Science behind sleep

   

Science behind sleep

                             ~ Harpreet kaur

Do you always think of why our body needs sleep so much that even if we desire to work longer ,our eyes keep stuttering? What are the reasons behind this nature ? If yes, you are at the right place to get all your answers about the sleep. Because there is science behind everything even sleep ! And a wise  person have said your curiosities end when you meet science. Ummmm…...yeah its me. So, Let us explore the science behind sleep.

Until the 1950s,most people thought sleep was an entirely passive activity. Nowadays, we know that brain is actually very active when we're sleeping.why? Some scientists say it's because neural circuits replay important memories when we sleep. You must be thinking how does that help? Well ,this strengthens the connections among cells in those circuits, helping us form new memories, consolidate older ones, and link more recent memories to earlier ones.

Not only does sleep help us create and consolidate memories,but it also helps us maintain a healthy immune system,regulate hormones that affect our appetite and stay energetic when we're awake. In other words, it plays an important role in brain development.During sleep, pathways form between nerve cells (neurons) in our brain that help us remember new information learnt. Sleep deprivation leaves our brain exhausted, so it can't perform its duties. One finds it more difficult to concentrate or learn new things. The signals our body sends may also come at a delay ,decreasing our coordination skills and increasing our risks for accidents.

               Sleep deprivation also negatively affects our mental abilities and emotional state.We may feel more impatient or prone to moodswings.It can also compromise decision-making processes and creativity.

  Circadian rhythm (a  biological cycle) maintains sleep awake cycle. Light is probably the most significant pace setter of the  Circadian rhythm. Staring into a bright light for 30 minutes or so can often reset your circadian rhythm regardless of what time of day it is. More commonly, the rising of the sun and light striking our eyes triggers the transition to a new cycle. Blind persons are more prone to sleep disorders. A hormone called melatonin is produced in response to dark. Some researchers believe that this hormone is responsible to induce sleep. Strong blue light from Tv ,Computer or Mobile screens may disturbs the sleep awake cycle.

             So, following measures can be followed for better sleep.

1.  Go to bed at same time  daily. 

2. Don't use blue lights at night. 

3. Avoid caffeine. 

4. Don't make your bedroom a multi-purpose room.

5. Your room should be dark, quite and cool

6. Always listen to some mild music for 20 minutes before going to sleep.

7. Aim for atleast 30 minutes of sun exposure each day.

End of the world

END OF THE WORLD:" CLIMATIC CHANGES"

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By Harpreet Kaur

"END OF THE WORLD" ,a phrase we have been listening from last many years but nothing happened yet, we are still alive .The World is still living and running at same pace. So ,why  we hear about it after 2-3 years? Is there something going on?

     Yes, It's actually happening,the end of the world not like the series :) . It is already around us in the environment ,in the waters we flourish from, underneath our feets but at slow pace.Its called Climatic changes.

The changes occuring in our environment from last many years and consequently changing our chances of survival on this Earth. Just in the last  650,000 years there have been seven cycles of glacial advance and retreat , with an abrupt end of the last Ice age ; marking the beginning of new Modern Human Civilization.

The most important factor behind all the climatic changes is found to be 'Global Warming' which is a result of human activities since the mid 20th century and is proceeding at a rate that is Unprecedented over decades to millennia.

The heat trapping nature of carbon dioxide and other gases was demonstrated in the mid-19th century. Their ability to affect the transfer of infrared energy  through the atmosphere is the scientific bases of many instruments. These gases are also referred to as Greenhouse gases.There is no question that increased levels of these Greenhouse gases must have caused the Earth to warm and in response Ice shores from Greenland, Antarctica and tropical mountain glaciers exhibit changes. The ancient and paleoclimate evidences reveals that current warming is occurring roughly ten times faster than the average rate of ice age recovery warming. Some of the changes that are occurring around us includes Global temperature rise, unwanted and unpredictable rainfalls, warming oceans, Sinking ice sheets, Glacier melting, decreased snow cover, sea level rise, ocean acidification etc. 

All these changes are increasing water concentration with increase of temperature.Nature knows how to retrieve itself so in respond this time nature will repeat history once again if we continue such activities that support Global warming. If in coming few years, this series of changes will continue to occur then at one point ,Nature will retrieve it all again with the return of Ice Age or can say Extreme Ice age.The more we put nature in extreme conditions,equal we will get in future.

So it is a reality,Our End is indeed near and it will come,but still we have a chance to slower it down by changing our activities otherwise our future will be laid inside few metres high thick layers of Ice and with it will be buried this Human Civilization, the past and present altogether with an Icy future.

        

Scientific Temper

Scientific Temper

Love for science!

                 By Harpreet kaur

Introduction

What do today's children want to be when they grow up?NO SURPRISE HERE!

40% school children want to take up science to become doctors and engineers.

Love for Science

1. 1/4th of 48.7 million graduates are science students.

2. 31% student enrolled for science at graduate level.

3. 60% students in class 6 to 8 want to graduate in pure sciences, engineering and medicine.

4. 57% students in class 11 th and 12th want to pursue science as well.

Need of the hour

1. Build up the newly discovered scientific temperament.

2. Shift emphasis from theory to applied practical way.

3. Create more opportunities to study science.

4. Institute excellence award for scientific innovation.

5. Encourage greater research collaboration among universities and national laboratories.

6. Hold children's science congress

7. Expand basic Science infrastructure

 

See It is that easy, Science is one of the subjects that we can use to improve our daily life . So dive into the biggest ocean of knowledge and explore what's in there for you!

     "The science of today is the      technology of tomorrow"

~Edward Teller