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Daily Dose Of Interesting Information
- Thread starter Visalakshi Ramani
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Thank you kind sir!
OP
OP
#92. Tasty Bites!
Eating is one of the greatest sensual pleasures in life. The taste of the food is the main reason why we like or dislike the food. How do we taste what we taste?
Taste is determined by the minute barrel shaped taste buds, 9000 in number, located on the upper surface of the tongue. There are a few taste buds on the soft palate at the back of the mouth and a few in the throat. The tip of each bud has 15 to 20 receptors—cells linked to nerve fibers that carry taste impulses to the brain.
These taste receptors have only a very short life. They are completely renewed once in a week or so. Older people have lesser taste buds and are unable to relish their food, the way they used to do! Children have very sensitive taste buds and this explains why they dislike spicy food.
Taste buds can detect only four basic tastes—sweet, sour, salty and bitter– depending on their location. The tip of the tongue is sensitive to sweet things; the sides to the sour things; the tip and the sides to the salty things and the back of the tongue to bitter things.
Enjoying the flavor of the food involves additional factors like the sense of smell, sight, temperature and the texture of the food. When we suffer from severe cold, food loses its flavor.
The actual mechanism of the tasting process is vague. Taste is probably the result of a mild chemical reaction. The molecule of the food forms a bond with the molecule of the surface of the taste cells. This excites a nerve fiber giving rise to a new impulse. The central nervous system relays these sensations to the brain. It identifies the taste and associates it with the particular food.
Whatever may be the process involved in tasting, one thing is certain—without our ability to taste, food would lose all its charm.
Visalakshi Ramani
Eating is one of the greatest sensual pleasures in life. The taste of the food is the main reason why we like or dislike the food. How do we taste what we taste?
Taste is determined by the minute barrel shaped taste buds, 9000 in number, located on the upper surface of the tongue. There are a few taste buds on the soft palate at the back of the mouth and a few in the throat. The tip of each bud has 15 to 20 receptors—cells linked to nerve fibers that carry taste impulses to the brain.
These taste receptors have only a very short life. They are completely renewed once in a week or so. Older people have lesser taste buds and are unable to relish their food, the way they used to do! Children have very sensitive taste buds and this explains why they dislike spicy food.
Taste buds can detect only four basic tastes—sweet, sour, salty and bitter– depending on their location. The tip of the tongue is sensitive to sweet things; the sides to the sour things; the tip and the sides to the salty things and the back of the tongue to bitter things.
Enjoying the flavor of the food involves additional factors like the sense of smell, sight, temperature and the texture of the food. When we suffer from severe cold, food loses its flavor.
The actual mechanism of the tasting process is vague. Taste is probably the result of a mild chemical reaction. The molecule of the food forms a bond with the molecule of the surface of the taste cells. This excites a nerve fiber giving rise to a new impulse. The central nervous system relays these sensations to the brain. It identifies the taste and associates it with the particular food.
Whatever may be the process involved in tasting, one thing is certain—without our ability to taste, food would lose all its charm.
Visalakshi Ramani
OP
OP
#93. “Feeling Left out”?
Left handed people had lived just as the right handed ones, at all times, though in lesser numbers. Today they are about 10 to 15 percent of the world’s population.
Each hand is as important as the other. They are complementary since each hand is used in a different but equally important way. The left hand is used for finding, holding and supporting an object while the right hand is used to adjust and manipulate. This division of labour may be due to the differences between the two sides of the brain. They are not identical though they look alike!
The left side brain, which controls the right hand, is the center of logical thinking. The right brain, which controls the left hand, has strong visual skills.
Are a high percentage of the artists, with extra ordinary visual skills, left handed? Yes, left handedness is twice as common among artists, as in the general population.
Until recently, children who were left handed ran the risk of being punished, until they conformed to the majority of children who a right handed.
People have become more tolerant to the left handers. Now they are the subjects of engrossing scientific study.
Visalakshi Ramani
Left handed people had lived just as the right handed ones, at all times, though in lesser numbers. Today they are about 10 to 15 percent of the world’s population.
Each hand is as important as the other. They are complementary since each hand is used in a different but equally important way. The left hand is used for finding, holding and supporting an object while the right hand is used to adjust and manipulate. This division of labour may be due to the differences between the two sides of the brain. They are not identical though they look alike!
The left side brain, which controls the right hand, is the center of logical thinking. The right brain, which controls the left hand, has strong visual skills.
Are a high percentage of the artists, with extra ordinary visual skills, left handed? Yes, left handedness is twice as common among artists, as in the general population.
Until recently, children who were left handed ran the risk of being punished, until they conformed to the majority of children who a right handed.
People have become more tolerant to the left handers. Now they are the subjects of engrossing scientific study.
Visalakshi Ramani
T
talwan
Guest
Dear VR,
Let me share some information on this taste business.
The basic requirement for sensing the taste any food item is it must get dissolve in the salaiva.Salaiva is little acidi and dissolves the food item.then the taste buds sense them.If the food item doesnot dissolved then the taste buds cannot sense.
