All posts by Sandeep Shah

Supermoon
Science

Science Behind Super Pink Moon 2020

Apr 12, 2020 by Sandeep Shah 0 Comments #micromoon, #pinkmoon

The moon is a single natural satellite of earth. The moon revolves around the earth just as the earth revolves around the sun, it goes around the earth at an average distance of about 385,000 km.

In super moon the moon appears to have something big in its shape or size.

What is a Supermoon?

The distance of the moon and earth become much lesser in the super moon.

At this time the moon is closest to the earth due to which the moon appears to us 30% more brighter and 14% larger in size.

Pink Moon

The moon orbits in elliptical form that’s why the moon is visible from the earth sometimes near and far. The farthest point in this ellipse is called the apogee and is about 405500 km from the earth on average. it’s closest point is the perigee which is an average distance about 36300 km from earth. Therefore the average distance between the moon and the earth is reported to be about 385000 km. When the full moon is on the perigee then the moon appears to be the most shining. There is no scientific definition of Supermoon. The term supermoon given by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979.

“A full moon or new moon has to come within 90% of its closest approach to earth to be dubbed a supermoon”

-Richard Nolle

How many supermoons in a year?

According to the definition of Nolle, there can be a 3-4 full supermoon in a year. For 2020, the 4 full moons from February to May meet this year.

Full moon, supermoons of this year

  1. 9th march 2020, 357404 km.
  2. 7-8th April 2020, 357035 km (closest supermoon of the year).
  3. 7th May 2020, 361184 km.

Is the moon pink?

The moon is never pink. Moon can appear sometimes yellow, orange or red when it is horizon.

Why we called pink moon this supermoon

The reason behind this is that the colonials people of Europe tried to settle north Amerca on Western Ideology and in this culture each month’s moon is given a nickname. Pink moon named April month moon is given in the name of pink wildflower Phlox Subulata which blooms in April. It is a native flower of North America.

Also read: Soap v/s Hand Sanitizer: Which works better against the Novel Coronavirus?

Wash hand using soap or sanitizer
Health, Science

Soap v/s Hand Sanitizer: Which works better against the Novel Coronavirus?

Apr 11, 2020 by Sandeep Shah 1 Comments #sanitizer, #soap

As we all know COVID-19 became a global pandemic and it’s a very difficult situation for all of us. Coronavirus has put the whole world in trouble.

Cleaning one’s hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or washing them with shop and water is essential as specified by WHO. 

We can’t see the Novel Coronavirus with normal eyes.
The main structure of this virus is its genetic material RNA and it is covered by protein layer and lipid bilayer.

pic credit: https://www.medicaldevice-network.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2020/02/Co-Diagnostics-7thFeb.jpg

Soap

  • Washing hands without soap helps reduce the amount of microbes but does not remove most of the virus and bacteria completely.
  • Therefore using soap becomes far more effective in removing microbes.
  • Soap molecules are pin-shaped with a head that is water-loving and a tail is oil-loving.
pic: molecule of soap
  • Tail part of soap attracted lipid bilayer if virus and soap and water destroyed the virus.
soap molecule destroying virus
  • We have to leave soap in hands for 20 seconds to break the virus.

Sanitizer

  • Sanitizer should contain 60% alcohol to be effective but the sanitizer can’t beat soap.
  • Alcohol does not come in contact with all parts of the hand.
  • Regular use of sanitizer is harmful to the skin.
  • Alcohol destroys the protein layer of the virus.
  • In comparison of sanitizer, soap is more effective unlike water alcohol run does not remove the dead viruses from the hands.

Bottom Line

Both are effective but soap is better than sanitizer. So whenever you are home from travel you should use sanitizer. On a regular basis, you should use soap rather than sanitizer.

World health organization: https://www.who.int

also read: Asus Latest Dual Screen Laptop