40 Images of WildFire Destruction and Aftermath

Wildfires burned 93,296 acres in California during 2009. In the last 5 years over 270,351 acres have been burned. There are various different things that can start wildfires, from natural lighting strikes, to auto accidents, camp fires, cigarette butts and even just heat building in dry areas. Once they start, depending on the location and weather conditions, the fire can spread pretty fast and consume everything in its path. Here are 40 images of these types of fires.

The first 20 images are of various wildfires being fought in California. Heat from these fires can reach 1,470 degrees Fahrenheit making it difficult to fight, both from the heat and the immense size of the fire. Firefighters have to deal with many different effects in these fires, from weather conditions, underbrush, dry seasons, location, etc. Many times these fires start in areas that are hard to get to and have to be fought from the air as well as the ground. Firefighters also have to deal with many chemicals besides wood being burned, when these fires hit structures such as homes, buildings, and cars, they have to deal with all sorts of chemicals being burned.

The second 20 images are of the aftermath that the people there have to deal with. Many people every year lose everything they have to these fires, barley getting out with their lives. Some are not so lucky and lose everything including their life. Think about what having to deal with the loss of everything, you home, cars, papers, furniture, everything. What do you do, where do you go, how do you begin to start over.

With a degree in Fire Science, you can help in research and study, as well as physical fighting of these fires to help prevent or contain future fires. In doing so, you are helping the land, the animals that live there, the human life’s and everything they own.

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How Fire Extinguishers Work

Fire has been around for a very long time now. It has benefited human kind in more ways than we can imagine. However, it has also destroyed homes and lives that are too precious for words. That’s why even if fires are necessary to us; it is still something to be afraid of. We need to be careful and take steps in order to prevent its rampage.

We never think of fire in a scientific way. We always say that’s what we use to cook food, to warm our body when it’s winter, etc. But fire is actually combustion, a reaction that happens when certain chemicals combine with oxygen to produce heat. Combustion needs three things, namely fuel, air, and heat. Fuels are something that burn, like wood, paper, and coal. By air, it is the oxygen around us. Heat can come from the surrounding temperature; stoves also produce heat.

To stop the fire from breaking out, we need to extinguish at least one of the three. That’s what fire extinguishers are for. They fight the fire using the substances inside. There are two substances in every can: one can be a solid, liquid, or gas material depending on which type you choose; the other is a propellant. The material is specially made for the sole purpose of fighting the fire. A propellant, meanwhile, helps push out the material because it is highly pressurized.

The four types of fire extinguishers: water, dry chemical, CO2, and metal/sand. Each of them has their own variations, and is used on different occasions. When buying a fire extinguisher, it is important to know what can cause the fire in that area. Is it simply caused by ordinary materials like paper or electrical equipment gone wrong?

Water extinguishers are, as the name says, water. This is the most common type and works by taking out the heat from the fire. It is never used in laboratories and electrical stores because it will worsen the fire. The cause of the fire should only be paper, wood, or other ordinary materials easily removed by water.

Dry chemical extinguishers are more versatile in its use. Because of the chemicals making up the extinguisher, it can also be used in electrical fires and those caused by flammable liquids. This is made up of foam or powder to separate the fuel from the air around it. Nitrogen acts as the propellant here, unlike water extinguishers which uses compressed air.

Carbon dioxide is a non-flammable gas which makes it a good choice for a fire extinguisher. The gas is kept at very high pressure inside the aerosol can to make it into a liquid substance. When released, the CO2 swells up and removes the fire. How? CO2 sucks up the oxygen in the fire and gets rid of the heat because of its cool temperament. The best way to use this fire extinguisher is in electrical things and flammable materials. It’s not the best choice for paper or wood-caused fire. Take note that this works really bad with metal fires as CO2 sometimes reacts with them in a different manner.

Lastly, metal/sand extinguishers. If the cause of the fire doesn’t work with any of the kinds above, then this is the solution. Flammable metals are the hardest to extinguish, so metal/sand extinguisher is the best choice for this.

Like I said earlier, be sure to know the cause of the fire because it would mean extinguishing the fire or making it worse. Putting water on electricity will electrocute you and others nearby. Instead of helping, you’ll harm them. When no other fire extinguishers are available, just run away from the fire and call for help. That’s the only thing you can do for now. Also, it’s impractical to put out a huge fire using only a fire extinguisher, since its power is limited. You might just harm yourself along the way.

Maintain the fire extinguisher in its good condition. Who knows when an emergency will happen? See if there are any leaks or damage to it. The pin should also be intact, because if not, maybe the pressure isn’t as high as it should be. It won’t work as well.

Fire extinguishers are made for us to use in case of emergency. That’s why there’s a glass to be broken first before you can take it out. Breaking the glass can alarm the fire department and cause panic to everyone. Fire is no laughing matter.

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Becoming a Fire Fighter

Being a firefighter is something to be proud of. The job is rewarding, and it helps a lot of people. They give back to the community the blessing they have. Firefighters are the ones who stop raging fires and rescue those in danger. Not only that, they are also the ones who teach people about fire prevention. It’s no wonder why young children look up to them and want to like them.

