Crab spiders are a family of small, pretty spiders, some of which you could find in your own backyard or even on a potted plant. They are accomplished ambush hunters, making meals out of insects much larger than themselves – a crab spider half the size of your fingernail can easily grab a large butterfly. They are coloured to blend in remarkably with their surroundings, much like an octopus or a chameleon would.
The name ‘retrovirus’ raises more questions than provide answers. The term ‘retro’ reminds us of disco balls, bouffant hairstyles and polka dots. However, a retrovirus is not merely a virus with questionable fashion sense! It is a virus belonging to a family of single-stranded RNA viruses.
Neutrinos are the elusive sub-atomic particles in the Universe. They are abundant throughout the universe and tens of thousands pass through our body every second!
Growing up in the USA, ten-year-old Steven was asked in school to read aloud a passage from a newspaper. The article described the opening of the first Disneyland. However, all the poor boy could see on the paper was this—“In a grand ceremony Disneyland opened in California to delirious applause.” Steven Spielberg did not know it at the time—and indeed until he was formally diagnosed several years later—that he was dyslexic.
Mosquito bite! That’s all you need to express your killer instinct. But this allegedly innocent, tiny little arthropod with jointed legs, dressed in black and white stripes like an escaped prisoner, bites just for its ‘daily blood’. However, things aren’t quite limited to just blood sucking; this temporary parasitism is increasingly responsible for the transmission of a number of life-threatening diseases. Temporary parasites because mosquitoes suck blood from the host and then leave the crime scene, if alive.
Genetically Modified Crops are those whose genetic makeup has been altered by introducing a foreign gene into its system. This is a popular technique to get the best of both worlds; we retain the desirable traits of the original plant and introduce new beneficial traits from other plants.
The excruciating pain of having a failed organ and the grim chances of replacing it is a struggle of millions of patients across the globe. A ground-breaking discovery in this field, is giving a whole new definition to having one’s own personal organ! This discovery is none other than tissue engineering -- a science that has changed the face of organ transplant.
It’s the 20-20 cricket world cup finals. Indian vs. Pakistan! India need 4 runs to win! Yuvraj Singh swings his bat and it’s a…! Blank! Oh no! A power cut!
But wait! Isn’t it the electricity that has been cut? Why then the term “power” cut? Is electricity and power the same? Then why do we get electric shocks and not power shocks?
Evolution has equipped us with ingenious stress responses (flight or fight), to maximise our chances of survival against life threatening threats. An adrenaline rush prompted by our brain during threats increases our blood pressure, heart rate and blood sugar levels enabling us to remain alert and respond to threat. Cortisol, a stress hormone released by the brain keeps these levels high as long as the perceived threat persists.
