Biology

Castaway Plants?

They are not cultivated by the people like so many plants which decorate the homes, offices and other public places. They grow by themselves on the edges of the roads and other places wherever they get a chance. They are weeded out of the fields by the farmers to clear the land for useful crops. They are very sturdy and can survive the adverse conditions. They are like the poor children who have no access to health care amenities and sanitation facilities. Some of them who survive all the diseases become very tough and become immune to every ailment. Almost… Read More »Castaway Plants?

The Sparrows

I grew up in a village. In my childhood days, there were lush green fields around our village. The land was very fertile and only animal manure was used to boost the crops. Water for irrigation came  from the canals and a schedule for distribution of water according to the area of land a farmer had was fixed. We used to go to fields everyday after our school. We took many detours on our way to our field. In the summers, we took dip in the cool refreshing waters in the canals in which cattle also cooled themselves. We stole… Read More »The Sparrows

Evolution of Living Beings

There have been so many attempts to understand the human behavior, yet it refuses to come into the grasp or to follow some universal formula. Wise men started to understand it with animals (we being one of them) and the father of Evolution , Charles Darwin, came up with the formula “The species always compete for the resources and those who the fittest among them survive and ready themselves for another competition”. He called it survival of the fittest. It is the nature’s way of weeding out the weaker among the species. This is the way all living beings have… Read More »Evolution of Living Beings

Watching the Evolution

I had a long cherished wish to watch the evolution in the making. But lifespan of us humans is infinitely short to witness the events taking place during the evolution which span over thousands or sometimes million years. But my desire grew with time. So I many a times felt anguished and helpless. We are living in a time when it is quite easy to access information. On the scientific front, there are wonderful instrument which are available making the life of a scientist comparatively easy. Think of the times, when Darwin, Newton, Kekule did their research. They were the… Read More »Watching the Evolution

Cannonball tree

Whenever I see these trees in my neighborhood, I am surprised by their odd features. These are Cannonball Trees. They are very upright and very tall trees. There are four or five trees in our area at Panvel near Mumbai. There are big ball like fruits of khaki color hanging just below the main canopy, very near to the beginning of the trunk. Some of them are as big as muskmelons. I am sure that if it hit someone who happens to be under the tree, it may cause a grievous injury. Ants gather on these fruits. Big shoots come… Read More »Cannonball tree

Devil’s Tree

There are rows of these trees in our colony. Tree is called Devil tree, Alstonia Scholaris. These are in prime condition, quite tall. They become very much noticeable during flowering season. The flowers have very strong scent. It becomes very difficult to breath because of intense fragrance. Fragrance of flowers from so many trees is so overwhelming that many children develop the breathing difficulties. This elegant evergreen tree is found in most parts of India. The generic name commemorates the distinguished botanist, Prof. C. Alston of Edinburgh, 1685-1760. The species name scholaris refers to the fact that the timber of… Read More »Devil’s Tree

Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary

It is situated in the Dhubri and Kokrajhar of Bodoland Territorial Council. It is situated in the North East India. The area is still pollution free and is full of wildlife both flora and fauna. Chakrashila wildlife sanctuary is home to many endangered species of birds and animals like Golden Langur, Assamese Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Leopards, Barking Hyenas and Wild Boars. Golden Langur (Presbytis Geei) which is on the verge of extinction is found here. It was spotted here in 1986. There are bats, rodents, mongoose & flying squirrels. It is home to 34 species of animals, 272 species of… Read More »Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary

View from Window

The view from from window of my room at 4 O’clock in the Evening: It is 4 O’clock in the evening. The sunshine is becoming pale at the approach of the evening. The mornings, evenings and nights are becoming cooler. Sky is still clear. Sitting in the same room of my home on the third floor, I am looking at the scene out side from the window. The outline of trees looks like the drawing of a child making lines with a pencil which are not straight but serrated. The shadows and lights are playing exclusive games in the branches… Read More »View from Window

Ad Makers thrive on ignorance of Public

In many ads about germicides, it is claimed that so and so soap kills 99.9% bacteria. This means that if there were 100000 of these microscopic beings, after treatment 99900 will be killed but still 100 will stay alive. One thing they don’t tell is that bacteria growth is exponential and within no time they will multiply again.  As the number of surviving bacteria will be less and amount of food is same as before, their proliferation rate is very high and they will grow within no time to large numbers. Only limiting factor against their growth is the starvation… Read More »Ad Makers thrive on ignorance of Public

Price Paid for Being Humans-1

It is a scientific fact that all living things evolved from the simplest single cell bacteria. These are called cyano-bacteria or green algae. They were the first harvesters of sun energy using photosynthesis and making food for themselves. Thus the food comes from the Sun. Slowly, the life diversified, especially after the introduction of oxygen into the atmosphere thanks to these green algae. Living beings evolved which cannot make their own food like plants but use the food prepared by the plants and burn it with oxygen. Then Darwin came and after a massive study and observations in the Canary… Read More »Price Paid for Being Humans-1