My Science School

A large portion of our planet's land surface is covered by forests (of different types). These include tropical, subtropical temperate, and boreal forests. While forests the world over are threatened by global warming boreal forests grapple additionally with an issue unique to them. What is it? Come; let's find out the boreal forests of the northern hemisphere span Scandinavia, Siberia, Alaska, and Canada. Due to this vastness and the sheer number of trees they hold, these forests are an important carbon sink. Carbon has also accumulated over thousands of years in the soil due to the (long) time it takes for dead organic matter to decompose, thanks to the region's cold climate and water-logged ground. The ecosystems here have been shaped mainly by "wildfires ignited by lightning" During these fires, due to the quantum of carbon it holds, a boreal forest "will release 10 to 20 times more carbon compared to a similarly sized fire in other ecosystems". But then, unlike most other types of forests, these forests "might burn only once a century, sometimes even less often than that". Because of this frequency, the amount of carbon stored has always exceeded that of carbon released into the atmosphere; it has been so for at least 6,000 years now. But now global warming is threatening this delicate balance.

Due to rising global temperatures, the fire season has become longer, leading to an increase in the frequency and severity of wildfires. As the "interval between fires shortens, more carbon is being released from organic soils in boreal forests than the ecosystems can reabsorb". A new study shows a dramatic spike "in emissions from boreal fires over the past two decades". In 2021 alone, they showed "a record 23% of global vegetation wildfire emissions, more than twice their contribution in a more typical year. If such spikes continue, it is likely that boreal forests may soon become a significant source of global emissions from biomass burning.

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1. After about a year since the International Criminal Court (ICC) launched its investigation against Russia over possible crimes committed in Ukraine by the Russian forces, the court in March issued arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes. Let us know about the ICC

History

The ICC, a permanent judicial body, was established in 1998 by the Rome Statute. Its sittings began on July 1, 2002 after 60 countries had ratified the Rome Statute. A total of 123 countries are States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC.

The ICC is based in The Hague, The Netherlands. Its first hearing was held in 2006 against Thomas Lubanga, who was accused of recruiting child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Organisation

Currently, the ICC has 123 member nations. About 42 nations have neither signed the treaty nor joined the organisation, including China, India, Russia, and the U.S.

The court has 18 judges, each from a different member country and elected by the member states. The judges and prosecutors of the ICC are elected to non-renewable nine-year terms. The president and two vice-presidents of the court are elected from among the judges. The current president of ICC is Piotr Hofmanski, a Polish jurist Meanwhile. Karim Khan is the chief prosecutor of the ICC

Powers

The ICC is responsible for investigating, prosecuting, and trying individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. It also imposes prison sentences upon the guilty.

It is only competent to hear a case if the country where the offence was committed is a party to the Rome Statute or the perpetrators country of origin is a party to the Rome Statute.

The ICC can exercise its jurisdiction only if the national court is unable or unwilling to do so. It only has jurisdiction over offences committed after the Statute's entry into force on July 1, 2002

However, the ICC does not have powers to arrest suspects. With Putin's case, the ICC has for the first time, issued an arrest warrant against one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council

What is ICI?

Unlike the International Court of Justice (ICI), which hears disputes between nations, the ICC handles prosecutions of individuals.

The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It has no jurisdiction to try individuals who are accused of war crimes or crimes against humanity. As it is not a criminal court, it does not have a prosecutor able to initiate proceedings.

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The La Rance tidal power station in Brittany, France is the world’s first tidal power station. Inaugurated on November 26, 1996 and still operational, it is, naturally, the world’s oldest tidal power station as well. A.S Ganesh takes a look at tidal energy and the La Rance power station…

Our energy needs have constantly been on the rise throughout our existence with a burgeoning worldwide population and increased per capita energy consumption, the amount of energy that we need has been skyrocketing. Climate change and global warning in the midst of all this has pushed the conversation towards finding better alternatives than fossil fuels in items of energy sources.

A renewable source                                          

Tidal energy is a renewable source of energy that is produced by the surge of ocean waters during the ebb and flow of tides. The production of tidal energy, however, is still in its infancy with only a small amount of power produced by it overall so far. This does not mean that the necessary technology isn’t available with us. Far from it. The ways to use tidal movement to produce electricity was developed by our scientists and engineers in the 20^th Century.

