General Knowledge Pt.- I (b)

General Knowledge Pt.- I (b)

How are diamonds cut?

Diamonds are cut with special diamond-bladed edges because they are very hard. Diamond cutting is an art, skill and, increasingly, a science of changing a diamond from a rough stone into a faceted gem. In relation to diamonds, cut has two meanings. The first is the shape: round, oval and so on. The second relates to the specific quality of cut within the shape. The most popular cut shape for diamonds is brilliant. This shape resembles that of a cone. Diamond cutting includes several steps like planning, cleaving or sawing, bruting, polishing, and final inspection.

What is the fifth state of matter?

The fifth state of matter is the Bose-Einstein condensate. In 1920, Indian physicist Satyendra Nath Bose had done some calculations for the fifth state of matter. Albert Einstein predicted a new state of matter — the Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). In 2001, Eric A Carnell, Wolfgang Ketterie and Carl E Williams of the US received the Nobel Prize in Physics for achieving the Bose-Einstein condensation which is formed by cooling a gas of extremely low density to super low temperatures.

Which is the smallest living amphibian?

At just over 9.6-9.8 mm in length, the  Monte  Iberia  Eleuth (Eleutherodactylus iberia) is the smallest living amphibian in the northern hemisphere. It is the second-smallest frog (and tetrapod) in the world, following the Brazilian Gold Prog. It was first discovered in 1996 on Mount Iberia, from which the animal gets its name, and exists in only two small regions of Cuba. Much remains unknown about this small creature.

What is photometry?

Photometry is a Physics terms related to the visibility of an object through the eyes. It is the study of factors responsible for the sensation of brightness sensed by the eye. An object is visible when light coming from the object enters the eyes and creates the sensation responsible for vision. The brightness sensed by the eye depends on different factors. Photometry is the study of these factors and used to make a photometer which is usually used to compare intensities of two point sources.

What is the average life span of an elephant?

Estimates related to the life span of an elephant, in particular, and of wild animals in general, are unreliable and vary significantly because they are based on small samples and inaccurate records. The best data is available only in zoos, but such data is not representative because the life span of an animal in captivity differs significantly from that in the wild. An elephant under domestication lives longer than-when it is in the forest. Estimates of the average life span of an elephant vary from 40 to 65 years. The extreme life span of the animal might exceed even 75 years. Among mammals, only humans have a life expectancy longer than that of elephants.

What is hogwarts headache?

When the book Harry Potter and fee Order of the Phoenix was first published two years ago, an American pediatrician noticed that otherwise healthy children developed Headaches after reading the mammoth 870-page novel. Dr Howard Bennett called it the Hogwart’s Headache and even wrote a letter about it in the New England Journal of Medicine. Now, with the release of the final book in the series, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, looks like parents and pediatricians can gear up for an epidemic of Hogwarts Headache.

Why do most living beings sleep at night?

Living beings’ brains contain pineal glands, which secrete the hormone melatonin. The level of these hormones rises at night and is responsible for sleep. In daylight, the level of this hormone decreases, resulting in animals waking up from sleep. This is a cycle which operates throughout life and is known as ‘circadian rhythm’. There are many such rhythms operating in biological systems.

Who are cyberchondriacs?

Much like hypochondriacs who obsess about any small ache or pain they may have, cybercondriacs frequently surf the internet to glean information about anything that affects them. They now form 84% of all adult net users. Cyberchondriacs are even said to discuss what they learnt from the net about a particular ailment with their doctors. The term could also refer to people who imagine they have a disease because their symptoms match those on a health website.

What-is a transiting planet?

A transiting planet is one that moves across its parent star, as seen from Earth. Recently, astronomers found such a transiting planet, which is larger than Jupiter, orbiting a star in the galaxy Hercules. The planet has been named TrES-4.

What is the tasman outflow?

It’s an underwater current, scientifically classified as a supergyre (gyres are anti-clockwise pathways), which links the world’s major oceans and is known to con- trol climate. The Tasman Outflow, which was only discovered recently, flows across Tasmania and links the Pacific and the ocean basins of the Atlantic southern hemisphere.

What is food neophobia?

Children’s reluctance to try new food is called food neophobia in scientific terms. Scientists in London recently discovered that this sort of fussy behaviour is actually inherited and stems from the genes. Food neophobia, experts believe, could even have an evolutionary advantage, for it prevents the likelihood of trying out toxicfoods.

How is geothermal energy stained?

Geothermal energy is contained in the intense heat that continually flows outward from deep within the Earth. From Earth’s surface down through the crust, the normal temperature gradient (the increase of temperature with in crease of depth) is 100 to 300 Celsiuss per kilometre. In’certain areas, water seeping down through cracks and fissures in the crust comes in contact with this hot rock and is heated to high temperatures. Some of this heated water circulates back to the surface and appears as hot springs and geysers. However, the rising hot water may remain underground in areas of permeable hot rock, forming geothermal reservoirs. These, which may reach temperatures of more than 3,500 Celsius, can provide a powerful source of energy Geothermal reservoirs within about 5 kms of the Earth’s surface can be reached by drilling a well. The hot water or steamfrom wells can be used to turn turbine generators to produce electricity A power plant that uses this natural source of hot water or steam is called a geothermal power plant. Thus, in some cases, it is viable to capture geothermal energy and this renewable source of energy becomes obtainable.