However, the job of a firefighter is not that easy. They have the very important task of seeing to the welfare of others. That’s why there are a few requirements before a person can become a real firefighter.

First of all, they should be of legal age, which is 18. A high school diploma is also needed. These are general rules, but it actually depends on the fire department and state being applied on. While being extremely smart isn’t necessary to be successful in this field, being healthy and fit is a must. The process is a long one, and lots of examinations are needed to pass.

There is a medical check-up, written and psychological examination, an oral interview, and the hardest is the physical examination.

Before anything else, a check-up is required. This can be the easiest or hardest test you will meet along the way, depending on the condition you’re in. There is a drug test, which is no joke for the fire departments. Failing this, no matter how good you are, won’t mean anything to them. Also, having a clear eyesight and hearing is an advantage. But the test is thorough, so even the heart, lungs, and blood pressure will be checked.

Usually, the next exam would be the written one. It isn’t very hard, as long as you are prepared. This is similar to a college entrance exam; you have to study for it. The test is consisted of multiple choice problems. The topics are math, reasoning and spelling, among others. However, passing this doesn’t mean the rest is easy.

The truth is many applicants fail the psych exam. They just don’t have the mind and heart to do the work well. A good firefighter must have the personality to go with it. Sociable, calm, and decisive are only three of the qualities one must show. How can they act upon an emergency when they can’t make sense of the situation? And since firefighting requires teamwork, a person has to get along not only with his superior, but with his peers as well.

The oral interview is just similar to a job interview. They ask the applicants questions to get to know them better. Questions are usually put into scenarios and answering them to the best of abilities is needed. The interview can be a pass or fail one, no grading. This isn’t always the case, though. Also, other departments require an interview first before an applicant can proceed to the latter exams. So this is really very important.

Probably the hardest among the others is the physical agility exam. In order to pass this, one must have the lots of strength, stamina, and great agility. The work of a firefighter is really hard, and this test will show whether you’ll be able to handle the exhaustion that comes with it or not. Before taking this test, working out will be a big plus. Unless you’re very healthy and fit, this will drain you to the core. Don’t think that this isn’t necessary; because being a firefighter means that you will save lives. Just carrying one person requires heavy lifting, and that’s not including the heavy clothing being worn. Besides that, the smokes from the flames are pretty heavy on the lungs and you need to have a strong stamina to get through it.

The next time you see a firefighter passing by, respect him. He earned it. After going through the arduous process, those who passed really deserve it. Not only because of the examinations, but because they have the heart that comes with it. For someone to even think about being a firefighter, they would need to be committed. That’s a big part of the job, because they have to sacrifice a lot of things. They are even risking their lives saving and helping people. They teach the public about fires and how to deal with it. Children are right to admire this profession. It’s not only fulfilling, but also honorable.

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Top 10 Movies About FireFighters

Firefighting has been a great theme for movies for decades. There’s always a rush of adrenaline whenever we watch these movies. That’s not what we only see, though. We see inspiring tales about brave men and women willing to give up their life just to show their love to their community. Being a firefighter is a profession to be proud of. That’s something not everyone is able to do: save lives.

Below is a top-ten list of movies about firefighters. These are all heart-warming and a great story to tell. A few are even true stories which make it better and we can better relate to them.

1. 9/11 – This is a documentary film made by Jules and Gedeon Naudet. They were filming a New York firefighter when they shot a footage of the 9/11 air crash on the World Trade Center. The movie isn’t about the terrorist attack, but rather about a firefighter rookie and his peers being heroes.
2. Ladder 49 – After being mentored by Mike Kennedy, Jack Morrison has become an expert in the field of firefighting. He has been through so much harm, and always remains unscathed. However, in the worst fire he’s ever been, he gets trapped in a building with nothing to do but reflect since he has hurt his relationship with his family. Meanwhile, Kennedy and his colleagues try to save him from the harm he’s now facing.
3. The Towering Inferno – A disaster movie made in the 70s, it has been giving honor to the firefighters who have sacrificed so much for the safety of others. The story is about a fire that broke through a skyscraper as a big party was being held in celebration for it. The firefighters meanwhile are having a hard time because of the height of the building.
4. Backdraft – Brian MdCafferty, a rookie firefighter wants to prove himself to his more experienced brother when a series of fire starts to break out. This is caused by an arsonist, and wanting to stop the catastrophes, Brian begins to work with an investigator to stop the fires. In the end, Brian learns about the true meaning of being a firefighter.
5. Hellfighters – An inspiring story about firefighting, Hellfighters is a story about Chance Buckman and his team of firefighters. They put out oil fires, which are more dangerous than ordinary fires. The movie focus on the hardships being endured by firemen and the friendships and love they discover along the way.
6. Frequency – Changing the past has never been this electrifying. For John, that is his ultimate dream. Go back in time to save his firefighting father from dying. But that change led to other alterations, including the death of his mother. Every time John travels to the past, something different happens in the present.
7. Brothers…On Holy Ground – After the brutal 9/11 attack, firefighter Mike Lennon begins to interview firehouses who have lost brave men.  Included there was John Santore, who was interviewed before the attack and died during. The story is not only about him, but also about widows who grieves for their husbands. This movie touches all who watched it, as lessons about the anguish and pride firefighters feel is taught to us.
8. Turk 182! – Although Jimmy’s brother was injured due to a fire, he wasn’t given any benefits. This was because it was an off-duty rescue, so it wasn’t really necessary for the government to provide for him. At the same time, the mayor is in a scandal, which was worsened by Jimmy’s graffiti. We see the struggle Jimmy and his brother faces to get what they deserve.
9. Firehouse – A New York firehouse gets its first black man as its firefighter. Shelly Forsythe thought his greatest fight would only be with fire, not knowing it would also be racism. He had to struggle to earn the respect of his peers. His boss was one of them, but in the end, learned to value Shelly’s bravery and integrity.
10. Taking the Heat: The First Women Firefighters of New York City –1977 was the year when Brenda Berkman and other female firefighters applied for the job. All of them failed the test, which brought up a huge debate whether to hire them or not. But it is only the first of the series of trials they face, as they soon learned that even their male colleagues would sabotage them simply because they were women.

