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  The peepal tree is one of the most worshipped trees of India. In our holy books like Vedas , the peepal tree is considered a holy tree, along with tulsi and Ashoka.  It is also holy for Buddhism as Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment under this tree.  It is said to root represent Hindu god Brahma, the trunk represents Lord Vishnu and the leaves of the tree represent Lord shiva.  In the Bhagavad Gita , Krishna says, "I am the Peepal tree among the trees, Narada among the sages, Chitraaratha among the Gandharvas, And sage Kapila among the Siddhas." Peepal Tree Family: Moraceae Another name: Bodhi Tree, Sacred fig, Pippala tree, Binomial name :  Ficus religiosa Source: Flickr Peepal is used in l medicine for about fifty types of disorders including asthma, diabetes, diarrhea, epilepsy, gastric problems, inflammatory disorders, infectious and sexual disorders. Why sleeping under peepal tree is best than sleeping under other trees? Generally, Pla...

  Methylene Blue (methylthioninium chloride) Methylene Blue (Source: flickr.com) IUPAS Name :  3,7-bis(Dimethylamino)-phenothiazin-5-ium chloride CAS Number :  61-73-4 Formula : C16H18ClN3S Relative molecular mass (anhydrous form): 319.85 Properties  Odorless Drak Green crystals Stable in Air Chemical Structure It is first synthesized in 1876. It is found effective against malaria.  It is used for medication, dye, and as staining agents.  Methylene Blue is approved for methemoglobinemia and unitary tract infections.  Side effects of methylene blue : Diarrhea, Vomiting, Nausea, Headache, Abdominal pain, etc. Is it effective Against Coronavirus? Methylene Blue has properties which makes it useful in medical purpose. It is Anti-Oxidant, Anti-viral, Anti-Fungal, and Anti-bacterial. It normalizes the blood pressure. But there isn’t any scientific research that establishes that methylene blue is helpful in Covid-19 therapy. "When used in sublingual and neb...

PEDOT   Name :  Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) IUPAC Name :  poly(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxane-5,7-diyl) CAS number : 126213-51-2 Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Chemically polymerized PEDOT was first discovered in 1988. Compare to earlier poly-thiophenes, PEDOT possesses greater advantageous properties.  These polymers have high stability and transparency in their conducting state.  The oxidative polymerization process is used to prepare PEDOT.  Each monomer 3,4 - ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) loses two electrons while oxidized and form conjugate poly-thiophene. It has a moderate bandgap and low redox- potential.  A disadvantage of these polymers is the solubility (very poor). By making composite with PSS (polystyrene sulfonate) or TMA (tetramethcrylate) this disadvantage will overcome. PSS is mostly used for commercial purposes.  There are many preparation methods that are developed according to their use.  Applications : Capacit...

Researchers developed smart brick that can store energy, called a supercapacitor.  Image by Washington University/D'arcy Lab Red bricks are readily available and can be converted into energy storage devices once it is treated with polymer coating, said D'arcy assistant professor at Washington University in St Louis. The material used is PEDOT . The chemical name of PEDOT is poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) . It converts brick into a supercapacitor. Iron oxide helped the process, his team said. Image from D'arcy's lab shows, when LED connected to these smart bricks it lightens up.  Regular brick also can be used to make "smart brick", said D'arcy. The research is still in its infancy. The research paper is published in the journal of Nature communications.  

 What is the brain? The brain is the most complex part of the human body.  This three-pound organ is the seat of intelligence, interpreter of the senses, initiator of body movement, and controller of behavior. Source: flickr.com The brain is a master chip of the human body. This 1.5 kg ( approx 3 pounds) organ controls the whole body, interprets input information. It is the most complex part of the human body.  We can't live without a brain. It is made up of 100 billion nerves.  Anatomy and function  The brain has 3 parts : 1) Cerebrum 2) Cerebellum 3) Brain stem 1) Cerebrum The cerebrum is an important part of the brain.  It contains the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, basal ganglia, and olfactory bulb. Cerebral cortex processes sensory and motor information.  Source: Wikipedia commons It consists of mainly neuron cell bodies,  its rumple surface is due to its folds and fissures (known as gyri and sulci). The cerebral has two hemispheres (left and ...

 Global warming is a serious issue. Emission of carbon dioxide and other global warming gas from industries, vehicles, and air conditioning systems will cause a rise in earth's temperature. To reduce the effect of global warming, scientist and researchers work hard to find alternative technologies.  Recently, Prof. Xiulin Ruan (a Purdue University) and his team, developed a paint, called "ultra-white" paint.  Source: Purdue University Normal white paints possess 75- 85% reflectance.  Two materials were tested, CaCO 3 and BaSO 4 .  Paint containing CaCO3 possesses 95.5% reflectance. The paint could cool up to 1.7 °C below the surrounding temperature. Other paint containing BaSO 4 and acrylic paint can reflect the sunlight at wavelength which enough to pass through the atmosphere. This paint possesses 98.1% reflectance. It lowers the inner temperature by 4.5 degrees  °C.  CaCO 3 absorbs more sunlight  (4.5%) than BaSO 4 (absorbs 1.9% sunlight), ...

