Once upon a time, a kind Brahmin (a priest) was given a goat. The goat was a gift for performing a ritual. He decided to carry the goat home on his shoulders. Three clever thieves saw him walking through the village. They decided to trick him into giving up the goat.
However, the thieves did not want to steal the goat by force. They came up with a plan to manipulate the Brahmin into thinking the goat was some other animal. They waited at different points along the road for the Brahmin to pass by.
The first thief approached the Brahmin. He said, “Why are you carrying a dog on your shoulders? Don’t you know it’s unclean for a holy man like you to carry a dog?”
The Brahmin was surprised. He looked at the goat but did not believe the man. He kept going on his way.
The second thief met him a little farther down the road. He said, “Oh my! Why would a learned Brahmin carry a dog on his back? How strange!”
This made the Brahmin start doubting himself.
“Is this really a dog?” he wondered but kept walking.
Finally, the third thief met the Brahmin. He exclaimed, “How shameful! A holy man like you carrying a filthy dog! What will people think of you?”
Now the Brahmin was convinced that he must have been carrying a dog all along. He threw the goat to the ground and ran away. The thieves happily took it.
This story shows how manipulation works. Manipulation occurs when someone tries to get you to do or think something by tricking you. You don’t realise it is happening. The thieves did not take the goat by force. They made the Brahmin doubt himself by repeating the same false idea. This is how manipulators try to control others. They make you question yourself even when you know the truth.
Manipulators are everywhere. They often fail to control young people because their parents or teachers are there to protect them. For example, imagine being a kid and someone trying to sell you a “magic” light by claiming its battery will never run out. Your parents will tell you that such a battery does not exist. However, you may have to face these situations alone as an adult. So, you need to learn how to identify manipulators and guard yourself against them.
Do you see the spider weaving its web? Is it waiting for an insect to get caught in its web or is it repairing the broken parts of the web? We cannot know the answer to this question, but still it is very fun to guess what the spider is doing.
Spiders secrete a special material called spider silk from glands in their abdomen. They weave webs by using this secretion. They use their webs to catch their prey, build nests and protect their eggs.
Spiders can make silks with different properties according to their needs. For example, they use dragline silk, which is very durable and flexible, to build the base of their webs or to hang down from a high place. This silk is so strong that it is even stronger than steel of the same thickness.
Spiders produce sticky silk to catch their prey easily. In this way, the prey caught in the web is stuck and the spider catches it quickly. Spiders also produce silks with different properties for various purposes such as protecting their eggs, making cocoons and wrapping around their prey.
Another important feature of spider silk is that it is an eco-friendly material because it can be broken down over time by small living things in nature and can disappear without harming the environment.
It’s just like a rubber, which can be stretched and then go back to its original shape. The properties of spider silk, such as its resistance to temperatures between -40 °C and 200 °C as well as its ability to absorb and hold moisture from the air, enable that the web remains surprisingly flexible and durable.
As a unique material with all these properties, spider silk has been researched by scientists and engineers for years. Scientists are trying to understand the structure of spider silk, and engineers are trying to produce artificial materials similar to spider silks. They are looking for innovative solutions inspired by the properties of spider silk. One such example is the glass protecting birds. Spider webs have a structure that reflects UV light (type of light that we can’t see with our eyes) to keep birds away from the web. Birds can see UV light, so they recognise spider webs and do not hit them. From this feature, scientists developed bird-friendly glass. Thanks to this glass, birds don’t crash into glass-covered buildings.
So, what do engineers think about how and in which other areas spider silk can be used?
Here are some of the project ideas: Lightweight and durable building materials inspired by spider silk can be used in the production of bridges, buildings or aerospace vehicles.
Spider silk can be used in sportswear and protective clothing thanks to its durability, lightness, flexibility, air permeability and moisture absorption properties.
Spider silk can be used to produce surgical sutures that can disappear over time in the human body.
Inspired by the structure of spider silk, a more durable, flexible and eco-friendly material can be produced instead of plastic.
Durable structures can be built by analysing the geometric structure of the spider web.
The water droplets accumulated in the web also satisfy the spider’s need for water. Based on the water retention property of spider silk, devices that collect water in the air can be produced.
The hole in an elevator, often found at the top of the cab, serves an important safety feature known as an "emergency exit hatch" or "elevator escape hatch". In the event of an elevator malfunction or entrapment, this hatch provides a means of escape for passengers and elevator technicians. Rescue personnel can access the elevator car through this opening, allowing them to provide assistance or evacuate passengers safely. Moreover, the hatch facilitates maintenance work on the elevator's machinery and components, enabling technicians to reach crucial areas easily.
The presence of the hole ensures that passengers and technicians can be rescued efficiently and enhances the overall safety and functionality of elevators.