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Natural Medicines to Heal Burn Scars

Many people have experienced minor burns over the course of their life and have tried to heal the scars using various over-the-counter and prescription products.  We have put together a short list of natural products that you can try to heal burn scars.

1. Papaya – It may seem unlikely that a tropical fruit can treat your burn scar but there is actually evidence that the fruit can be helpful due to the enzymes in the fruit.  You should manually crush the papaya and rub the fruit over the burn area.  Let it sit for a 10 minutes before cleaning it off.
2. Blue Yarrow Oil – If you are trying to heal a radiation burn, then your best bet is to try blue yarrow oil.  This is an essential oil that is normally used in aromatherapy and different types of alternative medicine.  You should combine 8 drops of blue yarrow oil in an atomizer bottle (fill the rest with water).  Let them combine for 2 hours and then spray that mixture on the burn scar and let is sit again for 10 minutes before wiping it off.
3. Lime Juice – Lime juice can be effective after the wound has healed up to reduce the burn scar.  Once the wound has healed, you can squeeze the juice out of a lime and rub it directly on the wound.  Let that stand for 10 minutes before wiping off the juice.  You should repeat this as many times as you want in order to get the best results.
4. Vitamin K – This is one of the best nutrients for your skin.  Most lotions and moisturizers include Vitamin K.  You can either get a topical Vitamin K rub or ingest more Vitamin K in order to reduce burn scars.
5. Apply Pressure – Unlike some of the other treatments this is something that you do immediately after the burn.  You can use a wrap or other pressure garment to try and reduce the swelling normally associated with a burn and that will reduce the size of the eventual scar (though it can be painful).

Of course these treatments should only be used after checking with your physician to make sure that in your particular case the treatment you are considering will enhance what your doctor is already prescribing.

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Quran and Science of Meterology

Quran Treats the phenonomenon of Rain and Hail

The Quran has claimed not once but twice in most explicit terms to contain all knowledge that concerned humanity. And has challenged the world to bring a chapter like it, when I was asked that Quran was not the book of science, it was only the book of religion. How therefore, the treatment of the subjects like atomic science, the atomic bombs and atomic radiations could be expected in a book of religion. My answer to this was and is that the Quran is a book of a religion indeed, but it is the book of a religion that is perfect and complete and may be expected to provide answer to every question that was concerned with the humanity. If the destruction of the habitations of Sodom and Gomorrah received a mention in it, while these habitations were no larger than a negligible part of a modern city, how then the mention of a destroyer which would not leave so much as a blade of grass unburnt from one end of the world to the other, could be ignored without damaging the claim to universality. The Quran must be expected to give an answer to the question of atomic annihilation of the world. Again it may be asked whether the Quran contains the outcome of the research of modern science of meteorology. The answer to this question is yes it does. Quran shows this in one sign (Ayat) of about forty words. Read the following from the Quran regarding the phenomenon of rain and hail:-

” Hast thou not seen that Allah gently driveth forward the clouds and gathereth them together, and then layeth them in heaps? Thou also seeth the rain which falleth from the midst thereof, and Allah sendeth down from heaven, from mountains wherein there is hail, He striketh therewith whom he pleaseth, and turneth the same from whom He pleaseth, the brightness of His lightening wanteth but little of taking away the sight”.

( Quran XXIV – 43 )

” Have you not seen that God drives the clouds, then joins them together and puts them fold on fold. Then you see the rain fall through them; and He sends down hail from the sky where there are mountains of it, and strikes those with it whom. He will, and wards it off from whomsoever He pleaseth. His lightning could snatch away their eyes”.

