Monday 30 April 2012

Rubbing alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is a type of denatured alcohol, an alcohol product rendered unfit for human consumption by the addition of poisons and bitter tasting ingredients. It is a liquid prepared and used primarily for topical application. It contains approximately 70 percent by volume of pure, concentrated ethanol or isopropyl alcohol. It is a cellular, volatile and flammable liquid. It is transparent, though it can be colored as desired.


Rubbing alcohol can be applied as a cooling, soothing application for bedridden patients and athletes. It is also widely used for cleansing surgeons' hands and instruments and for the disinfection of skin prior to the penetration by a hypodermic needle. It is also recognized as a rubefacient because it evaporates quickly and is used to cool and soothe skin. This product can also be used to harden skin, such as in the case of the fingertips of guitarists.
Some of the daily uses of Rubbing alcohol are :
Stain Removal -
It can be used to blot away fresh ink stains on carpet or clothing.For tougher stains, soak the spot in rubbing alcohol for several minutes, then wash.
In the Garden -
Rubbing alcohol can also be used to clean garden tools that have been used to remove dead, diseased and rooting plants.
Dry Erase Board Build-up -
It easily removes build up from dry erase boards, and can be swiped over dirty computer keyboards, cll phones and MP3 players.
Health and Beauty -
Helping out in beauty and fashion department, rubbing alcohol can substitute for nail polish remover and clean the backs of pierced earrings as well.
Remove Dog ticks -
Ticks hate the taste of rubbing alcohol as much as they love the taste of your dog. Before you pull a tick off, dab the critter with rubbing alcohol to make it loosen its grip.
Erase Permanent markers -
Rubbing alcohol will dissolve the marker back to a liquid state so that you can wipe it right off.

Warning - Rubbing alcohol is not a drinking alcohol.
Poisoning can occur from ingestion, inhalation or consumption of rubbing alcohol. That is why it should be used in a well-ventilated area due to inhalation hazards. Symptoms of isopropyl alcohol poisoning include headache, dizziness, central nervous system, nausea, vomiting and coma. Product labels for rubbing alcohol include a number of warnings about the chemical, including the flammability hazards and its intended use only as a topical antiseptic and not for internal wounds or consumption.

Sunday 29 April 2012

Purple Crab

Four new species of crab have been discovered in the Philippine island of Palawan. And one of the crabs truly stands out with its unusually bright purple shell. Located between the Sundaic and Philippine region, Palawan combines two of the world's most important biodiversity hotspots. Around 50 percent of the species living on Palawan are defined as endemic, which means they are exclusively native to the island.


The newly discovered purple crab species is very tiny - just one to two inches wide, so bright purple color indeed would be an advantage for recognition. Found only in small, lowland-forest ecosystems in the Palawan island group, most have purple shells, with claws and legs tipped red. The tiny crustaceans burrow under roots in streams, feeding on dead plants, fruits, carrion and small animals in the water at night. The tiny creatures can hide in spaces unavailable to their large counterparts and require less food. They can also survive in less habitat.


These newly discovered crabs are not secure. Reptiles, birds likely prey on the crabs, and it is possible that people in remote areas also collect them for food. However, the main threats are the ongoing forest clearing for farming, mining or home building, since the risks drying up their small habitats. All these activities cause water pollution leading to their elimination. Even if the habitats are not entirely destroyed, the smaller the remaining habitats, the higher is the risk of extinction for a species.

Boiling point of human saliva

Human saliva is composed of 98% water while the other 2% consists of other compounds such as electrolytes, mucus, antibacterial compounds, and various enzymes.
A person cannot taste food unless it is mixed with saliva. For example, if strong-tasting substance like salt is placed on a dry tongue, the taste buds will not be able to taste it. As soon as a drop of saliva is added and the salt is dissolved, however, a definite taste sensation results. Saliva contains the enzyme amylase that breaks down starch into sugar. The daily salivary output ranges from 0.75 to 1.5 litres. It is generally considered that during sleep the amount of saliva drops to almost zero. 


There are many controversies regarding the boiling point of human saliva. It is assumed that the boiling point of saliva is nearly three times than that of pure water (boiling point of pure water is 100° C). But according to the mathematical calculations, it comes out to be 100.16° C.
The saliva helps detect cancer or other illness. Saliva testing using Elisa test kit helps you discover cancer cells and hormonal problems. It is also useful in drug testing and in other medical evaluations. It also helps heal the wound. Scientists have found that histatin, a small protein in saliva is responsible for the healing (previously only believed to kill bacteria).
Note : Opiorphin is a newly researched pain-killing substance found in human saliva.