Is Energy Existing or a Myth?

Is Energy Existing or a Myth?

Most of the people believe in the existence of energy even if they don’t see it and feel it just like air.  If people believe in the saying “to see is to believe,” then why is energy and air exempted?  The air is believable because we inhale it and feel it, but what about energy?

There are many things ‘though that we believe even if we don’t see them such as spirit of wine, scent, current, magnetism, velocity, etc.  However, you can feel them unlike in the case of energy.  Is energy a myth?  Energy was originally theorized as purely a quantity that could be manipulated either in heavy exertion or light exertion; strong or weak release.

There is no way to touch or see energy but people believe in it.  Absolutely, energy exists but the idea of energy being used and exhausted remains a puzzle.  To visualize energy on a wider perspective, let’s define it first.  Energy is simply a quantity that characterizes the existing state of a system just like velocity, charge, mass, position, etc.

Energy works like charge, mass and momentum.  The energy of 2 matters is the total of their energies before they start to interact.  Just like charge and momentum, energy is always preserved.  Based on Einstein’s discovery, energy is not conserved and that the energy of a matter is not just the total of their energies present in the object but also a huge mass contained in the object.

Therefore, does mass becomes energy?  No, the energy that is part of the mass of an object can be released if the mass is decreased.  Can energy be independent from the object?  No, energy is always a part of an object.  To make the explanation simple, energy is a human idea that is necessary in analyzing nature.

Nature works in a way that is amazing and like a phenomenon.  Nature is always present whether it is in super-fluidity, neutron decay or photon scattering.  Men have to measure them in terms of mass, energy, momentum, charge, etc. in order to put them in quantity.  Men have also created equations to measure energy, mass, etc.

One good thing about nature is it works in conjunction with mathematics easily understood by men.  This can be seen in Newton’s laws which make use of simple algebra.  Men can determine the energy of matters and systems and can create sensible predictions.
Science has been able to interpret the works of nature in mathematical terms at amazing precision.  In all the branches of science, energy is universally understood in terms of quantitative measurement.  Other quantitative measurements such as momentum are universally accepted but are not exact for use in answering questions.

Whether energy is a property of matter or the other way around, it will depend on the category of science that is being analyzed.  If the category involves simple mechanics, then, the answer to whether energy exists in masses is no, because masses have no inherent energy.  If you collide electrons and positrons, the answer is yes, there is energy.

Is it Necessary to Bring Chewing Gum Wrapper to Replace a Blown-Up Fuse


Is it Necessary to Bring Chewing Gum Wrapper to Replace a Blown-Up Fuse?

Yes, the chewing gum wrapper can replace the blown-up fuse but it is not recommended for long-term use.  So, don’t throw the chewing gum wrapper because you might need it anytime your fuse gets busted.

If you are driving in wilderness on way to cross-country be sure to have a pack of chewing gum with you.  Why?  It is because you can use the chewing gum wrapper to repair blown-out fuse in your car.  Just imagine what happens if you are in a long-range driving where there are no residents on the way and suddenly one of your fuses bursts out and you don’t have any reserve.

Can you drive without lights at night time?  Even during daytime when your fuse gets blown-up, you will think it’s a bad day indeed.  Remember that the fuse is a small object that is an important part of the car’s electrical system.  When your fuse malfunctions and it is rush hour, you don’t have a horn to blow in traffic and if it’s rainy or foggy, you can’t use your wiper.

If you drive a car, of course you know that fuses are installed to avoid over-heating of electrical wires.  A fuse has 2 prongs that are connected to the wire on any side.  At the center of the fuse’s casing is a conductor with a melting point that has a lower temperature than the wire.

So, if one of your fuses is blown-up, what will you do?
Do you have to look for an auto parts or hardware store to buy a new one considering that you are in the middle of a highway?  Well, just make sure that you have not thrown away your chewing gum wrapper and that can help you fix the problem.

If an electrical current is passing a temperature that is extremely hot for the wire to carry, the fuse will serve as the breaker of that current connection.  But when the current is too strong, the fuse loses its capacity to break the circuit and it blows-out.  Fuses have different amperes and when the current is stronger than the amperage, it can spark a fire.

