5 Awesome things carried in space

There have been many instances where astronauts have carried many things in space. Here is the list of five strange things carried into the space.

Lego mini figures in Juno.
On August 5th 2011, NASA launched Juno space probe to reach Jupiter. It will reach Jupiter by 2016. The most interesting thing is that it carries three Lego figurines representing Galileo, Roman God Jupiter and his wife Juno. These figurines are made of Aluminum to sustain extreme conditions of spaceflight. According to myth, Jupiter veiled cloud around himself to hide his mischief. But from Mount Olympus, Juno was able to see through clouds and reveal his nature.
The Lego Juno holds a magnifying glass as a sign for searching for the truth and her husband holds a lightning bolt. The third LEGO crew member, Galileo Galilei, has his telescope with him on the journey and miniature Jupiter in his other hand. The Lego has spent $15,000 to make these mini figurines.  Also along with these, Juno carries Plague dedicated to Galileo. It was provided by Italian Space Agency and made of Flight Grade Aluminum.

Light-saber with space shuttle.
In honor of 30th anniversary of the movie Star Wars, NASA sent Light-saber prop (used by Mark Hamill in the 1983 film Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedialong) with Discovery's STS-120. It was launched on 27th October 2007. On 28 August 2007, Chewbacca from the Star Wars films presented the light-saber to NASA officials from Space Center Houston, in an official ceremony at Oakland International Airport. The light-saber was then flown to Houston, where it was greeted by Stormtroopers. STS-120 mission lasted for 15 days. Clearly, The force was with it.

Golden record
The Voyager 1 and 2 are is the farthest man made object in space. Both of the probes are contain a Golden record portraying the diversity and culture on earth. It also contains a Golden phonograph record and a record player. The record is constructed of gold-plated copper. The record's cover is aluminum and electroplated upon it is an ultra-pure sample of the isotope uranium-238 with hopes that the advanced civilization who find it may be able to determine the age of the record. It contains images and sounds of planet such as animals and thunder and rains. It also contains greetings in 56 languages. The musical selection is also varied, featuring artists such as Beethoven, Guan Pinghu, Mozart, Stravinsky, Blind Willie Johnson, Chuck Berry and Kesarbai Kerkar. Probes also contains diagram about playback of the record.

Toy Story's Buzz Lightyear
Again in 2008, NASA carried something awesome after 'Light Saber' in 2007. This time it was Buzz Lightyear, the astronaut action figure of the Toy Story films. It was carried on Discovery mission STS-124. It lived at the International Space Station for more than 450 days before landing back on earth on Sept. 11, 2009. It then received a ticker-tape parade at Walt Disney World alongside space icon Buzz Aldrin. The action figure "ate" dinner with the 10 astronauts and cosmonauts and was seen peering out a window aboard the ISS. The action figure stayed aboard the space station for a period of six months as part of a NASA toys-in-space educational program.

Golf Club and Balls
Apollo 14 astronaut Alan Shepard famously took a golf ball along with him to the Moon, making him the first person to play golf on another world.Toward the end of his walk on the moon during the Apollo 14 mission, astronaut Alan Shepard informed NASA's Mission Control that he "happened to have" a six-iron golf club, which he had attached to the handle of a lunar scoop. He also had some balls. After a few unsuccessful swings, he was able to drive one of the balls as he said, "for miles and miles and miles." The golf club was donated to U.S. Golf Association by Shepard.

Chasing North pole

Most of us have used compass. Compass is an instrument that shows directions with the help of magnetic needle that always points the North. But did you know that the compass may mislead you if you are hiking in Canada? The magnetic needle in compass may point towards east misleading you to think that its north.

Stanley compass | Wikimedia commons

Before I proceed its important to know the difference between the North pole and the Magnetic North.
North pole is the axis around which the earth rotates. It is located in Arctic and the point where all longitude lines intersect. The needle on the compass doesn't points the North pole but it points the Magnetic North.

The Earth's magnetic North is located in Canada, and is slowly moving at the rate of 40 Km per year. In fact all magnetic compasses point towards Canada This is the reason extra precautions are needed to be taken if you re hiking in Canada. Approximately the Magnetic north (or the pole at which the needle in compass point) is located at 82.3 degrees North Latitude and 113.4 degrees West Longitude. So if you are at the west of this point the needle inside compass will point East, misleading you to think its North.
The interesting thing about magnetic north is that if you stand over it using compass the needle dips down!