Do dogs have colour vision?

Yes. However, their colour vision differs from human beings, since dogs are said to have dichromatic vision, which means they can see only part of the range of colours in the visual spectrum of light wavelengths. Humans have trichromatic vision, meaning they can see the whole spectrum. Dogs probably lack the ability to see the range of colours from green to red. This means that they primarily see in shades of yellow and blue.

What is the approximate number of species that exist today?

No one knows exactly the number of species on Earth. There are various estimates — the most common estimate is between 30 to 50 million based on Erwin’s study of tropical insects (1988,1997). According to the World Conservation Union report of May 2003, there are 1.5 to 1.8 million named species and a total of about 5 million to 10 million kinds of animals. According to the Society for Conservation Biology, there may be up to 100 million species. Centre for Earth & Environmental Sciences put the figure between 30 to 50 million.

What is the red spot seen on the surface of jupiter?

The great red spot is a persistent anti-cyclonic storm on Jupiter, 220 degrees south of the equator, which has lasted for at least 177 years and possibly as long as 342 years or more. The storm is large enough to be visible through Earth-based telescopes. It was first observed by Giovanni Domenico Cassini, who described it around 1665. The spot has been noticeably red at times throughout its observed history yet has not been appreciably red in the visible spectrum since a rather brief period in the mid 1970s.

Where was the first roller coaster set up?

The earliest roller coaster was the Russian winter sled ride, set up in specially constructed hills of ice around Petersburg. It was built in the 17th century The slides were built to a height of 70 to 80 feet and consisted of a 50-degree drop duly reinforced by wooden supports. The first roller coaster per se was created in Paris in 1804 which was named ‘The Russian Mountains’.

What is the Ph level of a snake’s poison?

Firstly, a snake has venom and not po’ison. The pH level of a snake’s venom indicates the concentration level of the poison. The term pH stands for ‘potential of hydrogen. This is the measure of how acidic Or alkaline a substance is. Acids have pH values that are under 7 and alkalies have pH values over 7. If a substance has a pH value of 7, it is neutral — neither acidic nor alkaline.

How is ink manufactured?

All inks contain two rudimentary components: a pigment or dye called a colourant, and a vehicle wlich is the liquid into which the colourant is dispersed. Printing inks are more like paints than writing inks — they consist of solid pigments dispersed in an oil. They are, therefore, less fluid. Manufacturing ink is a complicated process, involving the mixture of a pigment with a vehicle, the grinding of the mixture in a mill between rollers, the addition of driers, and, when using chemically produced rather thannaturalpigments, a filtering process.

What is quantum tunnelling?

In Physics, quantum is the particle which obeys quantum mechanics. When a quantum particle has to cross a potential barrier which has more energy than the particle, then, according to classical physics, it cannot do so. But, in quantum mechanics, it can, however small it be. This phenomenon is known as quantum tunnelling. The best example of quantum tunnelling is the emission of alpha particles from a radioactive nucleus . Although the energy of alpha particles is less than nuclear potential, they can tunnel through it.

Why are the kilogram weights hexagonal?

Kilogram weights are hexagonal for stability, as volume is the surface area multiplied by height For a hexagonal object, the surface area is maximum as corn pared to other angular shapes; plus the height is fixed for every weight. The higher the surface area, the better the stability

What is the medical narcissism?

Medical narcissism is defined as the need for health professionals not to disclose serious medical errors to their patients for fear of losing credibility and esteem in their eyes.

Why is the word ‘volume’ associated with sound level, although us physics, it is not an attribute of sound?

The term ‘volume’ with reference to sound is indicative of loudness as experienced by a listener which is a combined effect of more than one parameter. For example, frequency, amplitude etc. Volume is also the product of three dimensions – length, breadth and height. Hence, the term ^volume’ is best indicative of the loudness of sound a product of several parameters.

Why do babies have more bones than adults?

Babies have-more bones than adults because as they grow up, some of the bones fuse together to form one bone. This is because babies have more cartilage than bone. New born babies have around 305 bones. A baby’s skeleton is mostly made up of cartilage. As a person grows up, most of this cartilage turns into bone in a process called ossification. By adulthood, the skeleton has just 206 bones.

What is a vacuum bomb?

The vacuum bomb, also known as thermobaric bomb, is different from conventional explosive weapons in that It uses atmospheric oxygen instead of carrying an oxidiser in the explosive. They produce more energy for a given size than conventional bombs. A vacuum bomb works by first dispersing a cloud of powder or liquid explosive using a small charge, then igniting it with a second charge. The effect produced is often likened to that of a low-yield nuclear weapon, but without radiation. The significant injury dealt by either weapon on a targeted population is great. Russia tested the vacuum bomb on September 11. Its military dubbed it the ‘father of all bombs’. It’s the latest in a series of new Russian weapons as President Vladimir Putin tries to reassert Moscow’s role on the international stage.