This is the reason why you must check if your fuse has the correct amperage.  When it gets blown-up, use the metal foil of your chewing gum wrapper or any aluminum foil to replace the fuse.  When both ends of the fuse are conducted by the foil, you have electricity again.  It is important to note, however, that the use of chewing gum wrapper for blown-up fuse is not for long-term.  The fuse is a very sensitive part of the electrical system and if you allow it to be vacant for long, using only chewing gum wrapper, the electrical wires may overheat that can cause a fire.

Chewing gum wrapper is only for temporary remedy just to keep you moving.  But you have to replace your damaged fuse as early as possible to avoid a more dangerous fire scenario.  You will not allow your car to be burned just for lack of fuse, right?

How does Helium Works

How Does Helium Works?

The way how Helium works is the same as the Law of Buoyancy.  Comparatively, if you stand in a pool of water 10 feet deep compared to the same stand of 10 feet in an open air, you are actually standing in a pool of air which is several miles deep.

Helium is a lot less dense than air.  The difference in density is not as significant as it is between air and water, but of course it is significant.  The weight of Helium in one liter is 0.1785 grams while the weight of air in one liter is an estimated 1.25 grams.  Therefore, if you weigh a 1 liter bottle full of Helium, the weight will be less than 1 gram of a bottle full of air.

In this case however, the bottle will not float either in the air or in water because the bottle which weighs more than 1 gram is heavier than the Helium content.  But in large volumes of Helium placed in lighter containers where its weight is heavier than its container, you can be sure that the container will float.

This is the reason why balloons are made in a standard size where Helium can be greater than their weight and they have to displace a large volume of air to float.  Helium balloon is displacing an amount of air as it is with an empty bottle which is displacing an amount of water.

If the weight of Helium and the balloon is less than the air it displaces, absolutely, the balloon will float in the air.  So, why is Helium lighter than the air?

Helium atoms have less weight than nitrogen atoms contained in the air.  They contain less electrons, protons and neutrons than nitrogen atoms.  Approximately, the weight of Helium atoms is 4 and nitrogen contained in the air is 14.  That makes Helium lighter than air.

The same quantity of atoms in Helium and nitrogen fills the same amount of space in the air.  The gases made of less dense atoms are lighter in weight.

What happens then if Helium is released in the air?

If you release a balloon filled with Helium in the air, it will go as far as it could go in the sky until it bursts out.  Then, the Helium has no reason to stop; it just keeps going and finally leaks out into the space.  Therefore, there is very small amount of Helium in the atmosphere at any given time because it moves away from the earth atmosphere.

The only available Helium in the air comes from Alpha particles emitted by radioactive decay.  Helium is distilled out of natural gas to form the Helium that is used to fill in balloons.  Just imagine if there is a big volume of Helium on the ground – it will cause a big explosion just like a hydrogen bomb.

In the past, hydrogen was used to fill balloons and it was quite popular then.  Hydrogen has a weight of just 0.08988 grams per liter, much lighter than Helium.  However, the danger posed by hydrogen is very high since it is highly flammable.  A slightest spark can cause a big explosion that is why hydrogen balloons did not prosper.

What Makes a Ship Float in Water While a Steel bar Sinks

What Makes a Ship Float in Water While a Steel bar Sinks?

Historical records show that floating of an object was first introduced by Archimedes.  He theorized that if an object is equal to the volume or weight of the water it displaces, the object will rise up in water and float.  So, if a ship has a weight of 1,000 kilograms, it has to displace 1,000 kilograms of water in order to float.

This is the Law of Buoyancy.  Anything that has a weight equal to the amount of water it displaces will float in water.  If the ship has been made in such a way that it can displace the amount of water equal to its weight or even more of its weight, then the ship will float in water.  The reason is because a major interior part of the ship is made up of air which is less dense than water.

On the other hand, a steel bar is solid steel that has no space to displace water, therefore, it will sink.  The ship which has a combination of steel and air has lesser density than the water it displaces.  Therefore, a very small portion of the ship has to submerge in the water before the water can displace the weight of the ship.

If you submerge a box measuring 1 foot to the water, the reading that will appear in the gauge estimated at 0.44 psi.  This means that the bottom of the box is being pushed upward by the pressure of water.  Therefore, if the box is 1 sq. ft. and it is submerged to a depth of 1 ft., the bottom of the box will be pushed by the pressures of water measuring 62 pounds.

