Category: Science

A Brief Understanding of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects the way a person thinks, behaves, expresses emotions and perceives reality. It affects around 20 million people worldwide, so it is not as common as other mental illnesses like depression or anxiety disorder. However, it is perhaps the most chronic and disabling one. It is quite evident when people are suffering from schizophrenia, as they act very abnormally and differently. This is why schizophrenics often have problems doing well in society, school, work or in their personal relationships, as they appear to have lost touch with reality and do not know how to behave like a normal, sociable people. Hence, schizophrenia is associated with considerable disability and greatly affects educational and occupational performance.

Causes

Till today, the exact causes of schizophrenia are still unknown. Research conducted on the topic suggests that it may be a combination of genetic, physical, psychological and environmental factors that cause it. So the causes may range from genetic inheritance, chemical imbalances in the brain, and the use of certain drugs and medication, to external environmental factors like trauma, excessive stress, etc.

Symptoms

As mentioned before, schizophrenia causes a wide range of symptoms on a mental, behavioural and emotional level. These symptoms may vary in number and degree from one schizophrenic to another, but there are some commonly seen symptoms among all of them;

  • Hallucinations – Seeing or hearing things in their heads, which are not there in reality. A hallucinating schizophrenic may see or hear something that do not exist, but they fully believe that it is a real experience.
  • Delusions – These are false or fictitious beliefs that schizophrenics have which are not real. Such delusions could be that someone is constantly following them when no one is, or delusions of grandeur where the schizophrenic feels as if he/she is some great, famous person.
  • Disorganized Thinking (Speech) – This means that schizophrenics lack proper communication skills and do not have much interactive capability. They may only half answer questions or not respond at all, and their speech might be meaningless and incomprehensible.
  • Disorganized Motor Behavior – Even their body movements and postures are often abnormal. The behavior may be childlike and unpredictable, and often is not focused on performing any task. They may even require help to perform daily life functions like brushing teeth, eating, etc.
  • Negative Symptoms – This generally refers to their lack of ability to function like a normal human being. They may lack hygiene and care for themselves. They may also lack emotion, or express emotions at wrong times, like showing happiness at a funeral.

Treatment

Since schizophrenia is chronic, even treatment for it is lifelong. Unfortunately, schizophrenia cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. Treatment can help the afflicted person manage the symptoms of the illness and avoid hospitalization. There is no blanket treatment plan and doctors will often tailor it to suit the individual persons. The cornerstone of schizophrenia treatment is medication. Schizophrenics will most commonly be given antipsychotic drugs to keep control of the mental disabilities and allow the person to think and function somewhat normally. Along with this, even psychosocial support from family members and in the form of counselling can help a person develop coping skills in life. This is especially important because schizophrenics often have suicidal thoughts and tendencies, and having a social support system helps them in averting these thoughts and gives them hope.

It is important to highlight here that there is a stigma, and discrimination against people with schizophrenia is common nowadays. They are also often abandoned by their families or relatives thinking that they are beyond saving. We must learn as a society that such people are not as fortunate as us, and suffer from inflictions that we cannot even imagine. Society must be educated on the fact that they are not dangerous or scary people, and must be encouraged to seek help. Hence, we must do all we can to support schizophrenics and provide them with the best help we can.

Lambda variant of Corona virus (COVID) is deadlier than delta variant

The lambda variant has been detected in 30 countries so far. In the UK, there are six cases of lambda, which has been designated as ‘variant of interest’ by the World Health Organization.

Lambda variant and its history –

The Lambda variant is not a new emergence. It has been around at least since last year, possibly as early as August 2020. In Peru, where it is believed to have originated, it accounts for almost 80% of the infections. It is the dominant strain in neighboring Chile as well. But until recently, it was largely concentrated in a handful of South American countries, including Ecuador and Argentina.

Since the end of March, this variant has been detected in more than 25 countries, although the numbers are still very small. The UK, for example, said it had found this variant in six infected people, all international travelers. Recently, it has also been found in Australia.

Mutations of lambda variant –

According to the WHO, the Lambda variant has at least seven significant mutations in the spike protein (the Delta variant has three) which could have a range of implications, including the possibility of increased transmissibility or enhanced resistance to antibodies, created either through natural infection or vaccination.

A recent study by researchers at the Chile reported that the Lambda variant had greater infectivity than the Alpha and Gamma variants (known to have originated in the UK and Brazil respectively). The study also reported decreased effectiveness of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine (Coronavac) against the Lambda variant.

However, the behavior of the Lambda variant is not very well understood right now.

“There is currently limited evidence on the full extent of the impact associated with these genomic changes, and further robust studies into the phenotype impacts are needed to better understand the impact on countermeasures, and to control the spread,” the WHO said in a statement. “Further studies are also required to validate the continued effectiveness of vaccines.”

But, the designation as a “variant of interest” means that the genetic changes involved are predicted or known to affect transmissibility, disease severity, or immune escape. It is also an acknowledgement of the fact that the variant has caused significant community transmission in multiple countries and population groups.

There are currently seven variants, including the Lambda, that the WHO classifies as “variants of interest”. Another four – Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta – have been designated as “variants of concern”, and are considered a bigger threat. These were all recently named after letters of the Greek alphabet to avoid linkage with the country of their origin that had been happening until then.

Should India worry about the Lambda variant?

The Lambda variant has so far not been found in India or neighboring countries. In Asia, only Israel has reported this variant until now. But several countries in Europe from where travel to India is frequent, including France, Germany, UK, and Italy have reported this variant.

The potential of emerging variants to bypass the immunity gained through vaccination means that there could be fresh waves of infections even in populations that were being considered close to reaching community-level protection. That is what is happening in many countries in Europe right now, particularly in the UK. There has been a sharp rise in cases in several countries in the last few weeks.

That means that a country like India, which is still recovering from the debilitating second wave, would need to proactively watch out for, and prevent the spread of any new variant that could trigger a fresh wave.

Health consciousness.