Tidal range

Tidal energy is harnessed in area between low tide and high tide – the tidal range – is significant. One such area is on the Rance estuary at Ille-et-Vilaine in Brittancy, France. This area houses the La Rance tidal power station, the world’s first and oldest tidal power station. Tidal plants use a barrage or enclosure-type installation in order to build an artificial reservoir as they rely on the changing heads of water that tides bring to device the turbines that produce the electricity. The Rance river estuary is suited for this purpose owing to its large tidal range, with an average of 8m between low and high tides – a figure that can jump up to 13.5m in the spring and neap range.

Not easy to construct

While plans to build the La Rance began as early as 1943. it was nearly another quarter of a century before the completed structure was ready to use. Construction was no easy task as dams were raised to block the Rance river, so that the estuary was completely drained out and the reservoir’s establishment across the site could be facilitated.

On November 26, 1966, the La Rance tidal power plant was officially inaugurated by French President Charles de Gaulle. With a 330 m-long dam enclosing a 22 km² area basin, the plant has a large reservoir of 184 million cubic meters. As bulb turbines allow for power generation both in the ebb and flood cycles of the tide, this plant houses 24 bulb turbines, each of which weights 470 tonnes with a 5.4 m diameter and a eating of 10 MW.

Low maintenance

Operated by Electricite de France (EDF). the plant has produced over 27,000 GWh of electricity in its over five decades of operation Maintenance requirements have been minimal as cathodic protection is employed for all the turbines, the gates and the metallic parts of the lock. This, despite the fact that each of the 24 bulb turbines have run for over 2,00,000 hours on average.

According to the details provided by EdF, ebb generation accounts for 60% of the total energy produced, free flow through the turbine orifices corresponds to 20%, pumping for 15-20% while flood generation is responsible only foe 2-6% of the energy generated.

Even though the La Rance power plant was built at a prohibitive initial cost of $ 100 million, the long-term rewards are there to see. In addition to paying for itself in its first 20 years, it has by now recovered all of its costs through the savings created by energy production.

Predictable, perpetual

Tidal energy can be a viable option in the search for replacements for fossil fuels. Not only does producing tidal energy cost less than nuclear or solar power, but it also has the advantage of being predictable and perpetual. Engineers have access to the cycles predicting the movement of tides from a daily basis to even an annual basis, allowing for little interruption in the energy generation. It is also not much influenced by weather, meaning it can keep generating electricity day and night foe as long as the plant is operational.

Despite the advantages of tidal energy, there are very few commercial –sized tidal power plants operational in the world at the moment. One of the major concerns or drawbacks that this form of energy generation has is its environmental impact.

Negative impact

Tidal power negatively impacts marine life by altering sedimentation patterns. The barrage causes progressive silting in the surrounding ecosystem, thereby affecting the native aquatic plants, fish and other organisms.

While La Rance continues to operate and produces energy that is equivalent to that consumed by city the size of Rennes, France, a lot more needs to be done if tidal energy is to become an alternative to conventional energy sources. Engineers and scientists worldwide are not only working to improve the technologies and costs involved, but are also looking at how best to minimize the impact on the environment.         

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Metafiction is a literary style that invites readers to step into a world where the lines between reality and fiction blur. In this self-conscious narrative approach, the narrator and characters are keenly aware of their existence within a work of fiction. As a result, metafiction often departs from traditional storytelling conventions, offering a unique reading experience that prompts introspection about the nature of storytelling itself.

CHARACTERISTICS OF METAFICTION:

Breaking the fourth wall

 Metafiction boldly shatters the fourth wall that typically separates the creator of a story from its audience. This literary technique involves direct interactions with the reader, with the narrator or characters openly acknowledging their role in a fictional world. This blurring of boundaries invites readers to question the authenticity of the narrative and their own position within it.

 Self-reflexive

A hallmark of metafiction is its self-reflexivity. Authors employ this technique to draw attention away from the storyline and toward the very process of storytelling. By doing so, they encourage readers to contemplate the construction of the text itself. This self-awareness can manifest in various ways, from characters questioning the nature of their existence to authors commenting on their creative process within the narrative.