It is actually the pressures of water that push the bottom of the ship that enables the ship to float.  The part of the ship that is submerged in water has corresponding pressure of water that is pushing it upward and this combination of pressures allow the ship to float.

If you notice, when anything floats in the water, part of its bottom is submerged in the water.  As the object sinks a little, it displaces the water until that volume of water weighs equally with the weight of the object.  If the weight of the object you are trying to float is so heavy and solid, there is no way that it can push or displace enough water in order to float.  In this case you can expect that it will absolutely sink.

Try this experiment to show you how buoyancy works.  Place a ship made of plastic on the surface of the water.  Observe how the empty object sinks.  Observe how it sinks deeper when you put some pennies to it until the water reaches the top wherein the plastic ship will sink.

Float a balloon in water; it will not sink deeply because the balloon is lighter than water.  If you put balloons above the water, you will notice that a small part of the balloon is underwater and the rest is floating.

Therefore, buoyancy of an object does not depend on the weight at all whether it floats or it sinks.  Floating and sinking depends on how much amount of water an object can displace in order to float.

The Odd Deep Wells

The Deep Wells

Dimensionality is something that we see everyday, but take for granted. The first dimension is either length, width, or height. The second and third dimensions are the other two – in some order. Therefore, we have the first three dimensions which make our world what it is. Homer Simpson discovers the third dimension in one of his cartoon shorts and winds up somewhere in Los Angeles after a trip through some sort of black hole. It must be strange to come from a two dimensional universe and try to adapt to a three dimensional one.

Mathematics tells us there are infinite dimensions. Though I don’t remember the exact equations required for the proofs, I can understand the concept. The question then becomes, what are these extra dimensions? Some have an answer, that is generally, accepted for the fourth: time. But can time really be a dimension?

Time is an invented concept. We have calendars and other methods of keeping the passing of events straight. How do you know that you are 25 years old? Because you were born twenty five Earth circuits of the sun ago. Why, though, does this mean that you are a certain time, old? Because that is what we have deemed, and that is the only way we have of keeping track of the passage of…time.

So what about this dimension thing and can we go forward or backward in time? Well first of all, time as a dimension makes sense. There is a general aging of the universe around us. You can see it in everything. Therefore, time is not just an invented concept, but moving force. It is also measurable, as was mentioned previously. That would have to be one of the criteria for a true dimension, it would have to be, in some way measurable. As far as traveling through the fourth dimension, here we delve into trickier ground.

H. G. Wells coined the phrase “time machine” in his 1895 book of the same name. His idea was that a machine could be constructed that would somehow traverse the fourth dimension. His book is fantastical because it offers no real explanation of the mechanism, but he got other authors considering the problem. One of the latest to give a new twist to this concept is Michael Crichton, who added quantum physics and the multiverse theory to his concept. These is no knowledge of how we could effectively travel through time, but some have advanced the following possibility.

One person stands on a mountain, and another is in a valley about a mile distant. The valley person shines a flash light at the mountain dweller. If valley guy was able to travel fast enough to reach mountain man before the photons from the flashlight, he would have effectively traveled backward through time. Therefore, as the theory goes, time travel is about speed. Either arriving somewhere in the past or future because we short circuit the logic. By this I mean, that time in this concept is seen as a circle, or at least a rounded line. If we arrive at a point on the circle prior to or after others of our “time” we have traveled through time. Now doean’t that blow your mind!

Einstein’s Last Stand

Einstein’s Last Stand

What binds us together? No, I don’t mean emotionally. What forces hold we humans and the rest of the universe together? Why are we not just individual constituent quarks, and other quantum particles floating around in the soup of space?

The answer is an easy one even for those with little scientific training. We have all heard of the basic forces, but let me describe them here. There are four basic forces known. Electromagnetism is the force that acts between electrically charged particles. Gravitation is by far the weakest force, but it has properties that act on all bodies in the universe. Then there are the two nuclear forces. Weak nuclear forces are responsible for some nuclear events, but are far secondary to the strong nuclear forces. These strong forces are what act against the electromagnetic force to hole the nucleus of an atom together. Therefore, this unbelievably powerful force is the bang behind an atom bomb.

It has been discovered that some of these forces act together (an for those of you whom I have bored to tears already, stay with me it will get better.) an electroweak interaction has been discovered. Although these forces are very different at low energies, at some very high level of energy they merge. This fact led to a group of scientists receiving a Nobel Prize in physics in 1979. there is also a theory that could link the electroweak and the strong nuclear force. However, there has never been a link found between the gravitational and all of the others. Thus the question, what binds us together?