Oils,Ghee these iems does not dissolve so they don't have taste.But we tell the Ghee was tastee.How this? the reason is by the good smell of Ghee we tell it is tastee.Similarly castor oil is tasteless since it is not dissolved in salaiva,but we tell it is bitter.This is because the bad smell of caster oil makes us feel it is bitter.You may be knowing that for children Grand parants force castor oil by tightly closing children's nose.this is to make them not feel the smell.If you keep kalkandu in tongue first few seconds you won't sense the sweetness till it gets started dissolving in the salaiva.
SALAIVA PLAYS THE VITAL ROLE FOR THE TASTE BUDS TO SENSE.
Alwan
Let me share some information on this taste business.
The basic requirement for sensing the taste any food item is it must get dissolve in the salaiva.Salaiva is little acidi and dissolves the food item.then the taste buds sense them.If the food item doesnot dissolved then the taste buds cannot sense.
Oils,Ghee these iems does not dissolve so they don't have taste.But we tell the Ghee was tastee.How this? the reason is by the good smell of Ghee we tell it is tastee.Similarly castor oil is tasteless since it is not dissolved in salaiva,but we tell it is bitter.This is because the bad smell of caster oil makes us feel it is bitter.You may be knowing that for children Grand parants force castor oil by tightly closing children's nose.this is to make them not feel the smell.If you keep kalkandu in tongue first few seconds you won't sense the sweetness till it gets started dissolving in the salaiva.
SALAIVA PLAYS THE VITAL ROLE FOR THE TASTE BUDS TO SENSE.
Alwan
T
talwan
Guest
Dear VR,
Let me share some information on this taste business.
The basic requirement for sensing the taste any food item is it must get dissolve in the salaiva.Salaiva is little acidi and dissolves the food item.then the taste buds sense them.If the food item doesnot dissolved then the taste buds cannot sense.
Oils,Ghee these iems does not dissolve so they don't have taste.But we tell the Ghee was tastee.How this? the reason is by the good smell of Ghee we tell it is tastee.Similarly castor oil is tasteless since it is not dissolved in salaiva,but we tell it is bitter.This is because the bad smell of caster oil makes us feel it is bitter.You may be knowing that for children Grand parants force castor oil by tightly closing children's nose.this is to make them not feel the smell.If you keep kalkandu in tongue first few seconds you won't sense the sweetness till it gets started dissolving in the salaiva.
SALAIVA PLAYS THE VITAL ROLE FOR THE TASTE BUDS TO SENSE.
Alwan
Let me share some information on this taste business.
The basic requirement for sensing the taste any food item is it must get dissolve in the salaiva.Salaiva is little acidi and dissolves the food item.then the taste buds sense them.If the food item doesnot dissolved then the taste buds cannot sense.
Oils,Ghee these iems does not dissolve so they don't have taste.But we tell the Ghee was tastee.How this? the reason is by the good smell of Ghee we tell it is tastee.Similarly castor oil is tasteless since it is not dissolved in salaiva,but we tell it is bitter.This is because the bad smell of caster oil makes us feel it is bitter.You may be knowing that for children Grand parants force castor oil by tightly closing children's nose.this is to make them not feel the smell.If you keep kalkandu in tongue first few seconds you won't sense the sweetness till it gets started dissolving in the salaiva.
SALAIVA PLAYS THE VITAL ROLE FOR THE TASTE BUDS TO SENSE.
Alwan
OP
OP
Very Well explained Mr.Alwan! Thank you.
The taste buds pick up the taste from the food dissolved in saliva.
The taste buds pick up the taste from the food dissolved in saliva.
OP
OP
#94. Artificial Blood.
Artificial blood is the life saver of all mankind. Artificial blood can be given to any one, regardless of his blood group and Rh factor. This saves a lot of precious time usually wasted in matching the blood of the donor and recipient.
Artificial blood is manufactured in a large quantity, when the real blood supply runs short. Since it is chemically prepared, it is free from harmful bacteria and viruses.
Natural human blood is a wonder fluid–almost impossible to imitate or emulate! The main function of the blood is to carry the supply of oxygen to all the body parts and remove carbon dioxide from them, through the lungs.
Most forms of artificial blood are derived from fluorocarbon emulsions. They carry oxygen and remove carbon dioxide effectively. But the patient has to deep breathe to reap these benefits.
The second type of artificial blood makes use of a hemoglobin solution to transport oxygen. In natural blood the hemoglobin is enclosed in a cell membrane so that it does not escape or damage the kidneys.
But in artificial blood the hemoglobin molecules form clusters. They do not damage the kidneys but are less efficient in carrying the oxygen as compared to the hemoglobin contained in a cell membrane.
Substitute blood of any kind can be used only as a temporary measure. It tends to suppress the immune system and increase the risk of infection. Natural blood must replace the artificial blood with in a day or two.
Artificial blood has been a boon in emergency operations like hemorrhaging from the internal organs. The survival rate was dramatically increased from 17 to 80 percent.
Painstaking research will surely create in the future a wonderful fluid as good and red as the real blood.
Visalakshi Ramani
Artificial blood is the life saver of all mankind. Artificial blood can be given to any one, regardless of his blood group and Rh factor. This saves a lot of precious time usually wasted in matching the blood of the donor and recipient.
Artificial blood is manufactured in a large quantity, when the real blood supply runs short. Since it is chemically prepared, it is free from harmful bacteria and viruses.