Examples

• The Canterbury Tales (1387) by Geoffrey Chaucer is an early example of metafiction, using interconnected stories to parody conventional fiction elements. He addresses the audience directly, adding a metafictional layer to the narrative.

• Don Quixote (1605) by Miguel de Cervantes explores the relationship between fiction and reality as the protagonist, Don Quixote, embarks on a quest influenced by his reading. The book invites readers to reflect on the impact of stories on our lives.

Metafiction also appears in children's literature. Here are a few examples:

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales (1992) by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Lane Smith: This picture book playfully twists classic fairy tales, with characters interacting and the narrator intervening for humour and self-awareness.

• We Are in a Book! (2010) by Mo Willems: Part of the Elephant & Piggie series, this book features characters realising they're in a book, engaging in a humorous, metafictional conversation that introduces young readers to interactive storytelling.

Through humour, wordplay, and interactive elements, such books make reading an engaging and thought-provoking experience.

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Like it or not, science and technology sees unprecedented growth during dire times. This is probably because funding flows into different branches of science like never before, allowing for progress inconceivable during ordinary times. Just like how the COVID-19 pandemic saw a global collective search for vaccines, there have been other times in the past - mostly during wars - when a number of scientific fields received a tremendous boost.

World War II was one such period when scientific progress was at its pinnacle. The ability to split an atom through nuclear fission was discovered in the 1930s. With its ability to release immense power realised, it wasn't long before the race to build a bomb with it was on. The Manhattan Project was born early in the 1940s and we all know what happened in Japan's Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

To retain influence                                                                

While the Manhattan Project was led by the U.S., it was done in collaboration with the U.K. along with support from Canada. Following the war, however, the U.S. refused to share atomic information with the U.K. With the objective of avoiding complete dependence on the U.S., and to remain a great power and retain its influence, Britain sought to become a nuclear power.

The prospect was discussed in a secret cabinet committee in October 1946. While Chancellor of the Exchequer Hugh Dalton and President of the Board of Trade Stafford Cripps were opposed to the idea of a British bomb citing the huge costs involved, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Ernest Bevin had his way and work went ahead. By the time the bomb was ready, however, Winston Churchill's government came to power.

Penney at the helm

Led by British mathematician William Penney, who had worked on the world's first atomic bomb in the U.S., the project that went on to become Operation Hurricane began with a secret laboratory tasked with developing the trigger device. With the Soviets managing to successfully explode their first atomic bomb in 1949, Penney's team was under further pressure. Soon enough, the Brits were ready with their bomb.

Early in 1951, the Australian government agreed that the blast could take place at the uninhabited Monte Bello islands, an archipelago of over 100 islands lying off the coast of north-western Australia. The region was declared a prohibited zone and ships and aircraft were later warned to stay clear of an area of 23,500 nautical square miles off the coast.

Plym carries the bomb

 The troops were mobilised, the first set of vessels left for their destination in January 1952 and six months later HMS Plym, carrying the bomb, and the fleet flagship HMS Campania, made their way. The radioactive core, which used British and Canadian plutonium, was flown out later, and installed in the bomb on Plym very close to the scheduled detonation.

On the morning of October 3, 1952, Britain's first atomic bomb exploded, sending thousands of tonnes of rock, mud, and sea-water blasting into the air. The Plym was instantly vaporised, with scant bits of red-hot metal from the vessel falling on one of the islands even starting a fire.

An eye-witness account of a Reuters correspondent stationed less than 100 miles away mentions a grand flash followed by the appearance of a grey cloud-a zigzag Z-shaped cloud as opposed to the mushroom cloud that we instantly associate with such detonations.

The success of Operation Hurricane resulted in Penney being knighted. Churchill, who was serving as the Prime Minister of the U.K. for a second time, announced to the House of Commons that there had been no casualties and that everything had gone according to plan. While he did congratulate the Labour Party for their role in the whole project, he also did take a dig at them saying that 'as an old parliamentarian I was rather astonished that something well over £100 million could be disbursed without Parliament being made aware of it.'

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Living fossils are those species that have retained the same form over millions of years. They have few or no living relatives. Most of these animals have changed relatively little since their origins.

Did you know that some archaic species that lived millions of years ago have survived for a long time and still live alongside us? The anatomy of these species has remained unchanged and these relics of the past are called living fossils.

