Phoenixcollections

puple rice photo The mysterious ways of genes influencing the character of crop plants through long periods of domestication, selection and modern breeding continues to perplex genomics specialists, as found out by the genome researchers working on coloured rice, Purpleputtu recently. Even the whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) of the Purpleputtu rice variety has not fully opened the windows to the genetic secrets to the researchers. Researchers at the SciGenom Research Foundation, Chennai, said the genome sequencing of Purpleputtu revealed around 65,000 unique genetic mutations compared with the reference sequence, of which about 50 are in the genes of the colour pathway. The question of how specific genes and gene networks control the expression of its uniqueness, the purple colour, still remains an unanswered mystery, say researchers. In most cultivated white grain rice varieties, a regulatory gene, Rc is missing 14 base pairs, which is believed to have changed the ...

an artisitic view of the kepler space. Ever since the first exoplanet (51 Pegasi b) was discovered in 1995 by Michael Mayor and Didier Queloz, there has been renewed activity and interest in this field. The Kepler and K2 missions of NASA have identified thousands of planet candidates. Now there are nearly 5,000 planet candidates, and of these, some 3,397 have been confirmed as planets, according to the NASA exoplanet archive. The latest entry into the list of confirmed exoplanets is Kepler-56 d, which was added on 13 October. This planet has an orbital period of 1,002 days, accurate to five days, and a mass of nearly 5.61 times that of Jupiter. It is a massive planet that orbits its star Kepler-56 whose radius is about 4.23 times the sun’s radius and which is about 1.32 times as massive as the sun. This planet is only the third to be discovered orbiting its star Kepler-56. Being very massive, its presence was originally inferred by the periodic changes in Kepler-...

picture illustration The Delhi High Court on Friday directed instant messaging service Whatsapp to delete from its server all information of users who chose to opt out of its services after September 25. September 25 is the deadline after which Whatsapp said it would be sharing information of users with social media giant Facebook. A bench headed by chief justice G. Rohini directed Whatsapp to delete all information of users who chose to delete their accounts rather than choosing for its new privacy policy. On Wednesday, the bench had expressed concern over what happens to information of users who opt out of Whatsapp services. Advertisement: Replay Ad Ads by ZINC The bench had raised the query while hearing petition filed by Karmanya Singh and one other law student who had moved the court saying that Whatsapp’s new policy was an infringe...

Technology giant Google plans to shut down Panoramio, the location—centric photo sharing service that the company used to augment its Google Maps and Google Earth services, in November, a media report said. Panoramio, the service which Google acquired in 2007, will show its last image on November 4. Google previously tried to shut the service down in 2014. At the time, its users successfully petitioned the company to keep it open, Tech Crunch reported on Saturday. “Today, with photo upload tools in Google Maps and our Local Guides programme, we are providing easy options for you to share your photos with an active and growing community. As such, we’ve decided to now close down Panoramio,” Google wrote in an email to Panoramio users on Saturday. Advertisement: Replay Ad Ads by ZINC Google is also encouraging Panoramio users to join its Local Guides programme and to upload photos directly to Google Maps. The users who have linked their Panoramio and Goog...

picture of the discovered frog Globally,  third of the world’s frogs are threatened with extinction. A new frog species, which closely resembles the Graceful tree frog (Litoria Gracilenta), was discovered in Australia’s largest virgin forest in Queensland, a scientist said on Wednesday. The frog discovered in Queensland’s Cape York was only determined to be a new species on September 27 after undergoing rigorous tests for a year, scientist Jodi Rowley told Xinhua news agency. Rowley said her colleague Keith McDonald from the Queensland museum had first laid eyes on the Cape York tree frog, scientifically known as Litoria Bella, in 2000 during one of his field-work outings. Advertisement: Replay Ad Ads by ZINC However, it was only recently that the frog was determined to be a new species after a science journal verified their work and published the findings of it. “By looking at differences in its appearance, as well as its advertisement call ...

The Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment which was test-flown by the ISRO two years ago.—PHOTO: THULASI KAKKAT It will test how fast and effectively the crew module of an intended space mission could punch out from a spacecraft The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up to conduct a critical ‘crew bailout test’ to see how fast and effectively the crew module of an intended space mission could punch out from the spacecraft safely in the event of an emergency. The test, known as Pad Abort, will be held at the launch pad of Sriharikota High Altitude Range (SHAR) in a month or two, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) Director K. Sivan told The Hindu in an interaction on the sidelines of the ongoing expo in connection with the World Space Week celebrations at Ernakulathappan ground here. The test forms part of a gamut of critical technologies being developed by the space agency as it awaits the nod from the government for the ambitious ‘human in sp...

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house, making me below standard compared to my mate." The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path...

FACTS ABOUT LIFE "FACTS OF LIFE YOU SHOULD KNOW." ¤The most destructive habit: "Worry." ¤The greatest joy: "Giving." ¤The greatest loss: "Loss of self-respect." ¤The most satisfying work: "Helping others." ¤The ugliest personality trait: "Selfishness." ¤The most endangered species: "Dedicated leaders." ¤Our greatest natural resource: "Our youth." ¤The greatest “shot in the arm: "Encouragement." ¤The greatest problem to overcome: "Fear." ¤The most effective sleeping pill: "Peace of mind." ¤The most crippling failure disease: "Excuses." ¤The most powerful force in life: "LOVE!" ¤The most dangerous pariah: "A gossiper." ¤The world's most incredible computer: "The brain." ¤The worst thing to be without: "Hope." ¤The deadliest weapon: "The tongue." ¤The two most power-filled words: “I Can!” ¤The greatest asset...

"Favorite Motivational Quotes & Thoughts to Brighten your day." ¤1. Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a "steering wheel" that directs the right path throughout life. ¤2. Why is a car's windshield so large & the rear view mirror so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, look ahead and move on. ¤3. Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes a few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write. ¤4. All things in life are temporary. If they are going well, enjoy them, they will not last forever. If they are going wrong, don't worry, they can't last long either. ¤5. Old friends are gold! New friends are diamond! If you get a diamond, don't forget the gold! To hold a diamond, you always need a base of gold! ¤6. Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, God smiles from above and says, "Relax, sweetheart; it's just a bend, not the end!" ¤7. When God ...

PURSUE YOUR DREAMS After spending several years as a banker living an unsatisfying life, he quit his job and pursued his dreams that gave him the joy and contentment he needed. Chinua Achebe gave up his scholarship to study medicine in Nigeria's foremost university just months into school. Went over to the course he loved, and years later, attained worldwide fame. Many a times, we abandon our dreams for one thing or the other. Probably to fulfill our parents desire, we become lawyers instead of being a nurse. Or maybe because of the society. Or just maybe because of pressure. Beloved, NOTHING has the right to stop you from fulfilling your dreams. Kick out fear, and go all the way to live your dreams. It is unreasonable to spend your life doing what you really do not enjoy doing. Quit what you do not enjoy, and pursue what you enjoy. The decision you refuse to take today will haunt you tomorrow. So better take it now, and live a fulfilled life. If where you are now is no...

24 Elders words of wisdom My son, if you keep spending on a woman and she never asked you if you’re saving or investing, and she keeps enjoying the attention, don’t marry her. * My son, a woman could be a good wife to you, some could be a good mother to your children but if you’ve found a woman like a mother to you, your children and your family, please don’t let her go. * My son, don’t confine the position of your wife to the kitchen, where did you get that from? Even in our days, we had farm-lands where they worked every morning... that was our office. * My son, if I tell you that you’re the head of the house, don’t look at your pocket; look if you will see a smile on your wife’s face. * My son, if you want to have a long life, let your wife be in-charge of your salary, it will be difficult for her to spend it when she’s aware of the home needs and bills to pay but if it’s in your care, she will keep you asking even when all has been spent. * My son, don’t ever b...