The grand unification theory (sometimes dubbed “The theory of everything”) is a theory of the last force. It is the force that binds everything. Einstein, like Custer, was defeated in his last stand. He worked for twenty years, in relative obscurity, trying to mathematically prove that everything was somehow connected. He was first trying to synthesize the theories of gravitation and electromagnetism. These two forces are very alike. They are not dependent on distance, and they are very weak. Gravitation was a force described by Einstein during his writing on general relativity.

One thing to realize, is that physics comes very close to religion. When one studies the subject they become significantly absorbed. The topic is one that engenders a large amount of faith also. The two diverge in the fact that you can prove the existence of physical data, but the proof of God or gods is much more difficult. But let’s mesh this discussion with that of grand unification. There seems to be some grand unifying force that ties it all together. Its like a word that is stuck “on the tip of your tongue.” It is there, but just out of reach. The study of a supreme being is much the same. You can almost see conclusive proof, but just like some theoretical concepts you have to have faith. Therefore, maybe the grand unifying force and God are the same thing.

Is there a Mystery on Why a Balloon Floats in the Air and Bubbles Rise in Water


There is no mystery whatever is involved in the floating of balloons in the air.  A balloon filled with helium will certainly float in the air just like the bubbles rising in water.  The scientific explanation here is that the balloon is lighter than the air and the bubbles are lighter than water.

While gravity pulls down the air, it also pulls down the balloon and since the air is dense, gravity has the ability to act on it but not with the balloon.  Same is true with the bubbles which rise in the water, gravity has the ability to act on the water because it is dense but not with the bubbles.

In other words, gravity can only pull objects with corresponding weight and not objects without weight.  This has something to do with relative densities.  Objects which are heavier are pulled more intensely than lighter objects.  Space is also an important factor in analyzing this case.

The 2 major factors that contribute to the ability of gravity to pull down the air and water are weight and volume.  Weight is known as mass in Physics and volume or space is termed as density.  These 2 major factors are the determinants on what objects rise and sink in the water and on air.

This theory known as displacement states that whatever volume has on objects tend to displace or move something out of its path to occupy a space.  In simpler terms, this means that when objects with different densities are in fluid form such as air and water, the objects with more density sink lower than the objects with lesser density.

Therefore, the force of gravity against the object is stronger to force the object with lighter weight out of the heavier object’s way.  Since the water is denser than air, water sinks below the air.  A stone is denser than water so it sinks below water and air.  Helium which is inside the balloon is less dense than air and water so it rises above the air and water.

Even with the small weight of the balloon, Helium is still less dense than the air which enables it to rise.  Gravity pulls down everything but there are some objects which have greater forces than other objects.  Whatever floats in the air is the same as in water.  An object which is less dense than water will float in the same way as an object which is denser than water will sink.  An object less dense than water which is suddenly released from the bottom of water will definitely rise.

In the same way that Helium which is less dense than the air if suddenly released from the ground, Helium will rise.  However, in the outer space, helium will not rise; it will be pulled down by the force of gravity in the atmosphere, while a human being which is dense than the air will float in the outer space.  If you weigh a balloon full of air and a balloon full of helium, the latter will be less dense.

Fun Facts about Japan

Since our recently presented article required us to travel a bit to the East and drop by to our Chinese friends, why don’t we just savor this Marco Polo-like expedition of ours by exploring more of this side of the globe.  Information gathering thru simple “virtual” visits such as these are good ways in bringing people much closer to one another.  Various cultures, traditions and practices distinct from one another are more than enough to satisfy our never-ending thirst for information.  What really make our quests more enjoyable and exciting are the interesting and odd realities that we exclusively discover apart from the usual ones.  Discovering such interesting and funny facts somewhat makes us the modern day Marco Polo.

As we momentarily bid farewell to our Chinese friends, let us take a step towards our new and exciting destination.  A visit more to our Eastern counterparts, to the land of the rising sun, Japan is our next stop.  Fun and interesting facts about Japan are our next oriental quest.