Does gravity affect sound waves?

There will be a small effect on sound waves that is similar to the effect on light waves (electromagnetic radiation). Just as light falling down a gravitational field increases in frequency, so too will sound that falls down a gravitational field increase its frequency. This is a general-relativistic effect.

What are napierian logarithms?

Normal Logarithms are worked out with number 10 as base. For Napierian logarithms, the base is number ‘e’, called as Napier’s base named after the mathematician Napier. It is the sum of an infinite series obtained by expanding (1+1/n) raised to the power n as n tends to infinity where n is a natural number. It works out to an irrational number ‘e’ whose approximate value is 2.71828.

What makes bricks red?

The colour of clay bricks is affected by the chemical and mineral content of the raw material used, the firing temperature and the atmohphere of the kiln. Bricks can pink, white, yellow or red in colour. The pink is due to a high iron content, the colour turns to vario red hues on increasing the temperature. It first turns to dark red, then purple and grey or brown at around 1300 Celsius. The yellow or white colour is due to higher lime content.

What are carbon credits?

One carbon credit is equivalent to one tonne of C02 emissions. Credits can  be sold in the international market at the prevailing prices via cerrtain credit exchanges. Formalised in the Kyoto Protocol, carbon credits help developing/ underdeveloped countries as they traditionally have lower percapita carbon emissions than developed countries and will need to emit C02 owing to increasing industrial growth. At this point though, these countries can sell their carbon credits to other countries and reap the economic benefits of not polluting the planet.

Why are eastern crowned cranes called so?

Eastern or Gray crowned cranes are named for their characteristic crown of gold feathers. They have a pale gray neck and red throat wattles. The rest of their bodies are black, white, and gold in colour. Gray crowned cranes are 39 to 43.3 inches tall and weigh anywhere from 6.6 to 8.8 pounds. They have a wingspan of between 71 and 79 inches. Gray crowned cranes are found in some areas of Eastern Africa. These are frequently found in trees. Individuals nest in wetland or grassland areas. Instead of’ building their own nests, Gray crowned cranes frequently use ground nests that have been abandoned by other large bird species.

Where was the first spa?

The word spa originates from the Belgian town of Spa, where since mediaeval times, those with iron deficiency illnesses were given iron-rich spring water. This was perhaps the world’s first spa. The concept of medicinal bathing later made its way to England, most notably to the town of Bath. An Englishman William Slingsby discovered a spring in Yorkshire, in which he created an enclosed well. It came to known as Harrogate, which was the UK’s first resort for medicinal water. Later, another Englishman named Timothy Bright called his resort ‘The English Spaw’ (after the Belgian town), which was when the word became synonymous with a place for medicinal treatments and relaxation.

What does the acronym scuba stand for?

Scuba stands for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus: the word has become an adjective to describe the popular aquatic sport scuba diving. By carrying a source of compressed air, the scuba diver is able to stay underwater longer than with the simple breathholding techniques used in snorkelling and free diving, and is not hindered by airlines to a remote air source.

What is oenology?

Oenology is the science and study of all kinds of wines in the world. It is the study of all aspects of wine from harvesting of grapes to bottling of wines. The word is derived from the Greek word oenos which means wine and logy which means study. An expert in the field of oenology is known as oenologist. A wine maker can also be known as oenologist. This is not related to the tasting of wine — it’s only the study of wine production.

Though the platypus and whale lay eggs, why are they considered mammals?

A mammal, by definition, breathes air into the lungs, is warm blooded, feeds its offspring milk and has body hair. Mammals evolved from reptiles some 70 million years ago and some like whales returned to the waters approximately 16 million years after leaving it. The platypus is a duck-billed, beavertailed and otter-footed poisonous mammal that is also special because it lays eggs. However, the eggs develop in the uterus for a much longer time than that of egglaying non-mammals and the young ones are fed milk — something unique to mammals. It is believed that monotremes (the class of  platypus-like  mammals) branched from other mammals early in evolution. The other mammals evolved into either placental or marsupial groups. The class of mammals that evolved into whales do not lay eggs at all.

What is a frozen zoo?

The frozen zoo is a collection of biological materials from a wide variety of rare and critically endangered species. The biological material is composed of gametes (sperm and oocytes), embryos, tissue samples (cell lines), serum and other items. It represents a genetic bank vault, an archive of irreplaceable genetic information that can be preserved for perhaps hundreds of years. It is stored in specialised holding tanks filled with liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -196 degrees Celsius or -373 degrees Fahrenheit. If a species nears extinction and its genes are lost, some samples can be thawed and by using assisted reproductive techniques, offspring can be produced. The collected gametes in ‘the frozen zoo are also used in the process of artificial insemination, embryo transfer and invitro-fertilization.

What is the difference between an alligator and a crocodile?

