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Science Simplified!

                       JAI VIGNAN

All about Science - to remove misconceptions and encourage scientific temper

Communicating science to the common people

'To make  them see the world differently through the beautiful lense of  science'

Members: 22
Latest Activity: 13 hours ago

         WE LOVE SCIENCE HERE BECAUSE IT IS A MANY SPLENDOURED THING

     THIS  IS A WAR ZONE WHERE SCIENCE FIGHTS WITH NONSENSE AND WINS                                               

“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.”             

                    "Being a scientist is a state of mind, not a profession!"

                  "Science, when it's done right, can yield amazing things".

         The Reach of Scientific Research From Labs to Laymen

The aim of science is not only to open a door to infinite knowledge and                                     wisdom but to set a limit to infinite error.

"Knowledge is a Superpower but the irony is you cannot get enough of it with ever increasing data base unless you try to keep up with it constantly and in the right way!" The best education comes from learning from people who know what they are exactly talking about.

Science is this glorious adventure into the unknown, the opportunity to discover things that nobody knew before. And that’s just an experience that’s not to be missed. But it’s also a motivated effort to try to help humankind. And maybe that’s just by increasing human knowledge—because that’s a way to make us a nobler species.

If you are scientifically literate the world looks very different to you.

We do science and science communication not because they are easy but because they are difficult!

“Science is not a subject you studied in school. It’s life. We 're brought into existence by it!"

 Links to some important articles :

1. Interactive science series...

a. how-to-do-research-and-write-research-papers-part 13

b. Some Qs people asked me on science and my replies to them...

Part 6part-10part-11part-12, part 14  ,  part- 8

part- 1part-2part-4part-5part-16part-17part-18 , part-19 , part-20

part-21 , part-22part-23part-24part-25part-26part-27 , part-28

part-29part-30part-31part-32part-33part-34part-35part-36part-37,

 part-38part-40part-41part-42part-43part-44part-45part-46part-47

Part 48 part49Critical thinking -part 50 , part -51part-52part-53

part-54part-55part-57part-58part-59part-60part-61part-62part-63

part 64, part-65part-66part-67part-68part 69part-70 part-71part-73 ...

.......306

BP variations during pregnancy part-72

who is responsible for the gender of  their children - a man or a woman -part-56

c. some-questions-people-asked-me-on-science-based-on-my-art-and-poems -part-7

d. science-s-rules-are-unyielding-they-will-not-be-bent-for-anybody-part-3-

e. debate-between-scientists-and-people-who-practice-and-propagate-pseudo-science - part -9

f. why astrology is pseudo-science part 15

g. How Science is demolishing patriarchal ideas - part-39

2. in-defence-of-mangalyaan-why-even-developing-countries-like-india need space research programmes

3. Science communication series:

a. science-communication - part 1

b. how-scienitsts-should-communicate-with-laymen - part 2

c. main-challenges-of-science-communication-and-how-to-overcome-them - part 3

d. the-importance-of-science-communication-through-art- part 4

e. why-science-communication-is-geting worse - part  5

f. why-science-journalism-is-not-taken-seriously-in-this-part-of-the-world - part 6

g. blogs-the-best-bet-to-communicate-science-by-scientists- part 7

h. why-it-is-difficult-for-scientists-to-debate-controversial-issues - part 8

i. science-writers-and-communicators-where-are-you - part 9

j. shooting-the-messengers-for-a-different-reason-for-conveying-the- part 10

k. why-is-science-journalism-different-from-other-forms-of-journalism - part 11

l.  golden-rules-of-science-communication- Part 12

m. science-writers-should-develop-a-broader-view-to-put-things-in-th - part 13

n. an-informed-patient-is-the-most-cooperative-one -part 14

o. the-risks-scientists-will-have-to-face-while-communicating-science - part 15

p. the-most-difficult-part-of-science-communication - part 16

q. clarity-on-who-you-are-writing-for-is-important-before-sitting-to write a science story - part 17

r. science-communicators-get-thick-skinned-to-communicate-science-without-any-bias - part 18

s. is-post-truth-another-name-for-science-communication-failure?

t. why-is-it-difficult-for-scientists-to-have-high-eqs

u. art-and-literature-as-effective-aids-in-science-communication-and teaching

v.* some-qs-people-asked-me-on-science communication-and-my-replies-to-them

 ** qs-people-asked-me-on-science-and-my-replies-to-them-part-173

w. why-motivated-perception-influences-your-understanding-of-science

x. science-communication-in-uncertain-times

y. sci-com: why-keep-a-dog-and-bark-yourself

z. How to deal with sci com dilemmas?