7 HABIT/CHARACTERISTIC OF A SERIOUS MAN 7 Things Every Real Man Does When He’s Serious About You: 1. He apologizes for being late or not calling you back when he said he would. He is concerned about what you think of him and he tried to keep his word, and says he’s sorry when he doesn’t, and provides a viable explanation. “I couldn’t pick up your call because I was in a meeting with my boss.” 2. He wants to help! He doesn’t run when you mention moving or having to do something. A man who is into you will look for ways to help you so he can be around you. “I can fix that chair for you 3. He remembers things that you mention and follows up by asking about them. 4. He introduces you to people. When you are out and encounter friends or family, he does not hesitate to say, “Hey, this is my lady Doro.” 5. He makes real plans with you. He thinks ahead about things you can do together. If you’re just an affair, most of the time he spends with you is spur-of-the moment. A guy that i...

We are in a generation where holiness has turnd sacriligious, a time when the virtuous ones are called - granny, child dull, old fashiond, no level, jew and not worth associated with. hmmmmm! but just read my little piece and see how the truth prevails holiness!! Muhammad Ali’s daughters arrived his home wearing clothes that were quite revealing and provoking. Here is the story as told by one of his daughters who is my best friend: “When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila and me up to my father’s suite. As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged many hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day. My father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and pro...

THAT's NOT ALL THAT LOVE ENTAILS A RELATIONSHIP is not about having a handsome boyfriend or having a beautiful girlfriend. It’s not about looking for a perfect person because there isn’t any perfect person on earth. It’s not about looking for a well off or a rich person. Having a lot of money doesn’t mean that one has too much pure love. MONEY CAN’T BUY LOVE. A relationship is about finding someone who respects you, who cares about you in anyway he/she can afford, who understands you, who is proud of having you, who loves you the way you are. Who is faithful to you, who knows how to comfort you, who knows to how to encourage you and who would accept the worst of you & who will go through everything without giving up on you. Such people are very rare to find these days. If you have got one just keep that person. Handle him or her with care, be honest & contented with that person and don’t ever think of hurting & letting down of that special per...

YOU WON’T BE SINGLE FOREVER My friend, I can see what you’re going through these days. You’re pretending that everything is okay but your life is in a total shambles. You keep on telling your pals that you’re happy and moving on with your life but the truth is you aren’t happy and you’re missing some things. You keep yourself busy with work and studies but part of you is hurting. You always log on to Facebook and chat with friends, update your status but there’s that part of you which is in pain. You go out with friends, you attend cinema & comedy shows, you laugh out loud, you booze but still there’s something missing in your life. You keep on telling your friends that you gave love a break that you now enjoying the single life but the truth is you miss some LOVE. You need someone special to talk to, to comfort you, to love you, to be there for you and take care of you. You need someone who can call on you just to know how you’re doing and to listen to your voice,...

An Oregon teenager has succesfully built anbandage that can automatically tell doctors when its due to be changed, impressing Google judges and securing a $15,000 scholarship. Anushka Naiknaware (13) was found in the top eight in an international science contest run by Google. She won the Lego Education Builder Award, which included the scholarship, a free trip to Lego world headquarters in Denmark and a year of entrepreneurship mentoring from a Lego executive, reported The Oregonian . Large wounds must always be kept moist to promote faster healing, but regular changing of bandages to check moisture levels will make things worse. In a bid to solve this problem, Ms. Naiknaware, a seventh-grader at Stoller Middle School in Portland, designed and tested a bandage that is embedded with tiny monitors. which can automatically sense moisture levels and help medical workers to determine whether the dressing has dried ...

Once upon a time, five beautiful ladies gained admission into the same university. They did not know each other prior to entering the university. But they took interest in one another. Soon, they became friends and were eating and studying together for. For four years, they maintained this relationship, even till they graduated.    however, during the national service, they were posted to different state though all in the western part of Nigeria. This gave them the opportunity of visiting each other. One day, towards the end of their service saw and advertisement in a national daily, calling for applications from job seekers. Luckily, the job fitted them. Thus, the one that saw the advertisement, went and informed others. The next day, the went to the advertisers. When the got there. They saw many people who wanted to be interviewed. But the date was postponed to the following day. On the appointed day, they all assembled in the premises, but the interviewers told them ...