(Quran – An-Nur-43 The Light)

You have read it now, or you have heard it. And if you pen to be a meteorologist, how much of the science of modern meteorology you have discerned in it, so that after we have explained it, you might compare. To most of the readers of the Quran it is merely a matter of common observation which has been mentioned by the Quran ; whether in the translation or in the original Arabic text of the Quran. Let this be remembered, however, that the mysteries are revealed only in the original Arabic text and never in the translations. It is the Arabic text of the Quran that reveals the essence of the modern science of meteorology about the phenomenon of rain and hail. Read the Quran -An Noor-43 )

In the first sight there appears to be no scientific facts of the modern research, but by the grace of Al-mighty Allah there are scientific facts to be revealed to those possessed of knowledge, and sincere in their faith in the Quran. The original Arabic text of the Quran has miracles to reveal. Most complex, intricate and perplexing facts of science and philosophy may be found in the words and mysteries discovered. To a knowledgeable reader the world of the Quran appears like kaleidoscopic world. The words changing their forms and clows and assuming new forms and colours, astonishing and perplexing the poor human intellect. During my forty-year long research in the Quran more than once I went to sleep with satisfaction that I had exhausted the meanings of a certain sign. But next morning to my surprise I saw the same sign blossoming with fresh flowers that had exchanging colours and delightful fragrance.

Let it be remembered that the modern science of meteorology is of recent origin, while the Quran was revealed fourteen centuries ago. If therefore the discoveries of the mo dern meteorology are found in the Quran, there remains no doubt about the divine original of the Quran, and the Quran deserves to assume a unique place among the divine scriptures.

We will now interpret the sign (Ayat) of the Quran in the light of all the latest discoveries of science in the field of meteorology. It is generally observed by the Non-Muslims, that whenever a discovery of science appears, the Muslims prop up the Quran saying, Lo! here is it written in the Quran, why the Muslims cannot find these facts from the Quran before the discovery is declared by science. The answer to this objection is, that firstly the Quran is not the text book of science to teach the people the technique of producing the things that are produced by the science, rather the Quran observes and regulates the entire life of humanity, every aspect of it. Therefore the Quran has its own style of treating the subject of pure science. Secondly, the Quran would not like the appearance of certain things or their wrong use in order to keep the humanity safe from the noxious effects thereof. Therefore the Quran treats such subjects of science in its peculiar manner. For instance the Quran has treated the atomic science, the entire essence of the subject, but has not taught to build the atomic bombs. Thirdly, if the Quran had explained the inventions of science as we see them today and had used the terms as we hear them today, it is not difficult to imagine that the hearers of that time, would have stampeded away thrusting their fingers in their ears, yelling, ” How impossible, how nonsensical, away, away to your rational creed, the creed of our fathers”. The fate of Islam was thus no hidden secret. And it was a miracle of the Quran, to say a thing comprehensible and appealing to its first hearers, and conceal within the same language that could answer all that was to come in time in any form, scientific, philosophic, economical, social. Yet let it be understood that the corroboration of the Quran and science is a topic fraught with imminent dangers. Science changes while the Quran is constant. Once said, for-ever said. The corroborator therefore must have thorough knowledge of science, to discern the established facts from more theories and hypotheses, and should at the same time have the thorough knowledge of the Quran to its real mind. Otherwise there is a great possibility of wrecking the reputation of the Quran, and making this word of God about of ridicule, unrecking at the same time the doom of the corroborator himself. I have seen many a corroborator that blundered in this field and fell from the cliffs to the vale of ignominy. God save us from such a doom. I myself am a corroborator, but I weigh a thing a hundred times and pass many a sleepless nights before I find courage to pen a single fact or to bring it on record. Yet I pray to Allah, the Merciful to guide me aright in this hazardous field and let me have no personal or other consideration, and forgive any slip of fall. I am obliged to take to this field for no other reason than that it has become the inevitable necessity of these days. Otherwise the early authentic commentators of the Quran have left no point unambiguous.

Now let us revert to our topic in the name of Allah the Benign, the Merciful. Allah says:-

“(Alam Tara). Has thou not seen?” This question was first posed to the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) and his contemporary Arabs. Now it could be posed to the meteorologist. This is the marvellous feature of the All-time and eternal Quran.

Then :-

“(Annallaha Yuzji). That is God drives”. It is to contradict the view of those who think that the laws of nature work on their own, or that the whole affair of creation is accidental only. Here the God asserts his complete control of the Phenomenon.

Then (Yuzji Sahaban). (Sahab) means a cloud, but the derivatives formed on its root (sahaba) give the meanings as, to drive along, to drag along, to withdraw, to recall, to retract etc. The modern meteorological science on this point says, ” Previous to a thunderstorm, the clouds are in great commotion. Great masses being torn asunder, others uniting together. These clouds being electrified, some more some less strongly, act inductively on one another, and if a piece happens to be torn away with more than its fair share of electricity that has been induced into it, it may soar away intensely electrified, several such pieces may unite to form a big cloud”.