 A+. sci-com-what-makes-a-story-news-worthy-in-science

 B+. is-a-perfect-language-important-in-writing-science-stories

C+. sci-com-how-much-entertainment-is-too-much-while-communicating-sc

D+. sci-com-why-can-t-everybody-understand-science-in-the-same-way

E+. how-to-successfully-negotiate-the-science-communication-maze

4. Health related topics:

a. why-antibiotic-resistance-is-increasing-and-how-scientists-are-tr

b. what-might-happen-when-you-take-lots-of-medicines

c. know-your-cesarean-facts-ladies

d. right-facts-about-menstruation

e. answer-to-the-question-why-on-big-c

f. how-scientists-are-identifying-new-preventive-measures-and-cures-

g. what-if-little-creatures-high-jack-your-brain-and-try-to-control-

h. who-knows-better?

i. mycotoxicoses

j. immunotherapy

k. can-rust-from-old-drinking-water-pipes-cause-health-problems

l. pvc-and-cpvc-pipes-should-not-be-used-for-drinking-water-supply

m. melioidosis

n.vaccine-woes

o. desensitization-and-transplant-success-story

p. do-you-think-the-medicines-you-are-taking-are-perfectly-alright-then revisit your position!

q. swine-flu-the-difficlulties-we-still-face-while-tackling-the-outb

r. dump-this-useless-information-into-a-garbage-bin-if-you-really-care about evidence based medicine

s. don-t-ignore-these-head-injuries

t. the-detoxification-scam

u. allergic- agony-caused-by-caterpillars-and-moths

General science: 

a.why-do-water-bodies-suddenly-change-colour

b. don-t-knock-down-your-own-life-line

c. the-most-menacing-animal-in-the-world

d. how-exo-planets-are-detected

e. the-importance-of-earth-s-magnetic-field

f. saving-tigers-from-extinction-is-still-a-travail

g. the-importance-of-snakes-in-our-eco-systems

h. understanding-reverse-osmosis

i. the-importance-of-microbiomes

j. crispr-cas9-gene-editing-technique-a-boon-to-fixing-defective-gen

k. biomimicry-a-solution-to-some-of-our-problems

5. the-dilemmas-scientists-face

6. why-we-get-contradictory-reports-in-science

7. be-alert-pseudo-science-and-anti-science-are-on-prowl

8. science-will-answer-your-questions-and-solve-your-problems

9. how-science-debunks-baseless-beliefs

10. climate-science-and-its-relevance

11. the-road-to-a-healthy-life

12. relative-truth-about-gm-crops-and-foods

13. intuition-based-work-is-bad-science

14. how-science-explains-near-death-experiences

15. just-studies-are-different-from-thorough-scientific-research

16. lab-scientists-versus-internet-scientists

17. can-you-challenge-science?

18. the-myth-of-ritual-working

19.science-and-superstitions-how-rational-thinking-can-make-you-work-better

20. comets-are-not-harmful-or-bad-omens-so-enjoy-the-clestial-shows

21. explanation-of-mysterious-lights-during-earthquakes

22. science-can-tell-what-constitutes-the-beauty-of-a-rose

23. what-lessons-can-science-learn-from-tragedies-like-these

24. the-specific-traits-of-a-scientific-mind

25. science-and-the-paranormal

26. are-these-inventions-and-discoveries-really-accidental-and-intuitive like the journalists say?