Consciousness, at its simplest, is sentience or awareness of internal and external existence. Despite millennia of analyses, definitions, explanations and debates by philosophers and scientists, consciousness remains puzzling and controversial, being “at once the most familiar and most mysterious aspect of our lives”. Perhaps the only widely agreed notion about the topic is the intuition that it exists. Opinions differ about what exactly needs to be studied and explained as consciousness. Sometimes, it is synonymous with the mind, and at other times, an aspect of it. In the past, it was one’s “inner life”, the world of introspection, of private thought, imagination and volition. Today, it often includes some kind of experience, cognition, feeling or perception. It may be awareness, awareness of awareness, or self-awareness. There might be different levels or orders of consciousness, or different kinds of consciousness, or just one kind with different features. Other questions include whether only humans are conscious, all animals, or even the whole universe. The disparate range of research, notions and speculations raises doubts about whether the right questions are being asked.

Examples of the range of descriptions, definitions or explanations are: simple wakefulness, one’s sense of selfhood or soul explored by “looking within”; being a metaphorical “stream” of contents, or being a mental state, mental event or mental process of the brain; having phanera or qualia and subjectivity; being the ‘something that it is like’ to ‘have’ or ‘be’ it; being the “inner theatre” or the executive control system of the mind.

And that’s why to be health conscious is better than being careless.

3D PRINTING

3D Printing is an new and emerging field of biotechnology, it’s a field of revolution in science, the earliest record of 3D printing through the additive process was the Japanese inventor Hideo Kodama in 1981. He created a product that used ultraviolet lights to harden polymers and create solid objects. This is a stepping stone to stereolithography (SLA).Overall 3D printing has changed and improved over the past thirty years. SLA, SLS, and FDM show the history of 3D printing, and thus how it became a vital tool for manufacturing. It allows you to make virtually anything simply by creating a computer file

HOW DOES IT WORKS ?

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a method of creating a three dimensional object layer-by-layer using a computer created design.3D printing is an additive process whereby layers of material are built up to create a 3D part. This is the opposite of subtractive manufacturing processes, where a final design is cut from a larger block of material. As a result, 3D printing creates less material wastage.

3D Printing Technologies :

There are three broad types of 3D printing technology; sintering, melting, and stereolithography.

  • Sintering is a technology where the material is heated, but not to the point of melting, to create high resolution items. Metal powder is used for direct metal laser sintering while thermoplastic powders are used for selective laser sintering.
  • Melting methods of 3D printing include powder bed fusion, electron beam melting and direct energy deposition, these use laser, electron beams to print objects by melting the materials together.
  • Stereolithography utilizes photopolymerization to create parts. This technology uses the correct light source to interact with the material in a selective manner to cure and solidify a cross section of the object in thin layers.

3D Printing Processes :

3D printing has been categorised into seven groups by ISO/ASTM 52900 additive manufacturing – general principles – terminology. All forms of 3D printing fall into one of the following types:

  1. Binder Jetting
  2. Direct Energy Deposition
  3. Material Extrusion
  4. Material Jetting
  5. Powder Bed Fusion
  6. Sheet Lamination
  7. VAT Polymerization

Applications

  • Most common application is organ transplantation, and are also used for producing metal orthopedic implants. Due to 3D printing’s capabilities for creating porous surfaces, these types of implants more easily integrate with the patient’s own natural bones, allowing them to grow into the implant.
  • 3D printing applications that are used in construction include extrusion (concrete/cement, wax, foam, and polymers), powder bonding (polymer bond, reactive bond, sintering) and additive welding. 3D printing in construction has a wide array of applications in the private, commercial, industrial and public sectors. Advantages of these technologies include allowing more complexity and accuracy, faster construction, lower labor costs, greater functional integration, and less waste.

After 140 Years, Biologists Have ‘Resurrected’ The Genus of These Weird Yellow Cells

Deep in the tissues of sea anemones, corals, and jellyfish are strange yellow cells which are genetically distinct from the marine animals.

https://news.psu.edu/photo/662854/2021/07/01/yellow-cells

More than a century after these cells were first assigned a now forgotten genus, a new paper has resurrected the name and described six new species from around the world.https://7ebdf40ca650dbb49550c30c7626f99f.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

“Because our team comprises scientists from seven countries, we were able to collect all of these samples, and some during the global pandemic,” said lead author of the study, biologist Todd LaJeunesse from Penn State University.

“This study highlights how the spirit of scientific discovery brings people together, even in times of hardship.”

First described in 1881, the yellow things were originally classified under the genus Zooxanthella by scientist Karl Brandt. Brandt also coined the term zooxanthellae, which is used colloquially to this day.

However, another scientist – a Scotsman called Patrick Geddes – was investigating these yellow cells at the same time. In 1882, without having seen Brandt’s work, Geddes discovered that not only were the cells separate from the animals they were within (something Brandt had also established), but that they were beneficial, acting as mutualistic symbiotes.

The genus Geddes established to categorize these cells was Philozoon, from the Greek words for ‘to love as a friend’ and ‘animal’. Unfortunately, Brandt came first, so the Philozoon genus was never used; Geddes switched to work in urban planning, and the newly named genus was largely forgotten.null

We are now well aware that these odd microorganisms Geddes and Brandt worked on back in the day are photosynthetic dinoflagellates – single-celled algae found in symbiosis with other marine life, such as corals – under the family Symbiodiniaceae.

In the new study, researchers took a closer look at these yellow cells, using genetic data, geographical data and morphology to analyze where exactly they should sit in the genetic tree.

And after determining that these creatures need to be put into a new genus, the team pulled the genus Philozoon out of retirement for two old species and six new ones.

“We emend the genus Philozoon Geddes and two of its species, P. medusarum and P. actiniarum, and describe six new species,” the team wrote in their paper.

“Each symbiont species exhibits high host fidelity for particular species of sea anemone, soft coral, stony coral and a rhizostome jellyfish.” 

