the ‘New York Times’ and ‘The Saturday Evening Post’. After crunching the numbers and devising a complicated grid, Butts determined that the letters e, t, a, o, i, n, s, h, r, d, l, and u were the most commonly used letters, accounting for a staggering 80% of all letters typically used. Using this data as a foundation, Butts went on to create his own word game, one that would go on to captivate players around the world and become a true cultural phenomenon.

The issues that followed

 Butts' road to success was far from smooth, as he spent over a decade tinkering with the rules of his game and trying, unsuccessfully, to secure a corporate sponsor. Despite facing rejection from the Patent Office not once, but twice, Butts persisted in his quest to bring his creation to the masses. He experimented with various names, including the uninspiring "it" and the lacklustre "Lexiko", before settling on "Criss-Cross Words". However, it wasn't until Butts teamed up with James Brunot, a retired American federal officer and social worker, that Scrabble we are familiar with today started to take shape.

Brunot brought his own expertise to the table, redesigning the game, creating the iconic colour scheme, and most importantly, conceiving the name that would become synonymous with wordplay: Scrabble. The game was copyrighted in 1948. Since Brunot breathed new life into Butts' creation, Scrabble has become a global phenomenon. The game is sold in over 120 countries and has been translated into more than 20 languages, with special editions available for those who are visually impaired or prefer magnetic tiles. Such is the game's enduring popularity that April 13 is celebrated annually as National Scrabble Day, in honour of Butts birthday and his legacy as the inventor of one of the most beloved and enduring board games of all time.

When it comes to classic board games, few have stood the test of time quite like Scrabble. This beloved game has entertained players of all ages and skill levels. It is speculated that the concept of the game was inspired by a short story titled ‘The Gold Bug’ by one of the greatest American writers Edgar Allan Poe.

Welcome to the world of Scrabble, where words reign supreme and strategy is key. For over seven decades, this classic board game has been captivating players with its unique blend of skill and chance. But did you know that Scrabble's origins can be traced back to a short story by the American writer Edgar Allan Poe?

The Great Depression

During the Great Depression of the early 1930s, millions of Americans were struggling to make ends meet and find any kind of relief from the economic downturn. It was during this challenging time that Alfred Mosher Butts, an unemployed architect from New York, began to conceive the idea for a game that could provide a much-needed distraction from the harsh realities of everyday life. Drawing on his own love of puzzles and wordplay, Butts set out to create a game that combined chance, strategy, and language skills, hoping to provide people with a fun and engaging way to pass the time. And thus, the idea for what would become Scrabble was born.

When inspiration strikes

 Butts' childhood fascination with Poe's short story ‘The Gold Bug proved’ to be a key source of inspiration as he began to develop his own word game.

The idea of decoding symbols to uncover a hidden treasure map (which was the basis of the story) resonated with Butts, and he began to experiment with ways to incorporate similar elements into his own game. One idea that particularly intrigued him was the notion of ranking letters by their frequency of use in the English language, as Poe had attempted to do in his story. Butts set out to put together his own ranking system by meticulously counting letters in various publications, including the ‘New York Times’ and ‘The Saturday Evening Post’. After crunching the numbers and devising a complicated grid, Butts determined that the letters e, t, a, o, i, n, s, h, r, d, l, and u were the most commonly used letters, accounting for a staggering 80% of all letters typically used. Using this data as a foundation, Butts went on to create his own word game, one that would go on to captivate players around the world and become a true cultural phenomenon.

The issues that followed

 Butts' road to success was far from smooth, as he spent over a decade tinkering with the rules of his game and trying, unsuccessfully, to secure a corporate sponsor. Despite facing rejection from the Patent Office not once, but twice, Butts persisted in his quest to bring his creation to the masses. He experimented with various names, including the uninspiring "it" and the lacklustre "Lexiko", before settling on "Criss-Cross Words". However, it wasn't until Butts teamed up with James Brunot, a retired American federal officer and social worker, that Scrabble we are familiar with today started to take shape.

Brunot brought his own expertise to the table, redesigning the game, creating the iconic colour scheme, and most importantly, conceiving the name that would become synonymous with wordplay: Scrabble. The game was copyrighted in 1948. Since Brunot breathed new life into Butts' creation, Scrabble has become a global phenomenon. The game is sold in over 120 countries and has been translated into more than 20 languages, with special editions available for those who are visually impaired or prefer magnetic tiles. Such is the game's enduring popularity that April 13 is celebrated annually as National Scrabble Day, in honour of Butts birthday and his legacy as the inventor of one of the most beloved and enduring board games of all time.

Picture Credit : Google 

Who invented adhesive tape?

It was American Richard Gurley Drew who came up with the world’s first transparent cellophane adhesive tape in 1930.

The first instance of an adhesive tape was seen in 1845 when Dr Horace Day, an American surgeon, applied rubber glue to strips of cloth to invent surgical tape. Then Johnson & Johnson invented the Band-Aid in 1920.

However, it was a college dropout who came up with a tape that could be used for non-medical purposes. Richard Gurley Drew was a 22-year-old mechanical engineering student when he joined a small sandpaper company called the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (later called 3M Company) as a lab technician.

In the 1920s, two-tone paint jobs were very popular with car owners. Once, Drew was at an auto shop, testing his company’s sandpaper samples when he overheard the auto painters complaining about the difficulty in making a clean border between the two colours. The incident gave him the idea of developing a masking tape, which when laid on the car, would prevent paint from seeping through and also come off clean without spoiling the paint finish and leaving no sticky residue.

It took Drew two years of experimentation to produce the world’s first paper-based adhesive masking tape. During the trials, there was too little adhesive on the tape and it kept falling off. The frustrated auto painter snapped and said, “Take this tape back to those Scotch bosses of yours and tell them to put more adhesive on it!” (‘Scotch’ meant ‘stingy’.) That is how the tape came to be branded as Scotch Tape in 1925.

Scotch Tape was a huge success and Drew followed it up with the world’s first transparent cellophane adhesive tape in 1930. In the U.K., it was called Sellotape.

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What professionals in the field of science risk their lives for a living?

There are many professionals in the field of science who risk their lives for a living. Let’s look at a few such professions today

Many seemingly enviable science jobs are fraught with danger. Members of the bomb disposal squad do heroic service by defusing bombs during terrorist attacks. They are well-trained professionals who have expertise in the field, but if they make a slight mistake, the consequences would be disastrous! Interestingly, bomb disposal or mine clearance experts in the British army are known as ‘Felix because they are like cats with nine lives!

Scientists researching for vaccines against deadly diseases such as Ebola, Marburg or Anthrax willingly put their lives in great danger. Russian scientist Antonina Presnyakova, working on the Ebola vaccine, died after accidentally sticking herself with a needle laced with the virus.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, as many as over 1,000 doctors died in the line of duty in India alone.

In troubled waters

The job of a diver is indeed extraordinary. Deep sea divers face the possibility of fatal injuries when they are under water, because pressure is very high at depths below 90 metres. They also face the risk of drowning if they run out of oxygen supply before making it back to the water surface.

Diver Rob Robbins dives into the frozen depths of the Antarctic for a living! He assists scientists doing underwater research in the Antarctic. Typically, the scientists have to dive under a 4-6 metres thick ice sheet to study the underwater world. Over the years, Rob and his colleagues have rescued at least a dozen scientists. But there have been casualties too. Although Rob acknowledges that losing sight of the ice hole-the exit point can be terrifying, he enjoys his job thoroughly. He loves the stark contrast: above the ice there is nothing alive, only ice. But when you drop through the hole you are treated to a vibrant, colourful world of sea creatures like a deep red starfish or a soft pink coral.

Playing with fire

For a volcanologist, watching an erupting volcano is an exhilarating experience that far outweighs the risks. Many have had a close brush with death while studying volcanoes. Sonia Calvari can never forget September 13, 1989, when she narrowly escaped death in the volcanic eruptions on Mount Etna in Italy.

But French volcanologists Katia and Maurice Kraft were not so lucky. They died along with 41 others when a fast-moving, massive flow of extremely hot gas and rock erupted from the volcano on Mount Unzen in Japan. Katia and Maurice were often the first to arrive at an active volcano for filming and documenting it.

Diving inside n-reactors

American Charlie Vallance’s job involves diving inside nuclear reactors! Nuclear reactors need huge amounts of water in suppression pools to keep the reactor core from melting and also as an emergency coolant. Vallance dives into these massive tanks made of carbon steel to inspect and maintain them. Although water provides a very effective shield against radiation, divers have to take extra precautions while diving into water contaminated with radioactive substances.

Picture Credit: Google 

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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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 the terms which start from ‘Pink’?

Pink noise

The pink noise is a steady background sound. They help calm one and filter out distracting noises such as people talking or the sound of cars. It uses a consistent frequency or pitch. This can also be defined as random noise having equal energy per octave, and thereby having more low-frequency components. Hence most people perceive it as being even or flat. Pink noise is often used to test Loudspeakers.

Pink city

The city of Jaipur is the most colourful city in Iulia. It is fondly called the ‘Pink City’ due to the colour scheme of its buildings: a shade of pink. The city acquired its pink colour during the reign of Maharaja Ram Singh. Back in 1876, the king had the city painted pink, a colour associated with hospitality to welcome the Prince of Wales (later King Edward II) to the city. Ever since then, Pink City gets a fresh coat of paint every 10 years.

Pink slip

The termination notice given to an employee is known as the pink slip. It was originally an American practice to attach a note of discharge along with the pay envelope given to an employee. The Oxford dictionary included the word in 1915.

Pink-headed duck

An elusive bird, the Pink-headed duck is a large diving duck that is believed to be extinct since the 1950s. The species was found in India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The duck was hunted for its unusual plumage. It had a long slender neck, a dark body, a peaked pink head and a pink bill. It lived in marshlands and built its nest in high grass. It is said to have eaten water plants and molluscs. The last confirmed sighting was in 1949.