So compass may mislead but its not the only way to find North. Hold your watch and point the Sun. Imagine an angle formed between a line passing through 12 O'clock and the hour hand and divide the angle exactly half. This intersection line diving the angle in half will point South if you are in Northern Hemisphere. This is Location of True North. In southern hemisphere point twelve o'clock towards sun and bisect and between the hour clock and twelve to get North pole.
However this method wont work near arctic regions because of midnight sun. Also it is important that your watch has shows the correct time.

Method to determine East and West

Another method is to place the stick upright on the surface and mark the tip of the shadow. Wait for another 15-20 minutes and mark the new location of the shadow. Join the points and draw a perpendicular line to it. The first marking you made is the west and new marking you made after 15-20 minutes is the East. Manipulate and find the North and the South.

North Star or Pole star ( Click to Enlarge) | Wikimedia Commons

These methods work well during the day, but at night you may use stars to navigate. For example the North star helps you find the North pole. One misconception about north star is that its the brightest star. Actually it isn't the brightest.

Crux | Wikimedia commons

In southern hemisphere however, North star isn't visible and we may use the Southern cross constellation or Crux to find the South pole. View the picture above. On left of the image the cross is shown. The line which is almost parallel to horizon helps us finding the South pole. Imagine extending that line till the horizon. The point where this extended line meets the horizon is the South pole.

There are many other ways to find directions like using the moss, ants hills, tree's orientation but without proper knowledge about the geography, they can mislead.

So we may conclude that there is no ONE reliable life-hack to know the true north. But yes we do have GPS. Happy hiking. :)

Weight of the light

Light is something which makes object visible. Light is so common that we hardly wait and wonder what its made of. Here are some facts about Light.

Rays of light at Chicago union center (1943) | Wikimedia Commons

Light is simply the electromagnetic wave falling under certain range of frequency which our eyes have learned to sense and differentiate with colours. A typical human eye will respond to wavelengths from about 390 to 700 nm. In terms of frequency, this corresponds to a band in the vicinity of 430–790 THz. Also light is the fastest moving object in whole universe. (Atleast, until we find something more faster than light) Light does not require and medium to travel, though is speed is affected by the medium.

Light exhibits properties that both of particle as well as wave. Light shows Doppler effect just like sound wave, which results in red shift and blue shift. The light of object moving towards you at considerable higher speed will appear blue (Blueshift) and when it is moving away from you, it will appear red (Redshift). This is how we came to know that the nearest Galaxy Andromeda is moving towards us. Also Light is affected gravity just like particles!

Doppler effect on Light illustration | Wikimedia commons

Light has weight though negligible, it has. It isn't rest mass though. In fact all forms of energy has weight. Light weighs more than the empty box. If we could measure something as large as Metro City, it will weigh 100 Kg more in Day than it will at night. It is because of weight of light has momentum and exerts pressure on it. Also, spaceship may be pushed as much as 1000 miles from its destination say Mars, because of Light pushing it. This phenomena is called Light Pressure.

Light is affected by gravity. The velocity of light in vacuum is 299 792 458 m/s. Gravity affects the path of light the same way as matter, but the result is too insignificant to be seen. The effect can be observed on something which is very huge and very far away from the observer, for example distant object in space like cluster of stars or galaxy. Another example which proves that light is affected by gravity is Black hole. It is said that the Gravity of Black hole is so strong that even light cannot escape it.

Refraction | Wikimedia Commons

Refraction is caused by sudden change in speed of light when it changes the medium. Also, due to refraction the path of light may get diverted Prism uses refraction to form spectrum of colours. Lens also work on same principle to magnify the image of the object.
Other examples are Formation of mirage, appearance of sky as bluish and the pencil or pen dipped in glass of water appears broken.

Prism forming Light spectrum | Wikimedia Commons

So in short, Light is awesome!Physics is Awesome and so is Science and the whole Universe! 

5 Largest animals #2

So Last week I posted about the 5 largest animals found on earth and yet found the list to be incomplete. Here are 5 more animals which are large and massive.