The team wrote that Philozoon are found in shallow, temperate marine habitats around the world, including the Mediterranean Sea, eastern Australia, New Zealand, and Chile.

“Since most of the algae in the family Symbiodiniaceae have been thought to be mostly tropical where they are critical to the formation of coral reefs, finding and describing these new species in cold waters highlights the capacity of these symbioses to evolve and live under a broad range of environmental conditions,” explains LaJeunesse.

“Life finds a way to persist and proliferate.”

The research has been published in the European Journal of Phycology.

MIMO Configuration

The various types of single/multiple antenna connections are defined as follows:

  • SISO – Single Input Single Output
  • SIMO – Single Input Multiple Output
  • MISO – Multiple Input Single Output
  • MIMO – Multiple Input Multiple Output

SISO – Single Input Single Output

SISO – Single Input Single Output – is the simplest version of the radio connection in MIMO terminology. This is essentially a normal radio channel, as both the transmitter and receiver use a single antenna. There is no need for extra processing because there is no variety.

A SISO system has the benefit of being simple. In terms of the different types of diversity that may be utilized, SISO does not require any processing. The SISO channel, on the other hand, has performance limitations. The system will be more affected by interference and fading than a MIMO system, and the channel bandwidth is restricted by Shannon’s law, with the throughput being determined by the channel bandwidth and signal-to-noise ratio.

SIMO – Single Input Multiple Output

The SIMO (Single Input Many Output) variant of MIMO uses a single antenna for the transmitter and multiple antennas for the reception. Receiving diversity is another name for this. It’s frequently employed to counter the effects of fading in a receiver system that receives signals from several independent sources. It has been used for many years to fight the effects of ionospheric fading and interference with short wave listening/receiving stations.

SIMO has the benefit of being very simple to implement, but it does have certain drawbacks, such as the need for processing in the receiver. In many applications, SIMO may be appropriate, however, if the receiver is situated in a mobile device, such as a cellular handset, processing levels may be constrained by size, cost, and battery drain.

MISO – Multiple Input Single Output

Transmit diversity is another name for MISO. The identical data is redundantly broadcast from the two transmitter antennas in this scenario. The receiver is thus able to receive the best signal, which it may subsequently utilize to retrieve the data it needs.

MISO has the advantage of transferring numerous antennas and redundancy coding/processing from the receiver to the transmitter. This may be a substantial benefit in situations like cellphone UEs, saving space for antennas, and lowering the amount of processing necessary in the reception for redundancy coding. Because the reduced degree of processing demands less energy use, this has a beneficial influence on size, cost, and battery life.

MIMO – Multiple Input Multiple Output

MIMO stands for Multiple Input Multiple Output, and it occurs when both ends of a radio link have more than one antenna. Both channel robustness and channel throughput may be improved using MIMO.

It is important to be able to use coding on the channels to segregate the data from the different routes in order to fully benefit from MIMO. This involves processing, but it adds to the channel’s robustness and data throughput capability. The underlying principle behind MIMO technology is that more antennas equal greater data transfer. MIMO is a potential technique for meeting greater demands in modern wireless networks.

The Glowing forest

Hello guys!!You guys may have heard of the term “forest” but have you ever heard of “Glowing forest”.

Yes! The forest that literally GLOWS at night.

Source: unknown

I am always awestruck by the art of nature,nature for me will always be a mystery.The things which we can never imagine in our life takes place in this huge world.

If you ever see a glowing forest you might think that lights from the city travelled all the way to the forest haha.But reality is far more impressive than any imagination you might have right now of a “glowing forest”.

Unexpected things that we come across in our life adds spice in our lives. Those unknown variables gives us these exciting experiences.

Learning about something and gaining knowledge should always be welcomed if they knock on our door of life.

Jumping right in to the topic.

How do you think these forests glow ?Got any idea about it.

Yes. I am using the word “forests” because they exist in various places all over the world.

So for today I am going to write about the enchanting and captivating forest that lies in Shikoku,Japan . At night time, the floor lights up in bright green due to the glowing mushrooms that create a luminescent ambiance as if we are in a fantasy .

During the rainy season these bioluminescent mushrooms emerge in the forest lighting up the whole forest creating a dream land.

Many hikers,travellers visit this place to experience the unknown world . Especially they visit at night because the forest’s speciality is glowing at night time .

There are various types of brightening mushrooms all over the world.

From vice

Guys don’t get discouraged thinking that you will not be able to visit that place because it’s very far. We have glowing forest in India tooo.

The bioluminescent fungus that grows on the barks and twigs of the tropical forest floors when exposed to rain this phenomena takes place.There should be certain humidity and moisture conditions for this type of fungi to grow .

Source:unkown

The fungi in the Western Ghats, on the other hand, belong to the Mycena genus, a group of tiny mushrooms that almost look like moss.

Even in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary situated in Swapnagandha Valley of Goa, Chorla Ghat near Panjim is another place where you can find the cool glow. Belgaum in Karnataka is another place to find these light up mushrooms.

Source :unknown

We got to know how these forest are glowing but the reason what causes the luminescent nature of the fungi is still unknown.

Thankyou^^

Jee mains 2021 exam date announced; Registration process begins for April/may session.

The most crucial engineering and medical entrance exams JEE Main and NEET UG have also been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.The February and March sessions of engineering entrance exam JEE Main 2021 were held while the April and May exams were postponed.

  • Indian education minister Mr Ramesh Pokhriyal

Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal has announced the exam schedule for JEE Main (April / May) sessions 2021 today. The minister made the announcement through a live session. The third session of JEE Main 2021 (April session) will be conducted from July 20-25. The fourth and last session of JEE Main 2021 (May session) will be conducted from July 27-August 2.Candidates can apply at jeemain.nta.nic.in. Those who wish to apply for the April session will be able to apply from tonight to July 8. JEE Main (May) session registrations will be open from July 9-12. Candidates will also be able to change their exam centres. Even to ensure social distancing amid the pandemic, the NTA has also increased the number of test centres for JEE Main (April and May) sessions. Earlier, the total number of test centres was 660. The test centres have now been increased to 828.

