Month: October 2017

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60 Years Ago From Today Sputnik 1 Was Launched and Opened the Space Era

Posted on by Rubayat M.
Sputnik 1 earth’s first artificial satellite

On Oct. 4, 1957, earth’s first artificial satellite Sputnik 1 successfully launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome (Kazakhstan) and entered Earth’s orbit. IT was launched by former Soviet Union (USSR) but it was also a big achievement for the whole human race as it  began the space age. The word ‘Sputnik’ originally meant ‘fellow traveler’.

Launch of Sputnik 1 became a major triumph for the Soviet Union and also stunned the rest of the world. Details of the development and the launch of Sputnik 1 was hidden from the general public. Decades later the information was made public.

Even though the satellite itself wasn’t equipped with sensors but provided scientists with valuable information. Sputnik 1 remained in orbit until January. 4, 1958, when it re-entered and burned up in Earth’s atmosphere.

Writer – Rubayat M.

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Nobel Prize in Medicine Goes to 3 Americans for Body Clock Studies

Posted on by Rubayat M.
Three Americans doctors wins Nobel prize in medicine

Monday October 2, 2017 three Americans Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash (Brandeis University in Massachusetts) and Michael W. Young (Rockefeller University in New York) won a Nobel Prize in the field of medicine. They discovered key genetic reason for the body’s 24-hour biological clock, also known as “circadian rhythm”. Which we
commonly called “jet lag”.

What is circadian rhythm

Circadian rhythm is a 24 hour(roughly) cycle in the physiological processes of living beings (human, animal, plants even cyanobacteria). It  determining the sleeping and feeding patterns. There are other biological activities like – brain wave activity, hormone production, cell regeneration also happen during the process.

Human Brain & Hypothalamus

Human Brain & Hypothalamus

How it controlled ?

There is a “master control” (inside the brain) that coordinates the whole thing. A group of nerve cells known as “suprachiasmatic nucleus” or “SCN” inside the hypothalamus control the activities. Suprachiasmatic nucleus contain only 20,000 nerve cells! Circadian rhythm controls when you need to go to bathroom at a particular time of
day or feel sleepy on a certain time.

 

Their contribution

These doctors ware able to look inside and discover the detail of the whole inner working process. Because of this doctors now are able to understand better about a patient’s condition. For example doctors have discovered a genetic mutation in some people who have a chronic sleeping problem.

 

 Writer – Rubayat M.