Giraffe

Giraffe | wikimedia Commons

Giraffes are the tallest terrestrial animals in the world. It stands 5-6 meters tall and weighs 1600 kg while its new born itself can be 1.8 meters tall and within hours run. Giraffes has distinct elongated neck which can be 2 meters in length and long legs. It has distinctive coat pattern and ossicones, the horn like on its head. Giraffes inhabit savannas, grasslands and open woodlands. Their primary food is acacia leaves and eats 34kg of foliage each day. Though in 2010 Giraffes population was 80,000, some of its species are endangered. Nubian Giraffe is threatened with as few as only 250 remaining. Lifespan of Giraffe is 25 years.[source]

Southern Elephant Seal

Southern Elephant seal | Wikimedia commons

The southern elephant seal is the largest carnivore alive, with males even larger than the polar bear. They are found in Antarctica region and coasts of Chile. Lost individuals have reportedly be found at Mauritius. They are 3 meters long and weighs over 3000 kg. On birth, the pup may weigh 40 Kg. Southern elephant seals feed on squids and other fishes and may go upto 1000m deep to hunt the prey. They are also deepest diving air-breathing non-cetaceans. Their average lifespan is 14-22years. [source]

Golden crowned flying fox

Stretched Golden crowned flying fox | Wikimedia Commons

Golden crown flying fox is a mega bat, and one of the largest bat found on earth. It is also known as golden-capped fruit bat. It can be seen in the forests of phillipines. It has no tail, has wingspan of 1.5 meters, 55 cm long and weighs around 1 kg. It feeds on fruits, mainly fig and leaves. Just like other bats they are nocturnal, and occupy uninhabited regions. They can travel upto 40 km in search of food.
However, The Large Flying Fox (Pteropus vampyrus) is lesser in weight and smaller in length, but it has been known to exceed the Golden-crowned species in wingspan. [source]

Chinese Giant Salamander

Chinese Giant Salamander | Wikimedia Commons 

Chinese Giant Salamander found in rocky, mountain streams and lakes in China is the largest salamander and the largest amphibian. It has large head, small eyes and dark wrinkly skin. On average it can weigh 25-30kg and 1.15 meter in length. It feeds on insects, frogs and fish. They are known to vocalize sounds similar to barking, hissing and crying which shows striking resemblance to the crying of young human child. The giant salamanders, which once used to be recorded at 6 feet in length, now rarely, if ever, reach this size due to overhunting and resulting natural selection favoring smaller salamanders. [source]

Ocean Sunfish

Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) | Wikimedia Commons

The largest living 'bony fish' is the widely distributed ocean sunfish also known as 'Mola Mola'. It appears like fish-head with a tail with its main body flattened laterally. The mature ocean sunfish has an average length of 1.8 m , a fin-to-fin length of 2.5 m and an average weight of 1,000 kg. Some individuals having upto 3.3 m length, 4.2 m  across the fins and weighing upto 2,300 kg have been observed.

There are two kinds of fishes or you can say two taxonomic groups called Osteichthyes and Cartilaginous. The vast majority of fish are osteichthyes, which is an extremely diverse and abundant group consisting of over 29,000 species. It is the largest class of vertebrates in existence today. [source]

Bag of chips at high attitude?!

So this is what happens when you take a bag of chips at high attitude.

Bag of chips at high Attitude.

For frequent flyers, many must have seen the bag of chips expanding like the picture above. But why does this happen? The reason is, the bag of chips are packed at normal atmospheric pressure at 14.1 psi. But as you go higher, the atmospheric pressure drops (at the rate of ). Thus, the dense air inside the bag tends to normalize with the external pressure. In this process it acquires larger volume causing the bag of chip to expand. 

5 largest animals living today.

Animal are found in various shapes and sizes. Some are really massive. They are enormous, weigh enormous and are fascinating. There may be even more large, tall and massive animals. But here is list of top 5 largest animals living on earth today.