I.  Geography – Japan is considered as an “island country” or an archipelago.  It is composed of four main islands namely Honshû, Shikoku, Kyûshû and Hokkaidô.  Small islands surrounding them also comprise the country (approximately around 3,000).  Additionally, Japan’s characters in its name would mean “sun-origin” that is why it is sometimes referred to as the Land of the Rising Sun.  Japan is located in the Pacific coast of the Asian mainland.  Japan is a small country.  It has an area of 145,946 square miles.   It can even be comparatively similar (or a bit larger) to the size of California of the US but obviously larger than Italy.  The countries that surround it are the North and South Korea, Russia and Taiwan. The islands of Japan are mostly covered with mountains and forests.  This fact can be attributable to Japan’s land mass being less ready for agricultural purposes.  One of Japan’s features and an interesting fact about Japan is its perilous location.  Experts say that Japan is one of those countries lies beneath that fault circle in the Pacific Ocean.  This would further spell earthquakes and other related nature happening in Japan more than the usual.  This is aside from the reality that Japan in its entirety comprises 10% of world’s most active volcanoes.

Being the tenth of the world’s largest in terms of population, Japan boasts of its 128 million people.  One cannot simply belittle this small country as is actually a giant in more ways than one.  Currently, Japan is considered a major economic power.  Some of the facts about Japan that can be worth mentioning is that it is armed to have the second largest economy in terms of nominal GDP (Gross Domestic Product figure that is not yet attuned to inflation considerations).  Japan is likewise known to have attained the following feats: the third largest purchasing power, the fourth world’s largest exporter and the world’s sixth in terms of imports.  Japan also has the world’s largest budget in the defense department.  And if all these aren’t enough to satisfy, this little giant is also an active member of the United Nations, G8 and other “Elite” groups.

Apart from the other facts about Japan, the same also takes pride of its high living standards.  It currently ranks the highest 8th HDI (Human Development Index), and is widely known as one of the principals in the world of technology and robotics.

II. History –   The distinct rich culture and ancient history of civilization are obviously abundant in the eastern part of the globe and Japan is among those who share and has the same background.

Japan, just like the beautiful Australia, was first inhabited by hunters.  Early accounts of these were recorded to be as early as 30,000 B.C.  These periods were best described by our experts to have occurred during the Jomon period.  The facts and history of Japan also tells that during these periods, various cultures began to emerge such as the Paleolithic and the Neolithic cultures.  They were believed to be the ones who started pottery.  Visitors and migrants from neighboring countries such as china and Korea brought Japan new cultures such as rice planting, iron and bronze making.  It was also during this era that Buddhism was first introduced in Japan by those who came from the Korean Peninsula but the sculptures then were mostly influenced by Chinese Buddhist.  Buddhism became popular and its acceptance reached all the way as early as Japan’s Asuka period.  It was during the Nara period that Japan began to slowly rise.  The Japanese have adopted some Chinese practices and were able to come up with their own written literature.  Japan then was also ruled by Emperors.

It was during Emperor Kammu’s reign that Japan’s national anthem was written.  His reign also marked the flourish of Japan’s art.  Japanese historical facts would relate that the battles that existed then in Japan was brought about by the existence Tom Cruise’s pals – the samurai.  They have gathered a large number of resistances during Japan’s Kamakura period.  These feudal wars continued and lasted until 1467.

Foreign visitors were again present in Japan’s shore during the sixteenth century as it was now trading culture and commercials amongst its neighboring countries.  Despite the growing battles in Japan’s political statute, it was during the Edo period that Japan declared its “closed country” policy which actually lasted two and a half century.  This policy according to experts, gave more impact on the economic strength that Japan has right now.

It was in 1854 that Japan opened its doors again to the world.  As more agreements and treaties were offered, Japan later opted in developing the style and has come to acquire western civilizations’ influences.  The western adaptation gave Japan more power and obviously more conflicts as various wars were accounted during those times.  Japan strength more intensified as he hungered for more invasion that later made alliance with the Nazi Germany.  Because of all the turmoil that Japan has caused, it somewhat backfired as World War II became its furious end.  Japan declared its unconditional surrender in 1945 against US and the Soviet Union.  Since then Japan slowly climbed to recovery and became a member of the United Nations in 1956.