Then The Quran says:-

” (Thumma Yuallifu Bainahu). That is thereafter affects between the different parts of the cloud a harmony and achieves affinity between them. Generally it is translated as ” and gathereth them together”. In order to know what sort of harmony and affinity is affected and achieved between the various parts of the cloud, let us read the following from the science of meteorology.

” To achieve the coalescence of the minute spherules of water into fallable rain drops, a proper electrical affinity, between a particle and a particle within the cloud and further, within the cloud and the earth has to be achieved. In the presence of a strong positive charge in the cloud the SPHERULES WOULD TEND TOWARDS SEPARATION, EXCLUDING ANY POSSIBILITY OF THEIR COALESCENCE. A charge of milder sort in the vicinity has been found to be helpful for the desired coalescence for the spherules into rain drops. The necessity of the ELECTRIC POTENTIAL and hence the electricity itself, having thus been established a slight ACIDIFICATION of the cloud water is to be UNDERSTOOD as a means to impart conductivity to the water, which in a state of its purity is a bad conductor of electricity”.

Let the great masters of Chemistry read these chemical processes explained by the Quran.

Then the Quran says:-

” (Thumma Yajaluhu rukaaman)”. That is then “layeth them in heaps”. Let us read what the modern meteorological science says about the heaping up of the cloud. It says:-

” When the vapour in the air is condensed not through contact with cold bodies, but through the cooling of a mass of vapour -ladden air, then a cloud is formed. A cloud consists of fine drops of water. if it be near the ground it is called mist or fog. It would at the outset seem impossible to classify or account for the myriads of forms of the cloud, but when we come to observe and watch them closely, two main types of cloud-forms assert themselves. Those which appear in fillowy well-defined shapes, and those which spread over the heavens in a layer thick or thin, partial or complete. The former of these is called CUMULUS, a Latin word meaning HEAP, the latter STRATUS, a Latin word meaning A LAYER. These names are due to LUKE HORWARD (1802) and have been used by all cloud observers since his time. The meteorological science is of recent origin. It developed within the centuries of this modern age. Luke Horward (1802) first used the Terms CUMULUS and STRATUS”.

The Quran has anticipated him by centuries. The word Rukaaman which the Quran has used means exactly the CUMULUS. So far as the Term STRATUS is concerned, the Quran has used it in another sign (verse) about the very same topic. The sign is as follows:

That is : ” Allah is He who sendeth the wind so that they raise clouds, and spreadeth them along the sky as pleaseth Him. And forms them in layers, and thou seest the rain downpouring from within them”.

( Quran XXX – 48 )

” It is God who sends the breezes that raise clouds, then spreads them over the sky as He please, fold on fold, then you see the drops of rain issue from between them. When He sends it down to those of His creatures as He will, they are filled with joy”.

(Quran The Romans, 48)

The actual word is (Kisafan) which means to lay in layers, to stratify, to lay layer upon layer. It is exactly the term STRATUS, the term of Luke Horward. Though generally it is translated as, “causeth them to break”. It is surprising to note, that the Quran anticipated Luke Horward (1802) by centuries. The words of the Quran thus are not only scientific but also prophetic.

Then the Quran says:-

(Fataral Wadaqa Yakhruju min khilaalihi). That is : Thou seest the rain which falleth from the midst thereof. Actual word is (Min Khilaalihi), that is the rain is pouring from the (khilal) of the cloud. The meaning of this word is pin, skewer, spit. The root of this word is (khallala) which means to acetify. “Khal” means vinegar. Now the necessity of the acidification of the cloud water we have already narrated in the previous pages. A charge of milder sort is essential to achieve the coalescence of the spherules. The charge necessitates electricity. But pure water is a bad conductor of electricity. It is necessary therefore to acetify the water to endue water with the quality of conductivity. Thus the role of the word (khilal ) in the phenomenon becomes clear, to mean that no (khilal) meant no rain, and therefore no life on earth.

The Quran further says:-

(wa yunazzilu min assamaae min jibaalin fiha min bardin). That is:- ” And Allah sendeth down from heaven, from mountains wherein there is hail”. First imagine a cloud like a mountain of hail. How beautiful is the mountain of white pearls and how exact but novel is the simile. But the point which attracts our attention is hidden in the word (jibaal) which means mountains. The root of this word is (jabala) which means to kneed. Perhaps the most astonishing discovery of the modern meteorological science is that no mist nor fog could be formed, unless there were present in the vapour-laden air particles of dust or sand to act as the nucleus for the spherules of water that constitute the fog. This has been proved, since air filtered through cotton wool, has no tendency towards fog formation. The hail pellets likewise have been found to have been built around a spec of dust acting as their Nucleus, a process in distinction from that of the formation of snow. Now let us see the word (jibaal) that is mountains used by the Quran. The word Jibaal has been derived from the root-verb (jabala) which means to kneed. Then imagine a cloud of rain or of hail, wherein every spherule has a spec of dust or sand though invisible to naked eye. Certainly the cloud appears like a mountain made of dust particles kneeded with water. Remarkable also is the role of mountains in the formation of rain.

