Science

Refine Search

What is argon used for?

In the lighting industry, argon is used for filling fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs. Argon does not react with the filament and prevents oxygen from corroding it. In the welding and metal fabrication industry, argon is used to create an inert atmosphere between the surrounding air and liquid metal. The gas also prevents oxidation risks and minimizes smoke emissions.Argon is used in the automotive industry to weld mufflers, frames and other auto parts. It also creates a nitrogen- and oxygen-free environment for the annealing process and is an important component of airbags. The tires o..

Continue Reading

What are bones composed of?

Bones provide protection for the organs and provide support for the body. The adult skeleton contains 206 different bones. There are two types of bones that can be identified by the way the collagen forms. Woven bone is identified by unorganized collagen fibers and is weak. Lamellar bone is identified by organized, parallel collagen fibers and is strong.

Continue Reading

What is a Japanese snowball bush?

The Japanese snowball bush blooms most notably in mid to late spring. The shrub’s botanical name is Viburnum plicatum. The cymes, or flat-topped clusters, are made up of white flowers reaching up to 4 inches in width. In late summer, the shrub produces small, oval fruits that are particularly attractive to birds. The Japanese snowball bush is loved for its all-year-round aesthetic appeal. Winter exposes the shrub’s interesting form. Fall brings out the colored foliage, while spring marks the season for the shrub’s visually appealing flowers.

Continue Reading

What does "ATP" stand for in biology?

In animals, ATP is a product of glycolysis in the mitochondria, while in plants, it generally comes from photophosphorylation during photosynthesis. When used, ATP converts to adenosine diphosphate, or ADP, a chemical that can then be recharged with energy to become ATP again. Because of this, an organism's supply of ATP + ADP is constant, although the relative balance of the two fluctuates according to the organism's energy level.

Continue Reading

What is single-stream recycling?

Single-stream recycling systems were first developed in California in the 1990s and have spread to many other communities since then. Single-stream recycling reduces the costs of collection because only one truck is needed for collection. It also typically allows for a greater variety of recyclable materials to be collected, especially different grades of paper. As of 2012, 248 materials recovery facilities capable of handling single-stream recycling were operating in the United States.

Continue Reading

What causes a body to jerk during sleep?

The NINDS explains that myoclonic twitches or jerks cannot be controlled and sometimes happen when a person tries to make a movement or in response to an external event. The simplest form of myoclonus involves a muscle twitch followed by relaxation. Jerks or “sleep starts” while falling asleep is a normal occurrence in healthy persons and does not cause difficulties. However, widespread myoclonus includes persistent, shock-like contractions in a muscle group. In some cases, it starts in a particular area of the body and spreads to muscles in other regions.\nSevere cases cause distortion in..

Continue Reading

How is iron extracted from the earth?

Magnetite and hematite are iron oxides; however, the extraction of iron from an iron oxide involves a series of steps that begins when mined iron ore is crushed into smaller pieces by a crusher and then washed. The second step in the process is calcination or roasting of the ore, which removes certain impurities, carbon dioxide and other substances. Through this process, ferrous oxide also oxidizes to ferric oxide.\nThe blast furnace reduces iron from the iron oxide, but the complete reduction reaction requires the addition of coke and limestone to the roasted ore. After the completion of diff..

Continue Reading

Who tried to turn lead into gold?

Newton wrote a great deal on the subject of alchemy, though the Royal Society did not want to publish these writings after his death. Nonetheless, alchemy was important to scientific development, as the pursuit helped scientists make many other important discoveries.\nDiscoveries made because of alchemy include the creation of alloys and distillation methods. It also helped to develop the scientific method, as the process lent itself to repeated experimentation. Alchemists also theorized about atoms long before their existence was proven.

Continue Reading

What is competitive exclusion?

The idea behind competitive exclusion is that if two species compete for the same resources, one of those species will be at least slightly more efficient than the other. The more-efficient species naturally procures more resources for itself and its offspring, meaning that individuals of this species are more fit. The more-efficient species reproduces more effectively and thus edges out the other, which evolves or declines.\nIn Gause's Law, the extinction of a competitively excluded species only happens in a sort of ecological vacuum in which no evolution takes place. In reality, competi..

Continue Reading

What are the effects of exercise on the skeletal system?

According to an article in Sport Medicine, the best types exercise to improve skeletal health are weight-bearing activities because they force the exerciser to work against gravity. Hiking, weight training, jogging and playing tennis are considered weight-bearing activities, but activities such as swimming and biking are weight-bearing exercises too. Both men and women begin to lose bone mass as early as their 20s, and this process can be slowed considerably through a regular regimen of weight-bearing exercise.\nAccording the Mayo Clinic, the likelihood of developing osteoporosis, a condition ..

Continue Reading
Showing 1251 to 1260 of 10000 (1000 Pages)