Social media reaction

Just within two hours of date announcement , the news started Trending over various social media plateform. On twitter the #jeemains2021reached in top ten trend within two hours only. Most of the people are making memes on the surprising announcement of exam date , while some are demanding for postponement of the exam .

https://twitter.com/wtfunnycat/status/1412415534667341828?s=19
https://twitter.com/notkeanureeves_/status/1412415006889676817?s=19

What about jee advanced date announcement?

In this context, one thing has to be noted that the JEE Advanced 2021 Exam which was scheduled to take place July 3, 2021, also had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 situation in the country. However, recently, on June 25, 2021, IIT Kharagpur, the organising institute for JEE Advanced 2021 Exam has released the information brochure and list of documents that will be required for JEE Advanced 2021 Exam on the official website of JEE Advanced at jeeadv.ac.in. On the website, it is also mentioned that a new date for JEE Advanced 2021 Exam will be announced soon.

for more detail vist the link 👇

https://youtu.be/6x4aP17GXoE

https://www.dnaindia.com/education/report-nta-jee-main-2021-neet-2021-entrance-exam-dates-application-form-ntanicin-cbse-class-12-board-exam-2021-result-date-latest-updates-2898900

jee Mains 2021
Nta
Iit-jee
Engineering
Entrance exam

Courses and programs

Courses and programs for students are the main role to their education .

A program is your degree . A course is one building block (subject) of your program

Our featyre is depends on our Courses and programs

Some of courses

1 B.Com. This is the most popular choice among Commerce stream students. …

2 Chartered Accountancy.

3 Bachelor’s course in Economics.

4 Company Secretaryship course.

5 Law courses. …

6 Management courses. …

7 Technical courses. …

8 Designing courses.          

And some more

Administration Studies

Architecture Studies

Art Studies

Aviation

Business Studies

Construction

Cosmetology Studies

Design Studies

Economic Studies

Education

Educational and academic news and updates

Energy Studies

Engineering Studies

Environmental Studies

Fashion

Food and Beverage Studies

General Studies

Health Care

Humanities Studies

Journalism and Mass Communication

Languages

Law Studies

Life Sciences

Life Skills

Management Studies

Marketing Studies

Natural Sciences

Performing Arts

Professional Studies

Self-Improvement

Social Sciences

Sport

Sustainability Studies n

Technology Studies

Tourism and Hospitality

Mindful gardening

Have you ever had the flavor of fruits and vegetables cultivated in your garden? If you have not, just give a try at least once in your lifetime and then that would let you take up gardening eternally. Trust me, even the bitter gourd might sound sweet when you get it from your labor and that could be so heart warming and relishing. Some take up gardening in their leisure time and some really have a great passion towards it. It doesn’t matter about the size of your garden it is about the mindfulness, just gather few pot plants and little herbs and that tends leave a huge impact in your life. Cultivating plants aids in cultivating a healthy mind and grants serenity. A study found that ” every green environment improved self esteem”. When you feel distressed and anxious about your repetitive life just drop in to your garden and it will restore all your inner peace.

When you land up in the soil, its smell uplifts your mood and makes you feel elated!

When you clear up the weeds your mind also gets cleaned by giving up all the negativity!

When you dig deep into the soil your mind goes in deep and revives the positivity back!

When you sow the seeds, your heart is been sowed and scattered with cheerfulness and bright thoughts!

When you notice the tiny little branches you will find an intangible happiness sprouting within you and When you sprinkle the water, the mother earth sprinkles her blessings on you.

Spending some quality time in the garden would render many physical and mental benefits. The pulling, digging, reaching, twisting and bending of gardening amounts to light aerobic exercise, which improves heart and lung health, helps prevent obesity. The plants clean the air around us and makes us feel fresh. Currently, the food industry is responsible for emitting 26% of global CO2 waste by transporting food from suppliers to grocery stores. So it becomes apparent that when we grow food in our garden we are reducing our carbon footprint. Spending time in nature can promote the mental health and gardening has been used as therapy for depression for many years. A group of researches have come with findings after tracking over 3000 subjects for 16 years and it stated that gardening regularly reduces the risk of dementia by 35-46%. Gardening is a very big stress buster and watching the plants flourish is a huge stress relief. People who have raised a prosperous garden might know how great it feels to notice the flowers budding and blooming and that boosts a person’s self esteem because developing a garden could be a rewarding hobby. When we invest our diligent & earnest work, certainly the plants will nourish our body and mind in return. The inner happiness that you find when your dining is been filled with the food that you harvest could be so remarkable and rejoice at the fact that you are able to nurture your health with your own scrupulous work.

Besides the mental and physical benefits of gardening there many medicinal plants we can cultivate in our garden space that assures us a healthy lifestyle and those plants are also easily obtainable. Tulsi is believed to be a physical incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi on earth and regarded as the holiest of all. They are rich in adaptogens which help in reducing the stress levels in your body, cures common cold, promotes digestion etc. It is true that there is a science behind every activity and also there is a medicinal benefit behind each plant. Aloevera is extremely useful to speed up healing and reduce the risks of infections. Pepper mint regarded as the world’s oldest medicine is used to treat fevers, inhibit bacterial growth. Coleus amboinicus (Omavalli) can be used a remedy for cough, cold, indigestion. Coriander, curry leaves, mint are very simple to grow and they play a very major role in our daily diet. In addition there are several plants and trees that aids in our physical health.

There are many fascinating facts about plants and one such is, plants could really respond to sounds. Talking to plants to help them grow is a well know old wives’ tale but studies have shown that compared to a silent greenhouse to one where they piped in a voice soundtrack, the plants in the latter grew more. This could also make you to get rid of the loneliness at times. Gardening helps us to overcome our inhibitions and makes our life complete & alluring. I think that we should acquire the great quality from plants of how to grow in silence and letting your success make the noise. Garden is a grand teacher and gardening is enduring and never ceases. To grow a plant is to believe in tomorrow!

