What is Promethium

Silvery white in colour, Promethium is considered an harmful element due to its radioactivity. It was discovered by American chemists J. A. Marinsky, L. E. Glendenin and Charles Coryell in the year 1947. When discovered it was noted that Promethium would be only rare radioactive metal on earth. Though silvery white in colour, the salts of Promethium have red or pink colour which turn luminescence with a pale blue or green glow. Promethium derived its name from Prometheus, a Greek mythological figure.

Uses of Promethium

1. It is used to measure the thickness of materials like metal sheets.

2. It is used in atomic batteries, space craft and guided missiles.

3. It is also used as a portable x-ray source and a heat source which offers auxiliary power for space probes and satellites. 

What is Borax

Sources: Google images

A natural white powder mineral formed from a colourless crystal, Borax was discovered in the dry lake beds of Tibet. Borax is known to easily dissolve in water. It has a high alkaline structure and has a pH level of 9.3. The chemical formula of Borax is a combination of sodium, boron, oxygen and water. Though considered safe to the planet, yet large amounts of Borax can pose a threat to the plants and animal species.

Borax is used on  large scale for manufacturing soaps and detergents. Due to it's alkaline properties and water solubility, borax is known to remove tough stain. Other than that, Borax is also used in manufacture of dyes, fungicides, pesticides, enamels, glazes and fire-proofing compounds. A large amount of borax is also known to be used in tanning industry. 

How are Memories Formed in the Brain

Sources: Google images

Our brain is known to tie the sights, smells, sounds and our own impressions on certain things or moments or experiences together into a relationship. This usually happens when we experience a certain feeling, sad or happy, about someone or something. These relationships tied together by our brain helps to create memories of that particular event or episodes. Memories are categorized based on the impression they make and time it takes for that particular memory to last. Memories that last not more than a couple of milliseconds are known as working memories; whereas a memory that lasts for an hour or even a year are long term memories.

The working memory is known to provide us vivid detail of thoughts that frequently appear on our mind. But a long term memory provides a slightly blurry image of many incidents that we have experienced together. Though one can possibly hold out as many long term memory as possible, yet not each and every memory provides crystal clear details. Only those memories are regarded as important, which focus on an experience which has strong impressions on our mind. And hence it usually happens that we forget some or the other details of a particular memory at a certain point of time. 

Career as a Sports Coach

In today's scenario, with new age athletes emerging on national and international levels; and also with schools and colleges showing keen interest in the sports development of the country, a career in sports coach is beckoning. The success that Sachin Tendulkar achieved, has its roots in his coaching from  coach Ramakant Achrekar. Similar can be said about each and every successful player in all the streams of sports. Coaching plays an important role in the success of each of these sports individuals. It is the mentors who work behind the scene to nurture raw talent and make them successful players, we come upon praising so much. A sports coach is a person who shapes a raw athlete to a true professional. Though, there are many who can play the role of a tutor, but very few stand out to wear the cap of a coach who has the capability and vision to eye the talent from the crowd who could make it big.

Sources: Google images

Role of a Sports Coach

The role of a sports coach is to direct, train and instruct a player or a team. A sports coach helps a team by providing them assistance in means of counseling, instructions and improvisations to achieve successful levels of performance which they wouldn't otherwise have achieved on their own. A sports coach job description includes offering critical review or commendation on an athlete's or the whole team's performance. He or she works with players and athletes on all levels including school children who could be referred as beginners to professional players and teams. A sports coach responsibilities include a keen eye to point out the

- ability and proficiency of identifying an individual's potential

-  his strengths and his weaknesses

- the needs to work on the key areas by planning and

- implementing certain training programs to suit each individual.

A sports coaching not only includes physical training but also psychological fitness and assessment by offering maximum counselling and possible practical conditions to maximize best performance output.

Skills of a Sports Coach

To become a sports coach, one has to have an enthusiasm for his team and players. The sports coach should offer his 100% assistance for his team to help them excel in their sports. To get best performance from the team, the skill of motivation and encouragement should be used wisely whenever required by a sports coach. He should be good in his areas of expertise, though not necessary good in that particular sport (though that would definitely work as a plus point). We find many established players enter into the field of sports coaching after retirement, as their experience as a player adds up to their advantage. Even though a sports coach who is not good in a particular sport, he or she should be able to offer expert advice on all the area of that sport, which means they should possess the theoretical knowledge of that particular sport. The most important skill a sports coach should possess is the skill of reaching out to each and every member of his team. He should make it a point to communicate with each player of his team. A sports coach also needs a lot of patience and tactfulness all the time to work with young sport players and during assisting them.