Now in the end it may be asked that the Quran in this phenomenon has made no mention of the great role played by the air. It is the air that carries the moisture, and it is the air that wafts the clouds. without the air no rain would have been possible. The question takes our thought to another sign (Ayat) of the Quran which is identical with the sign which we are discussing, and has mentioned the role of air. In the previous pages we have alluded to sing just read:-

(Quran-Alarum -48)

(Allah-u-lazi yursilu-arriaha fatuseeru sahaban). That is, ” He is Allah who sendeth the winds, so that they raise clouds”.

( Quran XXX-48 )

The Quran’s challenge, “Bring ye a chapter like unto it” stands good for every age, including this age of science. The knowledge of science shown by the Qruan is such that no scientist will ever think of being an equal to or like the Quran, the amazing word of Allah, the God of the worlds.

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Making Science Fun

Every school in America is required to teach science. This is because science and scientific learning is a fundamental part of our existence. Most everything that we encounter on a day-to-day basis is, in some way, related to science. Even when we are sleeping, science is there to explain why we need to sleep and what takes place while we are sleeping. Because of this, science education is essential to life as we know it. Of course there will be many people who are happy to go through life without knowing how a bird can fly. Even given this fact, there will always be something that they will need to know and understand that is grounded in science. Even if it is something as simple as ‘fire is hot’ or ‘getting punched hurts. Science is there to explain these simple things too.

A good foundation in science through science education is required for all children, but the way that this education takes place is not strictly defined. With that said, many schools will take to science experiments using hands-on science products and supplies. This is an excellent way for students to ‘see’ the science around them. Often times learning from a book can be tedious and will cause students to become uninterested in the subject matter. A science experiment, however, is interactive and forces the students to take part in science learning. These projects don’t have to be complicated and will usually result in a much higher level of learning retention.

There are a few reasons why children better retain knowledge gained through scientific experimentation. One is it allows you to appeal to those children who are visual learners. These students are the ones who need pictures or demonstrations to remember things. Words just don’t stick in their minds as well, but when they can see a science demonstration or visualize an experiment, they can comprehend and retain the subject matter with much better success. Many students tend to thrive in science because it offers the visual aspect that many other subject matters do not.

Another reason that knowledge gained through science experimentation is retained longer by students is because they are actively engaged. They can’t simply skim through the experiment, they have to make sure that they are doing things correctly, and the only way to ensure that is by understanding what is going on. It forces students to understand the science behind what they are doing, and if they don’t, often times the experiment won’t turn out right.

Finally, hands-on science experimentation gives the student a sense of accomplishment. It is a reward of sorts, to have the experiment turn out correctly. That reassurance and sense of achievement at the end of each experiment will cause them to want to do more. It will also give them more confidence in what they are doing and possibly cause them to take up more science projects on their own. They will already be comfortable with the process they need to follow and will merely need their own ideas and theories to start their own projects. Even their own small science projects will increase their knowledge of how the world around them works and functions.

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Making Work From Home Actually Work

It’s seems like an ideal situation, especially in these times of rapidly rising gas prices and emphasis on balancing both family and work – working from the comfort of your home. Your schedules are flexible, you are around when your spouse and kids need you, and best of all, you don’t have to make the stressful and expensive commute to and from work day after day.

But working at home is not all it’s hyped up to be, not if you do not enforce a strict circle of fire demarcating your personal and professional lives. There are problems aplenty, a few of which I detail below:

• Your concentration is shot to pieces by doorbells, phones ringing, family demanding attention and various other intrusions.
• It’s tough to make your kids understand (especially if they’re very young) that your work is important and that you should not be disturbed while in your office.
• The lack of colleagues and the informality of a home environment make it difficult to focus on work, especially if you’re not in the best of moods.
• There’s no one to talk to (unless you pick up the phone) about a problem in the line of work.
• With no boss peering over your shoulder, the incentive to work harder is less.
• The refrigerator and the television are distractions that interrupt work constantly, if you’re the kind who snacks a lot or does not want to miss a game (or soap opera) on TV.
• Unexpected guests could really tear your schedule apart.
• It’s sad but true, most people do not take you seriously when you say you work from home, no matter how important your work is.

In spite of all these issues, there are professionals who have made working from home really work for them. Following in their footsteps is easy, if you can be disciplined and dedicated to your work.

• Set fixed work times, no matter what the rest of the household is doing at the time. Make sure that your family members and outsiders know you are not to be disturbed during “office hours”.
• If that does not work for you, set yourself a target – do not leave your desk till you complete a certain set of tasks or a particular assignment.
• Switch off the phone and doorbell if you’re alone at home and do not want to be disturbed while working.
• Do not waste valuable time in idly browsing the Internet, watching TV or fixing a snack or a drink. Pretend you’re at a regular office with the boss breathing down your neck.
• Set targets and reward yourself when you achieve them. Even better, get your boss to pay you on an incentive basis – the more work you do, the more money you make. Money is one of the best motivators to stay focused on the job at hand.
• Maintain a circle of friends and co workers whom you can call or email if doubts and questions plague you.
• Set fixed time for coffee and bathroom breaks.