Astronomical Terms

Astronomy is the branch of science dealing with the study of celestial objects. It requires various scientific terminologies. Here are a few important ones: 

Asterism example
  1. Asterism: Any pattern of stars recognizable in Earth’s night sky.
  2. Albedo:  A measure of the proportion of the total solar radiation received by an astronomical body, such as a planet, that is diffusely reflected away from the body. It is a dimensionless quantity typically measured on a scale from 0 (indicating total absorption of all incident radiation, as by a black body) to 1 (indicating total reflection).
  3. Azimuth: An angular measurement of an object’s orientation along the horizon of the observer, relative to the direction of true north. When combined with the altitude above the horizon, it defines an object’s current position in the spherical coordinate system.
  4. Conjunction: A phenomenon during which two astronomical objects or spacecraft have either the same right ascension or the same ecliptic longitude as observed from a third body (usually the Earth), such that, from the observer’s perspective, the objects appear to closely approach each other in the sky.
  5. Diurnal motion: The apparent motion of an astronomical object (e.g. the Sun, a planet, or a distant star) around the two celestial poles in the Earth’s night sky over the course of one day. Diurnal motion is caused by Earth’s rotation about its own axis, such that every object appears to follow a circular path called the diurnal circle.
  6. Dwarf star: The category of ordinary main sequence stars like the Sun.
  7. Elongation: The angular separation between the Sun and an orbiting body, such as a planet, as it appears from Earth.
  8. Ephemeris: A list or table of the expected positions of astronomical objects or artificial satellites in the sky at various dates and times. 
  9. Extinction: The absorption and scattering of electromagnetic radiation by matter (dust and gas) between an emitting astronomical object and the observer. 
  10. Facula: A bright spot on a star’s photosphere formed by concentrations of magnetic field lines.
  11. Field galaxy: Any galaxy that does not belong to a larger cluster of galaxies and is gravitationally isolated.
  12. Fulton gap: The apparent uncommonness of planets having a size between 1.5 and 2 times that of the Earth
  13. Galactic period: The time a given astronomical object within a galaxy takes to complete one orbit around the galactic center. Estimates of the duration of one revolution of the Solar System about the center of the Milky Way range from 225 to 250 million terrestrial years.
  14. Geosynchronous orbit (GSO): A synchronous orbit about the Earth, i.e. with an orbital period equal to Earth’s rotational period, such that the orbiting object appears to return to exactly the same position in the sky after a period of one sidereal day. All geosynchronous orbits have a semi-major axis equal to 35,786 kilometres (22,236 mi); geostationary orbits are a special case of geosynchronous orbits.
  15. Hypergalaxy: A system consisting of a large galaxy accompanied by multiple smaller satellite galaxies (often elliptical) as well as its galactic corona. The Milky Way and Andromeda systems are examples of hyper galaxies.
  16. Julian year (a): A unit of time defined as exactly 365.25 days of 86,400 SI seconds each. 
  17. Laniakea Supercluster : Also called the Local Supercluster, or Local SCI.- contains Virgo supercluster.
  18. Moving group: Also called a stellar association. A loose grouping of stars which travel together through space. Although the members were formed together in the same molecular cloud, they have since moved too far apart to be gravitationally bound as a cluster.
  19. Nutation: A continuous, gravity-induced change in the orientation of an astronomical body’s axis of rotation which results from the combined effects of small, short-term variations. Nutation is distinguished from precession.
  20. Occultation: A celestial event that occurs when a distant astronomical body or object is hidden by another, nearer body or object that passes between it and the observer, thereby blocking the first object from view. Solar and lunar eclipses are specific types of occultations.
  21. Periapsis: Also called the pericenter. The point at which an orbiting body is closest to its primary. 
  22. Planetesimal: Any solid object (generally larger than 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) in diameter) that arises during the formation of a planet whose internal strength is dominated by self-gravity and whose orbital dynamics are not significantly affected by gas drag. There is no precise distinction between a planetesimal and a protoplanet.
  23. Prograde motion: Also called direct motion. Orbital or rotational motion of an object in the same direction as the rotation of the object’s primary.
  24. Roche limit: The distance from an astronomical object at which the tidal force matches an orbiting body’s gravitational self-attraction. Inside this limit, the tidal forces will cause the orbiting body to disintegrate, usually to disperse and form a ring. Outside this limit, loose material will tend to coalesce.
  25. Sidereal period: The orbital period of an object within the Solar System, such as the Earth’s orbital period around the Sun. The name “sidereal” implies that the object returns to the same position relative to the fixed stars of the celestial sphere as observed from the Earth.
  26. Starburst galaxy: Any galaxy that has an anomalously high rate of star formation.
  27. Synodic day: The time it takes for an object to rotate once about its own axis (e.g. its rotation period) relative to the primary it is orbiting (rather than to distant fixed stars).
  28. Syzygy: The straight-line configuration of three celestial bodies in a gravitational system. The synodic month, or complete cycle of phases of the Moon as seen from Earth, averages 29.530588 mean solar days in length
  29. Transit: An astronomical event during which a body or object passes visibly across the face of a much larger body. 
  30. Zodiac: The area of the sky that extends approximately 8 degrees north or south (in celestial latitude) of the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year as observed from Earth.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_astronomy
https://telescopeadviser.com/glossary-of-astronomy-terms/#:~:text=Glossary%20of%20Astronomy%20Terms%201%20Altazimuth%20Mount.%20…,Astronomy.%20…%2010%20Astrophotography.%20…%20More%20items…%20

15 Mind Blowing Paradoxes

A paradox is a logically self-contradictory statement or a statement that runs contrary to one’s expectation. It is a statement that, despite apparently valid reasoning from true premises, leads to a seemingly self-contradictory or a logically unacceptable conclusion. A paradox usually involves contradictory-yet-interrelated elements that exist simultaneously and persist over time.