Natural human blood is a wonder fluid–almost impossible to imitate or emulate! The main function of the blood is to carry the supply of oxygen to all the body parts and remove carbon dioxide from them, through the lungs.
Most forms of artificial blood are derived from fluorocarbon emulsions. They carry oxygen and remove carbon dioxide effectively. But the patient has to deep breathe to reap these benefits.
The second type of artificial blood makes use of a hemoglobin solution to transport oxygen. In natural blood the hemoglobin is enclosed in a cell membrane so that it does not escape or damage the kidneys.
But in artificial blood the hemoglobin molecules form clusters. They do not damage the kidneys but are less efficient in carrying the oxygen as compared to the hemoglobin contained in a cell membrane.
Substitute blood of any kind can be used only as a temporary measure. It tends to suppress the immune system and increase the risk of infection. Natural blood must replace the artificial blood with in a day or two.
Artificial blood has been a boon in emergency operations like hemorrhaging from the internal organs. The survival rate was dramatically increased from 17 to 80 percent.
Painstaking research will surely create in the future a wonderful fluid as good and red as the real blood.
Visalakshi Ramani
OP
OP
#95. Artificial Skin!
Skin is the largest organ in a human body. Skin performs many tasks such as protecting the body from heat, cold and micro organisms; preserving the fluid balance; controlling the body temperature; sense the outside world and help to prevent and to fight invading diseases.
Severe damages to large areas of skin, expose human body to dehydration and infection that may result in the death of the person. Traditional ways of dealing with loss of skin is to skin graft. The healthy skin is taken from the other parts of the body like the thighs and used to cover the damaged areas. But at times there may not be enough skin to cover the damaged areas, in this autologous skin grafting .
The skin taken from a donor may be rejected by the body while the skin taken from a cadaver may cause infections. Allografts also pose several problems. To solve these problems, research is being done to grow artificial skin in the laboratory.
Collagen is the protein underlying the structure of the skin. A collagen scaffold is seeded with the patient’s own cells to grow large sheets of artificial skin in the lab. These sheets are used to prevent the bacteria from invading the body and the shocks caused by the dehydration. This blanket of artificial skin encourages the growth of new skin.
The outer skin called Epidermal skin can be grown in the lab. Scientists do not know how to grow the underlying dermal skin-which has the sensory nerves, the blood vessels, the sweat glands and hair follicles- in the lab yet!
Visalakshi Ramani
Skin is the largest organ in a human body. Skin performs many tasks such as protecting the body from heat, cold and micro organisms; preserving the fluid balance; controlling the body temperature; sense the outside world and help to prevent and to fight invading diseases.
Severe damages to large areas of skin, expose human body to dehydration and infection that may result in the death of the person. Traditional ways of dealing with loss of skin is to skin graft. The healthy skin is taken from the other parts of the body like the thighs and used to cover the damaged areas. But at times there may not be enough skin to cover the damaged areas, in this autologous skin grafting .
The skin taken from a donor may be rejected by the body while the skin taken from a cadaver may cause infections. Allografts also pose several problems. To solve these problems, research is being done to grow artificial skin in the laboratory.
Collagen is the protein underlying the structure of the skin. A collagen scaffold is seeded with the patient’s own cells to grow large sheets of artificial skin in the lab. These sheets are used to prevent the bacteria from invading the body and the shocks caused by the dehydration. This blanket of artificial skin encourages the growth of new skin.
The outer skin called Epidermal skin can be grown in the lab. Scientists do not know how to grow the underlying dermal skin-which has the sensory nerves, the blood vessels, the sweat glands and hair follicles- in the lab yet!
Visalakshi Ramani
OP
OP
#96. Is Sleep a Luxury?
Sleep is the most misunderstood thing in our lives. Some people over sleep and waste away their precious lives, while some others think it is a waste of time to sleep and ruin their invaluable health.
Sleep is Nature’s way of putting us back in good health and mental alertness. Many damages are repaired and the whole body gets tuned to good health, while we sleep.
The amount of sleep needed by each individual varies from person to person. The new born baby sleeps most of the day. As we grow, the number of hours of sleep needed is reduced. In old age, people can hardly sleep. Time seems to hang heavily and each day seems to go on and on endlessly!
An average adult needs six to eight hours of sleep per day. If he gets to sleep for less than six hours, he is deprived of enough sleep. If he sleeps for more than eight hours, he is enjoying a luxury, which only a few can afford!
My father, a doctor, used to say,” Sleep is like a drug. The more you have it, the more you want it”. Truly just as a drug is administered in accurate quantities, sleep must by had in adequate quantities, neither more nor less.
Extensive studies have proved that stress, anxiety, anger, aggressive driving and drowsy driving are natural consequences of lack of sleep, known as sleep deprivation. But this can have more serious and far reaching effects on a person.
It affects a person’s physical and mental well being and indirectly affects the person’s emotional well being also. Sleep deprivation causes tension and anxiety. Both these along with sleep deprivation affect the immune system of the body badly. The person becomes susceptible to several diseases and health disorders.
The person is unable to get anything done properly. He is unable to focus, gets confused easily, forgets important things and remains high-strung most of the time!
Persons, who work at night, must learn to make up for the deficit of sleep during the day. Pilots and air hostesses, who are always flying across various time zones, learn to sleep when they become free- be it a day or night. Otherwise they will be unfit for flying the air plane and playing the hostesses.
