This is a branch of physics which deals with the manufacture of devices that deploy lasers to transmit, gather and process information. Typical usage would be in optic fiber cables to move data over long distances and sensors to measure temperature in engineering structures. It’s a specialized area and scientists hope to use this to develop high speed communication devices.

Kinship analysis is typically used when an individual is deceased and no forensic / post-mortem specimens are available for testing. Since related individuals would have some DNA markers in common with one another, we can re-create a portion of the missing individual’s genetic profile from living relatives in order to perform paternity testing.

Isinglass, which is called so because of its glass-like translucency, refers to thin sheets of mica. It’s used as peepholes in boilers and lanterns. It was preferred over glass because it would not splinter on breaking due to extreme temperature gradients. The name also applies to a collagen derived from the swim bladders of fish, especially the Beluga Sturgeon, used …

It is caused when the natural environment of an organism is disturbed due to industrial pollution. As pollutants like soot and smoke darken the landscape, they disturb the environment of many organisms that rely on camouflage to avoid predation. This change makes them vulnerable to predators and creates a strong selective pressure due to which an organism with a darker …

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 …

Ikebana is the general term applied to any style of Japanese floral art or flower arranging. The arrangement of flowers in Japan is an elaborate and unique form with highly developed conventions and complex symbolism. The art stems from the custom of offering flowers to Buddha. It was introduced to Japan in the seventh century by the Japanese Ambassador to …

Armorial bearings were at first a simple way of identifying individuals on the field or at the tourney. Part of the knight’s armour was a shield, on which was depicted a distinguishing pattern. This pattern, which remained the same, was the personal property of its owner and passed on to his descendants. The science of heraldry dates from the second …

Incremental Capital Output Ratio (ICOR) is the additional capital required to increase one unit of output. This ratio is used to measure the efficiency of an industrial unit or country as an economic unit. The lesser the ICOR, more efficient the organization.

Hydrocracking technology is an important conversion technology for producing high-value naphtha or distillate products from a wide range of refinery feedstocks. Conventional hydrocracking technologies have a difficult time handling low-quality feedstocks that are rich in undesirable asphaltene molecules, for example heavy oil, bottom of the barrel and oil sands bitumen. Hydrocracking is a two-stage process combining catalytic cracking and hydrogenation, …

Hard water is water that contains dissolved chemicals that act on soap to form a scum. If water comes from limestone areas, some rock is dissolved in the water, and this makes it hard. There are several disadvantages in hard water. More soap or soap powder must be used to obtain a suitable lather. Also, the scum clings to the …