  1. Bentley’s paradox: In a Newtonian universe, gravitation should pull all matter into a single point.
  2. Boltzmann brain: If the universe we observe resulted from a random thermodynamic fluctuation, it would be vastly more likely to be a simple one than the complex one we observe. The simplest case would be just a brain floating in vacuum, having the thoughts and sensations you have.
  3. Fermi paradox: If there are, as various arguments suggest, many other sentient species in the Universe, then where are they? Shouldn’t their presence be obvious?
  4. Pinocchio paradox: What would happen if Pinocchio said “My nose grows now”? If Pinocchio were to say “I am getting sick,” this could be either true or false, but Pinocchio’s sentence “My nose grows now” can be neither true nor false; hence this and only this sentence creates the Pinocchio (liar) paradox.
  5. Heat death paradox: If the universe were infinitely old, it would be in thermodynamic equilibrium, which contradicts what we observe.
  6. Olbers’ paradox: Why is the night sky dark if there is an infinity of stars, covering every part of the celestial sphere?
  7. Bootstrap paradox (also ontological paradox): You send information/an object to your past self, but you only have that information/object because in the past, you received it from your future self. This means the information/object was never created, yet still exists.
  8. Predestination paradox: A man travels back in time to discover the cause of a famous fire. While in the building where the fire started, he accidentally knocks over a kerosene lantern and causes a fire, the same fire that would inspire him, years later, to travel back in time. The bootstrap paradox is closely tied to this, in which, as a result of time travel, information or objects appear to have no beginning.
  9. Schrödinger’s cat paradox: This is a well known paradox. According to the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics, a cat could be simultaneously alive and dead, as long as it remains unobserved.
  10. Black hole information paradox: Black holes violate a commonly assumed tenet of science that information cannot be destroyed.
  11. Temporal paradox: What happens when a time traveler does things in the past that prevent them from doing them in the first place? 
  12. Grandfather paradox: If one travels back in time and kills their grandfather before he conceives one of their parents, which precludes their own conception and, therefore, they couldn’t go back in time and kill their grandfather. Don’t even think about trying this.
  13. Polchinski’s paradox: A billiard ball can be thrown into a wormhole in such a way that it would emerge in the past and knock its incoming past self away from the wormhole entrance, creating a variant of the grandfather paradox.
  14. Hitler’s murder paradox: One can travel back in time and murder Adolf Hitler before he can instigate World War II and the Holocaust; but if he had never instigated that, then the murder removes any reason for the travel.
  15. Twin paradox: The theory of relativity predicts that a person making a round trip will return younger than his or her identical twin who stayed at home.

Paradoxes are very interesting in their own way which sometimes lead to new ideas and many a time confusion. I hope you found these paradoxes very mind-blowing. Share this with your friends and enjoy the look on their faces!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_paradoxes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradox

Members of vitamin B-Complex: Chemistry, Functions And deficiency

vitamins are the substances that you need in your diet in small amounts to perform biological functions for maintaining normal health. During evolution the capacity to synthesis most of the vitamins was lost and hence humans need to obtain them from diet.

vitamins are widespread in occurrence including plants and animals. Normally all foodstuffs contain more than one vitamin in them. Plants can synthesis almost all vitamins but animals can synthesis only few. Human body can synthesis vitamin-A from its precursor carotene and vitamin-D from UV light irradiation of ergosterol and 7- dehydrocholesterol. All cells of the body store vitamins to some extent and they carryout functions in very low concentration hence daily requirement is low. They are most effective when taken orally. Now vitamins are also synthesized artificially.

members of vitamin b complex

Vitamin B complex are water soluble vitamins. There are 8 members in the vitamin B complex family. They play crucial role in red blood cells synthesis. Even though the members are chemically distinct, they exist together in the same food.

VITAMINE B1 ( THIAMINE ):

It is a sulfur containing compound and partially heat labile. Presence of pyrimidine ring and thiazole ring joined is the prominent feature.

Vitamin B1 is found in outer coat of rice and wheat. Yeast is also one of the good source. Whole cereals, pulses, oil seeds and nuts are also one of the source.

It is essential for carbohydrate metabolism and convert them into energy. Thiamine pyrophosphate is the prosthetic group of enzyme participated in oxidative decarboxylation of keto acids. It is used in functions of muscle contraction and relaxation and nerve signal conduction.

deficiency in adults results in beriberi. The main symptom of this is insomnia. In Wet beriberi cardiovascular system is affected and in Dry beriberi Central nervous system is affected. In infants it causes infantile beriberi.

VITAMIN B2 ( RIBOFLAVIN) : Riboflavin contains isoalloxazine ring and rabitol- a sugar alcohol in its structure. It is stable to heat and acidic pH.

It helps in releasing energy from proteins. It acts as prosthetic groups in many enzymes. It is important in electron transport chain, acts as antioxidant. It is also helpful in vision improvement. treatment of acne, muscle cramps involves vitamin B2.

green leafy vegetables are the main source of this. pulses, egg, milk also contain this vitamin. Fruits and some vegetables contain it in moderate amount.

Deficiency of vitamin B2 in humans causes oral facial and ocular lesions. It also caused hyperemia, hair loss and reproductive problems. In experimental animals deficiency resulted in growth retardation, cataract and corneal problems.

VITAMIN B3 (NIACIN): Niacin is the derivative of two pyridine derivatives called nicotinic acid and nicotinamide. It is stable to heat and alkaline pH.

This is found in legumes ,yeast, fish, whole grains and meat are also good sources.

This also plays a role in converting carbohydrates into glucose. It also functions in fat metabolism. And functioning of nervous system.

deficiency causes pellagra. In this disorder skin, gastrointestinal tract and nervous system are affected. Glossitis and stomatitis are also symptoms of niacin deficiency.

VITAMIN B5 ( PANTOTHENIC ACID): Chemically it is amide of beta-alanine and dihydroxy dimethyl butyric acid. It is unstable to acid or alkali but stable to heat.

cereals, legumes, meat, liver, milk and eggs are the good source f vitamin B5.