Blue Whale Tail | Wikimedia Commons

Whales
Its wise to mention that if we plainly talk about 5 largest animals on earth all top 5 places would be occupied by whales. Blue Whales top the list with average length of 25.5 meters or equal to 3 trucks in length and weighs around 110 tonnes. Heaviest whale ever weighed was 190 tonnes. This is 20 times equal to the weight of largest terrestrial animal African bush Elephant. Whales are mammals
The next largest animal also is a whale called Fin whale with average length of 19 meters. Next in line are North pacific right whale, Southern whale, North Atlantic right whale and Bowhead whale (phew) with average lengths of 15 meters. Whales feed mostly on krills and copepods. Blue whale may eat 40million krills a day equaling about 3,600 Kg of krills! It is estimated a blue whale lives for 80 years.

Giant Squid and colossal squid 

Replica of Giant Squid | Wikimedia Commons

Giant squid is deep ocean living squid with an average size of 13 meter and male giant squid being 10 meters in length. Whereas Colossal squid though never seen in its natural habitat are known to be having maximum length of 12-14 meters or even more. Problem measuring these creatures is that they shrink considerably when taken out of water. Scientists can only estimate their length based on analysis of small specimen and pictures taken. Giant squid also has the largest eyeballs with 27 cm diameter. The body of both species is divided into three parts i.e Mantle, head and tentacles. Both of them have eight arms and two longer tentacles. Both of these creatures appears to be same they totally belong to different genus. So its Colossal Squid which is larger than Giant Squid. Nevertheless, both these creatures are large marine creatures.

Juvenile Africean Bush Elephant | Wikimedia Commons

African bush elephants
African bush elephants are known to be the largest terrestrial species of animal. They are found in some parts of southern and central Africa. They are on average 3.3 meters tall at the shoulder, 6 meter in length and weighs around 5.5 tonnes, whereas female are smaller and weighs less than males. It has large ears to radiate excess heat out of the body. They also have large tusks. African Bush Elephants, just like other elephant species are herbivore. They consume 225 Kg of vegetable matter and 190 liters of water daily.
Though large in size, North bush elephant are known to flee the area if they hear honeybees around. The number of these species has fallen greatly due to poaching. In 2010, it was found only around 10,000 individual African Bush elephants are living as compared to 30,000 in 1970.

Kodiak brown bear

Kodiak Bear | Wikimedia Commons

Kodiak brown bear or Alaskan Grizzly Bear are the largest brown bear and also largest among all bear, other being the polar bear. They are found in island of Kodiak in Southern Alaska region. Kodiak brown bear are 2.4 meters in length and 1.3 meters tall when standing on all four legs. It can rise upto 3 meters when on two legs. It weighs around  700-800 kg. The largest Kodiak bear among the species weighed around 1000 kg. Thus making them the largest terrestrial carnivore. They feed on fishes, while some are known to be hunting deer and mountain goat. The average lifespan of Kodiak brown bear is 20 years.

Saltwater Crocodile | Wikimedia Commons

Saltwater Crocodile
Saltwater crocodiles are the largest reptiles living on earth. Their size can reach upto 6.7 meters and weigh as much as 2000 kg. Saltwater Crocodiles are found South east Asia. They are also found with largest teeth measuring upto 9 cm.
The largest male saltwater crocodile was found in Odisha, India with length of 7.1m and largest female ever recorded was 4.1 meters long.
Their prey depends on availability and are known to take deer, wild boar, python, turtle, jackal, kangaroos, monkeys, water buffaloes They may also attack human if found in their territory.  They are know to have strongest bite than any other animal today.

5 Massive trees

Trees cover large portion of the earth and furnishes us with essentials of life, i.e food and oxygen. It contributes to environment by supplying oxygen, conserving water, climate amelioration and prevent erosion. Trees have sustained life on earth. Along with that, it improves aesthetic features. Some tree are large some are wide and some among the oldest. Here is list of five magnificent trees based on the height, width and age.



Sequoia sempervirens, Coastal redwood
| Image from Wikimedia Commons

Hyperion (Tallest tree)
Hyperion belongs to Sequoia sempervirens species in genus Sequoia commonly known as Coastal redwood. Redwood are on average the tallest trees. Hyperion is located at North California and is 115.61 meters high and 4.63 meters in diameter.
The species itself includes tallest trees and tree as tall as 60 meters are common.
Hyperion is tallest tree known and is located at Redwood National and state park. It was discovered in August 2006 by Chris Atkins and Michael Taylor. It is believed that woodpecker damage prevented it from growing upto 115.8m tall. Hyperion is said to be 700-800 years old. It exact location is kept secret.