In order to remain healthy and happy and have an alert and focused mind, we need to get adequate sleep. If necessary we will have to make some changes in our daily schedule to ensure that we will be “bright eyed and bushy tailed like the chirpy squirrel” when we get up!
Remember, Sleep is a necessity and not just a luxury!
Visalakshi Ramani
Sleep is the most misunderstood thing in our lives. Some people over sleep and waste away their precious lives, while some others think it is a waste of time to sleep and ruin their invaluable health.
Sleep is Nature’s way of putting us back in good health and mental alertness. Many damages are repaired and the whole body gets tuned to good health, while we sleep.
The amount of sleep needed by each individual varies from person to person. The new born baby sleeps most of the day. As we grow, the number of hours of sleep needed is reduced. In old age, people can hardly sleep. Time seems to hang heavily and each day seems to go on and on endlessly!
An average adult needs six to eight hours of sleep per day. If he gets to sleep for less than six hours, he is deprived of enough sleep. If he sleeps for more than eight hours, he is enjoying a luxury, which only a few can afford!
My father, a doctor, used to say,” Sleep is like a drug. The more you have it, the more you want it”. Truly just as a drug is administered in accurate quantities, sleep must by had in adequate quantities, neither more nor less.
Extensive studies have proved that stress, anxiety, anger, aggressive driving and drowsy driving are natural consequences of lack of sleep, known as sleep deprivation. But this can have more serious and far reaching effects on a person.
It affects a person’s physical and mental well being and indirectly affects the person’s emotional well being also. Sleep deprivation causes tension and anxiety. Both these along with sleep deprivation affect the immune system of the body badly. The person becomes susceptible to several diseases and health disorders.
The person is unable to get anything done properly. He is unable to focus, gets confused easily, forgets important things and remains high-strung most of the time!
Persons, who work at night, must learn to make up for the deficit of sleep during the day. Pilots and air hostesses, who are always flying across various time zones, learn to sleep when they become free- be it a day or night. Otherwise they will be unfit for flying the air plane and playing the hostesses.
In order to remain healthy and happy and have an alert and focused mind, we need to get adequate sleep. If necessary we will have to make some changes in our daily schedule to ensure that we will be “bright eyed and bushy tailed like the chirpy squirrel” when we get up!
Remember, Sleep is a necessity and not just a luxury!
Visalakshi Ramani
OP
OP
#97. Aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy is the art of healing using the aromatic oils of the plants.This art was known to the ancient Egyptians, Romans and Greeks. Skilled men and women used these oils to cure a number of ailments and also in the day to day beauty treatments.
Romans smeared sweet smelling oils lavishly on their body before an elaborate bath.
Greeks believed that the oil of each plant gave them the virtue of the God associated with that plant. Poppy gave them courage in a war while the violet had a calming effect on the mind.
Aromatherapists believe that mind plays a major role in many of the body ailments. So with the powerful fragrance, we can alter the emotional state of the mind–thus opening the way for a beneficial cure.
Aromatherapy is said to be very effective in the stress- related ailments such as asthma, head-aches and depression. Patients with skin ailments, respiratory diseases ,digestive problems and even back-aches respond well to aromatherapy.
The oil extracted from the plants are administered in carefully measured quantities. They are either inhaled or gently rubbed into the skin.
The Medical Fraternity has not endorsed aromatherapy. But common folks are practicing the Aromatherapy. We take a bouquet of fragrant flowers to cheer up a person who is ill.
Visalakshi Ramani.
Aromatherapy is the art of healing using the aromatic oils of the plants.This art was known to the ancient Egyptians, Romans and Greeks. Skilled men and women used these oils to cure a number of ailments and also in the day to day beauty treatments.
Romans smeared sweet smelling oils lavishly on their body before an elaborate bath.
Greeks believed that the oil of each plant gave them the virtue of the God associated with that plant. Poppy gave them courage in a war while the violet had a calming effect on the mind.
Aromatherapists believe that mind plays a major role in many of the body ailments. So with the powerful fragrance, we can alter the emotional state of the mind–thus opening the way for a beneficial cure.
Aromatherapy is said to be very effective in the stress- related ailments such as asthma, head-aches and depression. Patients with skin ailments, respiratory diseases ,digestive problems and even back-aches respond well to aromatherapy.
The oil extracted from the plants are administered in carefully measured quantities. They are either inhaled or gently rubbed into the skin.
The Medical Fraternity has not endorsed aromatherapy. But common folks are practicing the Aromatherapy. We take a bouquet of fragrant flowers to cheer up a person who is ill.
Visalakshi Ramani.
OP
OP
All illustrations are Courtesy...Google images!
Illustrations...Courtesy...my daughter in law Mrs. Rupa Raman.
Thank you for the feed back
with best wishes,
V.R.
Illustrations...Courtesy...my daughter in law Mrs. Rupa Raman.
Thank you for the feed back
with best wishes,
V.R.
OP
OP
#98. Garlic Pearls.
It is said, “Garlic everyday keeps every body away!” It keeps not only everybody away but also every disease away! Want to know how?
