Science cartoon on Comet with alcohol

Comet with alcohol

Imagine an ocean of alcohol. Yes, believe me, neither I am drunk, nor comet researcher Nicolas Biver of the Paris Observatory, France. Nicolas Biver, lead author of a paper published on Oct. 23 in Science Advances is revealing the boozy fact about comet lovejoy with the words "We found that comet Lovejoy was releasing as much alcohol as in at least 500 bottles of wine every second during its peak activity".

Comet Lovejoy was having name C/2014Q2 according to catalogue. It was one of the brightest and most active comets since comet Hale-Bopp in 1997. When it was moving closest to the sun on last week of January this year, the team of scientist observed that it was releasing water at rate of 20,000 lit per second. When scientist observed the shower of water with different wavelength, they found various kind of organic chemicals. The team found 21 different kind of molecules in comet, including ethyl alcohol (ethanol, C2H5OH) and the simplest monosaccharide sugar glycolaldehyde (CH2OHCHO). Presence of alcohol is reported for the first time.

Reference: Biver et al, Ethylalcohol and sugar in comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy). Science Advances,2015; 1(9):e1500863 published date: 23 Oct, 2015

Article in Science Daily: Researcherscatch Comet Lovejoy giving awayalcohol

Science cartoon based on "Sexual transmission of Ebola Virus"

Sexual transmission of Ebola Virus

Ebola virus need no introduction. Ebola virus disease was known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. Till today, no promising treatment or vaccine is there to cure Ebola virus disease.

It is thought that fruit bats are natural Ebola virus hosts. Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals such as chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines found ill or dead or in the rainforest.

Ebola spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.

Data on sexual transmission of Ebola viruses were lacking till now but work published by CPT Suzanne Mate, Ph.D., of U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), USA with the help of genomic analysis provide proof about positive conformation of sexual transmission. The paper published on 14^th Oct, 2015 in the New England Journal of Medicine, provides molecular evidence of Ebola virus (EBOV) transmission between an EVD survivor and his female partner.

Reference: Suzanne E. Mate et al (2015), Molecular Evidence of Sexual Transmission of Ebola Virus. New England Journal of Medicine, 151014140151006 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1509773

 

A tribute to Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

A tribute to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on World Students Day

Dr. APJ Adbul Kalam changed the meaning of the word "President" to "People's president". Can we rewrite the alphabets in honour to him...?

 

Science Cartoon based on research "Two words are enough to recognize the caller, if known "

Two words are enough to recognize the caller, if known

Generally, when we listen “Hello…” we recognize the voice of known person (If you have not seen the caller ID in mobile). Now, scientific study is supporting this phenomenon of recognizing person with help of minimum words.

According to Julien Planet-Hebert from University of Montreal, More than 99% of the time, two words are enough for people with normal hearing to distinguish the voice of a close friend or relative amongst other voices. He presented his finding in 18th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences, involved playing recordings to Canadian French speakers, who were asked to recognize on multiple trials which of the ten male voices they heard was familiar to them. French word "Merci beaucoup" (thanks a lot) turned out to be all they needed to hear.

So, now next time when you call some stranger & that stranger recognize you by just one-two word, be certain of you are not stranger to the stranger.

Link to original article:  Machines have nothing on mum when it comes to listening

Link to article published Science daily: Machines have nothing on mom when it comes to listening

Science Cartoon based on Research "Arsenic in American Red Wine"

Science Cartoon based on Research "Arsenic in American Red Wine"

 

Link to Original Article: Arsenic Content in American Wine