My Science School

Every movement you make uses muscles. They allow you to smile, walk, lift, and run. Muscles also move blood around the body and food through the digestive system. Some muscles must be ordered by the brain to move, while others work without us even thinking about them.

The involuntary cardiac and smooth muscles help your heart beat and blood flow through your body by producing electrical impulses. The cardiac muscle (myocardium) is found in the walls of the heart. It’s controlled by the autonomic nervous system responsible for most bodily functions.

Your diaphragm is the main muscle at work during quiet breathing. Heavier breathing, like what you experience during exercise, may require accessory muscles to help the diaphragm. These can include the abdominal, neck, and back muscles.

All the muscles in your urinary system work together so you can urinate. The dome of your bladder is made of smooth muscles. You can release urine when those muscles tighten. When they relax, you can hold in your urine.

 

Picture Credit : Google

 

 

Whether it is Peter Rabbit, Peppa the Pig or Winnie the Pooh, stories of talking animals are an integral part of our childhood. And the doctor who has an ability to talk to and understand animals holds a special place in our heads.

Doctor Dolittle first appeared in Hugh Lofting’s book. “The Story of Doctor Dolittle” in 1920, and was republished almost annually thereafter, as were many of the 11 other books in the series. But the character’s popularity grew because of the film versions – starring Eddie Murphy and the latest, Robert Downey Jr.

Who was Hugh Lofting?

A civil engineer by training, Lofting created children’s literature’s classic character Doctor Dolittle from the British Army trenches during World War I. He often wrote letters to his children from the battlefield. On their request, he began including drawings of animals were mistreated in the army. For instance, injured horses were shot dead and not treated. He imagined that humans would be less cruel towards animals if they could read their minds or communicate with them. And so he wrote stories of talking animals in his letters. These letters formed the basis of “The Story of Doctor Dolittle.”

Different faces of Doctor Dolittle

Even a century after his creation, Doctor Dolittle remains a popular character in children’s literature. However, the good doctor has undergone many transformations over the years as the books were adapted to be silver screen multiple times.

In the book, Lofting depicted Dolittle as a portly physician living in the Victorian era. He starts a veterinary practice after learning the secret of speaking to his parrot Polynesia. As his fame spreads throughout the animal world, he sets off on wild adventures across the world.

The first three books in the series were merged into a 1967 Hollywood film starring Rex Harrison as the doctor. Though this film did not do well at the box office, it won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and Best Original Song.

It was the comedian Eddie Murphy who immortalized the nutty titular character in the 1998 version of the film “Dr. Dolittle”. The film’s success spawned many sequels and spin-offs.

The latest version of the doctor is played by Robert Downey Jr. in “Dolittle” which released earlier this year.

• Oh really?


• Lofting’s experience in the army trenches turned him against war and the glorification of combat, including in children’s books. In 1942, he published “Victory for the Slain,” an epic poem about the futility of war.


• “The Story of Doctor Dolittle” won the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1958. The sequel “The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle” won Lofting the prestigious Newbery Medal in 1923. Eight more books followed during his lifetime, however, two more were published posthumously. They contained short previously unpublished pieces. Lofting passed away on September 26, 1947.

 

Picture Credit : Google

A passion for music, mystery and writing

After decades of writing about secret societies and symbologists, author Dan Brown has now started a new chapter in his life. And it was perhaps even more unpredictable than the plots of his thrillers. On September 1, Brown made his debut as a children’s writer with the release of the book, “Wild Symphony”.

The picture book is all about an orchestra-conducting mouse who gathers characters from all over to play in his symphony. The music-loving rodent, Maestro Mouse, shares Brown’s love of music.

Short notes

Besides solving puzzles, Brown loved playing the piano as a child. He produced songs for children – some of them such as “Suzuki elephants” and “Happy Frog” became popular – and later went on to launch his own record company. He even moved to Hollywood to pursue a career as a singer-songwriter and pianist, but did not meet with much success.