General Sherman the tree |  Image from Wikimedia Commons

General Sherman (Largest Tree)
General Sherman is the largest living tree named after William Tecumseh  Sherman who served as General in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It belongs to Sequoiadendron giganteum species in genus Sequoia and it is largest single stem tree on Earth. This massive tree is 11.1 meters in diameter ans has bole volume of 1,486.9 cubis meters.  It is located at Giant forest grove in Sequoia National Park. General Sherman is 2700 years old. The next Largest tree is General Grant which has Bole volume of 1319.8 cubic meters.
However General Sherman tree is only the currently living largest tree. Crannell Creek Giant which was cut down in 1940's was largest tree known to man. It is estimated to be have had, 15%-25% more volume than General Sherman.



Baobab in Madagascar |  Image from Wikimedia Commons

Sunland Baobab (Widest Tree)
Baobabs generally have wide trunk and its appearance is quite astonishing. It looks as it is planted upside down.Sunland Baobab is the well kown tree in South Africa and its the worlds widest tree. The Diameter of Sunland Baobob is 10.64 meters. It is 19 meters in height. Its trunk is hollowed and bar and wine cellar is been established inside the hollow. This has turned the tree into a popular tourist hub. The tree is 1000 years old and has been caught fire several times.
Earlier Glencoe Baobab was considered the widest tree with 15.9 meters of width until in November 2009 it split into two. It is still the stoutest tree in the world.



Methuselah, bristlecone pine |  Image from Wikimedia Commons

Oldest Tree. (Non-clonal)
Oldest tree is bristlecone pine is found in White mountains of eastern California  in 2013, is unnamed and estimated age of 5063 years old.
Next oldest tree is Methuselah.
Methuselah is Bristlecone pine and is 4845 Years old and the oldest non-clonal living organism.The tree is named after Methuselah, a Biblical figure having the longest mentioned lifespan in the Bible of 969 years. It exact location is secret to prevent vandalism.



Pando, Quaken aspen |  Image from Wikimedia Commons

Oldest tree. (Clonal)
Pando or 'I spread' in latin is the world's oldest clonal tree on earth, It is estimated to be 80,000years old. Unlike non clonal tree, its roots are complicated and spread over underground and its stem grows over the surface. Pando belongs to Quaken aspen species. Pando is single living organism and its stems may live for 100 years which dies and replaced by new stems growing from roots. However its roots are 80,000 years old. It is also considered the world's heaviest organism with weight of 59,00,000 Kilograms. Pando is located at Fishlake National Forest, South central utah. Pando is considered to be one of the forty wonders of America.

5 Carnivorous plants.

Depending on various climatic conditions and ecosystems, a lifeforms adapts. Take for example a Cactus in desert. Its adaptation is such that loss of water from its body it minimized. We can find many of such adaptations and various life forms existing on earth. One of them is Carnivore Plants. These plants can be found where soil has less nutrient. These aren't flesh eating plant but insectivore plants, nothing being less than a carnivore. First references to such kind of plants can be found in Charles Darwin's book "Insectivorous plant."

Utricularia aurea , image author: Meneerke bloem | Wikimedia Commons

Utricularia
Utricularia also known as bladderwort is only genus of carnivore plant which make use of bladder to trap the insects. Though most of their preys include protozoa and other minute creature, some species are known to be trapping water fleas and tadpoles. These plants are mostly aquatic ie found in fresh water or wet soil.  The trap mechanism is vaccum driven bladder and considered the most sophisticated mechanism known in Plant kingdom.

Nepenthes_ampullaria | Wikimedia Commons

Nepenthes
Nepenthes has a pitfall or pitcher type structure found in tropical regions of China, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia Seychelles. They are popularly known as 'Monkey cups', since its found monkeys drinking water collected inside the pitcher. These plants are creepers and can creep as high as 15m. The Pitcher contains digestive watery liquid used to drown insects. Lower portion of plant absorbs the nutrients from the insect. The Larger species, Nepenthes Rafflesiana and Nepenthes Rajah is known to be trapping small mammals like rats.