Pink dolphin

The most popular of river dolphins found in the Amazon river, the Pink dolphin is a very intelligent, friendly and social creature. They eat crabfish, river fish and even turtles. They can turn their heads 180 degrees. An endangered species, it is being threatened by the increase in river traffic and pollution.

Pink eye

A viral infection of the inner lining of the eyelids and the white of the eye, Conjunctivitis is a very contagious disease. Also called Pink eye, you get conjunctivitis when the conjunctiva gets irritated because of allergies or infection. The thin dear tissue that lies over the white part of the eye is called the conjunctiva. The affected person has watery, itchy eyes and develops sensitivity to light. The disease can spread easily through direct contact with eye by eyes or by sneezing or coughing.

Pink Panther

A series of comedy films, the Pink Panther features an inept police detective, Inspector Jacques Clouseaus. It was originally played by Peter Sellers and more recently by Steve Martin. The Pink Panther is a large pink diamond which is so called because a flaw in its centre resembles the image of a panther. The films gave birth to the Pink Panther animated character which has its own series of cartoons.  The first of those series, The Pink Phink, won the 1964 Academy award for Best Animated Short film.

Pink Floyd

An English rock band formed in London in 1965, Pink Floyd is considered the greatest progressive rock hand of all time. With their highly philosophical lyrics, extended compositions and unique sonic experimentations they created a niche for themselves in the music industry. Their albums The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975). Animals (1977) and The Wall (1979) are very popular. The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. These albums along with Wish You Were Here are among the best-selling albums.

Pink

The stage name of an American singer-actress Alecia Beth Moore, Pink has won several Grammy and MTV Video Music Awards. She is hailed for ‘a strong signature voice and a literally acrobatic ability on stage’. ‘Lady Marmalade’, ‘Get the Party Started’ and Trouble’ are some of her most popular songs.

Pink chocolate

You have heard about dark and white chocolate. But what is pink chocolate? Also known as ruby chocolate, pink chocolate was launched by Swiss cocoa giant Barry Callebaut in 2017. This chocolate has a reddish-pink hue and a fruity berry-like flavour. It’s not as sweet as milk chocolate. It has no food colour or berry flavour added to it. Its pink colour comes from a powder extracted during the processing and is claimed to be the first new natural colour for chocolate since Swiss food company Nestle introduced white chocolate more than 80 years ago. Pink chocolate is made from the Ruby cocoa bean, a new type of cocoa bean discovered by Barry Callebaut. These beans are found in different regions of the world including Brazil, Ecuador and the Ivory Coast in Africa. They’re completely natural and not genetically modified. Its unique attributes were unlocked through an innovative process that took 13 years to develop.

Pink lake

Picture this. A lake that is pink in colour. Lake Hillier in Middle Island, in the Recherche Archipelago off Australia’s south coast, has water that resembles a strawberry milkshake. It is a shallow lake with brilliant pink water that is nearly opaque and highly salty. It is about 1.6 km long and about a third as wide. At first, it was thought that the algae that grow in the Lake were responsible for creating the pink colour. But now that this theory has been disproved. Why the lake has pink water remains a mystery.

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What are the terms which start from Blue?

Blue moon

When there are two full moons in the same calendar month, the second full moon is “the blue moon.” The interval between full moons is about 29.5 days. This makes it very unlikely that any given month will contain two full moons, though it does sometimes happen. There will be approximately 41 months that have two full moons in every century, so we could say that once in a blue moon is once every two-and-a-half years! If something happens’ once in a blue moon, it means that it is a rare occurrence.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a wireless technology that makes it possible for computers, phones and other devices to exchange data over short distances (about 10 metres) without any wires or cables. It uses radio waves. Ericsson, the mobile communication company invented this inexpensive technology. The funny name Bluetooth originated from a Viking king. Harald Blåtand (translated as Bluetooth in English). He united Norway and Denmark in the 10th Century. Just like Bluetooth unites devices.

Blue Lady

It was a French cruise liner considered second only to the Titanic. When at sea, she was a grand ship, with beautiful restaurants, a sparkling swimming pool and luxurious cabins. However, after around 45 years of sailing, she was retired and brought to Alang in Gujarat to be dismantled. Environmentalists objected, saying she had a lot of asbestos and radioactive material, and would endanger health of the workers. The matter was then taken to the Supreme Court which allowed the Blue Lady to be dismantled at Alang.

Blue blood

It denotes aristocratic or royal birth. When the Moors conquered Spain in the 8th Century, a group of Spanish aristocrats took refuge in the mountains of Castile in the northern part of the country. The Moors were a dark-skinned people: the Spaniards fair. Over the centuries, due to intermarriage between the conquerors and the conquered, Spaniards began to acquire a darker hue. However, the aristocrats of Castile were determined to preserve their colour which had once set them apart from the Moors. They stayed indoors as much as possible fearing that exposure to the sun would darken their skin. As a result, many of them became very pale and their veins became visible. The bright blue colour of the veins earned them the nickname ‘Blue Bloods.’ In today’s parlance, anyone of high birth qualifies for the term, ‘blue blood.’

Blue tit

The blue tit uses its short stout bill to pluck insects off leaves and twigs and for hammering open pine seeds to get at the larvae living inside. In some European towns, blue tits have learnt to open milk bottles left on the doorstep by milkmen and drink the milk!

Blue Train

The Blue Train, which runs between Pretoria and Cape Town in South Africa, is virtually a five-star hotel on wheels. It is one of the most luxurious trains in the world that offers each passenger a private suite with top-class amenities. Its glare-proof windows are tinted with gold!

Blue helmet

The blue beret is a light blue coloured soft cap worn by the personnel employed by the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations around the world. These characteristic blue caps or helmets are notably known as the Blue Berets or Blue Helmets. A UN peacekeeping operation is aimed at enabling war-torn countries to create conditions for lasting peace.

Blue collar

Employees whose jobs involved manual labour were traditionally required to dress in blue overalls/shirts, hence they were called blue-collar worker, while those engaged in office tasks had to wear white dress shirts.

Blue pencil

it is traditionally used to censor a text. 

Blue baby

A blue baby develops a bluish skin because of decreased oxygen in its blood due to a defect in its heart or blood vessels.

Blue helmet

The blue beret is a light blue coloured soft cap worn by the personnel employed by the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations around the world. These characteristic blue caps or helmets are notably known as the Blue Berets or Blue Helmets. A UN peacekeeping operation is aimed at enabling war-torn countries to create conditions for lasting peace.

Blue whale

The blue whale is the largest animal on the planet reaching up to 29.9 metres in length and weighing up to 199 tonnes. It belongs to a class known as ‘baleen whales’. Instead of teeth, the whale has thin plates called baleen or whalebone. The inside of the plates is lined with brush-like fibres that filter food. The blue whale mainly feeds on plankton and shrimps.

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What is meaning of term ‘Superfoods’?

Superfoods refer to a variety of foods many of them plant-based -said to be packed with nutrition The likes of blueberries, salmon, and kale are often part of what are called superfoods While discussing superfoods it is good to remember that the word is neither an official attestation by any government nor a medically proven label for the types of foods labelled so. In fact many consider the word a marketing ploy to sell specific kinds of food. Rather than try to stick to foods falling under the superfoods category, nutritionists urge us to consume a variety of foods that cover reasonable amounts of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, fish, meat, dairy, etc. since all these together provide us with a range of nutrients. While choosing what we eat, it is always wise to go in for natural and organic foods and those free of chemicals and carcinogens (cancer-causing agents). Such foods are far kinder to both humans and our planet than their processed counterparts.

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What is meaning of term ‘Microbeads’?

Microbeads refer to plastic particles so tiny that they are not larger than five mm in diameter. Since they are made of plastic, they are solid and do not dissolve in water. If they are so tiny, what’s their use? You’ll be surprised at how extensively they are used-in everything from face wash and shower gels to bodyscrub as exfoliants (agents that remove dead cells from the surface of the skin). They are used in toothpastes too. Useful they are but microbeads are just as harmful. Due to their tiny size, they escape wastewater treatment systems and enter waterbodies, including rivers and oceans. There they are consumed by marine creatures, and eventually, by humans through seafood.

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What is meaning of term ‘Dark energy’?

All these years scientists have been trying to unravel the mysteries of the universe. But in vain. The universe and its vastness cannot be comprehended by the human eye. nor by the human mind. What else is possible: what else is out there? We look up for answers, into the vast cosmic ocean. Did you know that what we comprehend is just four percent of what is there in the universe? All of that you can see, touch and experience just contribute to less than 5 percent of the whole universe. What’s the rest? The rest is just dark. Dark matter makes up for 27 percent of the universe, and 68 percent is dark energy. Dark energy is still an enigma as is the universe. It is something that scientists have not been able to find an answer to. Albert Einstein was the first to postulate that the empty space is not ‘nothing.’ He added the cosmological constant and said the universe is static (neither expanding nor contracting). He later agreed that the universe is expanding. We now know that it’s only accelerating and not slowing down due to gravity. One explanation is that it is the dark energy that drives this accelerated expansion. There is a dark force that is pulling galaxies apart and results in a faster expansion rate. It is a kind of cosmic repulsive force that makes up the dominant component of the universe which is called the dark energy.

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What is meaning of term ‘Gene editing’?

Gene editing is all about making changes in your DNA sequence and thereby altering the genetic makeup. In other words, you customise your genetic makeup. So how is this carried out? Gene editing is performed using enzymes. Nucleases, which are enzymes are engineered to target a specific DNA sequence and cuts are introduced into the DNA strands by them. This aids in removing existing DNA sequences and inserting the replacement DNA. Gene editing will go a long way in targeting specific genes and thereby enable efficient treatment of diseases, according to doctors. With this, the genetic material gets added, removed, or altered in specific locales of the genome. It was in the late 1900s that the first gene editing technologies were developed. At present scientists use a tool called CRISPR to edit the DNA. But with this giant leap in medicine, there also come questions of ethical and social implications of genetically ‘engineering’ mankind. Should physical traits like eye colour or skin colour be altered?