Crocodiles are from the Crocodylidae family while alligators are from the Alligatoride family Physically, the crocodile has a very long, narrow, V-shaped snout while the alligator’s snout is U-shaped. Another difference is that while the crocodile’s upper and lower jaws are nearly of the same width, an alligator has a wider upper jaw, so when the mouth is closed, the teeth in the lower jaw fit into the sockets of the upper jaw, which are hidden from view. Crocodiles have lighter olive brown colour while alligators appear blackish. Alligators also prefer fresh water while crocodiles like brackish water.

What are hemianopic spectacles?

Hemianopia is a visual disorder in which the visually handicapped person is unable to see a part of the normal visual field of one or both eyes. Hemianopia is of two kinds: bitemporal and homonymous. Persons suffering from the above disorder can improve their vision by wearing special spectacles with a prism and mirror and these are called hemianopic spectacles.

Is it true that we can hear the sound of crashing waves in seashells?

When we place the seashell close to the ear, it seems as though we can hear the sound of crashing waves but it is actually the vibration of the air molecules inside the coil of the shell. Vibrations are the source of all sounds.

How are cockatoos different from parrots?

Cockatoos belong to the family of Cacatuidae along with 20 other bird species, whereas parrots belong to the Psittacidae family. While there are a number of similarities between cockatoos and parrots, they differ in many ways — cockatoos possess a, spectacular movable head crest, and a gall bladder but they lack the dyck texture feather composition which causes the bright blues and greens seen in true parrots. Also, cockatoo species are, on an average, larger than the average parrots.

Who is a gelotologist?

A gelotologist is a specialist who studies the physiological effects of laughter. When a person laughs, some special muscles called gelastic muscles get exercised, and, as a result, several physiological changes such as an increase in respiration and blood circulation take place. A gelotologist is concerned with analysis of such changes and their effect on human health. The word originated from the Greek root ‘gelos’ meaning laughter. The first institute devoted to the field of gelotology was started in 1971 in San Francisco by Dr William Fry, who believed that laughter was bad for health. However, his views were proven wrong later.

What is otolaryngology?

Otolaryngology is the medical speciality that studies the ear, nose, and throat, as well as other related structures of the head and neck. Within otolaryngology there are seven specialties namely paediatric otolaryngology, allergy, head and neck diseases, otology / neurotology (ears, balance, and tinnitus), rhinology (nose), laryngology (throat), facial cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery Otolaryngologists are often referred to as ENT doctors because of their focus on the ear, nose, and throat. They care for patients with hearing, balance, speech, voice, taste, and smell disorders.

Which bird lives the longest?

The British record is 68 years in the case of a female European eagle-owl which was still alive in 1899. Other records regarded as probably reliable include 73 years (1818-1891) for a Greater Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo, 72 years (1797-1869) for an African Grey Parrot, 70 years (1770-1840) for a Mute Swan and 69 years for a raven. In 1972, a southern Ostrich aged 62 years and 3 months was killed in the Ostrich Abattoir at Oudtshoorn, Cape Province, South Africa. Jimmy, a red and green Amazon Parrot owned by Bella Ludford of Liverpool, England was allegedly hatched in captivity on December 3,1870 and lived for 104 years in his original brass cage, dying on January 5,1975. On October 28,1982 the death of London Zoo’s famous Greater Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo — Cocky — was reported, after spending 57 years in the parrot house. He was already a mature bird when he was acquired by R Stevens at the turn of the century, and was probably at least 40 years of age when he was presented to the zoo in 1925.

What is psychogenesis?

Psychogenic comes from the Greek words psyche meaning mind or soul and genesis meaning birth or origin. If a disease is emotionally, rather than organically, based, the ailment is psychogenic, of psychic origin or psychosomatic, resulting from the interaction of mind and body.

What is mass spectroscopy?

In this technique, the compound under investigation is bombarded with a beam of electrons which produces an ionic molecule or ionic fragments of original species. The resulting assortment of charged particles is then separated according to their masses. The spectrum produced is known as mass spectrum, which is a record of information regarding various masses produced and their relative abundance. Mass spectrum is an analytical technique that can provide information concerning the molecular structure of organic and inorganic compounds. It can be used to determine directly molecular weight as high as 4000. It is also useful to investigate reaction mixtures in understanding kinetics and mechanism of unimolecu decomposition reactions.

What is pisciculture?

The breeding, rearing, and transplantation of fish by artificial means is called pisciculture, in other words, fish farming. It is the principal form of aquaculture, while other methods may fall under mariculture. It involves raising fish commercially in tanks or enclosures, usually for food. A facility that releases juvenile fish into the wild for recreational fishing or to supplement a species’ natural numbers is generally referred to as a fish hatchery. Fish species raised by fish farms include salmon, catfish, tilapia and cod.

What are velafrons?

Velafrons are possibly the world’s earliest beach bums. They were dinosaurs that lived by the Mexican seashore about 7 million years ago. It was a duck-billed dinosaur with a sail-shaped crest on its head. They were recently discovered by US, Canadian and Mexican scientists. Its biological name is Velafrons coahuilensis which means ‘sailed forehead from Coahuila’.

What is a kymograph?

