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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Justice for All: The impoverished drifter who reshaped American Law
Clarence Earl Gideon (1910–1972) was an impoverished drifter whose personal legal battle transformed the American justice system by establishing the right to counsel for all criminal defendants. On June 3, 1961, a…
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Right tools of life
The kitchen tap was leaking again. With a sigh, I called a plumber. A few minutes later, a middle-aged man walked in — calm, steady, carrying a faded toolkit. I watched him…
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When no one is looking
On 8th April, 2025, when Japan’s electronic toll collection system unexpectedly failed for 38 hours, the toll gates were opened to allow free passage of vehicles. In most countries, that might have…
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Dr. Jane Goodall: Pioneer of primate ethology
Dr. Jane Goodall (1934-2025) was a true icon in the fields of primatology, anthropology, conservation and environmentalism. In her passing away on October 1, 2025, at 91, the world has lost a…
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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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Kenyan engineer turns deadly water hyacinth into eco-friendly innovation
On the shores of Lake Naivasha, thick mats of water hyacinth are choking aquatic life, blocking sunlight, and devastating local fisheries. But for Kenyan engineer Joseph Nguthiru, the invasive plant became an…
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Paying for aroma – Nasreddin Hodja’s verdict
From time to time, whenever the chief judge who governed the village and gave judgments in the court was absent, the role was given to the Mulla Nasreddin Hodja. It was under just such…
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Nasreddin Hodja’s parable of walnuts and watermelons
One hot day, Nasreddin Hodja was taking it easy in the shade of a walnut tree. After a time, he started eyeing speculatively at the huge watermelons growing on vines, and the…
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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…