 Corona is at its highest peak in India. The country is suffering from an oxygen shortage.  A new strain of coronavirus causes damage to the respiratory system of the patient. The oxygen level of the patient decreases rapidly. Hundreds of patients are dying due to the unavailability of oxygen cylinders.  Source:  Getty Images The government is trying to provide enough oxygen supplies by diverting the use of oxygen in aluminum and other industries.  In this kind of situation, people are googling "How to make oxygen at home". We Indians know many home remedies, like eating green veggies, kadhas, etc. It will be helpful to know the tips about maintaining oxygen level.  Let discuss few tips : 1. Proning  Proning is a recent technique introduced by AIIMs (Patna). Lying on Belly for half an hour will help maintain oxygen level. The technique is also suggested beneficial by Yog-guru Swami Ramdev.  Position: Lie down on the bed and place one pillow b...

The world is facing a critical situation of Coronavirus pandemic. Many countries don't have enough oxygen to supply for medical use.  Oxygen has applications in various production industries, but due to shortage of oxygen government diverted the use in medical purpose first.  What should be the purity of Medical Oxygen? There no particular standard for purity of medical oxygen, but it is ultrafultered and more than 99% pure.  Aiming to fulfill oxygen demand, many firms started developing devices that produce oxygen at home. Local people also started googling "How to make oxygen at home".  But is it safe to use homemade oxygen?  It depends on method used to produce the oxygen.  Purity and composition matter most while we concern to use oxygen for clinical purposes. Oxygen concentrator Before buying any equipment ensure these factors: First, read detailed information about that equipment Check if the manufacturer/Supplier authorized to sell that equipmen...

Different Covid Vaccines Confused about which vaccine could be effective? Which vaccines are used in your country?  The WHO has declared the coronavirus disease a pandemic. A novel coronavirus firstly was identified in Wuhan, China.  Coronavirus cause illnesses ranging from Cough, fever to more severe diseases related to the respiratory system.  As of April 2021, there are over 250 vaccine candidates for COVID-19 being developed. Few of them are in human trial and the rest of them are in phase 1/2. Let's get a quick look at some most used Covid vaccines : 1. Covaxin (BBV152) Covaxin is developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).  Covaxin was approved for human clinical trials in July 2020. It is included along with immune-potentiators. Covaxin demonstrated 81% interim efficacy in preventing COVID-19 in those without prior infection after the second dose. Side effects : headache, fatigue, fever, body ache, abdo...

RARE BLUE JAVA BANANA | ICE CREAM BANANA When it comes to Banana, It is the most appealing fruit by Fitness Freaks. They are grown in a hot, humid climate, mostly in southern Africa, India, China, and America. There are many varieties of bananas.  Have ever imagined blue-cloured Banana? Yes, I'm talking about RARE BLUE BANANA. These Bananas are native to southeast Asia and also can be also found in Maui, Hawaii, and Northern Australia.  They are a hybrid of two species  Musa balbisiana and Musa acuminata . It is also known for its taste. The taste of Blue Banana is like Vanilla Ice-cream.  The Blue Java bananas are popular bananas that can be eaten fresh or cooked. They are also popular as ornamentals and shade plants for their unusual blue coloration, large size, and tolerance to temperate climates. Due to their unique taste and consistency, blue Java bananas are often used in smoothies, added to desserts, or swapped in for regular bananas to make a natural, low-cal...

What is Hawk-Eye technology in Sports?  How the ball is tracked in Sports?  Cricket is the second most popular sport in Asia, Australia, and the United Kingdom.  You have to know these technologies used in cricket if you are a true cricket lover. With time these technologies are advanced. So let's talk about some amazing technologies used in cricket. 1. Hawk-Eye      The system (Owned by Sony ) is originally developed in the United Kingdom and widely used in sports as it accurate within 3.6 mm. It is used in many sports to track the ball and display a profile of its most likely path as a moving image. It works via many cameras (Usually six or more, positioned on the roof of the stadium) to track the ball from various angles. 2. Radar Gun or Speed Gun     Have ever wonder How the Speed of the ball is measured? The concept is quite similar to measuring the speed of vehicles. The system consists of two elements, Reciever and Transmitter. With th...