• If your work involves a lot of sitting down or typing on the computer, make sure you set aside time for exercise. Work outs boost your efficiency and rid you of that sluggish feeling you get from staying indoors all day. Get out in the fresh air and sunlight to avoid feeling blue and depressed sitting and working all by yourself with no colleagues to talk to and banter with.

Working from home is an opportunity most people would kill for, but it works only if you have the discipline to stick to a schedule and a sense of devotion to the work you do.

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Modern Fire Alarm Systems

Fires ravage thousands of houses and buildings every year. It is very destructible, and if not extinguished on time, will cause great trauma to those who lived through it. Not only does fire destroy families, but business as well, and on occasion, kills people. That is something nobody wants, so people started to create systems that will help detect fire and save lives. Today, because of the modern technology and available resources, there are now options that will help with fire detection.

The most popular among the households is smoke detectors. Instead of detecting the fire itself, smoke is the one being sensed here. Smoke is the first sign of fire so to prevent a huge fire from taking over, this is being used. There are different kinds of smoke detectors namely optical, ionization, air-sampling, and carbon monoxide detection. They have some disparity in detecting smoke. Optical smoke detectors are quicker to detect smoke from smoldering fires than ionization which notice smokes from flaming hot fires first. You just have to choose one that you think will work best for you.

Smoke detectors sometimes react unnecessarily. Even a cigarette smoke could cause a big reaction from it. However, this isn’t as troubling as when it doesn’t react even during a real fire. These devices should be cleaned periodically. If not, the sensitivity it has could decrease.

Heat detector are also being used everywhere. As the name says, it is able to detect heat. There are two types of heat detectors: rate-of-rise or fixed temperature. The first one responds when the temperature rises abnormally, usually at a rate above 12-15°F or 6.7-8.3°C per minute. Fixed temperature heat detectors, meanwhile, reacts as the temperature reaches a certain point. To give some time for the people to escape, the newer units alarm at 117°F (47°C).

The third choice we have is flame detectors. Although you might think that it will respond only when fire touches it, it actually doesn’t take that long. It uses optical sensors to see the flames. Like the two detectors above, there are also different kinds of flame detectors. Ultraviolet and infrared are only two of the choices to decide on. They have different methods of detecting fire, and as long as these do the job, everything will be fine.

Finally, the newest detector technology could offer us is gas detector. These aren’t used in homes. Rather, the people who buy it are those who work in laboratories, MRI rooms, and other locations where different gases are abounding. This device detects not all gases, but those that can be a cause of harm to people and animals. It even notices the amount of oxygen in the area, and when it becomes dangerously low, it alarms the people around.

All of these devices need batteries. That’s why it is essential to replace the batteries regularly. Twice a year would be a good time frame.

Although all of these detectors will help us in case a fire breaks out, there are still some factors to think about before buying and placing one in your home. The most important would be location. Putting smoke detectors on top of the stove is pretty impractical, since smoke is naturally emitted there. Another thing to think about is the price. Because of the competition companies face today, they have to consider retailing their products at a high price. But we still need to see whether the product has good quality to go along with the price.

Finding reliable fire detector can be tricky. We need to be overly cautious in looking for one, because it would mean a lot when the time comes. Before buying, make sure that the manufacturer and the brand is approved by the government. There are now some counterfeit items to be worried about. Also, try to ask the salesman who knows a lot about this. His opinion really matters when you don’t know anything about fire detectors.

Let me just say that fire detectors are really essential in homes and buildings. It is to the benefit of everyone around. Even if you’re all alone at home, having one of these will keep you at ease. Having your house caught on fire is a traumatic event. It hurts financially and emotionally. So don’t waste the effort people made when they invented and invested on fire detectors. The benefit is much more than the cost you’ll pay for one.

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Science – Media Events

One need not make any extensive surveys of different media to provide evidence for this failure. It is enough to see how sports has managed to gain more coverage in various media over the last few decades vis-a-vis science. One may argue that this is so because there are always some sports events occurring all over the world which naturally draw the attention of media. But contention here is that scientific activity, scientific community and laboratories all over the world can also be turned into what are called ‘media events’ if enough pains are taken by science communicators to achieve this status for science. First and foremost it will require the maximum cooperation of scientists.

For instance, anniversaries of scientists, institutes, organisations and societies, including the World Health Day, etc., can be celebrated; discussions and debates with the concerned scientists organised; and doors of concerned laboratories and organisations thrown open to masses and media.

Be that as it may, intention through this paper is to highlight the essentials and limitations of science popularisation so that there appears a fundamental change in the way of looking at this subject. Hopefully, it will lead to more effective strategies to popularise science among the masses.

