A prime number is one that cannot be split up by division. Think of 11. Twice six is 12, three fours are 12. But the only number you can divide 11 by is one, and when you have done that you still have 11 left. Prime numbers lie at the very roots of arithmetic, and have always fascinated those concerned …
Read More »What is a persuasive mirror?
It’s a technology that enables people to see how they would look like in the future, based on their habits. Users will have to fill out a questionnaire detailing their lifestyle and upload their images. Based on the information provided, the technology will digitally age the person and show how he/she will appear six months later.
Read More »What is a nuclear meltdown?
A nuclear meltdown is an informal term for a severe nuclear reactor accident that results in core damage from overheating. The term is not officially defined by the International Atomic Energy Agency or by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. However, it has been defined to mean the accidental melting of the core of a nuclear reactor, and is in common …
Read More »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 doctor administering it. In Latin, …
Read More »What is a nebula?
One of the most striking objects in the sky is the Great Nebula in the constellation of Orion. It can be seen as a faint greenish patch with the naked eye just below Orion’s Belt, but through binoculars or a telescope it is seen as a mass of glowing gas. Nebulae are large clouds of dust and gas in space. …
Read More »What is a mud bath?
Mud from certain water sources is wrapped around body parts before a proper bath. This contains therapeutic value and cures some skin-related diseases, including psoriasis. Dead Sea in Israel is especially famous for mud baths, and attracts people from across the world.
Read More »What is a mirage?
Mirages are optical illusions produced by extraordinary atmospheric conditions. They can be non-existent sheets of water or similar visions, inverted or oversized images of distant objects or various other distortions. All are caused by the refraction, or bending, of light rays as they pass through two layers of air with different densities. The differences in density are usually due to …
Read More »What is a micelle?
A micelle is the cluster or aggregated particles formed by associated colloids (substances which, at high concentration, behave as colloidal solutions due to formation of micelles) in solution. Micelle formation takes place above a certain concentration called Critical Micellization Concentration (CMC) and above a particular temperature called Kraft Temperature. Every micelle system has a particular value of CMC. Micelles are …
Read More »What is a memristor?
Memristor is claimed to be the fourth basic element to electrical circuit theory along with the capacitor, resistor and inductor. It was recently discovered in HP Labs. It’s most interesting characteristic is that it remembers the amount of charge that flows through it. So, it is named as memory resistor or memristor. Researchers believe the discovery will pave the way …
Read More »What is a mammal?
People are mammals, and so are lions, elephants, whales, pigs and rabbits. How do we know? Well, scientists have sets of rules which tell them what sort of animals creatures are: whether they are mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds or insects. There are two things which tell the scientists that an animal is a mammal. Firstly, all mammals have some …
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