27. how-the-brain-of-a-polymath-copes-with-all-the-things-it-does

28. how-to-make-scientific-research-in-india-a-success-story

29. getting-rid-of-plastic-the-natural-way

30. why-some-interesting-things-happen-in-nature

31. real-life-stories-that-proves-how-science-helps-you

32. Science and trust series:

a. how-to-trust-science-stories-a-guide-for-common-man

b. trust-in-science-what-makes-people-waver

c. standing-up-for-science-showing-reasons-why-science-should-be-trusted

You will find the entire list of discussions here: http://kkartlab.in/group/some-science/forum

( Please go through the comments section below to find scientific research  reports posted on a daily basis and watch videos based on science)

Get interactive...

Please contact us if you want us to add any information or scientific explanation on any topic that interests you. We will try our level best to give you the right information.

Our mail ID: kkartlabin@gmail.com

Discussion Forum

Ah! Another evolution episode before your own eyes!

Started by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa. Last reply by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 14 hours ago. 10 Replies

Earlier I wrote about convergent evolution that took very little time(1). Now we have another story of rapid one to show the deniers!Deniers? ! Yes! Watch this video on how creationists confront the…Continue

Convergent evolution before your eyes!

Started by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa. Last reply by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 14 hours ago. 16 Replies

Many times people who are evolution deniers (creationists) argue that there is no proof of evolution. It takes thousands of years for evolution to take place and therefore it cannot be observed and…Continue

The importance of snakes in our eco-systems

Started by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa. Last reply by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 16 hours ago. 4 Replies

Crawly creepy creatures. Big eyes and protruding tongues. Hissing sounds and hoods in ready to attack poses.What would people do if they came across such things? Take a stick and hit them repeatedly…Continue

Does snake venom cause  death if you drink it?

Started by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa. Last reply by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 16 hours ago. 3 Replies

Q: Dr. Krishna, I read your answer to the question, "What is the difference between venomous snakes and poisonous snakes?" …Continue

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Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on April 5, 2023 at 11:37am

Serotonin gates the transfer of visual information from the eyes to the thalamus

Humans are known to perceive the environment around them differently based on the situation they are in and their own feelings and sensations. Internal states, such as fear, arousal or hunger can thus affect the ways in which sensory information is processed and registered by the brain.

Researchers have recently carried out a study investigating the possible effects of serotonin, a neurotransmitter known to regulate sleep, mood, sexual desire, and other inner states, in the processing of visual information. Their findings, published in Neuron, suggest that serotonergic neurons in the brainstem (i.e., the central trunk of the mammalian brain) gate the transfer of visual information from the eyes to the thalamus, an egg-shaped area of the brain.

Internal states are known to affect sensory perception and processing, but this was generally thought to occur in the cortex or thalamus. 

Previous studies revealed that arousal can suppress certain visual information channels at an earlier stage of the visual pathway––at the connection between the mouse retina and the thalamus, before the information even reaches the brain. This form of 'filtering' of information suggests a very efficient means of processing only relevant information. 

Past studies have also found that internal states, including arousal, are mediated by neuromodulatory systems in the brainstem and other areas below the cortex, including the serotonergic system. This is essentially the system responsible for regulating physiological states through the transmission of serotonin.

Researchers specifically explored now the effects of serotonin on the early processing of visual information and its transfer from the eyes to the thalamus. To do this, they used a technique known as two-photon calcium imaging to track the activity of individual retinal axons in the brains of awake mice as they viewed visual images on a computer monitor.

While examining the mice, the researchers also increased the release of serotonin in the thalamus, by optogenetically stimulating serotonergic neurons as they entered the thalamus. Optogenetic stimulation is a research technique used to intensify the activity of a set of genetically defined neurons using light.

Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on April 4, 2023 at 11:47am

From yeast to mice, from mice to man: Senescent cells get noisier with age

Getting old seems completely avoidable in youth but becomes less and less so as we age. Many of the obstacles of advanced aging are well understood, including declining eyesight, hearing loss, back, neck and arthritic joint pains, shortness of breath, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, cancer and stroke, just to name a few. What is less understood are the cellular-level molecular mechanisms responsible for our overall decline.