Science writing is an art

Science popularisation is mostly done by science- trained persons and professional scientists. It is therefore looked upon more as a scientific activity rather than anything else. But science writing is more of an art rather than a science. It is scientific only in the sense one should have scientific knowledge but all the writing abilities are required to make a good presentation of science. It is due to the present lack of emphasis on the art aspect of science popularisation that this field of activity has suffered to date. Those few scientists or science-trained persons who have consciously or unconsciously known the art of science writing and have practised it, have only been successful in popularising science.

Science is a human activity

The second reason why popular science does not tick with the masses is because it is not projected as a human activity but an activity of scientists who simply believe in the search for truth – and nothing but truth! The human side of science is totally neglected in all popular science presentations. The follies and prejudices of scientists, the emotional life of scientists, the irrational circumstances in which scientific work is often undertaken and discoveries and inventions made, etc., are quite often deliberately not highlighted fearing that it would give bad name to science and scientific research. In short, the human face of science or scientific research is often neglected in popular science presentations. There is therefore a strong need to give science a human face. It would not only mean adding human stories to popular science presentations but also talking about realities in scientific research.

Tip of the iceberg presentation

The third reason why popular science presentations often go wide off the mark and make the audience yawn and go for something else is the inability of science communicators to distinguish between technical report writing and popular science writing, thanks to their scientific training or background. They try to cram into a popular science presentation as much as they know or find out about a subject.

Actually, popular science presentation should be like the tip of the iceberg. It should however make one not only familiar with the tip of the iceberg but also aware of the unseen larger part of the iceberg floating under the water. In other words, it should reveal little about science but enough to make one realise the existence of that science with its entire ramification. It should excite one’s curiosity enough so that one would like to probe further into that science. It should not necessarily tell everything about a science but at the same time it should not miss science.

Some important observations

The author’s experience with popularising science over the years has forced him to arrive at some postulates. They are merely based on experience and intuition. Any research has not been conducted to back them up with facts and figures. In fact, much research is required to prove or disprove them. If in case they are proved, they can easily be called the ‘Laws of Science Popularisation’ because despite the best of our efforts we have not been able to popularise science the way we want among the masses. There must be some hidden laws governing our efforts to popularise science. These postulates are stated as follows:

Postulates of science popularisation

1st : Only those elements of science receive attention in a society, which suit its goals or which inspire awe.

2nd : A science communicator tends to impose his or her limited ideas of science, scientists and scientific research upon the audience.

3rd : The amount of space allotted to science in different media of a country is the index of the quality of life of its average citizen.

4th : The quality of science communication or presentation in a country is directly proportional to the quality of science produced in it.

5th : To popularise science is to humanise science.

One can deduce certain things from these postulates. The first postulate indicates that people at large read science because it serves their purpose or because the subject is topical, sensational or controversial or simply excites their curiosity. A handful only read science for the sake of knowledge per se. Much research is required to identify those subjects so that science could be more effectively popularised. For instance, health science and environment interest people at large, astronomy and space fascinate them, Nobel Laureates, UFOs, etc., are held in awe by them.

The Second postulate is dangerous for science itself. Consciously or unconsciously, the layman imbibes the limited or narrow image of science, scientists and culture of science from the communicator, whether he be Jacob Bronowski or Peter Medawar. Notions such as scientists are mad individuals or scientific research is yet another profession are creations of science communicators. That makes science communicator a very responsible person.

The third and fourth postulates are intuitive relationships between two unrelated things or activities. Further research is needed to prove or disprove these two laws by taking data from different countries. However, one must add here that in India we raise a hullabaloo to increase science coverage in our media at the first available opportunity but it often comes to nothing. Also, while writing a popular science article on a subject one often needs the assistance of a scientist doing research in that very subject. But in India the scientist of the concerned subject is often not available for consultation and as a result our writings lack the necessary quality, verve and colour.

The fifth, the last but not the least important postulate, though obvious, reminds us that we must give science a human face so that masses are not afraid of it. It is the basic aim of science popularisation.

Christmas tree of science popularisation

The aim of drawing the ‘Christmas tree of science popularisation’ is to illustrate the importance of various media that take science to the masses, though every medium has its own significance and a vital role to play in communication. But unless a person climbs up the tree, as his or her interest in science is aroused or increased – in other words, unless one begins to read newspapers, magazines and then books – he or she would not have become fully science literate.

Necessarily, the percentage of people reading books would be very small as the top of a Christmas tree indicates. But it is a must to know this tree because the role of any medium should not be underestimated and every medium should be given equal importance simultaneously. For instance, if a student’s interest in science is aroused by science fair or ‘Jatha’ held in the town, it has to be sustained and maintained by wallpapers, newspapers and even books; otherwise, one’s interest would flag and eventually die. Other supplementing media should be made available to the student in form of public libraries, for instance. So, the Christmas tree of science popularisation needs to be watered and tended carefully to produce a science literate society.

Conclusion

According to the postulates forwarded here there are (as yet unknown) limits to the extent science can be popularised among the masses. It is not possible to have a fully science literate society. Moreover, science communicators need to take into account aforementioned aspects about science popularisation for more effective communication of science to the masses.

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