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Mathematical concepts you can pick up from football

The whole world was in a frenzy duiring the FIFA World cup that took place in Qatar in November-December 2022. All of us were glued to our television screens and rooting for our favourite teams. But did you know that while watching football, you can also spot many elements of maths?

In this article, we will tell you how football and maths have an interesting correlation between them and how many great footballers apply mathematical concepts of geometry, speed-distance-time, and calculus on the field to score goals for their team.

Tiki-taka strategy

This is a systematic approach to football which relies on team unity and a comprehensive understanding in the geometry of space on a football field. Many times, to increase their ball possession, football players try to form triangles all over the field which makes it difficult for the opposing team to win the ball. This strategy is called tiki-taka. This approach was used by Spain in 2010 and was instrumental in their World Cup win. The next time you are on the playground, you can try incorporating tiki-taka to win the game against your opponent.

Measurements and units

Maths is also essential when it comes to the shape and dimension of the pitch. Thus, measurements and units are also used in football. The preferred size for many professional teams’ stadiums is 105 by 68 metres (115 yd x 74 yd) with an area of 7,140 square metres (76,900 sq ft). Notice the various units being used here? Amazing, isn’t it?

Strategising based on data

Your favourite team probably has a set of mathematicians or statisticians who work along with the coaches and players to come up with successful strategies based on the data they collect after observing matches that the team plays. An example here would be if two players pass the ball 300 times to each other on average, what kind of advantage can the opposition gain by reducing their total number of passes to 100?

Voronoi diagrams

Voronoi diagrams are friends of every coach. These diagrams help them find the shortest distance to reach a landmark. They help coaches analyse and understand the defence that the team leaves open, helps them find new angles from which they can attack, and helps them gauge how well the players use space.

Let us now make a Voronoi diagram. Take two points A and B, their perpendicular bisector contains all the points that are equidistant from them. You will see the points in one region are closer to A and the other to B. You now have your Voronoi diagram. Add another point Cand follow the same process to get another Voronoi diagram.

Penalty patterns

Goalkeepers also use maths when they want to save penalties. Several players follow a pattern while shooting their penalty shots. Goalkeepers always perform an analysis of the previous shot of the players which puts them in a better situation to predict the next shot and be prepared to stop the opposing team from scoring a goal.

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What is the Attari-Wagah retreat ceremony?

Do you know that booking for witnessing the Attari-Wagah retreat ceremony on India-Pakistan international border goes online?

If you have been following the news, you might have read that booking for the Attari-Wagah retreat ceremony can be made online. The online booking facility opens on Jan 1, 2023. What is this ceremony and when can it be watched? Let’s find out.

A daily ceremony

The Attari-Wagah front is along the India-Pakistan international border in Punjab. The Attari-Wagah retreat ceremony the daily national flag lowering and retreat ceremony taking place along the border. It is open for viewing by visitors. Symbolising rivalry as well as brotherhood and cooperation between the two nations, the purpose of the Attari-Wagah retreat ceremony is to formally close the gate at the border for the night. The Border Security Force (BSF) that guards the frontier conducts the event. The Attari border front, also called the joint check post or JCP, is located about 26 km from Amritsar city, and hundreds of domestic visitors and foreign tourists watch the daily ceremony conducted in a synchronised manner by smartly-dressed BSF personnel along with their counterparts, the Pakistan Rangers, on their side known as Wagah.

The background

India and Pakistan have been traditionally hosting the evening flag-lowering ceremony on the Attari-Wagah border since 1959 and the event is attended by people from both the countries on their respective sides. The ceremony which starts between 3.30 and 4 every evening lasts 60-120 minutes. The synchronised ceremony involves lowering of the flags of the two countries, foot stomping manoeuvres of the troops and loud shouts with patriotic songs being played in the background on either side. The ceremony ends with a retreat after a brief handshake between the soldiers on both sides.

Web portal launched

At present, people reach the retreat area without prior booking and the BSF allows them to take seats in the gallery on producing an ID card. A web portal for people desiring to witness the joint retreat le ceremony in person – http://attari.bsf.gov.in – has been launched by the BSF.

Online booking can be made from January 1 onwards. The new facility is not chargeable and visitors will be initially allowed to book 12 persons in one group, 48 hours prior to the desired day, after furnishing photo ID card details online. The booking details will be sent through an SMS to the mobile number of the group leader or the first visitor listed.

The BSF has now numbered the seats in the viewing gallery so that it can hold about 20,000-25,000 visitors daily. The online booking will also allow the tourists to visit the BSF museum and border pillar No. 102 that is erected next to the Attari border gate.

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How do erasers remove pencil marks from paper?

When a person writes, graphite particles wear off the pencil tip.

Erasers are used to remove the graphite marks made while writing on paper with a pencil. Erasers are generally made of ‘sticky’ substances like plastic, rubber, vinyl, gum, etc

When a person writes, graphite particles wear off the pencil tip and get interlocked with paper molecules. The soft action of the eraser causes the graphite particles to stick to it instead of the paper, as graphite has a stronger attraction to the eraser molecules than to paper. The ‘dust left over after rubbing consists of worn rubber clumps mixed with graphite particles. Some types of erasers tend to remove the top layer of paper along with the graphite particles and rubbing the same spot repeatedly can make holes in the paper.

Did you know graphite has a stronger attraction to the eraser molecules than to paper?

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Are humans the only species with chins?

Humans are the only animals on earth with chins. The chin could be a “spandrel” or evolutionary by-product. It may be the result of the human face shrinking over time as our posture straightened and our faces shortened, or a remnant from a period of longer jaws.

The chin isn’t just the lower part of your face: It’s a specific term for that little piece of bone extending from the jaw. While it may seem odd, humans are in fact the only animals that have one. Even chimpanzees and gorillas, our closest genetic cousins, lack chins. Instead of poking forward, their lower jaws slope down and back from their front teeth. Even other ancient hominids, like the Neanderthals, didn’t have chins —their faces simply ended in a flat plane.

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What is the basic of basics of birdwatching?

Birdwatching is an interesting, exciting as well as a relaxing hobby for children. But do you know the basics of birdwatching? Read on to find out what we need to do when on a birding trail in this first of a five-part series.

Oodles of patience, hours of silent observation and no sudden movements – these are the prerequisites of birdwatching.

So you’ve bought your first pair of binoculars (if that’s a mouthful, let’s stick to binns or binocs!). Congratulations! I hope you have worn your dullest, darkest clothes, because birds have good eyesight and can spot bright yellows, reds and blues from a mile away. That’s a green signal for them to scoot!

Locate the bird

First locate the bird with the naked eye when it flies and settles on a branch, and then focus your binocs on the spot. Birds usually sit high up in the canopy or flit amidst dense foliage, so it might be a while before you see one clearly.

Pointing your finger and letting out a screech of joy when you spot it to let others know, are strict no-nos. Birds think you are about to shoot at them if you lift your hand up suddenly. Their hearing is sharp too, which is why birdwatching is best done in very small groups.

You might think that following the sound of a calling bird would give away its hiding place, but be warned! Most birds are master ventriloquists so while you focus on a spot in front of you, the bird might be trilling away happily behind your back!

Peak hours for avian traffic

The time between sunrise and 10 a.m. are the peak hours for avian traffic. You will hear the maximum number of bird calls then and see them out in the open as they search busily for insects, berries and flower nectar.

The activity tapers off gradually by noon. In the stillness of the afternoon, birds sit quietly in the shade of the leaves and there is nary a movement to tell you that a little fella is perched on the twig near your nose!

By four o’clock or thereabouts, there is a stirring, a rustling and a hunting for a quick evening snack. And then there is a great flying to and fro as the birds return to their roosting spots for the night. That is a good time to watch them, too, but the fading light often plays spoilsport and all you can see sometimes are silhouettes.

However, despite tired arms, aching neck and sore eyes, it’s all been worth it, because you saw your very first Asian paradise flycatcher in flight, weaving in and out among the leaves like a ghost, his long white tail gleaming in the dim light…

Birding app

Novice birdwatchers need not worry. The Merlin Bird Id app is a truly amazing, easy-to-use aid in identifying a bird by its appearance, calls, songs and the area and month one sees it!

Developed by Cornell Lab of Ornithology, New York, the free-to-download app has different ‘bird packs’ which list all the likely birds that can be seen in a particular country or region of the world, including oceans! There are photos, too.

Useful tips

  • Most sanctuaries and national parks conduct birdwatching trails. One of the best times to watch birds is when the trees have shed their leaves.
  • Wear dull-coloured clothes that merge with the surroundings. Avoid any jerky or noisy movements that would disturb a bird.
  • Carry a pair of binoculars with you. A spotting scope would be ideal as you get an upright image unlike the inverted image you get in a telescope
  • Take an illustrated field guide (or get hold of Dr. Salim Ali’s “Book of Indian Birds”) to help you to identify unfamiliar birds.
  • Ideally, familiarise yourself with the birds in the region before starting the trail. For this, read about their physical features, calls, habitat and the time of the day when you are most likely to see them.

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What is microsleep?

It occurs when a person is sleep deprived, tired, or suffering from a sleep disorder. Microsleep is a common cause of car accidents when an exhausted driver falls asleep at the wheel while driving.

It is a brief, involuntary episode of sleep lasting from a fraction of a second to several seconds. Microsleep occurs when a person is sleep deprived, mentally fatigued, depressed or suffering from a sleep disorder.

Microsleep can happen anytime, anywhere. Often, the person is so tired that he does not even realise that he has missed a few seconds of wakefulness. He may feel temporarily spaced out and not react to external factors like a traffic light.