Kymograph is an electrical device used in preclinical medical research to record the biological responses (muscular motion, change in BP, and other physiological phenomena) of various tissues. It was invented by Carl Ludwig (1847) to record the change in arterial BP. It consists of an electrically driven gear box with a vertical spindle carrying a drum, and is disengaged before changing the gear box or moving the drum manually By convention, the drum rotates in the clockwise direction, so all kymograph records should be read from left to right.

What is the source of allethrin?

Allethrins are compounds used in household insecticides like mosquito coils because they have low toxicity for humans. They are sourced from chrysanthemum flowers, found in Asia and eastern Europe. These plants, which have large white, yellow, pink or red flower heads, are cultivated for ornamental, culinary or insecticidepreparation purposes. The flowers are pulverized and the allethrin compounds found in the seed cells are extracted and sold to insecticide makers.

What is xenotransplantation?

Xenotransplantation is the use of non-human animal cells, tissues and organs in human patients. These cells can be implanted or enclosed in a device used outside the body. The tissue is harvested from animals already being butchered. Immune rejection remains the biggest challenge for a xenotransplant. Cross-species transplants are more likely to produce host-vs-graft problems. A worrisome element of xenotransplant is the potential for infectious disease from donor animals which is called xenozoonosis.

What is gradenigo’s syndrome?

Gradenigo, an Italian otolaryngologist from the University of Naples, described this syndrome in 1904, Painful anaesthesia in the first division of the fifth cranial nerve supplying the forehead with sixth cranial nerve palsy occurs in this syndrome. It happens as a result of a lesion at the apex of petrous temporal bone outside the dura mater. It may be due to infection, trauma or infiltration of the nasopharyngeal cancer. Additionally, the patient may have deep retro-orbital pain and swelling of the same side of face and scalp. The syndrome may be associated with vertigo and hearing loss. An MRI is better than CT scan for early diagnosis.

Who were the hobbits?

Most know hobbits as the fictional dwarf-like creatures from JRR Tolkein’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy. But scientists discovered the fossilized remains of hobbit like creatures in a remote island in Indonesia. They believed them to be a separate species and called them Homo florsiensis or Man of Flores. However, some anthropologists refuted the claim that they were a separate species and said the diminutive size of the hobbit-like cave dwellers was probablydue to an iodine deficiency during pregnancy due to which their growth was stunted.

What is a nocebo?

Nocebo is an inert drug which when administered to a patient causes harmful effects in her, not because of any inherent chemical characteristics, but because she has negative feelings about it. It’s the opposite of a placebo, a sugar pill supposed to produce a therapeutic effect because the patient has faith in the drug or doo.tor administering it. In Latin, ‘nocebo” means ‘I will harm’ and Walter Kennedy chose the term in 1961. Although the effect of a nocebo or placebo is not scientifically, established, many people believe that —they work by their power of suggestion. They are used for control groups in clinical trials, and in drug-related experiments.

How is buffalo mozzarella made?

First of all, raw buffalo milk stored in big steel containers is given thermo treatment and then it is poured into a cream separator where curdling is done by induction of natural whey The curd is stored in tubs to reduce acidification processes till it reaches a pH value of nearly 4.95. Then, hot water is poured on it in order to soften it after which shaping is done with special shapers. These are then immersed in cold water and then in pickling tubs containing original whey at last, packaging is done in special films.

What is nomophobia?

It’s the fear of being out of mobile phone contact. According to a study nomophobia is plaguing our 24/7 life — running out of battery, credit or losing one’s handset, About 53% of users surveyed are affected by not having network coverage. The survey revealed that men suffer more than women, with 48% of females and 58% of males admitting to feelings of anxiety Many respondents said they never switched off their mobile phones.

What is the alexander technique?

It is a technioue developed by F M Alexander, who utilized the self-observation and reasoning methods to enhance the physical performance of human body like sitting, standing, walking and speaking. It is utilized to overcome unwanted physical habits developed over the years through refined strategies borne out of empirical reasoning. It is a helpful tool, for traditional methods of medication.

How did the polar bear evolve?

Zoologists believe that the polar bear evolved from a species of brown bears in Siberia, making polar bears the eighth species of bears. With the shifting of polar, ice caps and glaciers, the brown  bear species native to that area was forced to adapt to the new environment, undergoing physical body changes to keep warm in the brutally cold weather. Their fur thickened and eventually turned white. Over time, the next few generations evolved with even thicker fur, a more rounded pointy face, larger teeth and claws, bigger feet with a patch on the bottom to help them keep their grip, while walking on the ice and sharper senses. Today, polar bears live in the Arctic, Alaska, Greenland, Canada and Norway Their habitat is snow-covered mountains, mostly frozen bodies of water and where seals are found in abundance. Besides seals, polar bears eat walruses and even whales. The snow helps them blend into their environment for safety, even though man is their only predator.

What is macrobiotics?

The word macrobiotic originates from the Greek word meaning ‘great or larger than life’. It is based on The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, the oldest-known book of Chinese medicine. It is attributed to Huang Ti, the legendary Yellow Emperor (2704 BC), but was probably not written until about 500 BC. Macrobiotics is a healthy, holistic way of living a balanced lifestyie. It is a vast subject, but basically comes down to the fact that the world (the Earth and all thereon) is a constantly changing holistic system that is ever striving for balance. It not only covers diet, but balance in body, soul and spirit. Foods that help us remain centred are whole grains, vegetables, vegetable protein, nuts, seeds, sea vegetables, miso, pickles etc.

