Science
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Alkali Silica Reaction in concrete
The phenomenon of aggregates reacting with the alkali component of cement is called alkali aggregate reaction (AAR). The predominant form of alkali aggregate reaction is alkali-silica reaction (ASR) in which the silica content of aggregate reacts with sodium and potassium hydroxide of concrete. Other forms of AAR are alkali-carbonate reaction and alkali-silicate reaction. In China…
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Using microbes for durable concrete
Conventionally, organic matters in concrete were considered to be undesirable. But recent study with selected microbes has shed new light on its usefulness. Both useful and deteriorating microbes has been identified. Metabolic activity of microbes produces acid which degrade concrete. These kinds of deterioration are pronounced in location having high microbial activities such as near…
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Dual effect of silica fume in concrete
While silica can cause deterioration through ASR, when used properly, it significantly enhances concrete's durability and strength
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Brain map of female fruit fly
The human brain consists of billions of neurons. These neurons are connected by synapses, where information is passed from one neuron to another. Understanding how neurons connect and communicate can reveal how the brain controls behaviour. However, reconstructing these connections for an entire brain has been challenging due to technological limitations. Recently, a team of…
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Scientific history of rice
Rice is one of the most significant staple foods in the world, nourishing more than half of the global population. Its origins, cultivation, and consumption are deeply intertwined with human civilization, shaping cultures, economies, and societies. Archaeological history of rice Archaeological evidence suggests rice cultivation began around 9,000 to 11,000 years ago. The earliest known…
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Possibility of Marburg virus outbreak
The Marburg virus, a highly virulent pathogen belonging to the Filoviridae family alongside the Ebola virus, has re-emerged in recent years, triggering outbreaks that remind the world of its lethality. This virus, responsible for Marburg Virus Disease (MVD), causes severe haemorrhagic fever with a mortality rate often exceeding 80%. While MVD is less well-known than…
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Experiments with the bees
Honeybees have long fascinated researchers due to their complex social structures and remarkable navigational abilities. These tiny creatures, vital to ecosystems and agriculture, utilize a sophisticated array of behaviours to locate food sources and return to their hives. Over the past century, numerous studies have contributed to our understanding of honeybee navigation, revealing that it…
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Simplified chemistry of pottery
Pottery vessels have been crafted for about 18,000 years, but what transforms raw clay into a colourful pot? And what chemistry lies behind the process?
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Preserving Whales: a call for collaboration between the U.S. and Japan
Before the mid-19th century, Japan was an isolated nation, closed off to almost all contact with foreign countries. This period of isolation, known as *Sakoku*, lasted from the early 1600s to the 1850s. During this time, Japan strictly controlled the entry and residence of foreigners, with only a few Dutch traders allowed to live on…
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A case of academic fraud in India: A scandal that shook the scientific community
Once celebrated as one of India’s foremost palaeontologists, Vishwa Jit Gupta has seen his academic legacy reduced to one of the most infamous cases of scientific fraud in recent history. His career, built on years of research into Himalayan fossil records, came crashing down in the early 1990s after a fellow geologist uncovered fraudulent data…