Winter is coming - A story written for the Erudite Roulette - Mysore Toastmasters

“Winter is coming!” Papa Hamster shouted at his children. “Be quick with that food, Anka! Quick, with those feathers, Cobb!” Little Anka hurried to him and handed her over her load, and Papa Hamster put it in their food storage hollow. Mama Hamster was getting feather beds ready for the family. As soon as the ravens announced winter, the family would snuggle into their little den. But till then, Anka had to endure her father! “Anka, don't just stand there,” he said, right on cue. “Winter is coming!”

They worked till nightfall, and were back the next morning. But to their surprise, some of the food in the hollow had disappeared! Mama and Papa Hamster paced the floor, wrung their hands and scurried all over the den! But there was nothing to do, except fill it again!

Little Anka wanted to find out what had happened to the food. That night, she slowly slipped away from their summer home to the winter den, and kept watch. Suddenly the Earth began to shake! As Anka watched, the food in the hole started to disappear! She ran out to investigate. She could see lights far away, and there was a huge thing moving ponderously. As it moved away, the shaking stopped.

Anka went back into the den and pulled out the food from the hollow. There was a little hole in the bottom! Anka had solved the case!

When Anka told her parents, they were cross, but they were also impressed.

“Father, what was that thing?” Anka asked. “You were born in the summer, you've never known anything else.” her father said, stroking Anka's head. “In the winter, the humans drive huge trucks. And sometimes, the humans from them come into the forest!” The childrens' eyes grew wide in horror.

“You know,” Mama Hamster added, “before they built the wall? The humans used to come here all the time. And animals used to get hit by their big trucks!”

The children were scared, and when the ravens finally came to announce Winter, were more than glad to go into a torpor. Anka awoke one day to eat, and heard a strange noise. She carefully crept out of the den, carrying a stick in her mouth. If anyone harmed her, she could “stick them with the pointy end,” as her cousin Lon had told her.

To her horror, she found a group of humans sitting around a fire very close to the den. One of them had something glowing on its lap. Anka crept close to it, and saw that the box on the human's lap had more tiny humans inside!

And as she watched, one of the little humans in the box said something! Anka ran back to the den in shock. Later that winter, when she and her sister Tansa were both awake, Anka told her the whole story. “What did the little human say?” Tansa asked, her voice a low whisper. Anka whispered back, “Winter is Coming!”

Topic given by: TM Arjun

Misconceptions in Science - Questionnaire

As part of the requirements for my degree in Education, I did a survey. here are the questions. The answers are in the post that follows.

1. An astronaut inside a space station floats because

There is no gravity in space

The astronaut is too light to be pulled by gravity

The space station and the astronaut are falling at the same speed towards Earth

The magnetic force of the Earth repels the gravitational pull in space

2. Half of the Moon's surface is always dark *

True

False

3. In plants, respiration takes place

at all times, just like human beings

only during the day

only at night

Plants do not respire

4. Seasonal changes during the year are because of

The changing distance between the Earth and the Sun

Precession of the Earth’s axis

The constant axial tilt of the Earth

Changes in ocean tides

5. According to the theory of evolution

Humans are the most advanced organisms on Earth

Monkeys and humans have a common ancestor

Monkeys and humans will have a common successor

Human beings came from monkeys

6. A bullet shot from a gun will

Travel at the same speed at which it left the gun
Accelerate as it moves towards its target
Decelerate as it moves towards its target
None of the above

7. Moon phases are because of

The changing distance between the Earth and the Moon

The changing distance between the Sun and the Moon

The changing angle between the Sun, Moon and Earth

The changing brightness of the Moon’s surface

8. During a solar eclipse, when it is dark

Bacteria might multiply more than an ordinary day, because of the absence of sunlight

Our pupils are dilated, so more radiation enters our eyes as soon as the Sun is partially visible

Very harmful rays are emitted by the Sun compared to ordinary days

Radiation can be absorbed by our skin, much more that what is possible during ordinary days.

9. If you draw a line from the Earth to Mercury, Venus will fall on it.

True

False

10. All plants prepare their own food

True

False

Correct answers to my questionnaire

For my degree in MA Education, I am doing a dissertation on the common misconceptions about science in society. 

Here are the correct answers to my survey:

1. An astronaut inside a space station is not in zero gravity, though the term is very

common in science fiction and documentaries. If there was no gravity, the space station itself would not be able to stay in orbit. The correct term for the gravity inside the space station is “microgravity.”

The station orbits the Earth because its centripetal force balances the gravitational pull of Earth. As a result, the astronauts inside also do not feel a net force, and appear to be weightless. Even then, the astronauts and the space station are under the force of gravity, still falling towards the Earth at a controlled rate.