Which is the world’s first oceanarium?

The word oceanarium could mean two things. It can either mean a marine mammal park, which is a commercial theme park where dolphins, Beluga whales, and sea lions are kept within water tanks and displayed to the public in special shows. It could also mean a largescale aquarium such as the Lisbon Oceanarium, which is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling animals and plants are kept, presenting an ocean habitat with marine animals, especially large fish such as shark. Marineland of Florida, one of Florida’s first theme parks is the world’s first oceanarium. With the passage of time, oceanarium gradually took the term of largescale aquariums like the kind we see today. Marine land was founded in 1937, and mainly focused on dolphin shows. In 1999, Hurricanes Floyd and Irene forced the park to close for two months. In 2004, the park closed completely for renovations, and re-opened oh March 4, 2006. The park is now a Dolphin Conservation Center, where; guests can interact and swim with the dolphins.

How is a stallion different from a gelding?

Gelding is a castrated male horse while a stallion is a male horse that isn’t castrated. Geldings are calmer and better behaved, making them potentially more suitable as an everyday working animal. Also, geldings eliminate conflicts within domestic horse herds. Stallions are male horses used for mating and are normally the finest ones. They have a good muscular physique and are aggressive but can be controlled if trained well. They are used for horse racing, horse shows etc.

What is genetic drift?

The random changes in gene frequencies occurring by chance and not under the control of natural selection are called genetic drift or random genetic drift or sampling error. This theory was advocated by geneticist Sewall Wright in 1930. It explains the change in gene frequency and hence evolution. It is caused due to sampling error. A new generation arises from a sample of sex cells, randomly taken from the gene pool (or gametes) of the preceding generation. Now, when a sample is drawn in a large population randomly, chances that the sample will contain nearly the same gene frequency that is present in the gene pool are very high. But in a small population (and hence a small gene pool), chances that the sample drawn at random will contain an altered gene frequency are very high.

What is ophidiophobia?

Ophidiophobia is a Greek term which is a combination of ‘ophis” meaning snake and phobia meaning fear. Ophidiophobia refers to the fear of snakes, alternatively termed as herpetophobia. This kind of phobia is quite distinct from the fear of venom. An ophidiophobiac is usually afraid of snakes, not only when they come in contact with one but even when they think of snakes or see them on TV or in a magazine. One of the remarkable characteristics of the fictional character Indiana Jones is that he is an ophidiophobiac.

What is the yuppie flu?

Yuppie flu, which is also called the shirkers’ syndrome, is a term cynically applied to those suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. Earlier, doctors and others believed symptoms of chronic fatigue such as sleep disorders and other severe problems to be imagined. But now, scientists are linking the yuppie flu to gene mutations, and medical professionals around the world largely agree that the syndrome is actually real.

What are sciophytes?

Sciophytes are shade-loving trees or plants. These plants have larger photosynthetic units than sun plants or heliophytes. Sciophytes are also known as photophobous plants and they reach their saturation level in only 20% sunlight. Shade-plants essentially follow strategies of optimum use of available energy and conservation of energy. Adaptation to achieve these strategic goals include thinner leaves with a relatively higher chlorophyll content per unit leaf volume; lens-shaped epidermal cells that focus incoming light into and within the mesophyll; a red-cell layer that reflects outgoing light back into the mesophyll, and greater allocation of available energy to defencemechanisms against herbivory

What are ground antbirds?

Ground antbirds are tropical birds belonging to the family Formicariidae. They follow army ants and feed on insects, frogs, and lizards disturbed by the ants. They are native to South America.

Who was typhoid mary?

Mary Mallon (September 23,1869 – November 11,1938), also known as Typhoid Mary, was the first person in the US to be identified as a healthy carrier of typhoid fever. She worked as a cook in New York City She was an Irish girl who’d migrated to the US for a better life. She infected nearly 53 people, three of whom died. At first, when a health inspector found her to be a carrier, she was isolated for three years at a hospital and after that she was released on the condition that she would not work with food. But, she found work as a cook in a hospital, this time under the name Mary Brown. This time, health inspectors quarantined her for life. Mary died of pneumonia; an autopsy found evidence of live typhoid bacteria in her gall bladder. Now, Typhoid Mary has become a generic name for those carrying any dangerous disease without showing of anysymptom of it. There were nearly 200 healthy carriers working in and around kitchens of “New York at that time. So, some question why only Mary Mallon was quarantined.

What is iminunohistochemistry?

Immunohistochemistry is the process of localising proteins in cells of a tissue section exploiting the principle of anti-bodies binding specifically with antigens in biological tissues. It takes its name from the roots ‘immuno’, in reference to anti-bodies used in the procedure, and ‘histo’ meaning tissue. Immunohistochemistry is widely used in the diagnosis of abnormal cells such as those found in cancerous tumours.

