feature // 14

theotherpress.ca

 

 

Let’s Talk Science:

'., Chitwan Khosla
- Features Editor

- WM features

'  @theotherpress.ca

 

Science is about questions and
looking for their answers. If
Newton hadn't wondered and
looked for why the apple fell to
the Earth instead of going up,
we might have never found out
about gravity. So, like Newton,
this section is a quest to find
answers in the field of science,
logic, and theories. If you

have a question about science
that youd like answered, send
it to Chitwan at features@
theotherpress.ca

wr is meant by
grafting?

Grafting is method of asexual
reproduction for plants induced
by human-interference.
Farmers and gardeners cut

a part at an angle—usually
diagonally—of a plant or tree
that they want to cultivate or
grow. The addition is called the
scion and is then placed over

: the other tree or plant which

: is rooted. The rooted plant is

: called the stock which is also

: cut at almost the same angle as
: the scion so that the scion fits

: over it perfectly.

Then with the help of a

*

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Image from Thinkstock

Grafting, milk, and hair loss

: very low risk of immediate

: changes in the genetic structure
: of the plant. Other than in

: artificial reproduction, grafting

: is also widely used in repairing

: the damaged parts of plants and
: : trees.

: piece of cloth, wire, or rope, the :

: two plants are tied together.

: Over the course of time, the

: vascular tissues of plants help
: these two different plants join
: and become a single plant.

: When the graft starts growing,
: the support is also removed.

: Itis a very popular and an

: important technique used

: all across the world. It is vital

: for sustaining fruit orchids;

: Extension.umn.edu, a website
: dedicated to gardening and

: farming, informs that, “Fruit

: trees cannot be reproduced

: ‘true’ to the original cultivar

: from seed. They can only be

: reproduced by grafting.” :
: Grafting helps in producing :
: hybrid varieties with very

: minimal costs and also helps

: farmers use the same high-

: quality rooted stock multiple
: times. Another use of grafting
: is that it produces clones with

: Is milk a complete food?

: No, milk is not a complete food,
: or meal in any sense. Mother's

: milk, which is very important

: for humans and all mammals,

: though, isa complete food but

: only for infants. It is like a life-

saving nectar for them because

: feeding it protects them against
: numerous diseases and health

: issues. The Natural Resources

: Defense Council claims that

: the risk of childhood cancer in

: children below the age 15 who

: have been breastfed is eight

: times less than in children who
: haven't.

When we talk about us
as adults, it is very obvious

: that our bodies, activities, and

: energy needs are different

: than as children and everyone

: needs to have an appropriate

: diet. Milk is avery healthy and

: essential part of a balanced diet,

: but it shouldn't be mistaken

: fora meal substitute. It has

: essential vitamins and calcium
: but also lacks certain nutrients
: our bodies need. Vitamins A,

: B6, and E, and minerals like

: iron are not found in sufficient
: amounts in milk. Also, vitamin
: Cis completely absent in it.

: However, it isa great source

: of protein, Biz, and calcium

: which is especially great for

: vegetarians.

: What is the primary cause of
: hair loss?

: There is no single cause of

: hair loss, although your family

: doctor or grandmother might

: have told you many times that

: diet and stress playa key role,

: and they would have been right.

In the case of diet, a

: deficiency of some vitamins

: and overuse of a few others

: can trigger hair loss. Lack of

: protein, vitamin Biz, iron,

: and excessive vitamin A are

: some factors behind hair loss.
: Stress is another aspect. Both
: physical and mental stress

: negatively affect your body

: by changing your hormone

: levels. Illness, accidents,

: pregnancy, menopause,
: and fatigue also add to the

: problem. Over-styling your

: hair damages it from roots to

: tips, thereby causing them to

: shed. Chemicals in styling gels,
: hair dyes and colours, sprays,

: and heat from hair styling

: products, are murderers of your
: beautiful hair. Sleep is a very

: important and yet often ignored
: factor behind this problem.

: Lack of sleep causes changes

: in hormonal balance. Further,

: scalp infections or oiliness may
: lead to rapid hair loss in some,

: especially in men. You can also

: blame your genes for it. Many

: atime, it isa hereditary issue.

: Hair loss is also a side effect

: of certain medicines but also

: depends on your body’s reaction
: towards different medications.

: Another prominent factor

: for hair loss is weather. You

: might have noticed that hair

: fall is much more visible in

: rainy seasons than drier ones.

: Moisture loosens the hair

: follicles, making the hair break
: apart easily.