Did you know that Jules Verne— the legendary “father of science fiction”— was shaped by a childhood vow to travel “only in his imagination” ? According to family lore, an 11-year-old Verne, born in the…
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Life-sustaining depths: The vital role of Earth’s oceans and seas
The oceans on Planet Earth are not just one massive body of water; they are distinct ecosystems with unique chemical compositions, temperatures and geological features. Together, the five major oceans act as…
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The blue blood of horseshoe crabs: A living fossil’s vital gift to modern medicine
Did you know that the horseshoe crabs are a boon to modern medicine because of their blue blood? The unique, bright blue blood of horseshoe crabs contains a protein called Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL)*, which acts…
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How ‘shunya’ shaped the modern world: A history of the number zero
The “story” of zero is more than just a lesson in mathematics; it’s a centuries-long evolution that transformed a place-holder into a powerful mathematical tool (In mathematics, a placeholder is a symbol,…
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Algorithms: The invisible force behind our daily lives
The humble kitchen recipe remains the most relatable ancestor of the complex code running our world today. The French Soufflé is a high-precision job: if you beat the egg whites until stiff peaks…
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Antoine Lavoisier: The father of modern chemistry and a victim of the Revolution
Antoine Lavoisier (1743–1794) is widely celebrated as the “Father of Modern Chemistry.” He transformed chemistry from a field of qualitative speculation into a rigorous quantitative science. A famous anecdote about Lavoisier highlights the tragic…
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Planet Earth we know little about
Earth stands out as a remarkable life-sustaining planet in our solar system, boasting several unique features that harmonise to support diverse life forms. Key features that support life on Earth Ecological and…
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Albert Einstein’s Nobel Prize win might surprise you
While Albert Einstein is most famous for his theory of relativity, he actually received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect. This work, published in…
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The story of the rainbow
Once upon a time, all the colours in the world started to quarrel; each claimed that she was the best, the most important, the most useful, the favourite. Green said: “Clearly I am…
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Upendranath Brahmachari: The forgotten genius
Dr. Upendranath Brahmachari was a renowned Indian physician and scientist who made significant contributions to medicine, particularly in treating visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar. He was also the first to develop…