How the zebra got it's Stripes ?

  Researchers have found that the distinctive black and white stripes keep the flies away. Horseflies have been found in tests to be less attracted to zebra's stripes than to a white, brown or black horse coat. Such protection is vital, as horseflies transmit diseases.

  When a sunlight is reflected off a dark brown horse, the light waves tend to vibrate horizontally rather than vibrate in all directions as they do in sunlight or off the coat of white horses. This phenomenon is called 'linearly polarised light' and are also produced by water, where horseflies can mate and lay eggs. Originally, the zebras were black and were introduced the white stripes to destroy the signal of the reflected linearly polarised light.

Horsefly

  Further research is needed, but if the response to linearly polarised light is widespread among disease-carrying insects, then it may provide new means of protection for humans. Something dark could be used as a trap, drawing flies towards it and away from people, Otherwise, striped clothes could be worn to offer more protection against these disease-carriers.





Source : BBC Knowledge, Vol.4 Issue 6, page 16 "How the zebra got its stripes"

Pasembur Rojak

  Next time when you plan to go to Penang, don't forget to try this local food called "Pasembur Rojak" (or Indian/Mamak rojak). Penang is famous for it's Nasi Kandar, Kuey Teow, Lobak and other delicious foods. And now, Pasembur Rojak is also a Penang's signature delight.

One of the best rojak I've tasted ! 

Pasembur Rojak. (At Gurney Drive Hawker Centre, Penang) 

  With it's origin from Indonesia, Rojak is a local name for it, which means mixture. This cuisine, is actually a salad, with vegetables, fruits, sprouts, vermicelli, boiled eggs and meatballs (mostly chicken, fish and crab). With a special gravy which is made of jambu air (water/juice of guava fruit), squid fritters and honey poured all over, this dish surely will turn your mouth watery. I can surely promise that. 

Restriction on GM food

Beta-lactoglobulin

    A cow has been genetically modified to produce milk lacking a protein that causes some allergic reactions. Beta-lactoglobulin is found in cow's milk, but not in human milk, researches found. This can cause diarrhea and nausea in some toddlers. But now it has been eliminated from the milk of a cow in New Zealand using a technique called RNA interference.

  Back in 2006, scientists found that a short piece of genetic material called microRNA interferes with messenger RNA, which carries the instructions to create beta-lactoglobulin. So they added DNA that encodes the production of this protein blocking microRNA into cow embryos. Out of roughly 100 embryos, one calf produced milk free of beta-lactoglobulin.

  Ironically, the researchers are unable to taste the milk from their hypoallergenic cow - drinking it is prohibited under New Zealand law. In fact, almost no genetically modified animal has been approved for comsumption by regulatory authorities around the world.

Source : Knowledge, Vol 5 Issue 1 , page 20 "Should restrictions on GM food be loosened?"

Earth's Newest Neighbour.

  Our earth's newest neighbour, Alpha Centauri is only 4.3 lightyears away, and the planet found orbiting one of it's three stars are nearly earth-sized, with an estimated mass of 1.13 times that of our planet. This is the first planet to be found similar to our Earth around a similar star like ours.

 Other discoveries state that, if a star is orbited by a
small planet, it is likely to host others. So the Alpha Centauri system could easily have a planet within it's habitable zone, the distance from the star at which water can exist on a planet's surface - often considered a prerequisite for life.

  It is unlikely the planet that's just have been discovered will be occupied - it is so close its star, Alpha Centauri B, that is surface will be scorched.




Source : Knowledge, Vol 5 Issue 1, page 18 "Meet Earth's Newest Neighbour"

Without a Hitch.

  What people say, "what goes around comes around" is real. Here's a story I've recently read that caught my attention, and I adored it.

  Here's what the article is all about, A woman, in 1958, she was working as a nurse in a rural area, was lost her only train which takes to her hometown which is about 200km away everyday. So, she thought of hitching a ride to her hometown, but, hours of waiting and she still couldn't find anyone passing by that road. A man, who was watching her for hours, brought her to his house, offered her some food and a ride back to her home. 18 years later, when the writer was driving, an old man with a small kid was trying to hail a ride, she pulled over and picked up the pair, after a few minutes, she heard the man said to her "You haven't changed a bit, even your red hair is still the same." Yes, it was the man who helped her over a decade ago.

Source : Reader's Digest, January 2013, page 22 "The Power of Good"