Drosera Admirabilis, Image author : Denis Barthel | Wikimedia Commons

Drosera
Drosera are also known as Sundews, is the largest genera of carnivore plants with 194 plants. This plant is characterised by thick gluey substances called mucilage covering its tetacles.When insect lands on it, these tentacles moves toward the insect and traps it. It then digests the insect and absorbs its nutrients. The insect dies of exhaustion. Drosera or Sundews can be found in every continent.

Genlisea violacea Denis Barthel | Wikimedia Commons

Genlisea
Genlisea also known as corkscrew plant found in semi aquatic ecosystem. These plants are herbs with yellow flower and lack roots.These plants use modified underground leaves to trap the insects and also perform duties of roots, while leave over the ground contain chlorophyll. Leaves underground form tube like structure with forward propelling shape. When water flows, small microbes fall inside these tubes but cannot come out. They are then digested and absorbed.

Venus Flytrap | Wikimedia Commons

Venus Flytrap
Venus Fly trap is the well known carnivore plant though distributed only on east coast of US. It feeds on insects and arachnids.  A trapping structure formed by the terminal portion of each of the plant's leaves and is triggered by tiny hairs on their inner surfaces. When insect crawls into the trap, the trap closes as soon as different hair inside the traps are contacted. The trap then flattens to form a bladder and the digestive juices are released.
Venus Flytrap can be sold at flourist or you can buy the seeds which takes 5 years to reach its maturity and further live upto 20years.

5 Spaceflight facts # 1

The German V-2 was a short range ballistic missile developed during World war II targeted at London. But  liquid propellant rocket more commonly known as V-2 rocket turned out to be worlds first long range combat-ballistic missile and first known human artifact to reach outer space. With flight altitude of 82 Km when launched at trajectory and 206Km when lauched vertically, V-2 paved way for space flight. After war many units and production staff and scientists were siezed by UK, USA and Soviet Union. Today I start a new series of post about spaceflights. Enjoy!




Robert H. Goddard | Image from Wikimedia Commons

 Robert H. Goddard
An American Professor, physicist and inventor is credited for building world's first liquid-fueled Rocket. He launched 34 rocket between 1926 and 1941 achieving highest altitude of 2.6Km. His patented inventions Multi-staged rockets and Liquid-fueled rockets, proved to be milestones in Spaceflight. Goddard originally aimed designing rockets to scientifically study atmosphere. Later recognized its potential to be used in military and space travel. Lack of Vision and serious interest towards rocketry potential, Goddard's liquid-fueled rocket was neglected by US Government itself, but advanced in German.





Luna 2 |  Image from Wikimedia Commons

  Luna Missions
With knowing the potential of rockets, began the space age and so did the quest to reach the moon. USSR began the Luna programme, a series of robotic spacecraft mission on Lunar Surface. On 12th September 1959, after previous failures, Luna 2 successfully impacted the Lunar surface on 14th September 1959 after around 36 hours of Journey. Luna 2 also carried Soviet pennants, which scattered on Lunar surface after its impact.
Later on October 4 Lunar-3 launched few days later after Luna 2 photographed the other side of the moon, which cannot be seen from the earth. Total 29 Photos were taken covering 70% of the farside, out of which only 17 were viewable but had poor quality.




Vostok |  Image from Wikimedia Commons

 Vostok
On April 12th, Yuri Gagarin became the first Human being to reach outer space, orbit the earth and successfully return to earth on spacecraft- Vostok 1. The mission lasted for 1 hour 48mins. Traveling through the day side and the night side of earth, Yuri Gagarin made 1 orbit around the earth. Yuri Gagarin landed on earth separately from his spaceship at 26 kms south-west of Engels, Saratov. On reaching altitude of 7Km, he was ejected from his spaceship and landed using parachute  At 2.5 Km altitude parachute was deployed for spaceship.




Buzz Aldrin on Lunar Surface |  Image from Wikimedia Commons

 Apollo 11
On 20th July 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became first humans to step on Lunar surface. They also carried with them 21.5 Kg of lunar sample back to earth. Buzz Aldrin took Holy Communion on moon and is considered the first food eaten there! Apollo 11 mision lasted for 8 days and carried Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins. Michael Collins was command module pilot. Armstrong is believed to have walked 60 m from the Lunar module but not more than that. They walked on Moon for 2 and half hour. The Spacecraft returned to Earth on 24th of July 1969, landing in Pacific Ocean. ON returned all astronauts were quarantined till 'Clean bill of Health' was given on 10th August 1969.