Though it is a matter of a few seconds, microsleep is very dangerous if it occurs insituations when the person has to be constantly alert such as while driving, flying an aeroplane, or operating heavy machinery. Microsleep is a common cause of car accidents when an exhausted driver falls asleep at the wheel while driving and wakes up too late to avoid a collision or negotiate a curve on the road. Microsleep can affect your performance in school too. If you are sleep deprived, it is possible that microsleep could spell trouble while writing the exam paper.

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What is milk paint?

Milk paint dries in less than half an hour, compared with the days needed for oil-based paints to dry.

Did you know that in 2017, the exterior walls of the 15th-Century Belvedere Palace near St. Peters Square in Vatican City, were touched up using milk paint? The milk was mixed with slaked lime and natural pigments to create the original cream colour used in the 1500s and then hand-patted onto the walls!

Milk paint is not new-it has been used for thousands of years. It is not premixed like oil and acrylic paints, but comes in the form of a powder. The powder contains milk protein or casein, lime and natural earth or mineral pigments. It is mixed with water and then used like regular paint. It is sold as a powder because the paint begins to spoil once it is mixed with water.

Milk paint dries in less than half an hour, compared with the days needed for oil-based paints. It doesn’t require priming or sanding before application. It is non-toxic and almost fume-free. It also produces a unique mottled finish that can be lightly sanded for a shine.

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How do erasers remove pencil marks from paper?

Erasers are made of sticky substances like plastic, rubber, vinyl and gum. Erasers are used to remove the graphite marks made while writing on paper. They are generally made of sticky substances like plastic, rubber, vinyl, gum, etc.

When a person writes, graphite particles wear off the pencil tip and get interlocked with paper molecules. The soft abrasive action of the eraser causes the graphite particles to stick to it instead of the paper, as graphite has a stronger attraction to the eraser molecules than to paper. The ‘dust’ left over after rubbing consists of worn rubber dumps mixed with graphite particles. Some types of erasers tend to remove the top layer of the paper along with the graphite particles and rubbing the same spot repeatedly can make holes in the paper.

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WHAT IS A MUSHROOM ROCK?

A rock that is shaped like a mushroom! What’s interesting is how the rock gets that shape. The strong winds blowing across desert landscapes erode the base of massive boulders more than the top. Over many years, this results in a thin stem supporting a broad cap – a mushroom rock.

Mushroom rock is a naturally occurring rock with the shape of a mushroom. The rocks are deformed in a variety of ways due erosion and weathering, glacial action, and sudden disturbances. Mushroom rocks are generally formed due to such deformations. We will learn about mushroom rocks associated with wind Erosional Landforms/ Aeolian Landforms.

  • Mushroom Rock, also known as a perched rock or pedestal rock, is a boulder balanced on a pinnacle rock or over another boulder or in some other position.
  • Rainwash generally removes the fine debris from around the boulder, causing some elevated rocks to develop.
  • Mushroom rocks are usually found with a strong capping and crumbling or exudation along their edges.
  • these types of rocks are generally found in deserts.

Formation of Mushroom Rocks

  • In mushroom rocks, the wind-carried sand rarely rises more than three or four feet above the ground, although the concentration of the sand is highest at eighteen inches closest to the ground.
  • As a result, the sandblast or abrasion effect will be greatest at or near the ground level.
  • The upstanding rocks at their bottoms are undercut by continued abrasive action, resulting in Rock pedestal or Mushroom rocks.

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What is the History of the ampersand symbol (&)?

An ampersand (&) is a symbol that represents the conjunction ‘and’. An alteration of ‘and per se and’, this sign is simply the product of combining the letters e and t, Latin (et) for the conjunction. It was first used in Roman cursive writing dating back to the first century A.D.

First historical record

Author Keith Houston in his book Shady Characters: The Secret Life of Punctuation, Symbols & Other Typographical Marks claims that this symbol made its first appearance in historical records after being found on an unearthed graffiti from the ruins of Pompeii – a city in ancient Rome which was buried in volcanic ash following the eruption of the Mount Vesuvius in 79 A. D.

Repetitive recitation

In 19th Century Britain, school children reciting the alphabet would include the ampersand as the 27th letter.

At the time, it was customary to recite the Latin phrase ‘per se’ (which means by itself) before any letter that could also be used as a word in itself (like A, I and &). So their daily alphabet rendering would end with: X, Y, Z and per se and. Over time this phrase was slurred to ampersand and it entered the common vocabulary around 1837.

National Ampersand Day

This day was established by American author, designer and typographer Chaz Desimone in 2015, due to his preception of the ampersand sign as an art form. He introduced this day to pay homage to the illustrious history of this symbol, which is also a central motif in his fun art projects and initiatives. Therefore, September 8 is annually celebrated as National Ampersand Day in the U. S.

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Nobel Prize: Some interesting facts

Since 1901, the Nobel prizes have been awarded to men, women and organisations for work that has led to great advances for mankind, in line with the wishes of inventor Alfred The winners of this years prizes are being announced daily from October 3 to October 10. Here are some interesting facts about the prizes and their creator

A misunderstanding?

On April 12, 1888, Alfred Nobel’s elder brother Ludvig died in Cannes, France. But newspaper Le Figaro mixed up the brothers and announced Alfred’s death on its front page under a rather inflammatory headline: “A man who can hardly be called a benefactor of humanity died yesterday in Cannes. He is Nobel, inventor of dynamite”. Many credit this slight as the inspiration for Nobel’s creation of the prizes, pointing to the wording in his will that the awards should go to those who “have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind”.

“But we can only imagine” that this is what happened because the incident is not mentioned in his correspondence, his biographer Ingrid Carlberg said. As for the visitors who came to offer their condolences at the inventor’s Parisian mansion, they were surprised to be greeted by a very much alive Alfred, as reported by Le Figaro the following day.

A fortune for a Nobel

The Nobel Prizes come with a tidy prize sum, currently set at 10 million kronor ($895,000) per discipline, along with an 18-carat gold medal.

Auction surprise

The 2021 Peace Prize laureate, Dmitry Muratov, turned his gold disc into a fortune to benefit Ukrainian children displaced by the war. In June, his 196-gram medal including 150 grams of gold-sold at auction for a whopping $103.5 million to an anonymous philanthropist. That smashed the previous record for a Nobel medal 21-fold.

Posthumous awards

Since 1974, the statutes of the Nobel Foundation stipulate that the prize may not be given posthumously. But a person may be awarded if she or he dies between the time of the announcement in October and the formal prize ceremony in December. Before the change, only two people had won a Nobel posthumously. One was Dag Hammarskjold, the Swedish secretary general of the United Nations who died in a plane crash in 1961 but was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize later the same year. And in 1931, the Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded posthumously to another Swede. Erik Axel Karlfeldt. In 2011, the medicine prize committee selected Ralph Steinman of Canada, unaware that he had passed away just three days before the prize announcement. Nevertheless, the foundation decided to give him the award.

New prizes

With 120 years under their belt and a name associated throughout the world with excellence, the Nobel prizes are considered the creme de la creme of awards. But some critics consider them to be archaic, often honouring discoveries made decades ago and not taking into account newer scientific fields. The Right Livelihood Award was therefore created in 1980 by a German-Swedish philanthropist after the Nobel Foundation refused to create two new prizes for the environment and international development. Finland created the one-million-euro Millennium Technology Prize in 2002 to recognise the role technology plays in solving global challenges, while the $1 million Kavli Prizes in Norway have since 2008 honoured discoveries in the fields of astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience. But the richest prize of them all is the most recent one, the Breakthrough Prize created in 2010 by a group of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. Dubbed the “Oscars for Science, they come with a cheque for $3 million. more than three times the winnings of a Nobel Prize AFP.

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Which is the world’s shortest flight?

You might have heard about the longest flight. But what about the shortest flight? It could very well take you longer to read this story than to complete a ride on the world’s shortest passenger flight.

Scottish regional airline – Loganair flight LM711 – holds the title of being the world’s shortest regular commercial flight connecting two of the Orkney Islands of Scotland. Covering a distance of 1.7 miles in less than two minutes, it is a regular commercial flight connecting two of the Orkney Islands of Scotland.

According to Guinness World Records, the little aircraft covers a total distance of 1.7 miles, which is almost the same length as the runway at Edinburgh Airport, in about 90 seconds. However, it can take less than 53 seconds on a good day. It is flown by a single pilot and has seating for eight passengers. There are no in-flight facilities so if you need the toilet you have to control the urge.

The flight has been operating since 1967. In 2016, it honoured its millionth flier – Anne Randall, a Royal Bank of Scotland banker.

Every day, the flight makes two to three trips from Westray, an island on the edge of the Orkney archipelago, to a smaller remote island of Papa Westray.

The two-minute flight is the lifeline for residents of the four-square-mile island. Besides, it is also popular with travellers as every year during summer tourists throng the island to discover Papa Westray and experience the plane ride.

For the two-minute ride, you need to reach Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney, and take about a quarter-hour-long flight to Westray. The cost of a one-way ticket is around $22. The alternative to the shortest flight is a rocky boat ride that can take around 20 minutes. There are no in-flight facilities in this 90-second flight for eight passengers flown by a single pilot.

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Why do we get ‘prune fingers and toes’ after swimming for a long time?

After prolonged exposure to water, the skin on our fingertips and toes tends to shrivel up, making them look like dry, wrinkly prunes (a kind of plum). But unlike prunes which shrink when they lose moisture, our skin becomes wrinkled because it absorbs water.

Our skin is made up of several layers. The outer layer of the skin is mostly made up of dead cells that help protect the body. These cells contain a protein called keratin, the same protein which is present in our nails and hair. On our palms and soles, the quantity of keratin in the cells is higher, which makes the skin in these areas thicker and tougher.

