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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…
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Two DNA Profiles, One Body: The Fascinating Science of Chimerism
October, 1953. Northern England. 33-year-old Mrs. McK (a pseudonym) visited a nearby blood clinic with her husband to donate blood for the first time. After donating, they both finished some little work and returned home. By then, the blood donated at the clinic had reached the laboratory for screening tests. As soon as the lab…
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Megalodon: Tale of an Oceanic Giant
When we envision the colossal beings that once reigned over our ancient Earth millions of years ago, it is the mighty dinosaurs that first come to our mind. But, an even more fearsome titan once ruled the vast oceans of our planet, leaving no waters untouched—not even our Bay of Bengal. This was the mighty…
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Detecting Kala-Azar Parasite: Novel Method Developed by Researchers from University of Dhaka
In the tropical region, a neglected life-threatening disease is visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar. This disease is prevalent in approximately 60 countries worldwide, including Bangladesh. The Mymensingh belt in Bangladesh, in particular, has a higher incidence of this disease. In the country, 45 districts are in the endemic stage of kala-azar. Research indicates that…
