Power play
This powerful invention is used in everything from cranes that lift heavy objects to the motors in your toys and gadgets. Read on.
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These folks are playing on the beach but the two pictures are not the same. Find 10 differences between them.
Want to take a walk on the beach this weekend? Here you go! But wait! Are these two pictures the same? No, they only seem that way. Spot the 12 differences that set them apart.
In sparkling white
This traditional building technique combined practical and environmental principles with aesthetics. Read on.
Take the following ingredients: jaggery mixed with water, egg whites, ghee, freshly curdled yoghurt. No, this is not a recipe for an eclectic new dish. These were ingredients used in the making of Madras chunam, a smooth marble-like finish that was used for plastering the walls of buildings.
You may have heard the words chunnambu (Tamil) or chuna (Hindi). Chunam refers to a plaster made of lime (calcium oxide), applied on building walls as the final coat, to protect the building and improve its appearance. Madras chunam was a plaster extensively used in Tamil Nadu. It was made of burnt lime from seashells and river sand. This was then mixed with various biological ingredients, and applied on walls in multiple coats, in an intensive process spread over many days.
At different stages, jaggery, water, eggs, curd and talc were added in specific proportions. The wall was left to cure between coats and rubbed and smoothed manually to finally achieve a beautifully polished surface. Besides plastering, Madras chunam was also used as mortar to bind bricks together.
Lost technique
Today, it is one of the many traditional techniques lost because of the time, effort, and skilled work that it requires. Modern buildings are commonly made of concrete and cement mortar, which also use lime as a main ingredient, but is produced and mixed industrially. Paint is the final finish, whereas chunam required no other finishing. The sparking white surface had an added benefit in hot climate: it reflects rather than absorbs heat, keeping the indoors cooler.
The shiny and durable finish of Madras chunam was widely admired. British writers like James Holman and Dr. James Anderson regard it as the finest cement they encountered in India and abroad, for both beauty and durability. Madras chunam was used in many colonial buildings of Chennai such as the Senate House and the Chepauk Palace. The technique is said to have travelled even to Singapore and used in the district of Little India.
While the ingredients are curious, they also served a purpose. According to a study published in the journal IJHS in March 2020, jaggery or sugar enhanced the dissolving of lime in water, while sour curd and egg whites acted as binders. All of this made the building more durable and gain more strength as the building ages, often outshining modern, industrial methods.
Indigenous architectural techniques often combine practical and environmental principles with aesthetics. The walls of your current home are likely made of concrete. Now take some time to ask your grandparents what their homes was made of, and see if you find anything interesting!
Local and unusual
Where else can you find unusual local ingredients?
Sticky rice was added to lime mortar while building the Great Wall of China.
In Rajasthan, additives such as jaggery, jute fibre, and methi (fenugreek) were added to lime mortar.
Flying high
The javelin was once used as a weapon to hunt and in war. Today, it has become a sport which is part of the Olympics.
We all know what a javelin is and what it was used for. But how did it come to be a part of the world of sports? Read on to find out.
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Monthly Planner: August 2024
What are your plans for August? Use this planner to figure out what to do this month.
Frozen wonders
Discover the magnificent world of Arctic animals, who have adapted to the most extreme of weather conditions.
Arctic animals, such as polar bears, Arctic foxes, and seals, have evolved in unique ways to survive the extreme cold and scarce food supply. Their thick fur, layers of blubber, and behaviours like huddling for warmth enable them to endure freezing temperatures. These remarkable creatures navigate icy landscapes and long, dark winters, showcasing the incredible resilience of wildlife in the Arctic.
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Quiz Whizz: August 1, 2024
This set of six questions on varied themes will test your general knowledge. Can you answer all of them correctly?
It’s the first of the month and let’s give the brain a good workout. Here’s a quiz to help you do just that. Go on, take a shot at answering these six questions.
Cool down
Can you guess this word that’s related to health and fitness in as few attempts as possible?
This five-letter word accompanies almost every exercise or workout. It also cleanses your body and regulates temperature. Can you guess what it is?
How to play
You have to guess the hidden word in as few attempts as possible. You have up to 6 attempts. After each attempt, letters will be shown in three colours. If the letter is green, it is present in the word and is in the right place. If the letter is yellow, it is present in the word but is not in the right place. If the letter is grey, then it is not present in the word.
Balance the books
What does the Union Budget offer for kids like you? Read on and find out if there’s anything exciting in store.
Imagine you get pocket money every week. You might spend some on candies, save a bit for a new toy or book, and put the rest in your piggy bank. The government of India does something similar, but on a much larger scale!
Each year, India’s Finance Minister, like the country’s money manager, presents the “budget.” This budget is a detailed plan that shows how the government will use its money. Just as you decide how to spend your pocket money, the government
decides how to spend money on important things like schools, hospitals, and roads.
On July 23, 2024, Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, announced the budget for this year. Here’s what’s exciting for kids like you:
Why does this matter?
Why should you care about all this? Think of it like planning an epic adventure. If you’re organising a big trip to an amusement park, you need to decide on your budget for tickets, snacks, and souvenirs. You’ll plan to make sure you have the best time with everything you need!
The government’s budget is like planning that amazing adventure but for the whole country.
The tickets and snacks are like building new schools and hospitals.
The fun rides and games are like new parks and playgrounds.
The special souvenirs are like new technology and learning resources.
So next time you hear grown-ups talking about the budget, you’ll know it’s not just boring money talk. It’s a big plan to make India an even better place for you to grow up in!
Steal the show
Ever wanted to tell a story all by yourself? Writing your own monologue is one way to do this.