What is Peanut Butter? It is basically roasted peanuts, paste-like unprocessed food. The man behind the legend was a Canadian named Marcellus Gilmore Edson who created ‘peanut paste’ in 1884. Peanut Butter Many brands also add ingredients like Sugar, salts, or trans fats, so it is advisable to check labels before buying. Why Peanut Butter is good for maintaining weight and fitness? It is nutrition-rich food. It offers potential health benefits.  It contains some fats which are good as it is associated with a lower risk of  Weight gain.  Oleic acid is one of the main fat which helps in maintaining blood sugar and blood pressure, lowers the risk of heart disease.  Peanut Butter supplies three nutrients with a good combination in one serving. (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins). It also contains Copper that helps maintain our immune system.  Nutrition Information Vitamin E Niacin (B3) Manganese Vitamin B6 Magnesium ...

  Scientists Are excited because they might have caught a glimpse of something altogether new. New research shows there is a hidden force in nature. Last week scientists at LHC (Switzerland) tweeted that they found a new force.   Today the @LHCbExperiment at CERN announced new results which, if confirmed, would suggest hints of a violation of the Standard Model of particle physics 😮 https://t.co/uf40WPJk27 — CERN (@CERN) March 23, 2021 The current theory that best describes the nature of particles is called the Standard Model.  It is the unification of three of the four fundamental forces of nature. Since the 1960s, the Standard Model has stood several tests of time. Using this theory, scientists predicted the existence of the Higgs boson (God particle). It took more than 40 years and $13.25 billion to search for this exotic particle. The last missing piece of the Standard Model , the Higgs boson was discovered in 2012.  However, this model is not the final wor...

  What is microgravity? It is a condition when objects appear to be weightless. That doesn't mean that there is zero gravity in space. Gravity acts upon all objects. Why we need to study "Microgravity" so far? Astronauts on Internation space station work in such an environment for long period. The station orbits the planet every 90 minutes, moving at more than 17000 miles per hour. As a result, astronauts onboard live in a constant state of free falling, or weightlessness. That that is called " Microgravity ". Researchers also trying to find different ways to manufacture the product taking advantage of such an environment. In July of 2019, SpaceX 's CRS 18 launched with many research projects including an investigation being conducted by Goodyear and Adidas . But Microgravity negatively affects on human body too. Here is a list of some impacts of microgravity on the human body. It may possible that your bones and muscles break down too. The bone density dr...

 Paper is generally made from cellulosic wood pulp. Pine , hemlock , fir , and larch are commonly used soft trees, and eucalyptus , aspen , and birch are commonly used hardwoods for making paper. According to study (2005) there were 3 trillion trees the planet has. and 15 billion trees are cut down every year. Forests are disappearing at an higher rate. There are numbers of industries products are depends on tree. Paper and pulp industries are one of them. So finding alternatives for making paper is must to conserve the forests. There has been a number of papers published for making paper.  Paper from Animals Skin In ancient time, Animal's Skin was used to make a paper. Two terms mostly used for this type of paper " Parchment " and " Vellum ". Skin of Animals like sheep, goat or cow, that has been dried or scraped were used. Source: Wikipedia From Wool Recently,  Favini , A leading global company introduce new concept called REFIT , the paper made from wool or...

 Unfortunately, people think of bacteria in negative terms. And it is obvious as it has been supported by media and soap and detergent advertising firms. But scientists now focusing on how bacteria affect the biology of plants. Scientists found some specific type of bacteria that live on plants like dry areas. These types of bacteria encourage important crops to grow through high temperatures or drought. With the help of these bacteria, plants survive exposure to excessive heat and high salt levels. "These microorganisms could be greenest ways to help sustainable agriculture ", said Shekhawat. In a study they have conducted, they focused on SA187 , a microbe that lives in the roots of the plant called Indigofera argentea. The scientists planted wheat seeds coated with SA187 along with uncoated seeds. After six days, the crops were exposed to 44 degree Celsius heat for two hours. As the result, normal seeds stopped growing, and also damaged and coated seeds remained unaffecte...

 The temperature of the earth rises day by day. An annual climate report by NOAA shows that both land and sea temperature has increased with an average rate of 0.08 degrees celsius every 10 years since 1880; however, since few years the average rate has more than twice that rate. CO 2 is responsible for global warming . To reduce the effect of Carbon dioxide , Carbon Capture Technology comes into the picture. There are many methods available to capture carbon. There two ways, either natural or by specifically designed systems. The first natural way to capture carbon is the photosynthesis process. Planting more trees will capture more carbon dioxide. Soil naturally stores carbon. Some minerals also react with  CO 2   naturally and turning it from gas to solid. But it takes thousands of years. Another way to capture carbon is the direct separation from industrial emissions. Collected carbon can be stored in underground or long-life products such as concrete.  So...