How durian got its pungent stench
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe smell of durian has been described by some to turpentine and onions, garnished with a sweaty gym sock. The green, spiky fruit is banned from public transportation and many hotels in south-east Asia because of its characteristic and pungent smell. But where does it get its scent from? A team of researchers in Singapore, […]
Slowing down snails extinction
Reading Time: 2 minutesKUALA LUMPUR: Scientists and Lafarge Malaysia recently embarked on a joint study to document the diversity of land snails at limestone hills in Peninsular Malaysia. Formed from reefs beneath ancient seas, limestone hills are regarded as “arks of biodiversity” because they can harbour plant and animal species found nowhere else on Earth. A recent study […]
GM moths come to New York
Reading Time: < 1 minuteDiamondback moths have inflicted billions of dollars of crop damage every year in the US. Their appetite for Brussels sprouts, kale and cauliflower make them a major pain for farmers. The US Department of Agriculture recently approved a potential solution: The release of genetically engineered diamondback moths for a field trial in an area of […]
The movie Food Evolution comes as an eye-opener to many
Reading Time: 2 minutesBY ARUNA GANESAN & SHAMIRA SHAMSUDDIN KUALA LUMPUR: Amid the controversy over genetically modified organisms (GMO) and food, science is being kicked about like a ball between pro GMO and anti GMO camps. ‘Food Evolution’ directed by Academy Award-nominated Scott Hamilton Kennedy is a documentary on how misinformation, confusion and fear can overwhelm objective analysis […]
Why do dogs wag their tail?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteWagging the tail is an emotional language that dogs speak. If the tail sets are not wagging, it shows that the dog is relaxed. The relaxed position of tails may differ between breeds of dogs where their tail hangs down to their heels while some have their tails curled upwards. If you see your dog […]
Insect meal as aquafeed
Reading Time: 2 minutesKUALA LUMPUR: Located in Malaysia, Crops For the Future (CFF), the world’s first and only centre dedicated to research on underutilised crops, is developing novel aquaculture feeds using insect meal comprised of Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae fed on locally-sourced underutilised crops. Funded by the International Foundation for Science (IFS), the project is spearheaded by […]
What is the hottest place on earth?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteDeath Valley’s name says it all — it is the hottest place on Earth. Death Valley currently holds the record for hottest air temperature ever recorded. The desert valley reached highs of 56.7 degrees in the summer of 1913, which would apparently push the limits of human survival. Average temperatures today reach 47 degrees during […]
What causes kidney stones?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteThe leading cause of kidney stones is a lack of water in the body. Stones are more commonly found in individuals who drink less than the recommended eight to ten glasses of water a day. When there is not enough water to dilute the uric acid (a component of urine), the urine becomes more acidic. […]
Who invented the cell phone?
Reading Time: 2 minutesThere once was a time when cell phones were rare and reserved mostly for professionals who could afford one. Today, it’s hard to imagine a world without them. Even if you don’t own one yourself, you probably see dozens of people talking on a cell phone every day. The rate at which we adopted the […]
Harmful algal bloom
Reading Time: 3 minutesBY FARHAN ZULKIPLEE We can see sometimes the ocean, river and lakes change colour from blue to red, brown and green. This phenomenon is caused by an algae bloom. Algae is a microorganism which will grow and proliferate when there are abundant nutrients in the water. It will rapidly multiply and changes the water colour […]