The outer layer of the skin is covered by an oily substance called sebum which keeps water out of the skin. When we swim in the pool for a long time, the layer of sebum gets washed off leaving the skin exposed to water.

The keratin-rich skin on our palms and soles tends to absorb more water than skin on the other body parts. Thus, the skin swells up and becomes puffy, but cannot expand too much as it is attached to the layer beneath and shrinks instead, resulting in prune fingers and toes.

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How does howrah bridge stands without any support of pillars?

Howrah Bridge is a long and heavy bridge but it has no support in the centre. Rabindra Setu, popularly known as Howrah Bridge, links the cities of Howrah and Kolkata. It is a 705-metre long cantilever bridge. A cantilever is a structure that juts out way beyond its base. The branch of a tree is a natural cantilever, a beam of metal jutting out from a wall to support a balcony is a cantilever, the diving board of a swimming pool may be a cantilever. In all these examples, the support exists only at one end. In a cantilever bridge, the cantilever juts out over the river from a supporting structure known as a pier. A similar cantilever juts out from a supporting structure on the opposite side of the river. The two arms meet to form the spanof the bridge. The piers at either end of the bridge support the load that a cantilever bridge has to carry so there is no need for a support in the centre.

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Can peacocks fly with their tails?

Peacocks can fly, despite their long trains (tail feathers) which make up 60% of their body. The average peacock spends only 2% of its time in flight. Flight serves primarily as a defence mechanism; peacocks launch themselves vertically into the air to escape into the canopies of trees to evade predators and to nest safely during the evenings. If a predator grabs the train, the long feathers pull out easily, so that the peacock can fly away. This national bird of India is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

When you look at the long tail flowing behind a flying peacock, you might be perplexed as to how they manage to lift themselves off the ground. Technically, their actual tail has only about 20 feathers. However the “train” that is made up of the elongated feathers that drape over the tail can have more than 200 feathers and is about 5-6 feet long!

Surely this mass of 200 extra long feathers trailing behind them must hinder their flight ability. However, scientists believe it actually has no significant effects. In a study carried out by Dr. Askew of the University of Leads, peacock tails were clipped to confirm its effect on their flight.

Surprisingly, peacocks with clipped tails still struggled to take off from the ground, and their flight was similar to when they had full tails. This has lead researchers to believe that the gigantic plumage has little effect on a peacocks ability to fly.

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What is Lumosity Brain Training game?

Lumosity Mobile is a fun, interactive way to train your brain and learn how your mind works. The app’s 50+ games and daily workouts test your cognitive skills and adapt as you improve. Categories for the games include: memory, attention, problem-solving, logic, math, words, flexibility and speed. Begin with a Fit Test to obtain your baseline, complete daily workouts and track your performance. The app gives you an analysis about your game strengths and weaknesses to see where you need improvement and monitor your progress. The app has been created by a team of scientists and university researchers on a mission to advance the understanding of human learning and understanding. Free for iOS and Android.

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DID YOU KNOW THAT BONDAGE HAD ITS BEGINNINGS IN AMERICAN EARLE DICKSON’S KITCHEN?

When American Earle Dickson married in 1917, he discovered that his new bride Josephine was so clumsy in the kitchen that she cut herself umpteen times a day. Being a solicitous husband, Dickson I would rush to her aid with gauze and sticking tape. Soon, Dickson thought of a better idea. He placed small strips of gauze in the centre of the pieces of sticking tape and then lined the tape with crinoline (a stiff fabric) so that it wouldn’t stick to itself. He re-rolled the tape so that Josephine could unwind and cut off whatever she needed. Dickson worked at Johnson & Johnson, which produced cotton and gauze bandages for hospitals and the military. They were impressed with his idea, but the first versions of the bandage they made did not sell very well because they were too big.

Eventually Band-Aid was popularised by distributing them free to Boy Scouts. The company also began machine-cutting them in different sizes in 1924. By 1939, Band-Aid was sterilised, and in 1958, a completely waterproof version was in the market. Today, the company sells millions of dollars worth of the little sticking plasters every year.

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WHAT ARE THE FUN FACTS ABOUT MAMMALS?

Mammals are vertebrates – animals that have a backbone. This means that all mammals have a bony skeleton inside their bodies, which gives them a strong frame. They usually have two pairs of limbs, and organs such as a heart, lungs, stomach and intestine. They come in all shapes and sizes and live in a huge variety of places, from the frozen Arctic wasres to the hottest deserts on Earth.

Of all the different types of animals, mammals are the ones that humans can relate most closely to. This is because humans are just one of the many species of mammals. So what are their characteristics? How are they alike and what are their differences?

They Produce Milk

All mammals have mammary glands, which are used to provide milk for their young. Mammary glands are made up of glandular tissue and ducts and develop from the sweat glands. While many have nipples that allow their young to nurse, one family of mammals, known as monotremes, secrete milk through ducts rather than nipples.

In nearly all mammals, the female is the only one who feeds the young. This means that the nipples of the male, while present, are underdeveloped. In a few species of mammals, such as the Bismarck masked flying fox and Dayak fruit bat, both the male and female are capable of producing milk and both will help care for the young.

They Are Warm-Blooded

A warm-blooded animal is better able to regulate its internal temperature, making it more resilient to outside threats. While a cold-blooded reptile requires a certain external temperature to function, warm-blooded mammals can maintain their body temperature through diet and other methods.

They Have a Four-Chambered Heart

One characteristic of mammals that you cannot see is their four-chambered heart. Reptiles and amphibians have three-chambered hearts, while fish have hearts with two chambers. Birds and mammals are the two classifications of vertebrates that have four chambers.

With a four-chambered heart, the body can easily keep the deoxygenated blood heading to the lungs separate from the oxygen-rich blood heading away from the lungs. This means the animal has fully oxygenated blood available at all times. By having constant access to a well-oxygenated supply of blood, mammals are able to physically exert themselves more fully and without the need for frequent breaks.

Most Replace Their Teeth Once Over Their Lifetime

With the exception of a few mammals, such as kangaroos and manatees, mammals replace their teeth once over their lifetime. Born with deciduous teeth, these fall out to make room for the primary teeth. If they lose a primary tooth, it doesn’t grow back. This contrasts with animals such as alligators and sharks, that can replace teeth throughout their life.

Their Lower Jaw is Made of a Single Bone

In other classes of vertebrates, the lower jaw is made up of several bones and is not attached to the skull. The mammal’s jaw is made of a single bone, attached to the skull. This solid structure gives the mammal’s jaw tremendous power.

They are Protected by Hair

All mammals have some form of hair or fur during some period of their life. Some, like dogs and cats, are covered in fur throughout their life. Others, such as dolphins, have a light covering of hair early in development.

Hair can provide camouflage, protection from the weather, and aid in exploring their environment.

Credit : A-Z Animals 

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WHY DO SOME PEOPLE WRITE WITH THEIR LEFT HAND?

Most of us are right-handed, a few are left-handed, and a small number is ambidextrous – that is, they can use both hands with equal ease.

What causes left-handedness? There are many theories. Some say it is inherited; others, that it is a result of habit, education, and environment. Most scientists, however, believe that left-handedness has a biological basis. It is known that the left hemisphere of the brain controls the right half of the body and the right hemisphere, the left. Most of us are right-handed because in most of us, it is the left hemisphere that is dominant. In those who are left-handed, it is the right hemisphere of the brain that is dominant. If there is no dominance of either hemisphere over the other, then the person might become ambidextrous.

American psychiatrist Camilla Benbow has found that many students who are exceptionally good at mathematics are left-handed. She says this is due to the dominance of the right hemisphere of the brain, which is the seat of mathematical reasoning ability.

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WHAT WAS THE FIRST VIRAL MEME IN MODERN HISTORY?

Kilroy was the loved mascot of the American GIs and one of the first viral memes in modern history. For nearly a decade wherever the American troops went the simple doodle of a big-nosed, bald man, peering over a wall, accompanied by the inscription “Kilroy was here” followed.

In the latter half of the Second World War, Kilroy was everywhere. Chalked or drawn into every surface imaginable. He became the universal symbol of the American GI tracing the movement of the American armed forces from North Africa to Italy, from France to Germany, and across the vast Pacific ocean to the heart of the Japanese Empire.

Kilroy was so ubiquitous on the allied artillery shells and bombs that Adolf Hitler actually believed him to be an actual secret agent and ordered his security forces to track him down and eliminate him.

A symbol of Rebellion

World War II veterans described Kilroy as an integral symbol for maintaining troop morale. To them, this simple doodle was comfort and a little bit of rebellion, because the soldiers were strictly told to stop drawing the military graffito nonetheless, the cartoon spread all across the world.

Soldiers recalled that no matter how bad it got crawling out of the foxhole every day when they found a Kilroy sketch they would know someone had been there before and survived.

Kilroy survived the war

Kilroy survived well past the end of the war continuously popping up in the most unexpected places. Throughout the 1940s and the 1950s, it was an indispensable part of American culture. It was even incorporated in a classic 1948 loony toons film titled Haredevil Hare, where bugs bunny who believes himself to be the first creature to land on the moon is utterly shocked when he stumbles across a boulder with the iconic doodle and the words ‘Kilroy was here.

Where did Kilroy come from?

The true origin story behind the meme has been a topic of discussion ever since Kilroy became a cultural symbol. However, there is no singular story behind the icon or its creator.

One of the most widely accepted accounts on the subject leads us to the narrative of James J. Kilroy, a shipyard inspector who tracked his inspected work by marking it with the words ‘Kilroy was here. According to the legend, as the parts travelled the world, Gls paired it with a funny cartoon and the military graffito was born.

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WHY DO BIRDS FLY IN A V FORMATION?