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/nasa-knows/what-is-microgravity-58.html

2. The Moon is tidally locked to the Earth, which means that we see only one side of the Moon. This is called the “near side” of the Moon. However, the Moon receives light from the Sun, so as it revolves around the Earth and rotates, its entire surface gets light at different times.

3. Plants produce oxygen during photosynthesis, which takes place only during the day. They respire throughout the day and night. Since we learn that plants take in carbon dioxide during the day and oxygen during the night, it is a common assumption that they take in no oxygen during the day. However, the oxygen produced during photosynthesis is of much greater quantity that the oxygen used up for respiration.

http://indianapublicmedia.org/amomentofscience/sleeping-with-plants/

4. If the seasons were due to the distance, then the whole Earth should experience winter when the Earth is farthest from the Sun. However, when the Northern hemisphere has its winter, the Southern hemisphere experiences summer. Seasonal changes are due to the tilt of the Earth’s axis. When the Northern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, the intensity of solar radiation is high, resulting in summer. At the same time, the Southern hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun.

5. Evolution is not a directed process which results in more advanced organisms. It merely ensures that only the fittest species survive. This means that every species on Earth is currently as adapted to its environment as humans. It is also a misconception that humans are a descendant of monkeys. Humans and other primates (old world monkeys) have a common ancestor. The closest relative to humans are chimpanzees.

http://friendsofdarwin.com/misc/faq/why-still-monkeys/

6. A bullet shot from a gun is a projectile - it is released with a certain amount of kinetic energy, after which it slows down due to the action of gravity and the drag force (friction between the air and the bullet.

http://www.splung.com/content/sid/2/page/projectiles

7. Moon phases are because of the angle between the Earth, Sun and Moon, as seen in this picture:

8. A solar eclipse is harmful because of one reason - Sunlight can damage the retina of our eyes. The darkness during an eclipse means that it is possible to look at the Sun without difficulty. This, combined with the fact that the darkness dilates our pupils, means that a lot of light can enter the eyes quickly, damaging the retina.

Sunlight can hamper bacterial growth, but the darkness during a solar eclipse does not lead to any growth other than what occurs in the shade or during the night. There is no additional radiation from the Sun, and our body cannot absorb any more of the radiation than it usually does.

9. The planets in the Solar System all revolve around the Sun at differing rates, so that it is very uncommon for all of them to be in a straight line. This common misconception is a result of Solar System diagrams that show all the planets in a straight line for convenience.

10. Plants are producers, but not all of them produce their own food. For example, Monotropa Uniflora or the ghost plant and Cryptothallus.

Why look up?

We all know this nursery rhyme:

Twinkle Twinkle little star

How I wonder what you are

Up above the world so high

Like a diamond in the sky

Bharathiyar said:

“Suttum Vizhichudar dhan kannamma

Suriya chandiraro

Vattakariya vizhi kannamma vaana karumai kollo

Pattu karuneela pudavai padhitha  nal vayiram

Natta nadu nisiyil theriyum natchathirangaladi”

Translation: Your eyes are like the Sun and the Moon; your irises are as dark as the night sky, the diamonds in your dark blue sari shine like the stars at midnight.

There are songs about the stars in every culture, in every language, for just about each stage in life. Why does the night sky fascinate us so much?

For a long time in human history, the night sky entertained us. In the night, around a campfire, on cold dark nights, our ancestors told stories about the stars.  Once we understood the patterns in the sky, civilization began. “Plant crops when this star rises with the moon, harvest them when you see this star at midnight, a river will flood when a constellation is visible.” We could plan our lives around Nature instead of it catching us by surprise.  

As we progressed, stories took the back seat, and science took the wheel. We learnt about planets and stars, about galaxies and black holes. But still, we continue to gaze at the night sky.

As an amateur astronomer, I have the habit of looking at the night sky at every possible moment. Whenever the sky is clear I go up to the terrace with my binoculars. Once, from a two wheeler pillion, I yelled “look at Orion” to the driver. When I fell down a few days back, many people asked if it was after dusk. Not because it was dark, but because I walk with my eyes on the sky!

And very often, the question I am asked is this: What is the use of looking at the night sky? I cannot look at the sky and discover a planet or even a comet – people have already mapped the sky thoroughly, and observatories and space telescopes are keeping a close watch on it. Is there any reason to look at the sky now, other than for its beauty?

Speaking from my experience: No matter how much theory you study, or look at photos or videos, it does not match  observing a celestial object with your own eyes. Science does not take away wonder, it intensifies it. The faint smear of the Andromeda galaxy may look less important than surrounding stars, but we know that light from that smear has traveled 2 million years to enter our eyes. In a tiny patch of the sky, we know there is a black hole from which even light cannot escape. We know that an ancient star exploded to create the Sun and the Earth, continents and oceans, and you and me. And one day, the Sun will explode, repeating the cycle. We came from stardust, and will return to it.