Garlic had been used through ages as a charm to ward of all evil spirits. It had been a popular remedy for many complaints ranging from dog-bites, constipation, asthma, pimples to athlete’s foot. Its medical properties have been well documented and it has been mentioned even in The Holy Bible.
In 1900s, garlic was recommended by some doctors as a cure for Tuberculosis. During World War I, it was used to cure dysentery. In World War II, it was widely used on the war wounds to prevent septic poisonings and gangrenes.
Albert Schweitzer had used garlic to cure cholera and typhus. In Russia it was fondly called as “The Russian Penicillin” and is used to treat colds and flu. In China, garlic had been used to for many centuries, treat high blood pressure.
Many doctors were skeptic with regard to the many medical qualities attributed to garlic. But scientific evidence supports its curative power as an anti-biotic, a fungicide, a laxative, a diuretic and as an anti-coagulant.
As early as 1858, Louis Pasteur observed that garlic could destroy small bacteria. In 1985, tests have proved that garlic is effective against, Influenza B and Herpes Simplex.
It has been proved that garlic lowers blood cholesterol, increases the absorption of vitamin B, benefiting the nervous system. Garlic can inhibit blood clotting. Even half a clove of raw garlic pearl is tremendously beneficial to fight blood clotting.
In its raw crushed state, garlic contains amino acids, rich in sulfur. This protects against heart diseases. The precise explanation for the medical properties of garlic is not known. But this does not diminish the greatness or the curative properties of garlic in any which way!
Visalakshi Ramani.
It is said, “Garlic everyday keeps every body away!” It keeps not only everybody away but also every disease away! Want to know how?
Garlic had been used through ages as a charm to ward of all evil spirits. It had been a popular remedy for many complaints ranging from dog-bites, constipation, asthma, pimples to athlete’s foot. Its medical properties have been well documented and it has been mentioned even in The Holy Bible.
In 1900s, garlic was recommended by some doctors as a cure for Tuberculosis. During World War I, it was used to cure dysentery. In World War II, it was widely used on the war wounds to prevent septic poisonings and gangrenes.
Albert Schweitzer had used garlic to cure cholera and typhus. In Russia it was fondly called as “The Russian Penicillin” and is used to treat colds and flu. In China, garlic had been used to for many centuries, treat high blood pressure.
Many doctors were skeptic with regard to the many medical qualities attributed to garlic. But scientific evidence supports its curative power as an anti-biotic, a fungicide, a laxative, a diuretic and as an anti-coagulant.
As early as 1858, Louis Pasteur observed that garlic could destroy small bacteria. In 1985, tests have proved that garlic is effective against, Influenza B and Herpes Simplex.
It has been proved that garlic lowers blood cholesterol, increases the absorption of vitamin B, benefiting the nervous system. Garlic can inhibit blood clotting. Even half a clove of raw garlic pearl is tremendously beneficial to fight blood clotting.
In its raw crushed state, garlic contains amino acids, rich in sulfur. This protects against heart diseases. The precise explanation for the medical properties of garlic is not known. But this does not diminish the greatness or the curative properties of garlic in any which way!
Visalakshi Ramani.
OP
OP
The following article "Use it or lose it" has already appeared in another thread on
5th November. Still it belongs to this thread. So I am posting it here again.
5th November. Still it belongs to this thread. So I am posting it here again.
OP
OP
#99. “Use it or Lose it”
Contrary to the popular belief, the human brain does not lose its power merely through ageing. Constant mental activities help to keep the brain young and active.
This is the theory put forward by Professor Marian Diamond, after years of research on the development of human brain. She bases her findings on the experiments done with rats.
Young rats were placed in stimulating environment instead of the usual empty cages. They were exposed to the company of the other rats and to toys and play things like wheels and ladder–which would make the rats use their brains.
This kind of stimulation changed the chemistry and structure of the cortex—the thin outer layer of nerve cells of the brain. Every part of each cell enlarged and the number of support cells attached to them also increased. As a result, the brains of the rats became more active and ready to meet the challenges set for them by the researchers.
The same experiment was repeated with older rats aged 766 days (equivalent to 76 years in human life span). The older rats also showed thickening of the cortex.
What is the implication of this experiment on human beings?
Professor Diamond interviewed several octogenarians who had kept their brains active. She put her findings in a nutshell by saying, “I found that the people who use their brains don’t lose them. It was that simple!”
Visalakshi Ramani
Contrary to the popular belief, the human brain does not lose its power merely through ageing. Constant mental activities help to keep the brain young and active.
This is the theory put forward by Professor Marian Diamond, after years of research on the development of human brain. She bases her findings on the experiments done with rats.
Young rats were placed in stimulating environment instead of the usual empty cages. They were exposed to the company of the other rats and to toys and play things like wheels and ladder–which would make the rats use their brains.
This kind of stimulation changed the chemistry and structure of the cortex—the thin outer layer of nerve cells of the brain. Every part of each cell enlarged and the number of support cells attached to them also increased. As a result, the brains of the rats became more active and ready to meet the challenges set for them by the researchers.
The same experiment was repeated with older rats aged 766 days (equivalent to 76 years in human life span). The older rats also showed thickening of the cortex.
What is the implication of this experiment on human beings?
Professor Diamond interviewed several octogenarians who had kept their brains active. She put her findings in a nutshell by saying, “I found that the people who use their brains don’t lose them. It was that simple!”
