Ten, nine, eight, seven… zero – lift off. These words sound like music to an astronomer’s ears. As the countdown progresses, the rocket’s engines fire and give it the required push to tear through the atmosphere and escape the earth’s gravitation. These rockets take astronauts and artificial or man-made satellites into space. The satellites are used for communication, weather monitoring …
Read More »How do oysters make pearls?
Pearls are some of the most beautiful gems we know, and very expensive to buy. So it may come as something of a surprise to learn that pearls start off as irritating grains of sand and other substances which get into the soft part of the oyster. The oyster is a mollusc, which means that it has a soft and …
Read More »How do iridium spark plugs differ from regular ones?
Iridium is a precious, silver-white metal and one of the densest materials found on earth. The natural properties of iridium makes the spark plug use less voltage to create a spark, burn fuel more efficiently and spark at leaner air fuel mixtures. It delivers higher horsepower and better mileage.
Read More »How do geologists help us?
All the sciences, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology, are playing an increasingly important role in our way of life, as the years pass and we become more dependent upon the products of science and technology. Geology, too, has a vital part to play in living today, apart from its value in furthering our understanding of the way in which our …
Read More »How do fish taste?
Most fish taste in what we would call a normal way that is, they have taste buds, the organs which detect flavours, in and around their mouths. But there are some fish, in particular those that live in very dark or muddy waters, which do not feed by sight, as they cannot see their mouth area, but also on other …
Read More »How do finger and toe nails grow?
They grow from a bed of skin containing Keratin-a horn like substance. This bed lies beneath the top skin and as the nail grows it becomes hard and smooth. There is similarity between human nails and animals claws and hooves.
Read More »How do clouds move in the sky?
Clouds are formed when water evaporates from rivers, ponds, oceans, and lakes. The tiny droplets of water cling to particles like (dust, salt, or smoke). The air containing this evaporated water vapour rises and expands at higher altitudes where the air pressure is lower and clouds move with the wind. High cirrus clouds are moved by a jet stream and …
Read More »How do astronauts ‘walk’ in space?
If an astronaut leaves his spacecraft during a journey, he cannot walk about in the ordinary way. There is nothing but empty space. There is not even any gravity to pull him in one particular direction. He can only guide himself by the same means as the spacecraft itself – by rocket propulsion. So when astronauts do leave their spacecraft …
Read More »How do anti-allergen drugs work?
On contact with an allergent, chemical substances are released from mast cells and basophils. The chemical mediators (e.g. histamines) in turn attach themselves on to H-1 receptors to produce allergic effects. Anti-allergen drugs block these chemical mediators. The drugs also produce down regulation of H-1 receptors.
Read More »How do animals and plants depend upon each other?
The sun is the driving force in all of the Earth’s processes. It is the sun’s rays that keep our planet warm enough for us to be able to survive, it is the weather’s motor, and provides energy for the most important process of all so far as plants and animals are concerned. The sun provides plants with the energy …
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