It has a role in breakdown of fats and carbohydrates. It is important in red blood cell formation. It is a component of coenzyme A. It is required for the synthesis of phosphopantotheine of fatty acid synthase complex.

its deficiency is rare in humans. But sometimes its deficiency symptoms may include insomnia, tiredness depression vomiting and pain in stomach area.

VITAMIN B6 (PYRIDOXINE): Certain compounds derived from pyridine like pyridoxine, pyridoxal and pyridoxamine show vitamin B6 activity. These are stable to heat but sensitive to light and alkali.

pulses, liver, whole grains and yeast contain adequate amount of this vitamin. Leafy vegetables, milk and eggs also contain moderate amount.

Deficiency in children causes epileptic form convolutions. Growth retardation problems also seen. Skin lesions are found. Microlytic hypochromic anemia is also a deficiency symptom.

VITAMIN B7 (BIOTIN): It is a sulfur containing vitamin and consists of imidazole ring. It is stable to heat but sensitive to alkaline medium.

Green leafy vegetables like cabbage, spinach, mint leaves, pulses, eggs and liver are good sources. Milk and cereals also contain adequate amount.

Biotin is the prosthetic group of enzymes like pyruvate carboxylase, acetyl coA carboxylase etc. It is involved in carrying of carbon dioxide in carboxylation reduction. It promotes perfect functioning of nervous system. It is important for liver metabolism. Helps in strengthening of hair and nails.

deficiency causes dermities , depression, muscular pain and anemia.

VITAMIN B9 (FOLIC ACID): It consists of pteridine nucleus, para aminobenzoic acid and glutamate. It is sensitive to light and acid. But it is stable to heat.

This is found in green leafy vegetables, Bengal gram, black gram and eggs, Coconut contains adequate amount of folic acid.

It works with vitamin C in production of new proteins. It also helps in synthesis of DNA. It also acts as carrier of carbon units.

In humans deficiency causes megaloblastic anemia, particularly in pregnant women. Bone marrow and intestinal cells are affected. Leucopenia, diarrhea and weakness are also some of the symptoms.

VITAMIN B12 ( CYANOCOBALAMINE) : Cyanocobalamine is made made of tetrapyrrole ring system known as corrin ring with a central cobalt atom.

Animal sources like kidney, liver, brain, fish and eggs are the good source.

It helps in making DNA and blood cells. helps in the maintenance of body’s nervous system.

weakness shortness of breath is of common symptoms of deficiency. It can also cause anemia and nerve problems.

GRATITUDE- A LIFE CHANGING HABIT

Gratitude is  the characteristic of being joyful and is the willingness to express gratitude for and reciprocate kindness. According to Harvard medical school “People express thanks for the wonderful things in their lives As a consequence of which gratitude allows people to connect to something bigger than themselves whether it’s other people, nature, or a greater force.” 

It serves as a reminder that you have enough and that you are sufficient. 

Gratitude is a life changing habit because it has plethora of scientifically validated advantages. People who consistently practice gratitude in their daily lives by setting aside time to notice and reflect on the things for which they are grateful about get endless advantages as follows:-

  • Enhances mental well-being

Gratitude has a significant positive effect on psychological well-being. It boosts our self-esteem, stimulates positive thoughts, and elevates our optimism. In an older research from 2003 it has been found out that gratitude was connected to enhanced mood. Recently, According to a study published in 2020, expressing thankfulness on a regular basis might help alleviate anxiety and depressive symptoms.

  • Immune system booster

Gratitude has been demonstrated to aid in the development of a positive attitude. Over the years various researches have been conducted which shows improved immune system and lower stress levels as a result of practicing gratitude. According to a 2004 assessment of data, stress reduces the immune response to possible physiological threats, but mental well-being can assist your body fight sickness which can be done by being thankful. 

  • It multiplies happiness and makes you a happier person 

Many researchers have found out that Gratefulness and happiness are inextricably linked. Practicing to be grateful might be a simple and effective strategy to increase your happiness. Gratitude, whether expressed or received, makes both people happier and allows them to see things in a more positive light which helps in lowering our focus on negative emotions and accepting everything about our situation if its bad and good.

  • It also helps in building better relations 

Gratitude is essential in the formation of new connections as well as the strengthening of old ones. According to a 2010 study, spouses who expressed appreciation to one another reported higher relationship satisfaction and pleasure the next day. Thus, it can be said that Gratitude might make couples feel more happy with one other in love relationships and help them in building a strong relationship with each other.

    • Boosts optimism

    It also makes a person optimistic who thinks that good things will happen. It can be concluded by seeing the result of 2018 study which states that gratitude practice might help you create an optimistic perspective if you’re not typically optimistic. A study was also conducted in 2003 on participants in which Participants felt more hopeful and positive about their current lives and the future after just 10 weeks of frequent gratitude practice.

    So, I want to conclude that Gratitude is essential for bringing about change in one’s life. It relieves tension, makes you humble, and improves the quality of your relationships. It takes away your bad energy and replaces it with positivity. I believe that everyone should master the art of thankfulness in order to witness a positive shift in their lives. It can be done by making a gratitude journal of your own, meditation and Paying attention to the small pleasures in life which will offer you a lot of delight andshall almost certainly have a beneficial long-term impact on your mental health and well-being, if practiced daily. 

    VOLCANOES AROUND THE WORLD, AND IT’S TYPES ?

    A volcano is a land-form, a mountain, where molten rocks erupt through the surface of the planet. The volcano mountain opens downwards to a pool of molten rocks below the surface of the earth. When the pressure builds up in the earth’s crust, eruptions occur. Gasses and rock shoots up through the opening and spill over or fill the air with lava fragments. The volcano eruption can cause lateral blasts, hot ash and lava flow etc.