Visalakshi Ramani
OP
OP
[FONT=comic sans ms,sans-serif]# 100. Magic in Mathematics.
Order is Heaven's First Law. There is order in everything around us. If there is no order in the Universe, there will prevail a such a chaos that we won't be able to live in it.
Mathematics is the basis of all the measurements and hence the foundation of the order of things. Mathematics is not dry, dreary or boring as some people tend to think.
It is the most fascinating subject in the world forming the foundation of many other subjects.According my sons, the most satisfying experience in the world is solving a very difficult problem! I can't but agree with them-being a chronic problem chaser and solver myself!
There is magic in mathematics. We can look into some of them in this thread.[/FONT]
Order is Heaven's First Law. There is order in everything around us. If there is no order in the Universe, there will prevail a such a chaos that we won't be able to live in it.
Mathematics is the basis of all the measurements and hence the foundation of the order of things. Mathematics is not dry, dreary or boring as some people tend to think.
It is the most fascinating subject in the world forming the foundation of many other subjects.According my sons, the most satisfying experience in the world is solving a very difficult problem! I can't but agree with them-being a chronic problem chaser and solver myself!
There is magic in mathematics. We can look into some of them in this thread.[/FONT]
OP
OP
#101. Numbering Systems.
The numbering system in many societies is based on 5 or 10, the number of fingers in one hand or two. But there are several exceptions to this and those numbering systems have different bases, as opposed to 5 or 10.
Bolans of West Africa count in sevens. Maoris of New Zealand have a system based on 11. Babylonians had a system based on 60. The Mayas, the ancient people of Central America used a number system based on 20.
The modern computer uses the binary system with just a 0 and 1. The value of 1 is doubled, each time it is moved to the left by one place. So 1 represents1, 10 represents 2, 100 represents 4 and 1000 represents 8 etc.
Many computers have difficulty jumping back and forth between the decimal system and the binary system. They use another system as an intermediate step between the two. The Hexa decimal system or the Hex is based on 16.
Hex uses the numerals 0 to 9 together with alphabets A, B, C, D, E and F representing the numbers 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. The number 16 is represented as 10!
An adult trained in the traditional ways of counting would surely get baffled by this system, but the young geniuses think that it is merely a child’s play.
Visalakshi Ramani
The numbering system in many societies is based on 5 or 10, the number of fingers in one hand or two. But there are several exceptions to this and those numbering systems have different bases, as opposed to 5 or 10.
Bolans of West Africa count in sevens. Maoris of New Zealand have a system based on 11. Babylonians had a system based on 60. The Mayas, the ancient people of Central America used a number system based on 20.
The modern computer uses the binary system with just a 0 and 1. The value of 1 is doubled, each time it is moved to the left by one place. So 1 represents1, 10 represents 2, 100 represents 4 and 1000 represents 8 etc.
Many computers have difficulty jumping back and forth between the decimal system and the binary system. They use another system as an intermediate step between the two. The Hexa decimal system or the Hex is based on 16.
Hex uses the numerals 0 to 9 together with alphabets A, B, C, D, E and F representing the numbers 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. The number 16 is represented as 10!
An adult trained in the traditional ways of counting would surely get baffled by this system, but the young geniuses think that it is merely a child’s play.
Visalakshi Ramani
OP
OP
#102. Irrational Numbers.
Followers of the Greek mathematician Pythagoras held numbers in great reverence and awe. Their chief belief was that “Integers” or the “whole numbers” held the secret of the Universe, concealed in them.
According to them any number can be expressed as a whole number or a ratio of two whole numbers. The numbers less than one, can be put as 49/50 or 91/100 etc. So they were duly shocked, when a strange type of number, which they named as “irrational number”, was discovered.
The length of the diagonal of a square, with unit length as its side, is given as the square root of 2, by Pythagoras Theorem. Try as they might, Pythagoreans could not put it as a ratio of two numbers, completely.
Depending on the accuracy of calculations, the value of the square root of 2 was 14/10 or 141/100 or 1414/1000 etc. It could never be completely revealed as the ratio of two whole numbers.
The same is true of many numbers. Perfect squares like 1, 4, 9, and 16 have their square roots as 1, 2, 3, 4 etc. But all the numbers lying in between these perfect squares, like 2,3,5,6,7,8, 10,11,12,13,14,15 have non-ending square roots, which are irrational numbers.
Pythagoreans were forbidden to reveal this startling discovery, under the pain of death. New and revolutionary discoveries have never been accepted or acclaimed easily.
Whether or not we want to have them, the irrational numbers do exist and we have learnt to live with them.
Visalakshi Ramani
Followers of the Greek mathematician Pythagoras held numbers in great reverence and awe. Their chief belief was that “Integers” or the “whole numbers” held the secret of the Universe, concealed in them.
According to them any number can be expressed as a whole number or a ratio of two whole numbers. The numbers less than one, can be put as 49/50 or 91/100 etc. So they were duly shocked, when a strange type of number, which they named as “irrational number”, was discovered.
The length of the diagonal of a square, with unit length as its side, is given as the square root of 2, by Pythagoras Theorem. Try as they might, Pythagoreans could not put it as a ratio of two numbers, completely.