The Jatakas, also known as Jataka tales, are a collection of stories in Buddhist literature that recount the previous lives of Gautama Buddha, who later became the historical Buddha. According to Buddhist tradition, these tales illustrate moral lessons and ethical principles through the experiences of the Buddha in his various incarnations. The Jatakas portray the Buddha in different roles, such as animals, kings, merchants and ordinary people, demonstrating virtues like compassion, generosity and wisdom.
These stories service as moral guides, emphasising the importance of virtues and ethical conduct in one's journey towards enlightenment. The Jatakas are significant religious texts in Buddhism and valuable cultural and literary heritage, influencing art, literature and moral teachings across various Buddhist traditions and cultures.
Imagine looking up at the sky, waiting for rain, but instead of water droplets, you see fish falling! Sounds strange, right? Well, it may sound like something out of a storybook, but it’s actually real. There are places on Earth where it quite literally rains fish. One of the most famous places where this happens is a small town in Honduras called Yoro. There have also been fishy rains in other parts of the world, like Lajamanu in Australia. But how does this happen, and why?
In this blog post, we’re going to dive deep into this fascinating phenomenon and find out the science behind why fish fall from the sky.
Where Does It Rain Fish?
Yoro, Honduras: Home of the “Lluvia de Peces”
The small town of Yoro in Honduras is one of the most well-known places where it rains fish. Locals call it Lluvia de Peces, which literally means “rain of fish” in Spanish. According to the people of Yoro, this bizarre event happens at least once or twice a year, usually between May and July. It occurs after a heavy thunderstorm, with dark clouds and strong winds, and soon enough, fish are found scattered all over the ground.
The locals believe this is a miracle, and there is even a legend that says a Spanish missionary, Father José Manuel Subirana, prayed for the people to have food, and ever since, the fish have been raining from the sky. But is it really a miracle? Or is there a scientific explanation behind this fishy rain?
Lajamanu, Australia: Fish Falling in the Outback
Another place that experiences this unusual phenomenon is a remote town in Australia called Lajamanu. Back in 2010, the people of Lajamanu witnessed fish falling from the sky not once, but twice in the same week! This town is in the Northern Territory, in the middle of the Australian outback. So how did fish end up raining there?
The fish were identified as spangled perch, which are common in rivers and lakes across Australia. However, Lajamanu is hundreds of miles away from the nearest river. So, what caused this strange event? Let’s explore the science behind it.
The Science Behind Raining Fish
You may wonder, how is it even possible for fish to fall from the sky? Well, while it may seem magical, there’s a scientific explanation that can help us understand this mystery.
Water Spouts and Tornadoes
The most common scientific theory behind raining fish is that strong winds, such as waterspouts or tornadoes, are responsible for picking up fish from rivers or lakes and carrying them up into the sky. A waterspout is like a tornado that forms over a body of water. It has a powerful funnel of wind that can suck up water – and anything in it, including fish.
Once the fish are lifted high into the clouds by these winds, they can be carried for several miles. Eventually, when the storm loses its strength or the wind can no longer carry the fish, they fall back to the ground, creating what looks like a rain of fish!
Storms and Weather Conditions
In places like Yoro, the rainy season often brings intense thunderstorms. These storms, combined with powerful winds, can lift the fish out of the nearby rivers. It’s thought that the fish come from the Aguán River, which is located some distance from Yoro. When the winds are strong enough, they can carry the fish all the way to the town, where they eventually drop to the ground.
In Lajamanu, it’s likely that strong updrafts during the thunderstorms lifted the fish from a distant body of water and dropped them over the town. The spangled perch that fell are known to be hardy fish that can survive being out of water for a while, which explains why many of the fish were still alive when they hit the ground.
Fishy Rains Around the World
Honduras and Australia aren’t the only places where it has rained fish. There have been similar reports of fish falling from the sky in other parts of the world, including:
India: In 2008, people in the Kerala region witnessed fish raining down during a monsoon.
Iran: In 2023, a video went viral showing fish falling in a village after a rainstorm.
The United States: In 1947, in Louisiana, there was an event where fish rained down after a storm, causing quite a commotion!
These instances all have similar explanations—strong winds and storms carrying the fish from water sources and dropping them elsewhere. Although it’s rare, these events have been happening for many years and have been documented across the globe.
Is It Dangerous?
You might wonder if raining fish could be dangerous. After all, it’s not every day that fish fall from the sky! Fortunately, these events aren’t usually harmful to people, as the fish are typically small and light. However, it can be surprising for those who aren’t expecting it, and it can cause a bit of a mess with fish flopping around everywhere!
Why Do People Celebrate It?
In some places, raining fish is seen as a blessing. In Yoro, Honduras, people celebrate the Lluvia de Peces with a festival. They believe it’s a miracle and a gift of food from the heavens. After the fish fall, the locals collect them and cook them, sharing the meal with their community. For the people of Yoro, it’s more than just a strange weather event—it’s a sign of hope and abundance.
