Where is gold found in nature?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteIn its natural form, gold is very irregular and not refined, as it is normally seen in its finished state. Gold is found in many forms. These forms include plates, large spongy pieces, scales and microscopic pieces. In large cavities and reefs, gold can be found in large quantities resembling the shape of a crystal. […]
What causes a monsoon?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteIt’s been raining quite heavily recently. Malaysia has two monsoon seasons; the Southwest Monsoon which occurs from late May to September, and the Northeast Monsoon from October to March. Monsoons are caused by the difference in air pressure between the land and ocean. Normally, the convection of intense heat produces a low-pressure zone over land […]
How do sunglasses work?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteSUNGLASSES are almost a must-have item in this hot weather of ours. We know they protect our eyes from the glare of the sun – in fact, we are advised to use sunglasses to help prevent eye damage. But how do they work exactly? Sunglasses’ premier function is to block the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) […]
How can heavy metal music be beneficial?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteHAVE you listened to heavy metal songs before? Do bands such as Metallica, Slipknot or Avenged Sevenfold ring a bell? According to an article in the Journal of Psychology of Popular Media Culture, heavy metal music is characterised by loud and powerful sounds along with emotional vocals. A sub-genre of extreme music, individuals who indulge […]
Who discovered blood groups?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteBLOOD is the fluid that flows throughout the body and is pivotal for the transportation of materials in and out of the body. Blood transfusion is the process in which blood is transferred intravenously or via vein. During this procedure, it is vital that the right type of blood is used as some of the […]
What’s the secret behind a lion’s roar?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTHE lion is one of the largest carnivores on land. Nicknamed ‘The king of the jungle’, it possesses a deafening roar that would instill fear within humans as well as other animals. A lion is capable of producing roars up to 114 decibels that are equivalent to certain rock concerts. Lions do not generally roar when […]
Why do crab walk sideways?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteSTRANGELY enough, there is absolutely nothing wrong with crabs moving sideways. In fact, crabs walk sideways for the same reason humans walk forward! Crabs have their legs situated underneath their bodies, with their knees bending outward. Intrinsically, crabs walk sideways because their legs are positioned in such a way. If crabs were to walk forward […]
Why do snakes shed their skin?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteALL animals shed their skin. It isn’t obvious in mammals such as humans as it is an on-going process that occurs throughout one’s lifetime in which dead cells are constantly discarded. Skin shedding is unique among reptiles as it occurs periodically. In the case of snakes, they shed a layer of skin in one continuous […]
UPM turns cooking oil into biodiesel
Reading Time: 2 minutesSERDANG: Don’t discard used cooking oil because it can still be utilised. A research by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) has succeeded in turning cooking oil into biodiesel for use for heavy machinery and vehicles. Those who give used cooking oil to UPM will be paid RM1 for every 1kg of such oil. The processing of […]
Turning food waste into tires
Reading Time: 2 minutesResearchers at The Ohio State University have discovered that food waste can partially replace the petroleum-based filler that has been used in manufacturing tires for more than a century. In tests, rubber made with the new fillers exceeds industrial standards for performance, which may ultimately open up new applications for rubber. As Katrina Cornish explains […]