Depending on the accuracy of calculations, the value of the square root of 2 was 14/10 or 141/100 or 1414/1000 etc. It could never be completely revealed as the ratio of two whole numbers.
The same is true of many numbers. Perfect squares like 1, 4, 9, and 16 have their square roots as 1, 2, 3, 4 etc. But all the numbers lying in between these perfect squares, like 2,3,5,6,7,8, 10,11,12,13,14,15 have non-ending square roots, which are irrational numbers.
Pythagoreans were forbidden to reveal this startling discovery, under the pain of death. New and revolutionary discoveries have never been accepted or acclaimed easily.
Whether or not we want to have them, the irrational numbers do exist and we have learnt to live with them.
Visalakshi Ramani
OP
OP
#103. Imaginary Numbers.
There is one kind on numbers which defy even our imagination! They are aptly named as Imaginary Numbers. What are they?
All perfect squares have whole numbers as their square roots. Square roots of 1 are (+ 1) and (-1). Square roots of 4 are (+ 2) and (-2). Square roots of 9 are (+3) and (-3). Square roots of 16 are (+4) and (-4) etc.
Also two negative numbers when multiplied, always yield a positive number. So (-1) x (-1) = +1 always and never equal to (-1).
In that case, what will be the strange number, which when multiplied by itself, will give us (-1)? In other words, what is the square root of the number (-1)?
Girolamo Cardano, a 16th century Italian, was the first one to talk about Imaginary Numbers. He thought that they were no doubt ingenious, but were quite useless.
Imaginary numbers are not absolutely useless though! There are certain calculations which are impossible to make, unless we make use of these Imaginary Numbers.
Useful or not, we find the Imaginary numbers in every High School curriculum, stretching the imagination of the baffled children, to their very limits!
Visalakshi Ramani
There is one kind on numbers which defy even our imagination! They are aptly named as Imaginary Numbers. What are they?
All perfect squares have whole numbers as their square roots. Square roots of 1 are (+ 1) and (-1). Square roots of 4 are (+ 2) and (-2). Square roots of 9 are (+3) and (-3). Square roots of 16 are (+4) and (-4) etc.
Also two negative numbers when multiplied, always yield a positive number. So (-1) x (-1) = +1 always and never equal to (-1).
In that case, what will be the strange number, which when multiplied by itself, will give us (-1)? In other words, what is the square root of the number (-1)?
Girolamo Cardano, a 16th century Italian, was the first one to talk about Imaginary Numbers. He thought that they were no doubt ingenious, but were quite useless.
Imaginary numbers are not absolutely useless though! There are certain calculations which are impossible to make, unless we make use of these Imaginary Numbers.
Useful or not, we find the Imaginary numbers in every High School curriculum, stretching the imagination of the baffled children, to their very limits!
Visalakshi Ramani
OP
OP
#104. Perfect Numbers.
According to Euclid, one of the founding father of Modern Mathematics, a Perfect Number is one which is exactly equal to the sum of all its divisors. A divisor is any number, which divides the given number, without leaving any remainder.
The first Perfect Number is 6. Its divisors 1, 2, and 3 add up to 6, which is the number itself. The second Perfect Number is 28. Its divisors 1, 2, 4, 7 and 14 add up to 28, the number itself.
Greeks knew the third and the fourth Perfect Numbers as 496 and 8128. In the 15th century, the fifth Perfect Number was found to be 33,550,336–a number with eight digits in it.
Four more Perfect Numbers were discovered in the next 3 centuries. The ninth Perfect Number has 37 digits in it! In 1876, the tenth Perfect number was discovered and it has 77 digits in it.
The largest known Perfect Number, the 27th in the list, has an astounding 26,790 digits in it. The number would occupy 300 lines in a paper, when written down. It was discovered with the help of a computer in 1979.
Many puzzles linger on in the minds of the mathematicians. Why the Perfect Numbers are always even numbers? Can we have an odd Perfect Number? Is there a limiting value or can we always find a Perfect Number greater than all the known ones?
Hope the mathematical research will find the answers for all these questions in the future.
Visalakshi Ramani
According to Euclid, one of the founding father of Modern Mathematics, a Perfect Number is one which is exactly equal to the sum of all its divisors. A divisor is any number, which divides the given number, without leaving any remainder.
The first Perfect Number is 6. Its divisors 1, 2, and 3 add up to 6, which is the number itself. The second Perfect Number is 28. Its divisors 1, 2, 4, 7 and 14 add up to 28, the number itself.
Greeks knew the third and the fourth Perfect Numbers as 496 and 8128. In the 15th century, the fifth Perfect Number was found to be 33,550,336–a number with eight digits in it.
Four more Perfect Numbers were discovered in the next 3 centuries. The ninth Perfect Number has 37 digits in it! In 1876, the tenth Perfect number was discovered and it has 77 digits in it.
The largest known Perfect Number, the 27th in the list, has an astounding 26,790 digits in it. The number would occupy 300 lines in a paper, when written down. It was discovered with the help of a computer in 1979.
Many puzzles linger on in the minds of the mathematicians. Why the Perfect Numbers are always even numbers? Can we have an odd Perfect Number? Is there a limiting value or can we always find a Perfect Number greater than all the known ones?
Hope the mathematical research will find the answers for all these questions in the future.
Visalakshi Ramani
interesting!