Education of a Sports Coach

A sports coach can secure a Bachelors Degree in Sports Coaching after completing 10+2. He or she can also apply for Bachelor's Degree if he has secured minimum 50% marks with Physical Education as one of the main subjects for the sports coach qualification. Many universities impart Sports Education by offering degree courses based on percentage of marks. With a Bachelor's Degree, a qualified coach can apply for schools or colleges based on his qualification for the post of Sports Coach. Many private institution also offer Diploma courses in sports coaching which a graduate in other subjects can opt for, if he or she wishes to pursue sports coaching as a career.

Scope for a Sports Coach

A sports coach has loads of opportunities for coaching practices in schools, colleges, sports team, health clubs and sports team. Various private sector as well as public health sector may provide job opportunities for sports coach.  Once good results are achieved  a sports coach is very well recognized and wonderful job opportunities land on his door steps from national as well as international teams. A sports coach salary may just start to grow on the graph, as soon as he or she starts giving positive results. Once a sports coach gains recognition he can organize training camps or open his own training institute. A person with no physical education degree should not lose hope. If he or she still wishes to pursue a career as a sports coach, then starting as a volunteer coach is his or her stepping stone. Though a long mile to go, but it is a start in the career. Being a volunteer coach helps one start from a ground level by learning various aspects of sports training. Slowly and steadily a volunteer coach may get promoted to an assistant coach and in future end up being a sports coach. 

What is Indium

Sources: Google images

Indium is one of the softest metal that looks silvery white and has a bright lustre. It was discovered in 1863 by two German Chemists, Ferdinand Reich and Hieronymus Theodor Richter. The metal got it's name because of the indigo blue colour in its atomic spectrum. There is enough abundance of Indium just as much as sliver but it's accessibility is much easier than silver. It is easily found along with zinc, iron, lead and copper ores. One of the most interesting properties of Indium is that it doesn't react with water. It has a very low melting point and low boiling point. And just because of this property Indium is ideal for soldering. It offers easy working conditions at low temperature. Indium has one more unique property, it makes a sound or a 'tin cry', when it is bent which resembles a low scream.

Uses of Indium

As Indium is known to access even distribution of lubricating oil, it is used to coat the bearings of high speed motors. Indium is used to make various electrical items such as rectifiers and photo conductors. Being as reflective as silver, Indium can be used to make mirrors. Because of it's use in production of LCD monitors, televisions and display screens, there has been a great demand for Indium in the recent times. 

What is Polar Vortex

Sources: Google images

Polar Vortex, recently known to grip a larger part of United States,is a system of dense air which produces low temperature and an envelope of freezing weather which would bring a complete halt to the portion of earth it envelopes and thus a state of chaos to the rest.

A polar vortex, also referred as polar cyclone is a large scale cyclone that locates near the geographical poles. Thus on earth, Polar vortices can be found located near the upper troposphere, middle troposphere and stratosphere. The polar vortex surrounds the polar highs and lies in the wake of polar fronts. The winters strengthen these cold core areas whereas the summers waken them due to the temperature differential between the equator and poles. The polar vortices traverse in counter clockwise fashion in the northern hemisphere less than 1000 km.

The polar vortex is considered to be dangerous because the envelope of freezing, dense air can cause serious health risk, may even be sometimes life threatening by causing damage including liver disease, leukemia etc. Physical labor in such conditions can also be dangerous as extreme cold conditions can make it impossible to sweat and effectively insulate heat. People can die by freezing to death, car crashes on icy roads or due to risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. 