Many large birds such as geese, ducks, and swan fly in well-defined V formations, especially during migrations. It is their method of conserving energy so that they can fly long distances without taking a break. The V formation also helps birds maintain visual contact with one another. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift at the tip of its wing. This reduces the air resistance for the bird flying behind. Thus the bird at the lead position works the hardest to break through the air. Therefore, after some time another bird takes over the position.

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WHY DO FORMULA ONE (F1) DRIVERS USUALLY HAVE THICK NECKS?

While turning corners at high speeds, F1 drivers experience up to four times the normal force of gravity. This means that if a drivers head weighs about four kg, it will momentarily become as heavy as 16 kg while he is turning the corner. “I know of no other sport that places such high demands on the neck muscles,” says Riccardo Ceccarelli, F1 doctor. The head and F1 helmet together weigh about six kg. Therefore, while turning a corner in a Grand Prix race, the neck has to support about 24 kg, he explains. Racing car drivers spend hours strengthening neck muscles with gym equipment designed specifically for the neck.

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WHY IS THE BALLPOINT PEN CALLED SO?

The ballpoint pen has a hollow body in which an ink refill is inserted. The tip of the refill has a tiny ball made of brass, steel, or tungsten carbide, a part of which is in contact with the ink. The pen derives its name from this tiny metallic ball. As we write on paper, the side of the ball which is in contact with the ink touches the paper and leaves an ink impression. As the ball is fitted into a socket it can rotate freely as the pen slides over the paper enabling us to write smoothly. Most ballpoint pens depend on gravity to pull the thick ink to the ball. That is why it is difficult to write with a ballpoint pen when its point is higher than its bottom.

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HOW DO YOU SEPARATE A MIXTURE OF THE TWO?

My friend put a little salt (the coarse variety) on the table, and then mixed some pepper in it. He asked me if I could separate the two.

I said it was impossible. He rubbed a plastic spoon with a piece of woollen cloth, and held it an inch or so above the mixture. The pepper jumped up to the spoon and stuck to it. In this way, he separated the pepper from the mixture.

Why did this happen?

The spoon had got negatively charged when he rubbed it with the wool. When my friend held it above the mixture, both the pepper and the salt were attracted to it, as they were uncharged bodies. The pepper being lighter flew up and got stuck to the spoon. If he had further lowered the spoon the salt too would have been pulled up to it.

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WHY IS BLACK FOREST CAKE CALLED BLACK FOREST CAKE?

The Black Forest cake is so called because it originated in the Black Forest region in Germany. The cake topped with shavings of chocolate and cherries is made up of layers of chocolate sponge cake, whipped cream and sour cherry brandy of the region.

Typically, Black Forest gateau consists of several layers of chocolate sponge cake sandwiched with whipped cream and cherries. It is decorated with additional whipped cream, maraschino cherries, and chocolate shavings. In some European traditions, sour cherries are used both between the layers and for decorating the top. Traditionally, kirschwasser, a clear spirit made from sour cherries, is added to the cake. Other spirits are sometimes used, such as rum, which is common in Austrian recipes. German law mandates that any dessert labeled Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte must have kirschwasser.

The dessert is not directly named after the Black Forest mountain range in southwestern Germany.

According to one school of thought, the name is derived from the specialty liquor of that region, known as Schwarzwälder Kirsch(wasser), which is distilled from tart cherries. This is the ingredient that gives the dessert its distinctive cherry pit flavor and alcoholic content flavor.

Some sources claim that the name of the cake is inspired by the traditional costume of the women of the Black Forest region, with a characteristic hat with big, red pom-poms on top, called Bollenhut.

The confectioner Josef Keller [de] (1887–1981) claimed to have invented Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte in its present form in 1915 at the prominent Café Agner in Bad Godesberg, now a suburb of Bonn about 500 km (310 mi) north of the Black Forest. This claim, however, has never been substantiated.  A long time ago, cherries, cream, and Kirschwasser were combined in the form of a dessert in which cooked cherries were served with cream and Kirschwasser, originated in Black forest region famous for its cherry trees.

Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte was first mentioned in writing in 1934.  At the time it was particularly associated with Berlin but was also available from high-class confectioners in other German, Austrian, and Swiss cities. In 1949 it took 13th place in a list of best-known German cakes.

Credit : Wikipedia 

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WHY DOES AN EXPANDING RUBBER BAND BECOME WARMER?

Try it with a rubber band. Stretch a rubber band and quickly hold it against your cheek. It feels warmer. Usually when things expand, a gas or liquid, for example, they become cooler.

When a liquid (or gas) expands, it takes the energy required for expansion from the liquid itself. So the liquid becomes cooler.

When a rubber band is stretched, it is not using up its internal energy. Energy is being supplied to it from the outside (by the one who is stretching it). So its internal energy increases and its temperature rises, making it slightly warmer to the touch.

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WHEN WE SHAKE SOFT DRINK VERY FAST THEN THAT COMES OUT WITH THE PRESSURE FROM THE BOTTLE. WHY IS THIS HAPPEN?

Do you enjoy an aerated soft drink? Have you noticed that the content fizzes and gushes out when you open the cap?

If I take a soft drink bottle from the fridge and open it after shaking it vigorously, the liquid spurts out. Why does it come out so forcefully after shaking?

If the liquid rushes out when a softdrink bottle is opened, it is because carbon dioxide is escaping from the water in the drink.

Carbon dioxide is introduced into the water at high pressure and cold temperatures. Besides causing the liquid to bubble when opened, a little of the carbon dioxide reacts with water to form carbonic acid which gives the drink its refreshing tangy taste.

If you shake a bottle vigorously before opening it, some of the gas in the head of the bottle above the liquid will get dissolved in the liquid. This gas is more than the water in the drink can normally dissolve and so when the bottle is opened the sudden release of pressure will cause the gas to rush out. This will bring the liquid out in a gush.

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WHY DO EARS POP IN A PLANE?

The popping sensation in the ears is caused by the effect of the changes in pressure and altitude. The most important part of the ear is the eardrum, a thin membrane separating the outer ear from the middle ear. Equal air pressure is maintained on both sides of the membrane by the Eustachian tube, a tube which connects the ear and the throat. Sudden changes in the air pressure like when going up or down in an aeroplane stretches the eardrum, causing discomfort. The Eustachian tube tries to normalise the pressure by forcing more air into the ear internally through. yawning or swallowing. This adjustment creates the popping sound which indicates that the air pressure is back to normal in the ear. Ears may pop even when you travel in a high speed elevator of a tall building or go scuba diving.

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WHY THE MOST OFTEN MEDICINES ARE STORED IN BROWN COLOURED BOTTLES?

Medicines normally contain different chemicals. These chemicals are photo-sensitive, that is, exposure to light and heat affects them. In fact, the composition of these medicines might change so much that they become ineffective. This is why the bottles are made of dark brown or opaque glass to minimise entry of light and heat if you look at the label there is a line that reads, ‘Store in a cool and dark place away from direct sunlight.

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WHY PENCIL MARKS ARE EASIER TO RUB OFF IF THEY HAVE BEEN RECENTLY MADE, AND HARDER TO ERASE IF THEY ARE A FEW DAYS OLD?

The pencil mark is made up of graphite particles. It is easy to erase when it is freshly, made because the graphite has not had time to penetrate into the tiny hollows of the paper.

The pencil mark also contains some wax. When the wax is fresh it seeps into the paper taking some particles of graphite along with it. When the wax hardens the graphite is fixed firmly onto the paper, and then it is not as easy to erase the mark as it was when it was freshly made.

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SOMETIMES WHEN WE UNWRAP OUR BAR OF CHOCOLATE IT HAS A WHITISH SURFACE. WHY?

In hot climates, chocolates tend to spoil fast and should be transported in refrigerated trucks. Usually, however, they are transported in ordinary vans. When chocolate that has melted during transportation is refrigerated, a white powdery layer called Fat Bloom forms on its surface due to migration of fat from the interior of the bar to the surface where it re-crystallises. As a result, the chocolate gets a whitish coat and does not taste as it should.

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WHY A SPINNING COIN DOES NOT TOPPLE?

Try to balance a one-rupee coin on its edge. It’ll topple over. However, if you flick it with your finger and make it spin it’ll stand on its edge while it is spinning. Why?

While the coin is spinning its centre of gravity runs straight down through it from edge to edge, keeping the spinning coin in place and balanced However, when it slows down, its centre of gravity falls outside its base and it topples over. You are able to ride your cycle because when the wheels are moving they can balance on edge and keep the cycle upright. When the wheels stop moving the cycle topples over.

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WHY DOES BLOWING ON A CANDLE EXTINGUISH THE FLAME?

A candle is burning. You blow hard and the flame gets extinguished. Why? Is it because of the carbon dioxide we exhale when we blow out? That can’t be the reason because a gust of wind can also blow out the candle and the wind carries a lot of oxygen along with it.

The reason why the candle goes out is that when you blow hard you remove the warm air around the flame. Cooler air takes its place. This lowers the temperature of the burning wax to below its ignition point. The wax stops burning and the candle goes out.

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WHAT ARE THE FUN FACTS ABOUT DUGONG?

A Dugong (family: Dugongidae) is the only herbivorous marine mammal found in deep waters. Dugong is a mammal that is closely related to elephants. It is a huge bulbous animal who is usually grey brown in color. Like whales, they have flattened fluked tail, a distinctive head shape, paddle like flippers but do not have any dorsal fin. The dugong is a marine mammal that is the only herbivore found in the deep waters that eats seagrass. Dugongs, even though they resemble a manatee, do not belong to the family of manatees. They weigh less than manatees and have different physical characteristics. Their rarity and the decreasing population are a great threat to their extinction. Issues like degradation of sea beds and illegal fishing traps are a major threat to the Dugong population.