So researchers pursued an investigation into the chromatin-mediated loss of transcriptional fidelity during human cellular senescence. Their findings are described in an article titled "Spurious intragenic transcription is a feature of mammalian cellular senescence and tissue aging," published in the journal Nature Aging

Senescence is the step cells take when they determine it is best not to replicate, inhibiting the proliferation of abnormal cells by altering chromosomal configurations. Essentially as we age, our dividing cells accumulate mutations, little changes from one generation of cells to the next. Enough of these and the cell is at risk of being unsustainable or becoming a tumor cell. In this sense, senescence plays an essential role in limiting tumor progression.

Senescence is also a response to damage, allowing for the suppression of damaged or poorly repaired cells or damage of the telomeres. Accelerated accumulation of senescent cells with age is associated with various forms of disease—osteoarthritis, lung disease, Alzheimer's, dementia and cancer, to name a few.

Scientists found that during aging and senescence, cryptic transcription (proteins not normally produced) are suddenly created inside cells and that this is related to changes in the chromatin landscape. The study proposes that cryptic transcription is spurious and not created for a specific purpose. The noisy cryptic transcriptome then competes indirectly with coherent transcriptional networks by expending cells' energy on their production. Researchers saw no evidence of cryptic transcription being sensed as damage by the cell, nor do they think it is causative of senescence but simply a result of changes brought on by senescence.

The study, along with an experiment in mouse livers, builds on previous observations of cryptic transcription and indicates that this senescence  mechanism is conserved from yeast to mice and humans. The study also finds, similar to previous reports, that cryptic transcription tissue location is sex-dependent, as males and females will manifest spurious proteins in different cell types.

Payel Sen, Spurious intragenic transcription is a feature of mammalian cellular senescence and tissue aging, Nature Aging (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s43587-023-00384-3. www.nature.com/articles/s43587-023-00384-3

Isima, N., Gil, J. Spurious transcription may be a hallmark of aging. Nature Aging (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s43587-023-00398-x. www.nature.com/articles/s43587-023-00398-x

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on April 3, 2023 at 9:47am

Obesity treatment could offer dramatic weight loss without surgery ...

Imagine getting the benefits of gastric bypass surgery without going under the knife—a new class of compounds could do just that. In lab animals, these potential treatments reduce weight dramatically and lower blood glucose. The injectable compounds also avoid the side effects of nausea and vomiting that are common with current weight-loss and diabetes drugs. Now, scientists report that the new treatment not only reduces eating but also boosts calorie burn.

ACS Spring 2023: Peptide triagonists of the GLP-1-, neuropeptide Y1- and neuropeptide Y2- receptors for glycemic control and weight loss, www.acs.org/meetings/acs-meetings/spring-2023.html

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Time-restricted eating vs. daily calorie restriction in reducing no...

Adults with obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease did not see additional reductions in intrahepatic triglyceride while on a time-restricted eating regimen compared to subjects on a daily calorie-restriction diet. This is according to a recent study published in the journal JAMA Network Open and led by researchers at Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, China and colleagues in the US at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans.

Xueyun Wei et al, Effects of Time-Restricted Eating on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, JAMA Network Open (2023). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.3513

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Study finds harmful PFAS don't actually prevent furniture stains

The health and environmental harms of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are well-known, but a new study calls into question their touted stain-fighting benefits. The study, published today in the AATCC Journal of Research, tested the performance of PFAS finishings on furniture fabrics and found that they had limited to no effectiveness, particularly under real-world conditions.

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on April 2, 2023 at 1:43pm

Photosynthetic Sea Slugs 

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on April 2, 2023 at 1:42pm

Crystallised intelligence (the ability to accumulate knowledge, facts and skills) 

Fluid intelligence (the ability to reason and think flexibly)

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on April 1, 2023 at 12:35pm

Neck cracking

It is thought that one of the most common causes of neck ‘cracking’ is gas bubbles in the synovial fluid escaping a tight space. This synovial fluid

is a lubricant between the joints, formed by a combination of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and oxygen.