What is parthenocarpy?

The term parthenocarpy originates from the Greek words ‘parthenos’ meaning virgin and ‘karpos’ meaning fruit. It refers to the production and development of seedless fruits. It has become increasingly important because: 1. Seeds are irritants when eating fruits. 2. Processing fruits requires removal of seeds; hence seedless fruits are desired. Parthenocarpy is of two types. Vegetative parthenocarpy: when seedless fruits develop even without stimulus of pollination, e.g. pear. Stimulative parthenocarpy is when pollination is required without the actual process of fertilisation, e.g. grapes.

What is the difference between creepers and climbers?

Both creepers and climbers are weak-stemmed plants and, hence, cannot grow erect without support. The difference is that creepers spread horizontally along the soil. At the nodal regions — where leaves grow — they produce fibrelike roots arising from the base of the stem, which get fixed and grow further. Such weak stems in creepers are called prostrate stems. Climbers take the support of an object for climbing. Some climbers simply twine around certain supporting plants in a spiral manner; some of them produce hooks to climb, and some others produce special roots serving as holdfasts to climb.

What’s the giri raja chicken?

It’s a breed of chicken developed in Bangalore that can be used to produce both meat and eggs. Typically, poultry is reared specifically for one of these purposes. Animal-welfare experts believe that using this breed will be more humane, since the birds won’t develop health problems because of intensive breeding. Also, male laying birds needn’t be slaughtered since this breed can be used to produce both eggs and meat.

What is gene doping?

Gene doping involves modifying an athlete’s DNA, or having him inject or inhale foreign DNA, to make him bigger, stronger and faster. It’s harder to detect than most drugs, which makes it all the more desired by cheaters looking to prosper. It is suspected that gene doping is already happening and is being done unethically and with immature technology, thereby, making it inherently dangerous. However, work is on to develop market-place testing procedures to detect gene doping.

What is the alphabet of genetics?

The alphabet of genetics consists of four letters ATC and G each representing the corresponding nitrogenous base, e.g., A for adenine, T for thiamine, C for cytosine and G for guanine (in case of RNA, T is replaced by U which stands for uracil). These are constituents of a nucleotide monomer along with pentose sugar and phosphoric acid. In the double helical structure of the DNA, the two nucleotide polymer chains are linked by H-bondings between these bases. These four letters constitute all kinds of genetic codes in the entire biological world.

Why are acentric chromosomes genetically inactive?

Acentric chromosomes are formed as a result of inversion of genes in one of the chromosomes in a homologous pair. This is a type of chromosomal aberration. Homologous loci are paired at meiosis. The meiotic anaphase will contain a chromatid connecting the two centromeres, called a chromatid bridge; a chromatid lacking a centromere altogether is called an acentric fragment. Neither of these behaves normally in cell division and both are eventually lost. The only viable products of meiosis in inversion heterozygotes are the chromatids that underwent no crossing over within the inverted section. Thus, the acentric chromosomes are genetically inactive due to absence of centromere.

How is an amur tiger different from a bengal tiger?

An Amur tiger lives in the Siberian plateau covered with snow, while the Bengal tiger, lives in marshes and grasslands of the Indian subcontinent. The Amur tiger is much fatter than the Bengal tiger. It also has more fur than its Bengal cousin to keep it warm. Owing to its weight, the Amur tiger can’t run faster than the Bengal tiger. The Bengal tiger’s coat is more golden, while the Amur tiger’s coat on its belly is more white and its stripes are paler. Both belong to the Panthera group of cats. The Bengal tiger is Panthera tigeris while the Amur tiger is Panthera tigeris altaica.

Why do we blink when a hammer strikes metal?

Blinking is a reflex action and happens automatically as soon as the brain perceives a threat. The striking of hammer is taken as a threat by the brain. There are multiple muscles that control the reflex action of blinking.

What is tongue grafting?

It is a term used in grafting of plants. For the whip and tongue graft, similar cuts are made on the stock and scion. The cuts are made with a single draw of the knife and have a smooth surface so the two can develop a good graft union.

What is the ‘six degrees of separation’theory?

The theory was the brainchild of psychologist Stanley Milgram. So in the 1960s, he conducted an experiment by mailing a packet to 160 people in and around Omaha, Nebraska, that needed to reach a broker in Boston. The findings showed that these letters reached the broker in five to six steps. Also, there are a few set of people who are linked to a lot of people and form the main link.

What is rhinology?

Rhinology is the study of the nose, including the sinuses, and is concerned with medical and surgical diseases of the nasal passages and paranasal sinuses. It is becoming more important after the introduction of nasal endoscopes.

What is ambergis?

Ambergis is a solid, waxy material produced in the sperm whale and in the pygmy sperm whale. It is formed in the rectum of the whale by indigestible objects from animals on which it feeds. The ambergris is usually released when the whale dies. When released, it is pale white and soft with a strong smell. Over time, ambergis oxidizes and loses its unpleasant odour. It is used in the manufacture of perfume.

What is bruxism?