The term "living fossil" refers to those species that have retained the same form over millions of years. They have few or no living relatives. Most of these animals have changed relatively little since their origins. They have often survived several mass extinctions.

It was English naturalist Charles Darwin who introduced the concept of a "living fossil". He coined the term in his book On the Origin of Species (1859). He described them as species that are still in existence but belonging to an old lineage. While most species have been evolving, these underwent slow rates of evolution. The appearance of these are mostly unchanged from their extinct fossil relatives.

They have survived from an earlier period or in a primitive form, have long-enduring lineages and also belong to a group with low diversity. Their DNA has hardly changed in millions of years.

Some examples of living fossils include coelacanths, horseshoe crabs, tuataras, komodo dragon, aardvark, red panda, nautilus and purple frog. The tree Ginkgo biloba is the only living species of its group. It dates back almost 300 million years in the fossil record.

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Anti-heroes are those characters in a story who do not neatly fit the hero or villain template. They are not the typical heroes we cheer for, nor are they the clear-cut bad guys. Instead, they are a blend of both, and that's what makes them intriguing. They are complex, like real people with strengths and flaws. They might have noble intentions, but their methods can be questionable. Unlike the villains who just want to create chaos, anti-heroes have a unique charm due to their shades of grey.

In literary classics, Heathcliff from English novelist Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights epitomises the anti-hero. His all-consuming rage, jealousy, passionate love, and tortured soul blur the lines between right and wrong. Likewise, Jay Gatsby in American novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby strives for the American Dream, yet his questionable dealings and obsession undermine his noble pursuits. Children's literature too embraces anti-heroes. Consider the Grinch in American writer Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! His journey from bitter isolation to redemption showcases his complexity. Even Severus Snape from British writer J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, with his abrasive exterior and concealed motivations, is a prime example. Anti-heroes bring out the complexity of human nature in stories. They challenge the common pattern of good versus evil. While villains embody darkness and challenge the hero, anti-heroes show us both sides of the coin. Their journey is one of self-discovery, and they help us as readers reflect on the fact that people are not one-dimensional. Instead, they carry a mix of both good and bad traits.

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The discoveries highlight how little we know about the smallest organisms and their biology

In 2022, a new species of land snail was discovered in Vietnam. It is the smallest known land snail on Earth, measuring the size of a grain of sand the scientific name of the recont-holder is Angustopila psammion which is derived from the Greek word for "grain of sand In 2015, Aonella nana a land snail found in Borneo, held the record for the world's smallest land snail. The newly discovered species, a psammian has similar body dimensions but a smaller shell.

Another species. Angustopila coprologos was discovered in northem Laos and is slightly larger than a mammion. The shell of a coprologos is covered in pointy projections adorned with mud-like beads, which led researchers to speculate that it gathers fecal pellets on its shell to send biochemical information to other snails or to prevent drying out.

The discoveries highlight how little we know about the smallest organisms and their biology. The snails small size allows them to elude predators, but it presents challenges when producing eggs and fitting organs into their tiny bodies

There are some marine snails that are even tinier than these two newly discovered species. These sea snails can survive being so small because they do not risk drying out which is one of the primary downsides of being so small But as the size of a snall decreases, the ratio of its body's surface area to volume goes up making it easier for water to evaporate. As snails must extend their moist bodies antsude their shells to move, they are especially vulnerable to drying out.

This risk of drying out may limit the evolution of the smallest land snails to certain regions with a stable climate or specific habitats such as caves where Juunidity remains high all year round. Some manne snails eject eggs and sperm into the water column, where most development occurs. Researchers are eager to learn more about these snails, such as their diet and what preys on them. There could be ting mites or millipedes yet to be discoverest, that snack on the snails. Ants or pseudoscorpions could be potential predators as well.

The research highlights the importance of tabamong which is the process of describing new species and where they fit into the tree of life. Despite not receiving much publicity, it remains crucial for inology and other branches of science. Taxonomists certainly play a vital role in identifying plants. fungi and animals. Without them, the scientific community would not know what they are dealing with.

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On August 23, India celebrated a technological triumph when Chandrayaan-3 landed near the Moon's South Pole at 6:04 p.m. Since then, there has been a discussion on the naming of the landing spot, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed Shiv Shakti.

Do you know how are planetary objects are usually named?