Can Other Things Rain from the Sky?
Believe it or not, fish aren’t the only things that have been reported to fall from the sky. Other animals, like frogs and birds, have also rained down in various places around the world. The same principle applies: powerful winds or storms lift these creatures into the air and drop them in places far from where they originally lived.
In 1873, a report from Kansas, USA, said that frogs rained down during a storm, and there have been other accounts of frogs falling in Serbia, Japan, and the UK. Like fish, these animals are caught up in strong winds and carried far away from their natural habitats.
Conclusion: While the idea of raining fish might seem unbelievable at first, it’s actually a rare but real event. Thanks to the power of nature, storms, waterspouts, and strong winds can lift fish out of rivers and lakes and carry them high into the sky, only to drop them down miles away from their homes.
Gong Bath, also known as gong meditation or sound healing, is a spiritual practice that originated in ancient cultures, with roots in Himalayan and Southeast Asian traditions.
Used by indigenous communities and spiritual practitioners for thousands of years, the practice involves the use of resonant sounds produced by gongs, crystal bowls, and other instruments.
Participants lie down in a relaxed position while a practitioner plays gongs, creating vibrational sound waves that envelop the listener, evoking a state of deep relaxation and altered consciousness.
The significance of a gong bath lies in its ability to calm the mind, reduce stress, and foster self-awareness.
The sound frequencies resonate with the body’s own energy, encouraging a meditative state and, often, emotional release.
Many practitioners believe it aligns the body’s vibrations with the natural frequency of the Earth, known as the Schumann Resonance, facilitating a feeling of interconnectedness.
The benefits of gong baths are wide-ranging, from promoting relaxation and relieving tension to aiding sleep and reducing anxiety.
Additionally, sound healing is believed to stimulate healing processes, detoxify the body, and enhance mental clarity, making it a popular practice in holistic wellness and spiritual development.
Facial recognition Technology is a cutting-edge innovation that identifies and verifies individuals based on their unique facial features.
Some smartphones use facial recognition technology to recognise a face and unlock the phone. Here, the technology simply identifies and recognises a person as the sole owner of the device, thus limiting access to others. Beyond unlocking phones, facial recognition is used in other places too, to identify people in photos, videos or in real time. It is a technology that compares a picture of a person’s face to a bunch of other faces stored in a computer in order to identify or confirm an individual’s identity.
The biometric software used in facial recognition technology uses mathematics to understand and remember how a person’s face looks and stores it as a faceprint. Deep learning algorithms are used to compare a live capture or digital image to the stored faceprint.
How it works
● Step 1: Face detection
The camera looks at a picture of a face. This can be just one face or a bunch of faces in a group.
● Step 2: Face analysis
Next, the camera closely examines the face and studies it. It pays attention to things like how far apart the eyes are, how deep the eyes are set, how long the face is from the top of the forehead to the bottom of the chin and the unique shapes of the cheeks, lips, ears and chin. These are the particular points that make each face different.
● Step 3: Converting the face into numbers
The camera changes the face picture into a code made of numbers. It’s like turning your face into mathematical formula. This code is called a faceprint. Just like your fingerprint, your faceprint is also unique.
● Step 4: Finding a match
Now, when the faceprint is compared to a bunch of other faceprints stored in a computer, it is looking for a matching puzzle piece. If the faceprint matches the one in the computer, the computer would have found the face it belongs to.
How is it used
● Unlocking phones: New mobile phones now use facial recognition to unlock the device. This helps protect personal information and keeps sensitive data safe, especially if the phone gets stolen.
● Law enforcement: Facial recognition is used to identify people quickly and accurately. This is particularly useful in urgent situations when the police need to find someone dangerous or a person involved in a crime. Officers can also use their smartphones or other portable devices to take pictures of people and compare them instantly to a database of known faces to identify wanted individuals.
● Airports: Facial recognition is being used at security points within airports to make sure travellers are who they say they are. For example, in Indian airports, Digi Yatra is being used to allow travellers to move through airport checkpoints without using physical documents. Instead, they can use their face to prove their identity, which is linked to their boarding pass.
● Finding missing persons: Facial recognition can also be used to find missing persons. When reported, the missing person’s photo is added to a database. If their face is recognised at places where cameras are placed, such as airports, roads or railway stations, law enforcement can be notified, making it easier to find them.
It's important to note that while facial recognition can be very useful, there are also concerns about privacy, security and potential misuse of technology. We need to make sure we take the maximum advantage of it while also making it less risky.
Did you know?
Automated facial recognition was pioneered in the 1960s by Woody Bledsoe, Helen Chan Wolf and Charles Bisson, whose work focused on teaching computers to recognise human faces.