The stars do not belong to any country or culture. It does not matter where someone is from, or whether they are strong or weak, stupid or intelligent, male or female. We are simply human. As human as the first people to walk the Earth, because we seeing the same stars that they saw.  The stars let us relive the thrill of finding out more about the Universe. This is a joy every amateur astronomer knows. For me, it is a joy I will enjoy throughout my life, and then, as Sarah Williams said in the poem “From The Old Astronomer To His Pupil”

“Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light;
I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.”

Don't Excuse Yourself

A Russian Jewish Engineer, Jakow Trachtenberg, was put in a concentration camp during World War II. There were several hardships – like backbreaking work, no access to medicine, and there was always the threat of death. During that period, he developed the Trachtenberg system of mathematics – a fast way to do arithmetic. Remember, he had no access to books, pen or paper. He created something in the worst conditions that a human being can be subject to.

Is there something that you want to create? A project that you want to complete? A task that you want to finish? If there is, what is stopping you?

Are those valid reasons, or are you giving excuses?

Everyday, we give excuses to avoid conflict, to get away from work, or to escape blame when dealing with others. There are some other excuses -such as – I can't study because the room is too dull.  I can't handle finances – you see my math is not good.  I've never been good at – fill in the activity of your choice – cooking, studies, science, planning, managing....the list goes on. All these excuses are not for others, they are for us!

Most of the time, the excuse that we give ourselves is “I don't have the time for it.” Is that really true? I know an author of 83 books, with a full time career. He found the time to take care of his children. At the busiest time in his life, he used to rock a cradle with his left hand while he wrote with his right. Today, his grandchildren remember him through his books, speeches, along with memories of talking and playing with him. I am one of those grandchildren. No one would have blamed him if he didn't spend time with his children, but he didn't give himself an excuse.

Most of the time, each excuse has an underlying reason.  

If you are addicted to something, it is because you want a distraction from your actual problems. If you are procrastinating, there is something you really dislike about the task that you are postponing. If you are spending too much time in planning without actually working on a project, you are afraid of failure. In short, if you are not doing something that you want to, it is because there is a mental block, somewhere. If you spot the underlying reasons behind your excuses, there is nothing that is stopping you from achieving your dreams.

In the words of the writer Charles Bukowski:

"if you’re going to create

you’re going to create whether you work

16 hours a day in a coal mine

or

you’re going to create in a small room with 3 children

while you’re on

welfare,

you’re going to create with part of your mind and your body blown

away,

you’re going to create blind

crippled

demented,

you’re going to create with a cat crawling up your

back while

the whole city trembles in earthquake, bombardment,

flood and fire.

baby, air and light and time and space

have nothing to do with it

and don’t create anything

except maybe a longer life to find

new excuses

for."

Never excuse yourself, for there is really no excuse for not reaching your dreams.

Sparkly sexist vampires > Space-Time curvature?

I haven't blogged for over three months. I did map out a number of posts, some on paper, some in my mind, but I never got around to sitting down and typing them out. But I came across something on the Web just now which I have to SCREAM about.

It's this:

The top search suggestion on Google for 'step' is Stephenie Meyer! Take a look at the people 'below' her - the second name is Stephen Hawking, and two steps down, there's Stephen King, who is one of the best writers of horror fiction. And as for Hawking....

My sister gave me Stephen Hawking's "A Brief History of Time" for my 16th birthday. I don't think I've ever held a book so reverently, or learnt so much from a single book after that. In it, Dr.Hawking presents cosmological concepts and theories in a simple narrative style, chapter after chapter. When I studied cosmology in M.Sc, I found that the theories in the book are a little oversimplified. But why did I study cosmology? Stephen Hawking was definitely a reason. His book is an inspiration to thousands, if not millions of young students. It is also an excellent resource for the even larger population who are curious about the Universe but have lost touch with mathematics.

So, what do I have against Stephenie Meyer? Absolutely nothing, except that all she has done is write the Twilight 'Saga.' (ugh)

I don't hate Twilight because hating it is fashionable. I hate it because I did read the books - I read the 50-odd pages in the first three books that remain if you skip the 'Edward is so handsome' parts. As for Breaking Dawn, I read it till the wedding and stopped because my pharyngeal reflex works. Talking about the Twilight 'Saga' is redundant, as the bad writing, sexism, and sparkly vampires in it have been discussed very well.

When more people are interested in the person who wrote Twilight than the person who wrote A Brief History of Time, all I can say is:

'நெஞ்சு பொறுக்கு திலையே - இந்த
நிலைகெட்ட மனிதரை நினைத்துவிட்டால்'

அன்னையர் தினம்

அன்னையர் தின நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்!

Happy Mother's Day!