Science

From what we have read in our school textbooks, diamond is the hardest material known to humankind. So, is that true? Well, diamond is pretty hard no doubt and you can easily get one if you can afford it. However, based on the ever expanding knowledge and new scientific breakthroughs, researchers have found several new materials that are harder than …

It’s true that science has made significant progress over the years and expanded the collective knowledge of humankind manifold. It is science that has helped us build complex machines and supercomputers, unlock the digital space, discover new medicines and vaccines, and explore the vast universe. However, it’s surprising that even with so much progress, there are questions that still puzzle …

Speed of light is constant, travelling at 299,792.458 km per second to be exact. While this is common knowledge, have you ever wondered how scientists actually measure speed of light? Well, you will be surprised to know that it took humanity several centuries before it was able to accurately measure speed of light. In earlier times, even prominent thinkers like …

Humans have very distinctive facial features, skin color and body types. These factors make it easy for us to recognize each other. But how do animals recognize each other, who look almost the same? For example, how does a penguin know its partner or parent in a crowd of thousands of penguins? Same applies to various other animals that look …

Once used primarily at healthcare centers, hand sanitizers have now become a commonly used household item. Hand sanitizers are being preferred, as they work quickly to eliminate germs, can be used anywhere, are easy to use and do not lead to wastage of water. They are currently playing a key role in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic, as neither vaccines …

There are many words that often tend to confuse us and one of these is flammable and inflammable. These words are generally written to caution people against the risk of fire. We usually see these words on vehicles carrying items such as petrol, diesel, kerosene, LPG, propane, etc. So, why do some warning signs have the term ‘flammable’ whereas others …

To answer that question, we first have to understand what is light. Visible light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum, which comprises various other forms of energy such as microwaves, radio waves, X-rays, gamma rays, and ultraviolet radiation. All of these including visible light are made up of photons. The thing about photons is that they do not have any …

As both magnets and gravity cause attraction, it is easy to mistake both forces as the same. However, the fact is that both are entirely different forces in nature. To better understand the difference between magnetism and gravity, let’s take a look at some key differences between the two forces. Primary source of attraction – As explained by Albert Einstein, …

People traveling in a plane for the first time usually prefer the window seat, as it provides a grand view of the earth below. And as we are looking through the window, we tend to notice the small hole at the bottom. It makes us wonder what the tiny hole is doing there. For some, it can also be scary, …

A chemical compound comprising ammonium and nitrate ions, ammonium nitrate is widely used across the globe as a high-nitrogen fertilizer. Another common use of ammonium nitrate is in developing explosive mixtures, which is used for quarrying, mining and civil construction purposes. While its role as a potent fertilizer is unquestionable, it has nonetheless emerged as a controversial chemical compound over …