There are very few dugongs that live in shallow waters of Australia, the Indian, and Pacific Ocean. Dugongs are listed as creatures that are vulnerable to extinction by the IUCN Red List. The numbers of these beautiful sea creatures are decreasing day by day due to the loss of seagrass beds and pollution of water which disrupts their habitation. Illegal fishing and fishing of dugongs for consumption and trade also is causing their population to decrease. They cannot live in freshwater and can tolerate marine water. Dugongs communicate by emitting sounds which are similar to chirps, whistles, barks that travel through water. They also communicate through sounds that echo underwater. They are also found in oceans around United States.

A dugong is a marine mammal that is native to the Great Barrier reef, world’s largest coral reef in the continent of Australia. The coastal shallow water around Australia were home to more than 85,000 animals but dugong populations are constantly decreasing across the world and they are highly endangered. The dugong species is hunted to extinction as well as traded to different countries illegally. Dugongs mostly live a sedentary lifestyle and migrate for miles in search of seagrass. Some dugongs prefer living in pairs, while sometimes, a herd of 7-10 Dugongs can be seen habituated. The herd or a group of dugong is called a nutcluster.

Dugongs have a lifespan of 70 years and give birth to only one calf during reproduction. They spend most of their time nursing and tending to their offspring. Low litter count and elongated weaning periods are also the reason why the gugong population is depleting. Young dugong calves are easy prey for crocodiles and sharks, which again contributes to population decrease.

Credit :  Kidadl

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WHAT ARE THE FUN FACTS ABOUT BONGO?

The bongo is also known as the lowland bongo or mountain bongo. It is a species of antelope. These animals are native to Africa. These are the heaviest and the biggest forest antelopes found only in Africa. The antelope species is easily recognizable among other wildlife of their kind for the vertical white stripes on their bodies. Both the male and female animals have a chestnut-orange coat and long horns. These bongo antelopes are the only horned species in the world where both sexes have long, wavy, horns. These colorful animals with big eyes, large ears, almost three feet high horns, and several vertical stripes on their body are the third largest among all species of antelopes. All bongo animals are nocturnal, shy, and mysterious wildlife that are rarely seen in the open. The number of bongos in the wild is decreasing rapidly and conservation efforts are underway. . Bongos can live up to 19 years in the wild. Bongos can run at the speed of 43 mph (69 kph). Bongos are the biggest forest antelopes and are quite heavy. The males weigh from 485 – 893 lb (220–405 kg) and the females weigh from 331 –518 lb (150-234 kg). Bongos are herbivorous animals and only include plant matter in their diet like leaves, bark, grass, roots, fruits, grains. These night-browsing animals get their nutrition from what they eat. Moreover, their nocturnal grazing habit keeps them safe from many predators sharing the same habitat.

Bongos are mammals. Female gives birth to only one calf at a time .There are fewer than a hundred mountain bongos left in the highland forests of Kenya, Africa. These animals are protected in Kenya to save them from extinction. The population of the lowland bongo are also decreasing in Western African countries. These animals have steady populations in their range in Central Africa. It is estimated that 28,000 bongos are left on earth. Loss of habitat and hunting are the two biggest threats to these antelopes.

Like most antelopes, bongos are rarely seen in bigger groups. Males are called bulls and roam around solitarily. Females live with the young in small groups of six to ten. A bongo herd usually never crosses more than twenty members. It is believed that the large ears of these animals aid in hearing the slightest noises. These animals recognize each other with their coloration in the dark forest habitat. These forest antelopes do not have any special secretion glands. They depend less on scents to find others of their kind in the forests.

Credit : Kidadl

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Which horse is actually a fish?

Although it has a head that resembles a horse, its gills, fins and swim bladder make the marine seahorse unquestionably a fish.

These fascinating creatures have a long snout, a bulbous body and a long snake-like tail. With a maximum speed of 1.5 metres per hour, the seahorse is the slowest fish in the world. In comparison, the average snail moves at 3 metres per hour.

They have a small dorsal fin that is not very strong, so swimming is labour some. Instead they use their tails to latch onto a piece of sea debris to float over distances. They also use their tails to anchor themselves to sea grass or coral when the sea becomes rough.

Their eyes can move independently of each other, like those of a chameleon, giving them a 360-degree field of vision! They are also extremely good at evading predators by camouflaging themselves to mimic their surroundings. This works out in two ways as they are excellent ambush predators. They lie in wait unnoticed till unsuspecting small crustaceans like shrimp come along. Then they use their long snouts to quickly suck them in and swallow them whole. They can suck prey from as far as 3 cm away.

If there were any prizes for the father of the year in the marine world, it would go to the male seahorse. In seahorse society, it is the father and not the mother who carries the eggs (in an abdominal pouch) for 45 days. The female is free to wander about and look for food!

And that’s not all; these incredibly unique sea creatures have no stomach or teeth. To stay alive they have to constantly eat! There are around 46 species of seahorse, which can range in size from a jellybean to a banana. The largest seahorse is the big-bellied seahorse which can grow up to 12 inches, while the smallest is called the pygmy seahorse and is only around 16 mm long.

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WHICH CAMELS CAN SWIM?

The Kharai camels of Kutch, Gujarat, are the only camels in the world that swim. Their name is derived from the word khara, meaning ‘saline’. They can survive on both dry land and in the sea, making it an ecotonal breed. During the rainy season, they swim upto 3 kms along the Gulf of Kutch grazing on mangroves and other saline loving plants. Because of the salt content in the plants, the camels need to drink water immediately after grazing. Locals believe that the milk of kharai camels is beneficial in the treatment of tuberculosis, diabetes and cancer. There were more than 10,000 kharai camels in Gujarat about a decade ago, but now there are fewer than 4,500. Rapid industrialisation in the mangrove swamps and erratic rainfall are destroying the habitat they rely on for food, pushing this unique breed to extinction. In 2015, the kharai camels were declared as endangered by the Indian government. After the major earthquake of Gujarat, the mining, cement, and windmill industries, among others, intensified their operations in a bid to rebuild Kutch. This disturbed the ecosystem wherein Kharai camels were thriving. Their routes changed and food intake decreased considerably. To save the Kharai camels, we must save their natural habitat. Since it is clear that they can only survive on mangroves, preserving their ecosystem is the need of the hour. Fortunately, the large-scale benefits of mangrove are being understood and the government is taking significant steps to conserve them. Several mangrove forests in the area have been designated as protected areas, where they are undergoing special care to continue sustained growth.

Credit : Financial express

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HOW TO HIDE LIKE COUNTS ON INSTAGRAM

What one person wants from their Instagram experience is different from the next, and people’s needs are changing. To hide likes on your post, tap on the three-dot menu button next to an image and select ‘hide like count. To pre-emptively hide likes on your posts when you create them, go to Advanced Settings and turn on ‘Hide like and view counts on this post. To avoid seeing the total number of likes and views on posts from other accounts on your feed, go to Settings > Privacy> Posts and turn on Hide like and view counts’.

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WHY ARE AIRCRAFT WINDOWS SO SMALL?

Large windows were found to weaken the structure of planes making them unsafe…

The de Havilland Comets were the first passenger jet airliners. They had large windows that allowed passengers a panoramic view of the outside. A series of aircraft crashes in 1954 led to an investigation it was found that weakening of the metal at the corners of the windows was causing a weakening of the whole structure of the plane, causing it to give way during flight.

The crashes stopped when the windows were re-designed Since then windows in all aircraft have been kept as small as possible. They are generally about 33cm high and have three panes-two pressure panes and one interior pane-that are contained in a window unit that is fastened and sealed to the aircraft structure.

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WILL A PAPER IN A GLASS WATER REMAIN DRY?

What you will need

A wad of old newspaper, large plastic tub, glass tumbler, water.

What you do:

  • Fill the tub with water.
  • Scrunch up the newspaper and stuff it in the bottom of the glass tumbler. upside down to make sure that the paper does not slip out.
  • Holding the tumbler upside down, plunge it straight down to the bottom of the tub.
  • Pull out the glass from the water.
  • Do not tip the glass to the side at any time during the experiment.

What do you observe?

When you take out the newspaper, you will find that it is absolutely dry!

Why does this happen?

Air occupies space. When you submerge the tumbler, the air inside the glass cannot escape. It acts as a block, preventing the water from entering the glass. Hence the newspaper does not get wet.

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DO MAYFLIES HAVE MOUTHS?

Adult mayflies have no functional mouths. Then how do they eat, you wonder? Adult mayflies never eat and, as a result, die of malnutrition. They live for a brief span, from a few hours to a day, during which they mate. Indicators of clean, healthy waterways, mayflies eat only during their larval stage. The adults of some species live as few as two hours, which doesn’t give them very much time to do all their reproduction business, but such is life for a mayfly.

Mayflies “hatch” (emerge as adults) from spring to autumn, not necessarily in May, in enormous numbers. Some hatches attract tourists. Fly fishermen make use of mayfly hatches by choosing artificial fishing flies that resemble them. One of the most famous English mayflies is Rhithrogena germanica, the fisherman’s “March brown mayfly”. Like a lot of other insects, mayflies cycle through different metamorphic stages during their lives — think of them as insect costume changes. The first two take place in the water as an egg and then a larva. After hatching, a mayfly larva feeds, grows and develops, some males building burrows to live in and feed from, while others just cruise around in the aquatic vegetation, finding snacks. During this time, they grow and molt over and over — as many as 50 times for some species.

Credit : How stuff works

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HAS ANYONE EVER PLAYED GOLF ON THE MOON?

Yes, that credit goes to American astronaut Alan Shepard. He was the first to play golf on the lunar surface. He achieved the feat when he was part of the Apollo 14 mission in 1971. He is said to have hit two golf balls across the surface of the moon with a makeshift club.