Luna 15
Few days before Apollo 11, USSR secretly launched unmanned spacecraft, Luna 15 in an attempt to collect Lunar sample back to Earth before anyone else. Interestingly, Luna 15 during descent, crashed just 2 hours before Apollo crew took off from Lunar surface. Lunar 15 had made 52 orbits around moon and Apollo crew had already walked the moon before Luna's descent. The two spacecrafts landed and crash-landed 740 miles apart.

5 alternate ways to pass your time.

Got a vacation to spent can be boring when you don't know what to do. Here's how you can spent it wisely and creatively.

Learning to bake cakes and pastery | Image from Wikimedia Commons

Join a hobby class.
If you have a lot of time to spent, join any hobby class. There are a variety of hobby classes like carpentry, dance, painting or cooking class. Along with learning new skills, you get to meet new like-minded people too. Also spending your time learning new skill is time well spent!

Painting a wall | Image from Wikimedia Commons

Paint a wall.
Alternatively you can pass your time by painting your wall. Select a colour which matches your personality. Moreover you can try putting some graphics on your wall like flames, cartoon character or shadow art. Or give your room a theme you like, like say ultimate gaming room. Painting a wall hardly takes a day. Just make sure you don't make a lot of mess around.

Tottori Nijisseiki Pear Museum | Image from Wikimedia Commons

Visit a local museum or planetarium.
A local museum exhibit historical and cultural collection of artifacts and objects, regarding your place or community. Some museum may consists of rare literature or items, old coin and rare metals, old musical instrument, traditional machines, equipment, etc. Entry fee for museums are extremely cheap and also worth spending. If visiting museum doesn't fancy you, you can visit planetarium. Planetarium is place dedicated for astronomy and space science. It consist of dome and projector on which simulation of celestial body is made. it a wonderful experience knowing about .

Reading a Book | Image from freeimages.co.uk

Read a book.
Reading is a common hobby. It refreshes your mind and flourishes it with new ideas. Read a book which you had read earlier or read a book your reading right now in future. The content of book doesn't change, but your perspectives does change with time and so does your views on events and characters in the book. Try it! :) 

Peaceful Camping site | Image from Wikimedia Commons

Go camping.
Search the internet for a camping site near your place and pack your bags and get rid of city for a while. Camping helps your revitalize your body in many ways. It helps you get fresh air and exposes you to sunlight. Also it helps you cope up with stress and exercise your body. It teaches you self-reliance and if you go with your friends it teaches you teamwork. So grab your guitar and spend a night camping singing song in starry sky! 

5 Unfortunate deaths.

Here's a list 5 unfortunate celebrity deaths, occurred while performing acts of their profession.

Steve Irwin | Image by Wikimedia Commons

Steve Irwin
Steve Irwin famous worldwide for his series "Crocodile Hunter", was an wildlife expert and conservationalist. While filming documentary Ocean's Deadliest, he decided to take shots at shallow waters, approaching Sting ray. The fish in its defensive response hit his chest with tail spine. The crew reacted and administered CPR, but was pronounced dead by medical staff at scene. 4th September 2006

Owen Hart | Image by Wikimedia Commons

Owen Hart
At an Over the Edge, pay per view event in Kansas City, 34 year old Canadian WWF wrestler was to enter the ring against The Godfather, from rafters above the ring using the harness at ring level and then suddenly dropped to give a comedic effect,  for Blazer's "buffoonish" superhero character. Instead Hart fell directly on his chest from height of 78 ft, filling his lungs with blood.