    There are about 1,500 potentially active volcanoes worldwide, aside from the continuous belts of volcanoes on the ocean floor at spreading centers like the Mid Atlantic ridge. About 500 of those 1,500 volcanoes have erupted in historical time. Many of those are located along the Pacific Rim in what is known as the “Ring of fire.” In the United States, volcanoes in the Cascade Range and Alaska are part of the Ring, while Hawaiian volcanoes form over a ‘hot spot’ near the center of the Ring. There are 169 Potentially active volcanoes in the United States. The U.S. Geological Survey assesses and monitors hazards at volcanoes within the United States and its territories.

    LARGEST VOLCANOES IN THE WORLD :

    1. MAUNA LOA VOLCANO ,HAWAII :

    Mauna Loa is the biggest volcano on Earth. It is 9,170 meters tall. It is a shield volcano. Mauna Loa shares is a hot spot in the Pacific plate. It is Situated in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Mauna Loa is the world’s largest volcano. It’s outrageously active, chalking up 33 eruptions since 1843 when it had a big blow out. Neighbouring Kilauea is smaller but just as energetic. You can drive around the summit, as long as there are no active lava flows.

    2.MOUNT FUJI,TOKYO,JAPAN :

    Mount Fuji has a symmetric cone and for a few months its summit is covered in snow. It is an active volcano. Mount Fuji is a stratovolcano. It is 3,776 meters tall. It is the tallest peak in Japan. It lies on the Eurasia tectonic plate. The lava from Mount Fuji’s eruption is basaltic. A perfectly shaped volcano with a conical form and pretty snow-capped peak, Mount Fuji is japan’s most popular and visited tourist attraction, and it’s one of the most famous volcanoes around the world. It’s currently active, though last erupted in 1708, so should be safe enough to scale – as many do in summer months. If you’re feeling nervous check it out from the security of a bullet train between Tokyo and Yokohama.

    Yoshida, Mount Fuji, Japan

    3.MAYON VOLCANO,ALBAY,PHILIPPINESS :

    Mayon Volcano is an active stratovolcano in the Philippines. It has steep slopes that form a symmetrical classic volcano. It is 8,081 feet tall. It is located on a convergent boundary between the Eurasian and Philippine plate. The lava from Mayon Volcano is pyroclastic.

    4.MOUNT St HELENS, WASHINGTON ,USA:

    Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980 and was one of the most devastating eruption in the USA. It is an active stratovolcano located in Skamania County, Washington. Mount St. Helens is part of the Cascade Mountain range. It’s 8,366 feet tall. It consists of lava rock interlayered with ash, pumice, and other deposits. The mountain includes layers of basalt and andesite through which several domes of dacite lava have erupted. Mount St Helens is on the plate boundary between the Juan de Fuca plate and North American plate. Mount St Helens is responsible for the most catastrophic eruption in the US: in 1980, the side of the mountain blasted out over miles and miles of expensive timberland, destroying towns, highways and bridges and killing over 50 People.

    5. MOUNT BROMO,INDONESIA :

    Mount Bromo and Mount Semeru, East Java, Both volcanoes are active and located in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, creating a landscape of a different planet. Semeru is taller and expels smoke, while Bromo fumes constantly. Mount Bromo is 7,641 feet tall and Mount Semeru is 12,060 feet tall. Mount Bromo is a small but active volcanic cinder and Mount Semeru is an active stratovolcano. They are both on the Eurasian plate. Mount Semeru is made up of layers of andesitic deposits. Mount Bromo is a small pyroclastic cone and all recent lava flows are andesitic.

    6. MOUNT ETNA VOLCANOES,ITLAY :

    Etna, Catania, Sicily. Mount Etna is Europe’s tallest and the most popular volcano. Roman poet Virgil said it is a home of a mythological god Hephaestus and a one-eyed monster Cyclops. Etna is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, Italy, in the Metropolitan City of Catania. It is 10,991 feet tall. It rests on the subduction boundary where the African tectonic plate is being pushed under the Eurasian plate. It has been for active for 500,000 years and creates eruptions of Basaltic lava. Sicily harbours Europe’s tallest active volcano, Etna,is located outside the city of Catania. Visitors can make their way to the steaming, smoking summit.The temperature at the top drops considerably, so take a few layers with you. Mount Etna erupted as recently as in February 2021 and left a shower of ash that reached Catania, adding to the fact that it is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.

    Mount Etna, Italy

    Types of Volcanoes :

    Volcanoes are grouped into four types:

    • Cinder cones
    • Composite volcanoes
    • Shield volcanoes
    • Lava volcanoes

    Cinder Cones:

    Cinder cones are circular or oval cones made up of small fragments of lava from a single vent that have been blown up. Cinder cones result from eruptions of mostly small pieces of scoria and pyroclastics that build up around the vent.

    Cinder cones

    Composite Volcano :

    Composite volcanoes are steep-sided volcanoes composed of many layers of volcanic rocks, usually made from high-viscosity lava, ash and rock debris. These types of volcanoes are tall conical mountains composed of lava flows and other ejects in alternate layers. Composite volcanoes are made of cinders, ash, and lava. Cinders and ash pile on top of each other, lava flows on top of the ash, where it cools and hardens, and then the process repeats.

    Composite volcanoes

    Shield Volcano :

    Shield volcanoes are volcanoes shaped like a bowl or shield in the middle with long gentle slopes made by basaltic lava flows. These are formed by the eruption of low-viscosity lava that can flow a great distance from a vent.They generally do not explode catastrophically. Since low-viscosity magma is typically low in silica, shield volcanoes are more common in oceanic than continental settings. The Hawaiian volcanic chain is a series of shield cones, and they are common in Iceland.

    Shield volcanoes

    Lava Domes :

    Lava domes are formed when erupting lava is too thick to flow and makes a steep-sided mound as the lava piles up near the volcanic vent. They are built by slow eruptions of highly viscous lava. They are sometimes formed within the crater of a previous volcanic eruption. Like a composite volcano, they can produce violent, explosive eruptions, but their lava generally does not flow far from the originating vent

    Lava domes

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