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Stem Cell: The Unsung Hero of Our Body
In ninth grade, I first encountered the term “stem cell” during a biology class with our teacher. At the time, it seemed like just another cell. However, I later discovered that stem cells are far from ordinary; they are the very foundation of our existence. Stem cell possess the remarkable ability to transform into various…
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On the evolutionary origin of RNA and DNA
In the grand orchestra of life, proteins and nucleic acids stand as the most pivotal players. These two biomolecules not only sustain the intricate workings of living organisms but are also believed to have composed the first whispers of life itself. From the simplest unicellular beings to the most complex multicellular creatures, countless biochemical reactions…
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Why is there radiation coming from the outer space?
Recently, a headline caught the public’s eye: “Radio signals coming from alien worlds, scientists worried.” While intriguing, the headline was quite misleading. The truth is, radio signals from space are not unusual—they’re a regular occurrence. There’s no reason to be alarmed. What’s genuinely fascinating, however, is understanding the cosmic processes that create these electromagnetic signals.…
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Jocelyn Bell: The Woman Behind the Pulsar Discovery
It was 1967. The University of Cambridge, a beacon of knowledge in England, became the stage for a groundbreaking exploration into the origins of the universe. Scientists were determined to trace the faint whispers of the first stars born in the cosmos. To achieve this, a series of radio telescopes was meticulously arranged across the…
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Karl Jansky: The Father of Radio Astronomy
In the early days of telecommunication, static noise often disrupted telephone conversations. Even today, walkie-talkies echo with the same familiar hiss. This disturbance, formally known as “signal noise” or “white noise,” doesn’t belong to the original signal. Instead, it creeps in from external sources, mixing with the main signal and distorting the sound. The result?…
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GM Crops: Concerns and Awareness
The rise of GM crops is deeply rooted in society’s ongoing battle against hunger and food scarcity. To truly understand why GM crops became a necessity, we must journey back through history. In the early 19th century, English economist Thomas Robert Malthus proposed a population theory that sent ripples through intellectual circles. His theory, in…
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Why do Deep-Sea Fish Look so Bizarre?
As a child, I grew up chanting the familiar saying during my geography study: “Three-fourths of the Earth is water, and one-fourth is land. Three-fourths of the Earth is water, and one-fourth is land. Three-fourths of…” The words felt like an unshakable truth etched into my young mind. But as the years flowed by, that…
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Fetus in Fetu: The Surprising Case of a Twin Inside a Twin
Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared to be pregnant in the 1994 movie Junior. But that’s just a movie. What if I told you that similar things actually happened before in real life, where male patient carried a fetus? Fetus in Fetu is a rare and surreal occurrence where one fetus forms within another. Throughout the centuries, humanity…
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CAPTCHA: From Turing’s Test to Internet Security
April, 1950. Computer Lab, University of Manchester, England. In a lively mood, British mathematician and computer engineer Alan Turing was discussing the cognitive abilities of computers with his colleagues. The topic of discussion—could a computer ever apply its own intelligence to work as an alternative to humans, as a bot? To unfold this question, they…
