Petals produce ‘blue halo’ that helps bees find flowers
Reading Time: 2 minutesLATEST research has found that several common flower species have nanoscale ridges on the surface of their petals that meddle with light when viewed from certain angles. These nanostructures scatter light particles in the blue to ultraviolet colour spectrum, generating a subtle effect that scientists have christened the ‘blue halo’. By manufacturing artificial surfaces that […]
How pythons regenerate their organs
Reading Time: 3 minutesEVOLUTION takes aeons, but it leaves marks on the genomes of organisms that can be detected with DNA sequencing and analysis. As methods for studying and comparing genetic data improve, scientists are beginning to decode these marks to reconstruct the evolutionary history of species, as well as how variants of genes give rise to unique […]
Cool microscope technology revolutionises biochemistry
Reading Time: 2 minutesWE may soon have detailed images of life’s complex machineries in atomic resolution. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2017 is awarded to Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson for the development of cryo-electron microscopy, which both simplifies and improves the imaging of biomolecules. This method has moved biochemistry into a new era. A picture […]
Premium Honey: Holistic innovation to benefit socio-economy ecology
Reading Time: 2 minutesKUALA TERENGGANU: A researcher from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has produced a machine to extract honey from stingless bees that would ensure its good taste and which will be hygienic. Principal researcher, Dr Mohd Zulkifli Mustafa said, honey from ‘kelulut’ (stingless bee) has fewer demands due to its sour taste compared to the common honey, […]
Ensuring broccoli sprouts retain cancer-fighting compounds
Reading Time: < 1 minuteRAW broccoli sprouts, a rich source of potential cancer-fighting compounds, have become a popular health food in recent years. But conventional heat treatment used to kill bacteria on produce can reduce levels of the broccoli sprouts’ helpful phytochemicals. Now researchers report in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry that high-pressure processing could wipe out […]
What is the most poisonous snake?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteEVER wondered what’s the most poisonous snake in the world? Technically snakes aren’t poisonous rather their venom kills you. Some of the most dangerous bites are known to come from snakes. Although not all snakes are venomous, the ones that are may have the potential to inflict a death sentence within 30 minutes. This is […]
Why isn’t Pluto a planet anymore?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteAMERICAN astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto in 1930. From 1930 until 2006, Pluto sat comfortably beyond Neptune as the ninth planet in our solar system. In 2006, however, changes were made. The truth is, nothing about Pluto changed, but the definition of a planet did. Once these changes became official, Pluto no longer fits the […]
How do antacids help to relieve gastric?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteFIBRE Antacids are over-the-counter medications that help neutralise stomach acid. Antacids usually come as a liquid, chewable gummy or tablet, or tablet that you dissolve in water to drink. They can be used to treat symptoms of excess stomach acid, such as: Acid reflux, which can include regurgitation, bitter taste, persistent dry cough, pain when […]