How important are coral reefs?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteCoral reefs, also known as “the rainforests of the sea”, are well known for their beauty and vibrant colours, but apart from that, they are extremely important, both ecologically and economically. Unlike other marine ecosystems, coral reefs support more species per unit area, including about 4,000 species of fish, 800 species of hard corals, and hundreds […]
What are Supergiant Stars?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteIf our Sun is an average-sized star, there are some true monsters out there. They are supergiant stars, and they come in two colours: red and blue. Supergiant stars are among the most massive and luminous stars in the universe. Supergiant stars are formed out of massive main-sequence stars that have run out of hydrogen in their […]
How do ‘brainless’ starfish decide what to eat?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteFood is essential for any living organism to continue to survive. But for land dwellers, food is easily accessible in most parts of the world. Every day we can choose what we want to eat and to choose, we use our brain to decide our meals for the day. But how about starfish? Without having […]
How much of our brain do we really use?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteDo we only use 10% of our brains? A survey indicated nearly 65 percent of Americans believe that humans use only 10% of their brain and it is also a favourite pseudoscience in movies, where human beings only use 10% of their brain and if they awaken the remaining part of their brain then they […]
Who invented VELCRO?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteThe hook and loop fastener or commonly known as ‘velcro’ is a product, we frequently come across in our everyday life but do you know who is the brainchild behind this invention? It is George de Mestral, a Swiss engineer who invented this infinitely applicable product, with applications ranging from consumer apparel to space travel. […]
What causes fruits to ripen?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteFruits are ready to eat when they are fully ripe. However, have we wondered what causes fruit to ripen? Under natural conditions, a gaseous plant hormone called ethylene is released by the plant, triggering the production of enzymes responsible for fruit ripening. During ripening, fruits tend to change from green to other colours, including purple, […]
What makes the sound when we crack our knuckles?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteCracking knuckles can be addictive and studies show that as many as 54 percent of people crack their knuckles. What drives them to crack their knuckle with a “popping” sound? The synovial fluid in our joints serves a similar function as motor oil in a car’s engine, by lubricating our joints as well as reducing […]
Why do snakes flick their tongue?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteDo you feel frightened when snakes flick their tongue? Although it is frightening, it is a natural behaviour for snakes to flick their tongue. Snakes flick their tongue to gather information from their surroundings to deliver to their sensory organ in their mouth. Snakes do have nostrils as humans do, however, snakes use their nostrils […]
Why is blood red?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteA small paper cut in the finger and we can see red blood oozing out. A common assumption is that the presence of haemoglobin causes the red colour of blood. However, the real reason is the shape of porphyrin that determines the redness of blood. Porphyrin is a ring of atoms in haemoglobin that binds […]
Who discovered the existence of galaxies other than our Milky Way?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteIN the early 1900s, astronomers were debating the makeup of spiral nebulae — cloudy, spiral-shaped objects found throughout the night sky. Were they gas clouds located within our Milky Way galaxy, or were they vast groups of stars located far beyond our galaxy? In 1919, American astronomer Edwin Hubble tackled the question. His keen astronomical […]