If you deliberately roll your neck, it is thought that you can sometimes release these bubbles, resulting in a series of popping sounds that may sound like cracking. The release of the gas build-up explains why muscles or joints often feel looser and more comfortable after they’ve been ‘popped’ or ‘cracked’.

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Our joints contain synovial fluid, a sac of liquid which acts as a lubricant, protecting bones from grinding against each other. When someone cracks their knuckles, they increase the space in the joint, causing bubbles of gas (think oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide) to form in the fluid. It’s the popping of these bubbles that make the cracking noise.

While it may sound worrying, there isn’t actually much evidence to suggest this is dangerous – or increases the risk of getting arthritis. The most important risk factors for developing arthritis are family history, age, gender, joint injury, and lifestyle elements such as smoking and obesity.

It is true that people with arthritis sometimes find their joints crack, but this is because their cartilage has already been damaged. Cracking isn’t usually the most common symptom of arthritis, either.

Although there are isolated reports of self-injury caused from cracking knuckles, such as sprained ligaments, these are very rare. You’re much more likely to harm yourself by cracking joints in your spine and neck, which are surrounded by important blood vessels.

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on April 1, 2023 at 11:54am

Gigapixel 3D Microscope Captures Life in Unprecedented Detail

A new kind of microscope that stitches together videos from dozens of smaller cameras can provide researchers with 3D views of their experiments. Whether recording 3D movies of the behavior of dozens of freely swimming zebrafish or the grooming activity of fruit flies at near cellular-level detail across a very wide field of view, the device is opening new possibilities to researchers the world over. Learn more at https://www.pratt.duke.edu/about/news...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on April 1, 2023 at 11:48am

Scientists have found microplastic pollution in krill and salps from the Southern Ocean. A new study led by researchers at British Antarctic Survey shares important evidence that these animals, as well as other zooplankton, ingest plastic in their natural environment. Krill and salps are vital food sources to much of the Southern Ocean’s wildlife as well as helping to trap carbon from the atmosphere in the deep ocean. The impact of the microplastics in this environment is not fully understood and could interfere with their ability to trap carbon as well as getting transferred up the food chain to animals such as whales and penguins. The team found plastics in most krill and salp samples with the most common type being nylon, a fibre with wider ranging applications from clothing to car tires. ➡ Read this news story on the British Antarctic Survey website: https://www.bas.ac.uk/media-post/micr...

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on April 1, 2023 at 11:48am

Microplastic found in Antarctic krill and salps

A new study by researchers discovered microplastics in krill (Euphausia superba), a small shrimp-like crustacean, and salps (Salpa thompsoni), a gelatinous marine invertebrate. The results were published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

While Antarctic krill have been observed ingesting microplastics in laboratory settings, the team's findings provide important evidence that these animals, as well as other zooplankton, ingest plastic in their natural environment.

Microplastics are present in the Southern Ocean from the sea surface to seabed. Due to the small size of these particles (<5 mm), Antarctic zooplankton are likely to mistake the plastics for their natural food source. The team focused on two of the most abundant species of Southern Ocean zooplankton: Antarctic krill, and salps. These two species are critical to the diet of much of the Southern Ocean's marine wildlife. Krill is the main food source for whales, penguins, and seals while salps are eaten by some fish and larger marine birds.

Krill and salp samples were collected onboard the research ship RRS James Clark Ross on two research missions off the Northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula in 2016 and near the island of South Georgia in 2018. Microplastics were extracted from both species with plastic microfibers most common. One of the largest sources of these fibers is shedding from clothing during washing and drying. Around 60% of the krill and salps contained nylon, a microplastic with significant commercial applications in clothing, fishing gear, ropes, and reinforcing car tires.

The findings underline how sensitive the Antarctic marine ecosystem is to plastic pollution. Due to the short food chains in the Antarctic, transfer of these microplastics from the krill to larger predators such as whales, penguins, and seals is highly likely. Plastic in krill and salps could also negatively impact the Southern Ocean as one of the planets largest carbon sinks.

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on April 1, 2023 at 11:15am

Ban On Tattoo Ink: Breaking Down the Chemistry

 

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