Science Hub Nepal

Pearls have been a symbol of elegance and class for centuries.  Pearls were worn by Maharajas of India and European queens as a symbol of their status. Celebrities walked the red carpet dripping in pearls at the Met Gala in 2018, which was inspired by the Catholic Church. Marie Antoinette's pendant was the most valuable pearl ever sold. It was auctioned for $32 million in 2018. But what is it that makes pearls so expensive?  Marie Antoinette's pearl was part of a diamond-studded pendant, and it has important historical significance, which increased its value. But there are several other factors that determine the value of a pearl. It is probably the most complex gem to assess. The valuation of pearl determines by its state i.e. Natural and Cultured.  Natural pearls are hard to find. They're rare, and this makes them worth more money.  What is a natural pearl? and How do oysters make pearls? Formation of Pearl; Image credits: Researchgate.net Marine oysters and freshwater mu

Hiccups are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm, the muscle that connects your chest and abdomen and controls your breathing. Each contraction is followed by an abrupt closing of your vocal cords, resulting in the "hic" sound.  A heavy meal, alcoholic or carbonated beverages, or abrupt excitement might cause hiccups.  Why did we get hiccups? Hiccups can occur for a variety of reasons, some of which are medical and others which are emotional. Because the irritation occurs in the nerve that connects the brain to the diaphragm, this is the case. Among the most common causes are: Overeating or eating too soon Feeling nervous or excited Carbonated beverages or excessive alcohol consumption Stress A quick temperature change Sucking air while chewing gum or sucking on candy Science behind hiccups Chronic Hiccups Hiccups are normally only transitory, however they might last a long time in unusual circumstances. The nerves that link to the diaphragm are frequently damaged or agg

Every year, around 100,000 metric tons of caffeine are consumed worldwide. This is the equal of 14 Eiffel Towers in weight. Caffeine is mostly found in coffee and tea, but it can also be found in sodas, chocolates, caffeine pills, and even decaf beverages. Even if we haven't gotten enough sleep, caffeine makes us feel alert, focused, cheerful, and active. But it can also make us feel worried and spike our blood pressure. It is the most extensively used drug in the planet. So how does it keep us awake? Caffeine evolved in plants and performs a variety of functions. It is harmful to insects in high concentrations, as it is found in the leaves and seeds of some species. However, at little doses, such as those present in nectar, it can actually help them remember and revisit flowers. Caffeine functions as a stimulant for the central nervous system in humans.  It keeps us awake by blocking one of the body's key sleep-inducing molecules, a substance called adenosine. Your body requir

Imagine the ground beneath your feet or your house suddenly collapsing and forming a large hole in the ground. It's a terrifying thought. Sinkholes are uncommon, but when they do develop, they can be fatal. Sinkholes form when the ground underneath the land surface is unable to support it. Sinkholes can occur for a variety of causes; continue reading to learn more about them. Sinkholes are widespread in areas where the geology beneath the land surface contains limestone, carbonate rock, salt beds, or rocks that can be dissolved naturally by groundwater passing through them. Underground caves and caverns form as the rock degrades. Sinkholes are spectacular because the land normally remains intact for a long time until the subsurface areas get too large. A abrupt collapse of the ground surface can occur if there is insufficient support for the land above the voids. Formation of sinkhole; Image credits - cartleton.edu What is a "sinkhole"? When it rains, water stays inside t

Daytime and nighttime crashes are the two most common types of window collisions. Birds smash into windows in the daylight because they perceive greenery reflected in the glass or look through the glass to potted plants or vegetation on the other side. Nocturnal migrants (which include most songbirds) smash into illuminated windows at night. Lights, for unknown reasons, divert nocturnal migrants from their intended course, especially in low-ceiling or foggy environments. They mill about in the lit space, occasionally bumping with one another or the lighted structure. As a result of being thrown off course by urban illumination, migrants may roost safely nearby, only to be exposed to daytime reflections in windows the next day. More information on this subject can be found in the Bird Cast initiative and the Fatal Light Awareness Program. Birds crashes into glass windows, Image credits; Sweet Bela Vita Another reason is that birds will sometimes attack their reflection in a glass. This

Even if the driver secured properly, an accident would occur at high speeds if there was no airbag. It is a significant engineering challenge to bring the human body to a stop from a high speed in less than 100 milliseconds without causing significant bodily harm. Let's have a better grasp of this life-saving technology by looking at the mechanism of airbag inflation, which is triggered by chemical explosions. Seatbelts are meant to keep the human body from moving, but they can cause internal organ injury if they apply too much stress on the chest area during an accident. Modern seat belts use a torsion bar to slightly release the seat belt in the event of a large impact on the chest. This action causes the upper body to move forward somewhat, but as the torsion bar is released, the upper body's movement is stopped. Working Mechanism of Airbags, Image credit; whyflies.org Please notice that the sear belt only arrests the motion of your upper body, omitting your neck and head, w

Peering into the eyes of different animals, you’ll see some extraordinarily shaped pupils. why?  Cat with vertical pupil, Image credits: catster.com It turns out that the shape of an animal's pupils is a good indicator of its ecological role. The hollow aperture in the iris, the eye's band of pigmented muscle, is marked by pupils. They're the openings via which light enters the eye, strikes the retina, and activates light-sensitive cells, triggering the visual process. Because most of the light that enters them is absorbed, pupils are black. Their size changes in reaction to light, medications, and emotional and mental states, although their basic shape differs widely between species. House cats, for example, have vertically enlarged pupils and are nocturnal predators. These formations expand dramatically in the dark, absorbing all available light. They shrink into slits when the light is bright. Cat pupils are so adaptable that their maximum area is 135 times larger than t