Of dessicant and silica gel

As most anhydrous salts are hygroscopic, they can be used to absorb moisture. Especially useful to prevent fungi growth on photographic equipments.

Here are some examples:

1. Calcium chloride
CaCl2 + 2 H2O → CaCl2·2H2O

2. Silica gel (sodium silicate)
It's high surface area enables it to absorb water in copious quantity.

Indicators are often added to indicate moisture content.

Recently I was involved in an argument whereby a so-called "synthesis chemist" argued with me that silica gel changes colour due to oxidation with water. What a great joke!

a. The change in colours is due to presence of indicators. One example is cobalt (II) chloride (CoCl2). In the presence of water, this particular salt changes colour from blue to pink.

b. Anyone with basic understanding of chemistry will know that colours are usually imparted by transition metals. In this particular, cobalt ion forms complexes with water molecules.

c. Solid sodium salts are boringly white in colour.

The best part was when he had the audacity to ask me to backup my claims with journal citations. I doubt he even knows how to search scientific literature efficiently.

The story behind.

Sheesh!

Cows with resealable stomach

Another post on cows, this time with some surgical operations done to open a window into their special stomachs.

As a ruminant, a cow's stomach is very different from most mammals. It consists of 4 chambers: the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and the obamasum (true stomach).

Although the surgical operation to have a resealable window in the cow's stomach seems cruel, this treatment is vital for us to understand better on the digestion of cellulose. The stomach content can be analysed from time to time to mark the progression of cellulose digestion.

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Meet the Super Cow

This is the result of selective breeding, for cows which naturally have a gene mutation for unregulated muscle growth. Pure lean meat = high protein productivity = better profits!

As there is no manipulation of genetic materials, the technique cannot be described as genetic engineering, but as a form of selective breeding.

The mating between the cows have to be regulated and done artificially (artificial insemination), in order to maintain the trait within the line of cows.

More info: Belgian Blue

Nidji of Indonesia

Ever since I heard their performance at the recent 2009 Sunburst Kuala Lumpur, I have become a huge fan of them.

These are a few songs that I managed to find on youtube.

1. Laskar Pelangi

2. Hapus Aku

3. Biarlah

4. Jangan lupakan


Some photos of the band when they were performing at the recent KL Sunburst 2009: link

80s cartoon

Let's see how many you could remember:

1. Silverhawk

2. Saber Rider and the Star Sherrifs

3. Thundercats

4. He-man

5. Dangermouse

6. The Snorks

7. Ducktales

8. The Real Ghostbusters

9. Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers

10. The Transformers

11. Freakazoid

12. Pinky and the Brain

13. Pink Panther

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