III.  Made in Japan – There are lots of information as well as funny facts that are distinctly Japanese.  Within the Japanese culture lie its uniqueness and that is really Japanese in nature and origin.  One of which is in the world of Art.  The Japanese are famous for their “Origami” or the Art of Paper folding.  Also famous worldwide is the “Ikebana” or the Art of flower arrangements.  Also noteworthy as purely Japanese in the world of art are the “Kabuki” and “Noh” plays.  The most influential so far of these Japanese cultures amongst those classified above is the popular “Karaoke”.  Far from anything else, there is the Koto (musical instrument), the distinctly flavorful Japanese cuisine (sushi, sashimi and maki), the swift warriors in the embodiments of ninjas and the historically-embedded samurai swords.

IV.  Fun and Interesting Facts – Above anything else, there is of course, everybody’s favorite – the fun facts about Japan:

  • The most popular pizza toppings in Japan is squid;
  • But they it most when it is topped with mayonnaise and corn;
  • And seaweeds too, by the way;
  • Traditional Japanese homes are kinda strict.  You only wear slippers inside the house and they also have an extra pair of special ones that you must wear inside the bathroom;
  • Japan’s Haiku poetry is the shortest.  It consists only of three lines;
  • All Japanese meals are served with tea;
  • Most Japanese women wear shoes that are 4-6 inches high;
  • Japanese practice teaches you to slurp the food that you eat.  It is considered that the food is not that tasteful and well prepared if you do not slurp; (the louder means the yummier?)
  • Statistics says that an average Japanese can live 4 times longer than an American does;
  • Japan is famous for their vending machines that sell almost everything you want and can be found on almost every corner;
  • Tokyo has the largest fish market in the world, the Tsukiji fish market;
  • Japanese girls actually cut their hairs after a breakup with a lover;
  • Japanese boys on the other hand, shave their heads just to apologize (now, that’s convincing!);
  • Due to its position in the map, Japan experiences an average of 3 mild earthquakes…daily!
  • And oh, aside from the “house slippers” and “bathroom slippers” that you must wear inside a typical Japanese house, there’s also an additional “corridor” slippers;
  • The normal Japanese type of kitchen doesn’t have ovens;
  • Mount Everest’s oldest climber was actually Japanese.  Mr. Yuichiro Miura at 70 years old.  The old man reached the summit, by the way;
  • Students in the elementary in Japan wear yellow caps;
  • “Ohayo Gozaimasu” – “Good morning” in Japan are oftentimes said as “Oha!” by young ones;
  • Local calls in Japan are charged by the minute;
  • Streets in Japan usually don’t have names;
  • The Japanese play “Noh” can actually last 8 hours; (do they get tired?)
  • Because of their enormous economic growth perhaps, almost every Japanese teenager owns a cellular phone;
  • Is it true that they sell beer at McDonald’s?
  • You don’t wear shoes inside a Japanese classroom, only socks or special kind of slippers;
    One the Japan’s popular food is raw horse meat;
  • Japan celebrates a special day for their old people.  Their usual gifts are free cigarettes from tobacco companies; and finally my favorite fun fact,
  • Japan’s green traffic light is called “blue”.

Flowers oh Flowers

About a few calendar days from now, fine dining restaurants, concert halls, movie houses, jewelry shops and flower shops hotels and motels will definitely have their Christmases once again.  Why?  Because their respective lines of businesses is definitely in tune with the upcoming annual event or celebration practiced by most people – Valentine’s Day.  And with or without the global financial crisis hovering at our doorsteps, the show must go on.  For men, a simple way of showing the Valentine’s spirit to your loved one is by gifting her with flowers even though I can’t imagine the close relationship between crude oil and flowers.  Just by simply presenting those colorful and fragrant ones to your sweetheart is always guaranteed to melt her heart away.

And while we are into this flowers idea, why don’t we sneak in and answer some questions about flowers and plants, for that matter, while were thinking what kind of those flowers we are going to give away.

We all know from our science classes that just like any living things, the plants need water in order to grow.  It is one of the essential elements of survival for a living thing, particularly in plants aside from sunshine.  We also have known that the plants absorb the water through their roots and it is also a well known fact that one of the major functions of the root of a plant is the absorption of water and other nutrients in order to make our plants grow and survive.  Much also is in the case of flowers.  Unlike plants that have roots, the flowers, once cut from its stem or detached from its original nature, can still blossom the way they are by absorbing water.  On a kid’s notion, it is much of a “drinking” process for a flower in order to maintain its life and its beauty as well.

