Why Does Malaysia’s Sun Look Bloody Red During Haze?
One evening, as I was returning home from university on the LRT, I looked out the window and noticed something unusual. The Sun looked orange-red, almost like a ball of fire in the sky. At first, I found it quite beautiful. It was not the usual golden Sun I was used to seeing. But as […]
The Science Behind the Slogans: Separating Health Myths from Facts
From apples and carrots to breakfast and 10,000 steps, how folklore, wartime propaganda and marketing helped shape the health advice we live by. You wake up and remember that you should probably eat breakfast. Your smartwatch tells you that you are 3,000 steps short of your daily target of 10,000. You reach for an apple […]
African Sulcata Tortoises Turn Heads During Pet Blessing Ritual in Borneo
Two African Sulcata tortoises unexpectedly became the stars of an animal blessing at a Catholic parish in Malaysian Borneo, drawing curious parishioners who had come with dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, fish and other pets. The tortoises, named Heng Heng and Chaisen, were brought to St. Anne’s Church on Oct. 4, the patron day of St. […]
Genetic Modification and Gene Editing
Genes contain the instructions that determine many of the characteristics of living organisms and control how their cells function. But can scientists change these instructions? Could we make bacteria produce useful medicines, develop crops that survive drought, make food more nutritious, protect plants from pests or even correct genes that cause disease? Yes. Scientists can […]
Why Surgical Lights Do Not Cast Shadows
Imagine a surgeon performing an operation. The surgical area may be only a few centimetres wide, yet it contains tiny blood vessels, nerves, muscles and other structures that must be seen clearly. Now imagine the surgeon’s hand or an instrument moving over the area and blocking the light. A dark shadow could appear exactly where […]
Electricity in Our Body and ECG
Our bodies produce electricity! Every time your heart beats, tiny electrical signals help make that heartbeat happen. These signals come from specialised cells in the heart, particularly a group of cells called the sinoatrial (SA) node. The SA node acts as the heart’s natural “pacemaker”, producing electrical signals that travel through the heart and tell […]
Zebrafish: A Tiny Marvel
What can a tiny freshwater fish possibly teach us about the human body? Quite a lot, as it turns out. This little fish is the zebrafish, a small freshwater species native to South Asia. Scientists use zebrafish as a model organism to study how genes work, how organs develop and how diseases affect the body. […]
Volcanoes: Nature’s Double-Edged Power
As Anak Krakatau continues to remind us this week, volcanoes are a powerful force of nature: capable of disrupting lives within hours, yet providing benefits that can shape ecosystems, economies and human societies for generations. They can destroy homes, bury farmland and darken the skies. But the same geological forces can also create fertile soils, generate […]
What Is a Faraday Cage?
What Is a Faraday Cage? Have you ever seen lightning strike during a thunderstorm and wondered how people inside cars or planes stay safe? That’s because of something called a Faraday Cage! A Faraday Cage is not a real cage like the ones animals live in. It is a special kind of shield made from metal that blocks electricity and radio waves from […]
Crunching the Curve: The Math Behind the Iconic Potato Chip Introduction
Crunching the Curve: The Math Behind the Iconic Potato Chip Introduction Have you ever wondered why some potato chips have that distinctive, saddle-like shape? These perfectly curved crisps are not just a product of culinary creativity—they are the result of clever mathematics, precise engineering, and innovative food science. At the heart of their design lies […]