Thursday, 15 August 2013

What's inside the Sun?

A giant star that keeps us all alive.
Made up of 70 percent hydrogen and about 28 percent helium(plus other gases), the sun is the center of our solar system and the largest celestial body anywhere near us.
Talking about size it is 100 times bigger and weighs over 300,000 times that of Earth.
The surface of the sun is a dense layer of plasma at a temperature of 5,800 degrees Kelvin. At its core, the Sun's temperature and pressure are so high, and hydrogen atoms are moving so fast that it causes fusion, turning hydrogen atoms into helium.

Electromagnetic radiation travels out from the Sun's core to its surface, escaping into space as electromagnetic radiation, blinding light, and incredible levels of solar heat.

Tuesday, 13 August 2013

What makes chillies hot?

Capsaicin is a chemical present in chillies which makes it hot.
Even though chillies have a really fierce taste but still we humans love to eat them why?
The tingling sensation on the tongue, when you try a chilli, is caused by a substance called capsaicin, which tricks the brain into thinking you're burning. The body then secrets natural painkilling chemicals called endorphins, which send out a rush of pleasure.

Monday, 12 August 2013

Why don't Igloos melt from inside?



An Igloo is a dome-shaped house, typically built from blocks of solid snow. 
 The igloo is a temporary winter shelter built by Alaskan and Greenland  Inuits,  commonly while traveling on hunting expeditions.
Inside of Igloo these Inuit people burn oil lamps, which, coupled 
with the emissions of body heat, can bring the interior temperature up to around 10 to 15°C.
Even with this relatively high temperature, far above freezing point, it is sometimes wondered why the insides of igloos do not melt.
 In fact, the inside of the igloo does melt, but not to a large extent. When it does melt slightly,  the water quickly re-forms as ice on contact with the snow and ice next to it, while the cold outside air and the thickness of the blocks of snow which, like ice, is an excellent insulator ensure that they quickly refreeze.
At the top of the igloo is a hole to allow ventilation. This is also a key reason why igloos don't melt. The hottest air and smoke rise up through the hole.
The entire igloo does eventually melt, but not until the outside temperature rises with the change of seasons.

Sunday, 11 August 2013

What is a blue moon?

“Once in a blue moon” is an expression for something that rarely happens.
Now, what is this blue moon?
A literal blue moon occurs when enough smoke or dust is present in the atmosphere to make the moon appear blue.
This occurred back in 1883 when the Indonesian volcano Krakatoa exploded,  and in  1950 when masses of smoke from Canadian bushfires filled the air.
Generally, the second full moon of a month is referred to as the blue moon. August 2012 had two full moons, August 2nd & 31st. The second blue moon isn't due until July 2015.