Graves of Bruce Lee and Brandon Lee, Lake View cemetery Seattle | Image from Wikimedia Commonss

Brandon Lee
Son of Bruce Lee, an American Actor and Martial artist. Brandon Lee was in filming of scene where his character had to enter the room, where he discoveres his fiance being beaten by thugs. One of thug then shoots at Brandon Lee.
The revolver was to be fired at distant of 12-15 feet with dummy cartridge, consisting of live powder charge and primer without bullet. However since the dummy round, a bullet was trapped inside the barrel. This trapped bullet was accidentally fired at Brandon Lee, wounding his chest. He was rushed to Hospital where he underwent 6 hrs of surgery. However unsuccessful, Lee was pronounced dead.March 31, 1993

 DimeBag Darrell Signature Guitar Headstock | Image by Wikimedia Commons 

Dimebag Darrell
Dimebag Darrell was an American metal artist and founding member of Pantera and Damageplan alongside his brother, Vinnie Paul. While performing live at Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, barely after performing one song, Dimebag Darrell was shot 5 times at back head by schizophrenic gunman Nathan Gale. Dimebag Darrell died onstage. Nathan Gale shot 15 times killing another 3 and injuring 7 others. Gale was then shot dead by police officer.

Lightning over New Mexico, Photographed by US Air Force | Imafe from Wikimedia Commons.

Entire Football team of Bena Tshadi, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bansanga and Bena Tshadi were drawing a football match 1-1. Suddenly lightining strucks the players of Bena Tshadi. Entire football team of Bena Tshadi age ranging between 20 and 35years was killed. Surprisingly the home team Basanga came out unhurt. This led to suspicion of use of witch-craft by home team. 30 other people were also reported to had received burn marks.

5 Hazardous things found at home.

There are many hazardous substances hidden in your attics. Most of them are found in cosmetics, cleansing compounds which when inhaled or consumed, may cause injury or prove fatal. Many chemicals act slowly. They affect your immune, and you'll realize after prolong exposure to these chemicals, you immune weakened. Today I am writing about 5 hazardous compound that occur in our day to day lives and which are often overlooked.

Images by: www.freeimageslive.co.uk and wikimedia commons.

Mothballs

Mothballs | Wikimedia Commons

These small pallets keeps moth and other flies chewing into their clothes. But they do have hazardous property. Para-di-chloro-benzene found in mothballs are found to be cancer causing. Skin Lesions, loss of appetite are some causes. Apart from that, prolong exposure to Mothballs can cause nausea, diarrhea and even destroy your red blood cells.

Deodorants and Air Fresheners

Deodrant | freeimages.co.uk

Deodorant does make you smell good. Also does the air freshner but it depletes the quality of indoor air. Formaldehyde(terpenes in Air-fresheners combined with ozone forms these), petroleum distillates, aerosol propellants, and para-dichlorobenzene are chemicals found in air fresheners. All these compounds are known to cause breathing problems.  Formaldehyde, petroleum distillates in addition also aggravates asthma. Air-fresheners may contain VOC or volatile organic compounds such as Nitrogen Dioxide. Nitrogen Dioxide is known to cause cancer. Similarly it also contains paradichlorobenzene.

Domestic cleaning products

Domestic cleaning products | freeimages.co.uk

Domestic cleaning product are known to compose of many harmful chemicals. Detergents are found to kill fish eggs even in low concentration. It contains  nonylphenol ethoxylate known to affect estrogen hormone, thus considered extremely harmful to humans. In addition, it contains phenol and bleach. Phenols can cause damage to lungs, heart, liver and kidney. Phenols are easily absorbed by skin and are linked to serious health conditions. Bleach causes irritation to eyes,nose and throat and known to cause severe skin reaction.

Dust

Dust on Laptop heatsink fan | Wikimedia Commons

Dust is almost everywhere. I may be scarce to be seen or accumulated under your sofa or inside your laptop. Often overlooked, dust causes sneezing, accumulation of mucus which results in coughing. Dust may contain many organic or inorganic compounds. Inhalation of inorganic dust containing coal or silica may cause Pneumoconiosis characterized by inflammation of  lungs  leading to fibrosis which stiffens lungs. Humidifier fever is most common effect of dust.

Toothpaste

Toothpast | freeimages.co.uk

Everyday we start our day with brushing our teeth. But least bother to know about the harmful substances in toothpaste. Sodium Flouride is key ingredient in toothpaste. Surprisingly it is also main ingrediant in rat poison too. In kids ingestion of  this compound causes vomitting, stomach pain. Moreover, a recent Chinese study says, low dose sodium fluoride in drinking water diminishes IQ, especially among children. It is recommended to use only pea size amount of paste for kids and avoid swallowing.