OP
OP
Read and enjoy more and more! :bump2:
OP
OP
#105. Friendly Numbers.
Friendly Numbers are amicable numbers! According to Pythagoras, the Greek Mathematician, two numbers are friendly if each of them is equal to the sum of the divisors of the other number. An example will make the meaning clearer.
The Greeks knew the first pair of Friendly Numbers and they are 220 and 284.
The divisors of 220 namely 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 11, 20, 22, 44, 55 and 110 add up to 284!
The divisors of 284 namely 1, 2, 4, 71 and 142 add up to 220!
In 1636, another pair of Friendly Numbers was discovered by the French Mathematician Pierre de Fermat. The numbers were 17296 and 18416.
By the middle of the 19th century, more than 60 pairs of Friendly Numbers had been discovered. Surprisingly the second lowest pair of Friendly Numbers had been over looked by everyone till 1867.
A sixteen year old Italian, Nicolo Paganini, proved that 1184 and 1210 are the second lowest pair of Friendly Numbers, in 1867.
With the help of computers, the list of Friendly Numbers keeps growing all the time. But still many doubts haunt the minds of the mathematicians.
Why the two numbers in any pair are either odd numbers or even numbers?
Can we have a pair with one odd number and one even number?
Why all the odd numbers are multiples of 3?
These queries continue to puzzle and challenge the minds of the mathematicians all over the world!
Visalakshi Ramani
Friendly Numbers are amicable numbers! According to Pythagoras, the Greek Mathematician, two numbers are friendly if each of them is equal to the sum of the divisors of the other number. An example will make the meaning clearer.
The Greeks knew the first pair of Friendly Numbers and they are 220 and 284.
The divisors of 220 namely 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 11, 20, 22, 44, 55 and 110 add up to 284!
The divisors of 284 namely 1, 2, 4, 71 and 142 add up to 220!
In 1636, another pair of Friendly Numbers was discovered by the French Mathematician Pierre de Fermat. The numbers were 17296 and 18416.
By the middle of the 19th century, more than 60 pairs of Friendly Numbers had been discovered. Surprisingly the second lowest pair of Friendly Numbers had been over looked by everyone till 1867.
A sixteen year old Italian, Nicolo Paganini, proved that 1184 and 1210 are the second lowest pair of Friendly Numbers, in 1867.
With the help of computers, the list of Friendly Numbers keeps growing all the time. But still many doubts haunt the minds of the mathematicians.
Why the two numbers in any pair are either odd numbers or even numbers?
Can we have a pair with one odd number and one even number?
Why all the odd numbers are multiples of 3?
These queries continue to puzzle and challenge the minds of the mathematicians all over the world!
Visalakshi Ramani
OP
OP
#106. The Largest Prime!
Prime number is one, which stands divided without any remainder, only by itself and the number one! Although computers have produced a list of prime numbers, no one has found any pattern in the way they occur nor can any one can predict the next higher prime number.
So the most sought-after-goal in Mathematics today, is to find a formula which can automatically produce an endless supply of prime numbers. Until this is found, the candidates competing to be prime numbers must be tested individually, one at a time!
In 1874, an English mathematician W.Stanley Jevons claimed that only he knew the divisors of the prime number 8,616,460,799. He had obtained this number by multiplying two of the largest prime numbers known then viz, 96079 and 89681!
The largest prime number discovered without the help of computers consisted of 39 digits. It reigned supreme from 1876 to the middle of the 20th century. With the help of the computers the quest for the largest prime number surged forward–faster than ever before.
In 1983, the largest known prime number was a monster with 39,000 digits in it. In 1986, the largest known prime number has an astounding 60,000 digits in it! It will occupy more than 500 lines and require 25 pages in order to be written down!
New and sophisticated methods have been evolved to determine whether or not a number is prime. No longer can we use the old method of successive divisions to check for remainders. In this method, even the super computer of today would not have time to explore a number with a mere 50 digits–even if it had worked non-stop for 15 billion years!
Visalakshi Ramani.
Prime number is one, which stands divided without any remainder, only by itself and the number one! Although computers have produced a list of prime numbers, no one has found any pattern in the way they occur nor can any one can predict the next higher prime number.
So the most sought-after-goal in Mathematics today, is to find a formula which can automatically produce an endless supply of prime numbers. Until this is found, the candidates competing to be prime numbers must be tested individually, one at a time!
In 1874, an English mathematician W.Stanley Jevons claimed that only he knew the divisors of the prime number 8,616,460,799. He had obtained this number by multiplying two of the largest prime numbers known then viz, 96079 and 89681!
The largest prime number discovered without the help of computers consisted of 39 digits. It reigned supreme from 1876 to the middle of the 20th century. With the help of the computers the quest for the largest prime number surged forward–faster than ever before.
In 1983, the largest known prime number was a monster with 39,000 digits in it. In 1986, the largest known prime number has an astounding 60,000 digits in it! It will occupy more than 500 lines and require 25 pages in order to be written down!
New and sophisticated methods have been evolved to determine whether or not a number is prime. No longer can we use the old method of successive divisions to check for remainders. In this method, even the super computer of today would not have time to explore a number with a mere 50 digits–even if it had worked non-stop for 15 billion years!
Visalakshi Ramani.
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