International Astronomical Union             

The International Astronomical Union (IAU), founded in 1919, is responsible for assigning names to celestial bodies and surface features on them. In the IAU, there are numerous Working Groups that suggest the names of astronomical objects and features.

In 1982, the United Nations, at its 'Fourth Conference on the Standardisation of Geographical Names held in Geneva, recognised the role of the IAU by adopting its resolution on extraterrestrial feature names.

Key rules

The IAU has set some rules for naming planetary objects. Some of the most important rules are -the names should be simple, clear, and unambiguous; there should not be duplication of names; no names having political, military or religious significance may be used, except for names of political figures prior to the 19th Century; and if a name of a person is suggested, then he/she must have been deceased for at least three years, before a proposal may be submitted.

Process of naming

When the first images of the surface of a planet or satellite are obtained, themes for naming features are chosen and names of a few important features are proposed, usually by members of the appropriate IAU Working Group. However, there is no guarantee that the name will be accepted.

Names reviewed by an IAU Working Group are submitted by the group's chairperson to the Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN). After this, the members of the WGPSN vote on the names.

The names approved by the WGPSN members are considered as official IAU nomenclature and can be used on maps and in publications. The approved names are then entered into the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, and posted on the website of IAU.

Objections

If there are any objections to the proposed names, an application has to be sent to the IAU general secretary within three months from the time the name was placed on the website. The general secretary will make a recommendation to the WGPSN Chair as to whether or not the approved name(s) should be reconsidered.

 In 1966, the Outer Space Treaty was formed by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs to set rules for international space law. One of the key aspects of this treaty was that the outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, shall be free for exploration and use by all states without discrimination of any kind, on a basis of equality and in accordance with international law, and there shall be free access to all areas of celestial bodies.

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Climate change is making hurricanes wetter, windier and altogether more intense. There is also evidence that it is causing storms to travel more slowly, meaning they can dump more water in one place.

If it were not for the oceans, the planet would be much hotter due to climate change. But in the last 40 years, the ocean has absorbed about 90% of the warming caused by heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions. Much of this ocean heat is contained near the water’s surface. This additional heat can fuel a storm's intensity and power stronger winds.

Climate change can also boost the amount of rainfall delivered by a storm. Because a warmer atmosphere can also hold more moisture, water vapour builds up until clouds break, sending down heavy rain. During the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season-one of the most active on record - climate change boosted hourly rainfall rates in hurricane-force storms by 8%-11%, according to an April 2022 study in the journal Nature Communications.

The world has already warmed 1.1 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average. Scientists at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration This image obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), shows Hurricane Idalia making landfall in Florida on August 30, 2023. AFP (NOAA) expect that, at 2 degrees Celsius of warming, hurricane wind speeds could increase by up to 10%. NOAA also projects the proportion of hurricanes that reach the most intense levels Category 4 or 5- could rise by about 10% this century. To date, less than a fifth of storms have reached this intensity since 1851.

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On September 17, 1911, Calbraith Perry Rodgers took off from Sheepshead Bay in Long Island, New York. On December 10, 1911, he landed in Long Beach, California and completed the world's first transcontinental flight. A.S.Ganesh takes a look at aviation pioneer Rodgers and his pathbreaking flight...

The aviation industry has transformed the way we think about travel. Getting from one point of Earth to another has never been so easy. If we come to think of the fact that the Wright brothers had their first successful flight only at the start of the 20th Century, it puts into perspective the tremendous growth over the last century or SO.

There were a number of firsts in those early days of aviation as the world of air travel was literally begging to be unlocked. There were aviation pioneers and daredevils who managed these firsts, and sometimes they were rolled into one. One of those was an American who became the first to fly solo across the US.. Calbraith Perry Rodgers.

Rich family history                                                                                                                        

Rodgers was born in Pittsburgh on January 12, 1879 into a family with a rich history of the U.S. Navy service. There were generations of adventurers that bore the name "Perry" and "Rodgers" who had achieved success across different fields - be it victory over a British Naval fleet or establishing trade between Japan and America through sheer persistence.

Rodgers was named after his father, a captain in the U.S. Army, who had died five months before his birth. He grew up with his mother Maria Wightman Rodgers and his grandparents and was drawn to all things mechanical from a very young age. At six however, he had a severe bout of scarlet fever, leaving him nearly deaf and ineligible for military service.