Flowers “drink” water by undergoing through some quite complex but amazing processes.  The less-scientists-botanists in us would adhere to thee fact that it is through terms such as transpiration, osmosis and capillary action that our lovely flower is able to “drink” and absorb water.

The whole “drinking” process would start at the very basic when the sunlight tries to express its powers by evaporating the amount of water in a certain leaf surface thus leaving our leaves thirsty.  The water that the roots have absorbed initially will also be hijacked and evaporated.  This initial process is called transpiration.  The most crucial part of the “drinking” necessarily involves the xylem tube inside our plants.  It is that tube that connects between the roots and the stem and it is more likely that water and other nutrients pass through this tube.

Once our “thirsty” plant prompts a need to “refill” because of the transpiration process, a certain amount of vacuum is created in its xylem tube causing some sort of a suction pressure to pull a considerable amount of water that the roots once absorbed.  Water is then traveled through the xylem tube to quench our leaves and flowers.  The size of the xylem tubes are also very vital in this “drinking” process as it will enables the holding and traveling power of the water to its destination.  This process is likewise called the capillary action.  For kids alike, the whole process is much like of drinking by using a straw.  The transporting and delivery part of the water and nutrients to the stems is handled by the osmosis department.  Osmosis is the process wherein plants evenly distribute its food source on their entirety in order to survive.

Again, being awed by the process of how a flower or plant drinks water brings out another “kid” in us.  Learning and discovering these simple and amazing things makes as also more aware of the things that are happening around us that are usually neglected and not that worthy much of our attention.  They are the realities that we have to learn and embrace in a way for these simple facts are the very foundations of what we are right now.  It is a much better way of getting more aware on our environment that is in need of care nowadays.  It is in these small things that we see its great importance.  A mere “drinking” process could always go a long way if given that much attention.

A Night at the Oscars

A Night at the Oscars

Its official, the 2009 Oscars are now a thing of the past. Millions of movie lovers found themselves on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the outcome. Were you among them?
Today, the Oscar buzz can be heard from coast to coast and beyond. Everyone is talking about who won and those who weren’t so lucky. They are dying to find out who made the best (and worst) dressed list and all of the juicy backstage happenings.

Here are a few interesting facts about the 81st Annual Academy Awards… a wildly memorable event for everyone involved.

ABC is still waiting on the official count, but is predicting that viewership was up by at least 6%. It is estimated that almost 34 million viewers tuned in, for at least part of the broadcast.

Sexy Hugh Jackman hosted the festivities. Up until now, he had only had the pleasure of being a presenter. He was very dashing, to say the least.

There are no two ways around it, ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ ruled the Oscars, winning a total of 8 awards. Actually, this feat is really not that much of a surprise when you consider all of the buzz and well deserved attention the film has generated.

Winning the ‘best director’ category, Danny Boyle, bounced up and down in true Tigger fashion as he accepted his award. His children were thrilled that their father finally made good on that long-standing promise.

(SM has made an additional 54 million dollars since it’d late January nomination… bringing the total to a hefty 98 million.)

Kate Winslet FINALLY won an award (for The Reader) after receiving a total of six nominations, throughout the course of her career.

She had no problem admitting that she has be practicing an acceptance speech, in one form or another, since she was 8 years old. She did so in front of her bathroom mirror, holding a shampoo bottle trophy. Way to go, Kate!

As many in the industry had predicted, Heath Ledger won an award for his portrayal as ‘the Joker’ in The Dark Knight. Because of his unfortunate demise, his young daughter has claim on his prize. (Her mother will pass the Oscar on to her when she is of legal age.)

There were, reportedly, no fistfights at the event. In fact, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer were all able to keep the peace, for the entire evening.

When it comes to the night’s best dressed and worst dressed celebs, many different lists have already surfaced. This gives even more credibility to the saying ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ doesn’t it?

Those who received a definite ‘thumbs up’ include: Angelina Jolie, in a stunning black Elie Saab gown and no-so-matching emerald green earrings and Meryl Streep who wore a flowing, off shoulder, chiffon creation.

Two stars that seem to have lost their fashion sense, at least momentarily, include Beyonce who was wearing a black and gold mermaid dress and Tween Queen, Miley Cyress, whose gown could have easily been mistaken for a Christmas tree. Eggnog, anyone?