Water We can live for some weeks without food but only a few days without water.

In Greek, phyle means tribe, and genesis means birth. Molecular phylogeny tries to reconstruct the lineage of species through study of amino acid sequences in fossils. The result of this analysis is expressed in a phylogenetic tree.

The mobile elbow results from using the mobile for long hours. Called the ‘cubital tunnel syndrome’, it is also called ‘cell phone elbow’. The problem occurs when the ulnar nerve, which runs across the elbow, down to the ring and little fingers, gets over-stretched and blood supply is restricted, sparked by holding a phone to the ear for long periods.

Microtomy is the technique of cutting tissues in very small sections. This technique is used for histological and pathological studies. A tissue (or small part of it) is embedded in paraffin wax and then cut using a microtome (a machine) to get thin sections. These sections are stained with appropriate dyes and observed under the microscope.

Micro-propagation is the technique of multiple production of plants in-vitro. It is used for plants that do not produce seeds or respond to normal vegetable reproduction.The process includes many steps — stock plant care, explants selection and sterilization, media manipulation to obtain proliferation, rooting, acclimatization and growing of liners. Micro-propagation’s main advantage is to produce disease-free plants in multiple numbers …

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. …

In World War II, French underground fighters called their secret army the Maquis. This is the name of healthland vegetation is called chaparral in California, fynbos in South Africa, and macchia in Italy.

Many people throughout the world suffer from malnutrition-that is, they are undernourished. Undernourishment causes ill-health, starvation and death. The FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization) has worked out how the calorie intake of people compares with what they need for good health. The worst malnutrition occurs in developing countries. For example, the average calorie intake per person in Ghana in 1983 …

Magic sand is water-repellent sand available in blue, green and red colours. When this sand in powder form is sprinkled on water, it sinks and forms a solid substance. This property is used to separate oil floating in the oceans – it can be sprayed on oil spills to enable it to mix with oil and take solid form. It …

Magic Acid, H2SO3F+, is one of the inorganic superacids. This extremely strong acid has a pKa of 20 and is strong enough to protonate saturated alkanes to form carbonium ions. Magic Acid is made by mixing antimonypentafluoride (SbF55) and fluorosulphonic acid. It is considered a superacid and is called Magic Acid because of its strength.