Career as a Nutritionist

A career as a nutritionist has become an attractive and lucrative career option, thanks to the keywords 'being fit', 'staying healthy' and 'eating healthy' being a rave of the current scenario. A nutritionist is a person who advises us on what to eat and what not to eat, pertaining to the food and nutrition aspects  and impact on our health. Some of us, who are on the edge of choosing careers always wonder is nutrition and dietitians a good career? Well the answer is yes, given to the tremendous growth and demand for the nutritionist and dietitian. Salary of nutritionists in India and abroad is quite promising too.  Always remember that the career in nutrition and the career in dietitian are two different careers. There is a very thin line between a nutritionist and a dietitian. A nutritionist is related to the areas of food sciences and food research projects whereas a dietitian is focused on planning a perfect diet depending on a individual and his lifestyle. A dietitian also monitors the diet plan of an individual and tailors it as per an individual's needs. Though nutritionist and dietitian are two different fields yet there are times when one may switch on to the other's role for the time being.

Sources: Google images

Role of a Nutritionist

A nutritionist plays a key role when it comes to prescribing counteractive food practices which relate to several aspects of each and every individual and his quality of life. Due to the changing food trends pertaining to urban population and food culture, the quality of life is vastly affected; thanks to the fast food emerging out as a culprit. A nutritionist tries to improve our quality of life in today's fast world by educating and introducing us to various food items; that can be easily incorporated in our daily diet, as per the ethics and rules of nutrition. A nutritionist has the basic knowledge about the manufacturing and processing of food, it's nutritional aspects and also the psychological factors that influences the food preferences. With the increase in population and the current demand in healthy lifestyle and food practices, the role of nutritionist is definitely on a big demand.

Four Basic Areas of Specialization for Nutritionist

Clinical Nutritionist

A clinical nutritionist deals mainly with personalized diet plan of an individual with relation to his/her lifestyle diseases such as obesity, osteoporosis, heart diseases etc. Few main factors that lead to such diseases include eating habits, sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy food practices. These are the key areas where a clinical nutritionist plays his role. A clinical nutritionist designs an unique personalized diet plan with respect to the ailment her patient is suffering with.

Public Health Nutritionist

A Public Health Nutritionist focuses on the improvement of public health in general. The key area of Public Health Nutritionist is not a specific individual but public as a whole. They work on the improvement of masses by focusing on issues such as malnutrition in children and come out with successful strategies and health plan. They also work on eradicating food related problems for the whole community or vulnerable groups. A Public Health Nutritionist also works on problems pertaining to adults such as food poisoning due to adulteration, kidney failure and fibrosis.

Sports Nutritionist

A sports nutritionist focuses on the food and diet intake of an athlete. their main area of focus relates to the type and quality of food intake with respect to the proper proportion of nutrients, fats and calories. A diet plan of an athlete or sportsman is entirely different from us. The role of a nutritionist plays vital in lifestyle and food habits of sportsman especially with athletes related to strength sports such as weightlifting, body building and other sports such as running, cycling, swimming etc.

Research Nutritionist

Research Nutritionist are food technicians who research on nutritive value of food which allows to understand the right type of food one should eat and a plan for balanced diet which includes the right amount of components including vitamins, minerals etc which are essentially needed for the body. A research nutritionist also works on key areas which are related to food preservation and food safety.

Eligibility of Being a Nutritionist

One can get a degree in Nutrition after finishing 10 + 2 with science by specializing in subjects like biology and chemistry. Other than that one can also admit to Home Science for a graduation degree for becoming a nutritionist. To start a private practice as a nutritionist, one has to get a 'Registered Dietitian Exam Certificate'. This course is offered in many Foreign Universities. But you have to score well in TOFFEL and GRE whichever is applicable. It is necessary to take the specific set of courses which are drawn by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which can be completed on graduate or even an under-graduate level.

Scope for a Nutritionist

A nutritionist has a great scope when it comes to career opportunities as nutrition career lists is pretty amazing. One can work with government hospitals, school, colleges and government health department. Few nutritionists also work as Public Health Nutritionists for NGO's. Other than that a nutritionist can work for sports clubs, health clubs, gyms etc. A nutritionist can also work in catering department, restaurants, in-flight kitchens etc. If a nutritionist opts for a research career, then they get to work for research institutes, food product manufacturing companies and various other food labs. Teaching the Science of Nutrition is also a career option for the nutritionists if he/she passes the NETT examination. Other than that becoming a private practitioner is also a lucrative career.