Shepard took a few moments during the Apollo 14 landing to show off his hobby during a live broadcast from the lunar surface on Feb. 6, 1971. He took two shots, with the second ball going “miles and mile,” he said on-camera. He was exaggerating, according to new analysis from the United States Golf Association (USGA). Based on data from the crew and a modern-day moon mission, the group found that the first ball traveled 24 yards (22 meters) and the second about 40 yards (37 m). By comparison, a 2019 report using golf tournaments’ gender categories shows that an average amateur male golfer on Earth can drive the ball 216 yards (198 m), and an average female golfer 148 yards (135 m), although those distances have increased significantly since Shepard’s flight. To be fair to Shepard, however, he had more obstacles to contend with than your typical Sunday hobbyist. His golf “club” was actually a modified sample collection device with the head attached to the end. He was also wearing a notoriously stiff spacesuit that forced him to swing with a single arm.

USGA found the lunar golf balls in high-resolution, enhanced scans of the original flight footage of the Apollo 14 mission. The association measured the point between divot and locations where the balls ended up using high-resolution images from orbit taken by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which launched in 2009.

The association used a second technique to confirm the measurements. Some of the images used were photo sequences taken from the lunar module, the astronauts’ landing craft, taken to show the entire landing site to geologists on Earth. USGA stitched the photographs into a panorama to demonstrate the location of the divot and the two balls, which (after taking the new photo enhancements into account) were well within view of the landed spacecraft.

The two balls are also visible in Apollo 14 takeoff footage, but only after applying “a complex stacking technique on multiple separate frames,” according to a USGA Golf Journal story. This means NASA astronauts Shepard and Ed Mitchell likely couldn’t have seen the balls themselves from the spacecraft, either during their time on the ground or when flying away from the moon.

Credit : Space.com

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Which country’s national anthem has no words?

The Spanish national anthem, the “Marcha Real” or “Royal March, has no official lyrics. The original version had lyrics, but they are no longer used. The lyrics which were said to have fascist overtones were scrapped in 1978 when Spain embraced democracy after nearly 40 years of Francisco Franco’s dictatorship.

The usual practice for audience members is to hum or ‘na na na’ along to the tune, while the players stand and listen in silence.When World Cup fever took over in the summer of 2018, a wildly amusing Twitterstorm broke out in the run-up to Spain’s game against Iran on 20 June. ‘Marcha Real’ was composed in 1761 by Manuel de Espinosa de los Monteros, who wrote the tune as a military march for the Spanish Infantry. In the 1770s, Charles III declared it the official march of Spain, and it later became the country’s national anthem.

There have been a number of attempts to set words to the ‘Marcha Real’, some of which have been used at past events. However, none of the suggested lyrics have been officially approved by the Spanish government. In 2008, Spain’s Olympic Committee tried to set lyrics to the anthem, but their suggestion was widely criticised due to its opening line of ‘Viva España’, an expression associated with Franco’s dictatorship.

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What is the keychain charger?

The Chargerito is a tiny charger that doesn’t have any wires to tangle and folds up to fit on your keychain, so you’ll always have a charger when you need it. The Chargerito is a super tiny  charger that you can attach to your keys, you can never leave home without it. This tiny mobile device charger plugs into the wall, even though you might think you already have charger in places such as workplace, home, and car, there are unexpected scenarios where your iPhone’s battery is low and no charger anywhere. This is where Chargerito comes in handy.

Claiming to be the “world’s smallest charger” with a size of 2.1″x 1.3″ x 0.7″, it incorporates everything you need to charge any device including fold-out prongs and a flip-up Apple Lightning, Micro-USB or USB-C connector. It even serves as a built-in dock for your phone. Just plug it into a socket, and it holds your phone up as it charges.  This phone charger is also a hidden security camera.  Chargerito prides itself on being small enough that it can fit on your keychain. Plus, it has built-in connectors that fold in and out, so you never need to worry about power cables. You simply plug it into the wall and stack your device on top of it. If that balancing act makes you nervous, don’t fret – Chargerito can hold a surprising amount of weight, enough to safely charge a full-sized iPad.

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What are Google Tasks?

Create lists of to-do items and check them off once completed with Google’s new to-do app. Tasks syncs across devices and integrates into the desktop version of Gmail and Google Calendar. You can add additional information like a description, date and sub tasks to your tasks, and create separate lists that you can switch between. In the new re-designed desktop Gmail, tasks are located to the right of your screen, so you don’t have to open the app on your smartphone if you’re at your computer. Drag emails from your inbox into the Tasks panel to automatically create new tasks around them. Free for iOS and Android. Aside from its simplicity, Google Tasks’ best feature is its deep integration with Gmail. Your inbox isn’t the best to-do list—so Google Tasks gives you somewhere to list those important messages that need a reply or action on your part. Drag an email from anywhere in Gmail to the Google Tasks sidebar to instantly turn it into a task. It’ll keep the email’s subject as the task name, with a link to the email underneath. You can then archive or move the message and still open it easily from the Google Tasks link.

Much like a paper to-do list, the most direct way to use Google Tasks is to jot down basic things you need to do and check them off as they’re completed. But if you’d rather plan, rearranging your tasks into the order you should complete them, you can do that too. Just click on a task and drag it to the order you want. Move a task with subtasks? Just drag to move the whole set together. Or, if you decide a subtask should be its own task, drag it out, and it’ll turn into a standalone task.

Credit : Zapier

Picture Credit : Google 

What is the oldest continuously running restaurant in the world?

Sobrino de Botín in Madrid, Spain, is the oldest running restaurant in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records. Open since 1725, the restaurant has kept the flame burning in the oven continuously for 293 years, never to be extinguished. World’s oldest restaurant still in operation. At the time that the restaurant opened (in the ground floor of an inn), it was actually up to the guests to bring their own meat and ingredients, which were then cooked in the eatery’s facilities. After the original owners died childless, the restaurant passed to their nephew, which is when it got its current name, which translates to “Nephew of Botin,” of course.

Over the next 200-plus years, the trends of the city changed, but Sobrino de Botin never stopped cooking (after it was able to start cooking for for people that is). Today the restaurant covers four floors of seating, each with its own Spanish theme, from the brick cellar to the fancier Felipe IV room. Even as the tourists began to flock to the restaurant, as will happen once Guinness gets its paws on you, the cuisine has stayed remarkably true to its Spanish roots, with the whole suckling pig, which is prepared in a brick oven, being the standout dish.

The Sobrino de Botin likely saw its finest moment when it was mentioned by Ernest Hemingway in The Sun Also Rises, and it is rumored that the famous artist Francisco de Goya worked there as a young man. However, its legacy is clearly thanks to its astounding age rather than to its ties to art and literature.

Credit : Slate.com

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Which bird lays the smallest egg?

Weighing as little as two grams, the bee hummingbird is the smallest bird in the world and it produces the smallest-known egg weighing half a gram. The smallest egg on record, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, was less than 10 mm long and it was laid by a Vervain hummingbird native to Jamaica in 1998. Its appearance and flight style rivals that of some insects, especially bees, for which it gets its name. The Bee Hummingbird is also the bird with the smallest nest in the world, at only 1 inch in diameter and depth. Their eggs are also the smallest bird eggs in the world, measuring a mere 12.5 x 8.5 mm, the size of a coffee bean. A Bee Hummingbird egg is only half the weight of a standard paper clip!

The Bee Hummingbird is a tiny gem and a super brilliant one at that. The males are adorned with a vibrant crown and gorget of fiery reds, oranges and yellows. Its royal-blue back, wings and sides contrast nicely with its shimmering gorget. Females lack the iridescent crown and gorget, but still maintain the beautiful blue back and wings.

Like other hummingbirds, it feeds on nectar and insects. The Bee Hummingbird is a strong flier and very active, visiting up to 1500 flowers a day! It has a fast metabolism, and consumes up to half its own body weight in nectar a day! As it feeds, it picks up pollen on its long, thin bill and transfers it to other flowers, aiding in plant pollination. Endemic to Cuba, the Bee Hummingbird has a patchy distribution on the island. It is most frequently encountered on the extreme western end and in the Zapata Peninsula.

Credit : Whitehawk

Picture Credit : Google 

Can peacocks predict rain?

Have you watched a peacock dance? It is a beautiful sight to behold. We have heard people say that a peacock dance is an indicator of rain. How true is this? Sadly, the reality is not as cool as it sounds. The male of the Indian peafowl species is called the peacock. (The female is called the peahen and the offspring, the peachick). The stunning pattern on their metallic blue-green covert feathers (called a train), and the eye spots are something unique to the Asiatic species. (The Congo peacocks do not have the train nor the eyespots).

A peacock opens its train and dances to attract a peahen. It is part of the courtship ritual, where the male fans his tail displaying the eyespots. Peacocks moult (shed) their train at the end of every breeding season. So, what is the link between rain and their dance? Peafowls breed during the wet or rainy season. Hence, it is only a coincidence if you watched a peacock dance and you witnessed a rain soon after.

Picture Credit : Google 

What is Toyota Smart Insect Concept?

AUTOMAKERS Toyota recently showed off their ultra-compact, single passenger electric vehicle dubbed the Smart INSECT at CEATEC Japan 2012

The Smart INSECT (an acronym for Information Network Social Electric City Transporter) features flashy gull-wing doors and incorporates new features like face and voice recognition. Motion sensors and cameras recognize pre-registered drivers as they approach, and will greet them with blinking lights, sounds and messages from the instrument panel. It also anticipates the driver’s intentions by tracking body movements, such as opening doors automatically when the driver reaches for them.

Its detailed GPS navigation system is connected to the cloud-based Toyota Smart Centre, which hosts a virtual agent that provides navigation instructions via voice command. As user data accumulates in the cloud, the system learns the driver’s preferences and common destinations. It also makes suggestions – from restaurants to playlists – on personal tastes, and allows owners to lock up their house or activate home’s AC on the way there. Priced at approximately US$10,000, it can achieve a top speed of 60 km/h and has a range of about 50 km. reserve of fat. The mammoth, named Zhenya after the boy’s nickname, will become the main exhibit of the Taimyr Regional Museum.

Picture Credit : Google