GK Everyday Science

Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in the body, including the breakdown of food molecules in the stomach.

Oil, water, and gas separate based on density. Gas is the least dense and rises to the top, oil is in the middle, and water is the densest, settling at the bottom.

Holography is a technique that uses laser light to record both the amplitude and phase of light waves, allowing for the creation of 3D images.

Osmium is the densest naturally occurring stable element on the periodic table.

Radiocarbon dating measures the decay of the carbon-14 isotope to estimate the age of organic materials, such as fossils.

Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, containing one proton and two neutrons in its nucleus.

During re-entry, the spacecraft creates a layer of ionized gas (plasma) due to extreme friction. This plasma layer blocks radio waves, causing a temporary communication blackout.

Photosynthesis involves the intake of carbon dioxide and water, which are converted into carbohydrates (glucose) and oxygen, which is released as a byproduct.

Penicillin is a group of antibiotics derived from Penicillium fungi, used to treat bacterial infections. Aspirin and paracetamol are analgesics, and sulphadiazine is a sulfonamide.

Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and a photosynthetic partner, typically algae or cyanobacteria. Therefore, algae and fungi are the primary components.

A hygrometer is a scientific instrument used to measure the humidity, or the amount of water vapor, in the air.

Kinetic energy is defined as the energy that an object possesses due to its motion. Potential energy is stored energy based on position, not motion.

Aspirin is a widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat pain, fever, and inflammation. Opium and morphine are narcotics, which are not the most widely used for general pain relief due to their addictive nature.

Iodine is abundant in sea water and marine organisms. It is commonly used to treat goiter, a deficiency disease caused by a lack of iodine.

The Triple Antigen (DPT vaccine) is used to provide immunity against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus.

A fracture is a medical term for a break in the continuity of a bone. It is distinct from a sprain, which involves injury to ligaments.

Karl Landsteiner is credited with the discovery of the ABO blood group system in 1900, for which he later received a Nobel Prize.

Hydrogen is the first element in the periodic table and has the lowest atomic mass, making its atom the lightest.

Biological control, or biocontrol, involves using natural enemies or organic natural compounds (like pheromones or botanical pesticides) to manage insect populations without relying on synthetic chemicals.

Weight is the force of gravity on an object. At the center of the Earth, the gravitational pull from all directions cancels out, resulting in zero weight.

Hard water is characterized by a high concentration of dissolved minerals, specifically calcium and magnesium ions.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, which are the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.

Chlorination is the most common and effective method for disinfecting city water supplies to kill bacteria and other pathogens.

Grafting is a horticultural technique whereby tissues of plants are joined so as to continue their growth together. This allows different fruits to grow on the same tree.

Archimedes' principle states that a body immersed in a fluid is buoyed up by a force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the body. This is the fundamental principle of flotation.