Desire for adventure

 While the deafness meant that he lacked interest in academics, he was always interested in physical activities and excelled at it. He didn't let his deafness deter his desire for adventure, and spent a lot of his early adulthood sailing and racing cars and horses.

For someone who became the first to fly solo across the U.S. in 1911, Rodgers was introduced to flying only that year! John Rodgers, Calbraith's cousin who would go on to become a naval aviation pioneer and set the record of longest non-stop flight hu caanlane of 3 205 km. in1925, told him that "for speed, you can't beat flying!"

Rodgers immediately made a trip to Dayton, Ohio and was instantly hooked after doing some basic aeronautics exploration.

Like a fish to water

Within a week after starting his classes at the school, Rodgers requested permission for a solo flight. Since he was denied owing to lack of training, Rodgers went on to purchase his own training plane. Rodgers made his first solo flight on June 12 and by August 7, he passed the flying examination to become the 49th licensed aviator in the world.

Spurred on by his success, Rodgers began to take an interest in competing for the Hearst Prize. Publisher and newspaper giant William Randolph Hearst offered a $50,000 prize for the first person to completely fly across the U.S. in fewer than 30 days.

Orville questions decision

Rodgers purchased a lightweight, four-cylinder, 35-horsepower Model EX biplane from the Wright Company on September 10. When Rodgers had told Orville of his intention to compete for the Hearst Prize, the latter questioned his decision and doubted any plane of that time to travel so far.

Rodgers, however, pressed on. He sought a corporate sponsor to help him financially and got it from Armour Meat-Packing Co., which was promoting Vin Fiz, its new grape soda. Rodgers' biplane thus served as a flying billboard for the product and was dubbed The Vin Fiz.

With the objective of reaching the Pacific Ocean in 30 days, Rodgers set out from Sheepshead Bay in Long Island on September 17. With a train to follow his progress and carry all things required for repair and maintenance, Rodgers had charted out his course from start to finish with a target of 250 miles a day.

While the first landing went without incident, there were plenty after that right from the second take-off. In addition to technical and mechanical obstacles, the weather too played spoilsport. Lack of reliable weather forecasting to go along with his impaired hearing meant that he couldn't make informed decisions, be it for navigation or those in relation to take-off and landing times.

Popular with public by the time he reached Chicago on October 8, it was clear to him that the 30-day goal was impossible to achieve. He had, however, caught the imagination of the American public by now, and was determined to successfully finish his trip. After 15 crash landings and nearly 70 rough take-offs and landings, Rodgers landed in Long Beach, California on December 10 and taxied his plane into the Pacific Ocean.

While Rodgers' in-flight time was just three days, 10 hours and four minutes, his total flying trip spanned across 49 days with plenty more spent on the ground for various reasons. He became an instant celebrity having achieved this feat, but died just five months later in a plane crash during an exhibition flight after striking one of a flock of birds.

In addition to being the first human to fly across the North American continent, Rodgers flight is significant as it introduced commercial air travel and advertising and also helped the aviation industry capture the interest of the society at large. Rodgers' Vin Fiz is on display at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.

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Explore the techniques and insights that can liberate your mind from traditional thought patterns and ignite creativity.

Last Friday, during the Founders Day celebration, the guest speaker emphasised the importance of nurturing students creativity and critical thinking skills. He briefly touched upon the concept of lateral thinking, popularised by Maltese physician and psychologist Edward de Bono, which piqued the interest of some attendees. To delve deeper into this intriguing concept, they invited Anish's father, a writer for a neighbourhood newspaper, to share some key insights.

Thinking is a skill

Anish's father commenced his presentation by introducing Edward de Bono's renowned book, Lateral Thinking Creativity Step by Step. This book, among the author's prolific output of over 70 titles, stood out as the most popular. Two other notable works by de Bono, Six Thinking Hats and Parallel Thinking, were also mentioned. Importantly, de Bono was credited with being a pioneer in introducing the subject of thinking in schools. The central focus of the authors work, as explained by the speaker, revolved around the distinction between two types of thinking thinking and lateral thinking. To set the stage, the speaker clarified what thinking is, emphasising that, according to de Bono, thinking is a skill that can be developed and improved. This definition helped in dispelling the notion that it was a cognitive skill reserved for a select few.