Bruxism is the involuntary gnashing of teeth. Some people with bruxism — originating from the Greek word ‘brychein’ — clench their teeth during the day when they are tense. This is different from tooth grinding or clenching that occurs at night, which is called sleep bruxism. Mild bruxism may not require treatment, but in severe cases, can lead to jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth and other problems.

What is presbyopia? Which lens is used to correct it?

An eye that suffers from myopia as well as from hypermetropia is said to suffer from presbyopia. A person with this defect cannot see objects distinctly placed at any distance from him. To correct this defect, a person is prescribed bifocal lens that has both types of lenses — convex and concave.

What is apomixis?

Apomixis is asexual reproduction without fertilisation — developing or producing without sexual union. This is a botanical term used with respect to many plants.

What is microtomy?

Microtomy is the technique of cutting tissues in very small sections. This technique is used for histological and pathological studies.

What is a fish pedicure?

Fish pedicure is performed by a special kind of fish known as garra rufa or doctor fish. Feet are immersed in a tub of warm water comprising several of these tiny fish. They nibble on the toes and eat away dead skin making the feet clean and smooth. Yvonne Hair and Nails Salon was the first to offer this treatment in Washington DC, but the origin lies in Turkey from where it spread to Asia. These are very expensive and delicate fish.

What’s special about the puli?

The Puli is a medium to smallsized breed of Hungarian dog known for its long, corded coat. Pulis are intelligent, acrobatic dogs. They make very good watchdogs and herding dogs.

What is the medicinal value of eel?

In China and Japan eel is not only eaten as food but is also known for its medicinal properties. Ancient Koreans believed eel helped relieve fatigue and sexual debility

What is the peking man?

A homo erectus species, Peking Man fossils were discovered between 1929 and 1937 in the Lower Cave at the Peking Man site at Zhoukoudian, near Beijing, ^ Jm China. They included 14 partial craniums, 11 lower jaws, teeth, some skeletal bones and many stone tools. Archaeologists date them between 500,000 and 300,000 years old. A number of fossils of modern humans were also discovered in the Upper Cave at the same site in 1933. The most complete fossils were braincases or skullcaps, and were studied by Davidson Black, and later, Franz Weidenreich. The original fossils disappeared in 1941 while being shipped to the US for safety during World War II. Though the Peking Man fossils are believed to be those of apes recent research claims they were humans.

What are red tides?

Red tides are a natural phenomenon caused by high concentration of microscopic algae that are poisonous. The organism produces a toxin that affects the central nervous system of fish, paralyzing them. As a result, dead fish are washed ashore. They can cause human illness and deaths too, following consumption of toxic fish. When red tide algae reproduce in dense concentrations or ‘blooms’, they are visible as patches, often reddish. They occur due to temperature, salinity, and nutrients reaching certain levels, besides lack of wind and rainfall and cannot be controlled by humans.

Why do we get cramps mainly in the calf muscles?

A muscle cramp occurs when your muscle tightens and shortens causing sudden severe pain. It generally results from overexertion and dehydration. Cramps may also occur after inactivity.

What is similia similibus curantur?

‘Similia similibus curantur’ is a phrase coined by Dr Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy Nearly 180 years ago, he did an experiment with a drug decoction made from the bark of the chincona tree, known for its curative properties in the treatment of malaria. He drank the decoction, though he was healthy and developed the symptoms of malaria. This made him believe that a drug which possesses the property of curing an ailment can create symp toms of the disease in a healthy person who takes the drug in large doses.

What is the domino damsel fish?

Domino damsel fish is a blackcoloured fish found in the Indo- West Pacific from eastern Africa and the Red Sea to the islands of Oceania. It is also known as the three-spot damsel fish or three-spot dascyllus due to the three white spots on its black body, and can grow up to 4.3 inches.

What is a gluten-free diet?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley In some genetically predisposed children, food containing gluten causes small-bowl mucusal damage resulting in a disease called gluten-sensitive enteropathy or celiac disease. The treatment is a strict gluten-free diet i.e. elimination of wheat, rye and barley products from the diet.

What is the mind’s clock?

A group of 20,000 cells in the hypothalamus, called the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), that determines an organism’s internal rhythm is referred to as the mind’s clock. Research led by Richter showed that these cells are situated in the frontal part of the hypothalamus and control the rhythmic circadian behaviour. This tiny speck, its volume only onethird of a cubic millimetre, was called the “mind’s clock”.

What is capnography?

The activity of measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide (COg) in respiratory gases during the respiratory cycle of a patient is called capnography The equipment used in capnography usually plots the partial pressure of CO^ in the exhaled breath as a wave form, with time on the x-axis and pressure of carbon dioxide on the y-axis.

Why are mosquitoes attracted to the colour black?

Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colours, not only black, because dark colours absorb heat and lighter colours tend to reflect heat. Since mosquitoes have sophisticated heat sensors, they tend to be more attracted to darker clothes.

What is pesticide peril in vegetables?

Pesticide remains in vegetables can cause neurological and blood disorders, lung ailments and affect the reproductive system of women. Prolonged exposure to raw pesticides or consumption of pesticide-infected vegetables can result in many disorders.