Vertical thinking and lateral thinking

Vertical thinking, as defined by de Bono, is linear, sequential, and logical thinking that progresses from step A to step B to step C. It adheres to established pathways. insisting that each step is correct. While effective, de Bono sees it as an incomplete process and criticises the education system for predominantly promoting vertical thinking.

In stark contrast, lateral thinking. as envisioned by de Bono, is non-linear, imaginative, and unconventional. It involves looking at problems from different angles and generating new ideas by breaking free from conventional thinking patterns. The speaker cited de Bono's statement. "You cannot dig a hole in a different place by digging the same hole deeper," to illustrate the difference between vertical and lateral thinking.

The differences

De Bono dedicated an entire chapter to distinguishing these two forms of thinking. highlighting their differences. such as selectiveness vs. generality. analysis vs. provocation. sequential vs. jumps, and the requirement for correctness at every step vs. a probabilistic approach. De Bono stressed that both forms of thinking are not antagonistic but complementary. To make lateral thinking accessible to all, de Bono emphasised that it was not a magical system but could be adopted in a practical and deliberate manner.

How to develop lateral thinking?

He presented various techniques for developing lateral thinking. including generating alternatives, challenging assumptions.

suspending judgments, exploring different approaches, using the reversal method to trace idea development and engaging in brainstorming for cross-stimulation of ideas. Lateral thinking is particularly crucial in liberating the mind from rigid educational patterns. The realisation of the distinctions between vertical and lateral thinking can empower individuals to use them effectively. Engaging in activities like riddles, word games, crossword puzzles, Sudoku, or brain teasers can help train the brain to think laterally, the speaker noted He concluded his speech by quoting from the book's preface, suggesting that it should be worked through slowly over an extended period, making it a must-read for everyone.

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Riding the tide of in-built advantage

When we buy a new smartphone, It usually comes loaded with Google apps, including Chrome, YouTube, and Gmail among others. Turns out Alphabet-the company that owns Google-pays phone makers millions of dollars to make Google the default search engine in their gadgets. Google's competitors are upset about this arrangement. It is no wonder, as most of us do not care to go to the settings and swap Google out for Bing or DuckDuckGo.

The issue sparked concerns of unfair trade practices in the U.S. and the Justice Department there filed a case in December 2020. The case was filed by the Attorney Generals of eleven States, as they felt Google was acting like a monopoly. Currently, the case has turned into the largest antitrust trial that the U.S. has witnessed in the Past 25 years. District Judge Amit Mehta's decisions can impact the way all of us use the most popular search engine in the world-even in India.

Is the search engine business a monopoly?

The US. court is investigating if Google is running an illegal monopoly in the search engine business. Google's search engine has earned a huge market share ever since it started presenting people with helpful information culled from billions of websites that have been indexed since former Stanford University graduate students Larry Page and Sergey Brin developed the technology during the late 1990s.

Today, Alphabet's market value is around a whopping $1.37 trillion. However, there are several other companies in the fray of the search engine business, though most of them may be unheard of and unknown to large sections of internet users. According to statistics, of all internet users, a massive 91.85 percent use Google. Next comes Bing, from Windows, with just 3.01 of percent people using it. The remaining 5 percent of users use one of the many other companies, such as Yahoo, Yandex, Baidu, DuckDuckGo.

If the U.S. court rules against Google, it could open the market up for new online avenues for consumers and businesses to explore in pursuit of information, entertainment and commerce. This may end up improving the quality of online services for consumers.

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Trained chefs can blend science into the art of cooking to create delightful experiences for the taste buds and all the other senses too.

Molecular gastronomy is a modern style of cooking in which chefs use scientific principles and technology to enhance the flavours and alter the textures of food items. The term molecular gastronomy was coined by Hungarian physicist Nicholas Kurti and French chemist Herve in the 1980s. To practise the techniques of molecular gastronomy. chefs have to be specially trained one of the well-known techniques is spherification. It is the process of shaping a liquid such as fruit juice

A DISH TO BE JUDGED BY ITS COVER The packet of nuts in this chutney-soaked savoury is to be eaten along with its plastic wrapper, called 'obulato' in Japanese. The liquid is first mixed with sodium alginate, a chemical. This mixture is then dripped, drop by drop, into a bowl of a cold solution of calcium chloride. Each drop turns into a small ball, called a 'caviar.

When popped into the mouth, these fruit caviars crumble and crackle on the taste buds, delivering an intense mouthfeel. Using liquid nitrogen to freeze dishes instantly is another technique.

Liquid nitrogen has a temperature of -196°C (321°F). When used in ice cream, the mixture freezes very quickly. This reduces the formation of ice crystals, resulting in a creamier ice cream.

Coats and capsules

Special types of foams can also be created with this technique. Traditionally. foams are made with a whisk or an espresso machine (to make coffee froth). But in molecular gastronomy, the substance to be foamed is usually mixed with a stabiliser such as lecithin and then squeezed out through a whipped cream can fitted with a nitrogen oxide capsule. Using this method, chefs can make truffle foam as a topping for a meat dish or pickle foam as a spicy coating for curd rice.

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Early humans were hunter-gatherers. Civilisations, the discovery of fire, the invention of agriculture, and domestication of animals slowly changed our eating pattems. At some point, sections of people started eliminating meat from their diets, for various reasons ranging from religious beliefs to taking a stance against animal cruelty. Eventually, people realised that meat wasn't the only point of concem. Industries such as dairy, silk, and leather also tend to inflict violence and cruelty on animals. This realisation mobilised people to begin one of the largest movements of the modem world-veganism.

How it began

November 1 is World Vegan Day, which celebrates a lifestyle that is devoid of animal products like honey. cheese, wool, leather, and pearls apart from the obvious meat, eggs, and milk. While vegetarianism has been around for a long time in India and some Mediterranean societies, the term veganism, which denotes a much stricter form. This vegan leather bag is made out of pineapple's peel coined in 1944 by British woodworker Donald Watson. It is also believed that the famous Greek mathematician Pythagoras adhered to a vegetarian diet and promoted compassion towards animals.

Watson was troubled by the outbreak of tuberculosis that affected farm animals in 1943. He proclaimed that a vegan diet could save people from such communicable illnesses. He also started a vegan newsletter that initially just had 25 subscribers. However, by the time he died in 2005, at the age of 95, over 2.50,000 people in the UK and 2 million people in the US had identified as vegans. Watson attributed his long life to his vegan lifestyle.

Long before Watson, in the 1850s, the man behind the ubiquitous Graham Crackers, Sylvester Graham, began a dietary reform in the U.S. His diet promoted meatless meals, wholegrain and home-baked breads, fresh fruits, and vegetables. His ideas were so rebellious back in the day that he was met with protests and attacks wherever he went. He was attacked in Boston by bakers for calling out the ill-effect of refined flour. Since then, science has indubitably proved that refined flour is bad for health.

Options galore

Today, veganism is a globally accepted concept. There are = restaurants serving exclusively vegan food in many Indian cities. As a result, the choices and options have also diversified. Milk extracted from soybeans and nuts like almonds have replaced dairy in the vegan menus. Mock meats-made out of yam and unripe jackfruit-have helped meat-eaters latch on to veganism.

However, one needs to be carefid while switching over to a vegan diet to ensure that there is no nutrient loss in the process. Often, Vitamin B12. Iron, and Calcium deficiencies have been noticed by researchers in people who switch over to a vegan diet. Experts, hence, suggest people who have switched over to a this diet to diversify their food intake within the options available to avoid complications. The vegan movement has also come under criticism- especially in the West-for being elitist and expensive. The processed vegan foods-like mock meats-are also accused of being high on carbon emissions. This negates the fact that many initial founders of the collective movement like Graham, stood against processed foods as much as they opposed meat eating. In the end, it is all about eating what suits you best and respecting the choices of others.

Early humans were hunter-gatherers. Civilisations, the discovery of fire, the invention of agriculture, and domestication of animals slowly changed our eating pattems. At some point, sections of people started eliminating meat from their diets, for various reasons ranging from religious beliefs to taking a stance against animal cruelty. Eventually, people realised that meat wasn't the only point of concem. Industries such as dairy, silk, and leather also tend to inflict violence and cruelty on animals. This realisation mobilised people to begin one of the largest movements of the modem world-veganism.

Picture Credit : Google