Wild Symphony

Brown finally got a chance to combine his passions for writing and music through “Wild Symphony”. He has come up with an accompanying score for the book. Children can download the app for free and use it to listen to the right song for the right animal. The songs match the characteristic traits of each animal. Brown has written an original piece of music for each of the wild animals in his book. That means, as a child turns the page to the busy beetles, she can hear their song (by scanning a QR code on the page with the Wild Symphony app). Or listen to the bouncy and upbeat music accompanying the kangaroos on the next page.

Popular words

While working as a teacher in 1998, Brown penned “Digital Fortress”. It is a techno-thriller that explores the theme of government surveillance of electronically stored information on the private lives of citizens. Its success was followed in 2003 by yet another bestseller, this time a mystery set in the world of art history and religion, “The Da Vinci Code.” The book is credited with renewing interest in Da Vinci’s work and secret societies, leading to sudden spike tourism to Paris and Rome. It was adapted into a film in 2006 starring the inimitable Tom Hanks as the protagonist Robert Langdon.

 

Picture Credit : Google

The trumpets were silenced, hearts were broken and disappointment reigned when the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) lost contact with the Vikram lander, just moments before its scheduled touchdown on the lunar surface. The words “Vikram, Do you copy?” echoed throughout the world, but the lander remained silent. While the ISRO could not re-establish communication, there is no denying that the Chandrayaan-2 mission was phenomenally exciting? If India has made significant strides in space exploration, it was thanks to the vision of one man, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. Knowing the importance of a space programme for the country, it was he who helped set up INCOPSA way back in 1962.

Down-to-earth

Born in a renowned industrialist family of Ahmedabad in Gujarat on August 12, 1919, Sarabhai had a privileged childhood. But his parents, Ambalal and Sarla Devi, ensured that he remained grounded and in touch with his roots. Actively taking part in India’s Independence movement, they served as stellar role models for the young Sarabhai. Regular interactions with the likes of Rabindranath Tagore, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sarojini Naidu and Mahatma Gandhi, who were Sarabhai’s personality. He imbibed the values of hardwork, social responsibility and, above all generosity from them.

Love for science

From a young age, Sarabhai evinced a keen interest in science and mathematics. Impressed by his constant tinkering with machines, his father set up a workshop where Sarabhai was free to experiment.

Sarabhai graduated from Gujarat College and pursued further studies at St. John’s College, Cambridge University. Where he received the prestigious trips in National Sciences in 1940. The tripos framework includes a wide range of natural sciences from physical sciences to biology which are taught alongside the history and philosophy of science.

As World War II escalated, Sarabhai returned to India. He joined the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and obtained special permission to complete his research on cosmic rays under the reputed physicist Sir C.V. Raman in Bengaluru. Sarabhai’s first scientific paper Time Distribution of Cosmic Rays, was published in 1942. In 1945, he returned to Cambridge for a docorate.

Sensing the need for better scientific facilities in India, Sarabhai convinced the Charitable trusts controlled by his family to establish the Physical Research laboratory (PRL.) Ahmedabad. He was just 28 then. From this small start, began his long, illustrious journey to build India’s space programme.

Shooting for the stars

After Russia launched its rocket Sputnik, Sarabhai convinced the Indian government of the importance of investing into a space programme. He set up the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOPSAR) which later grew and became the ISRO in 1969. Today, the ISRO is the world’s largest government space agency.

With support from Dr. Homi Bhabha widely regarded as the father of India’s nuclear science programme, Sarabhai set up the first rocket launching station TERLS (Thumba quatorial Rocket Launching Station)( centre at Thumba near Thiruvanathapuram, a location close to the magnetic equator. Sarabhai’s achievements earned him the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award. After Homi Bhaba’s death, Sarabhai took over as the chairperson of the Atomic energy Commission. Taking up the work passionately, he helped set up many nuclear plants across the country. He also played a key role in developing indigenous nuclear technology for defence. He was committed to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. He was also concerned about the implications of the technology falling into wrong hands.

Visionary

Sarabhai had a vision to use science and technology for development. With programmes to take education to remote villages via satellites, he brought about a communication revolution. He also contributed towards the satellite-based remote sensing of natural resources. But Sarabhai’s vision was not restricted to science. Realizing the need for management education in India, he establishment the Indian Institute of Management in Ahemdabad (IIM-A). To promote visual and performing arts, he set up the National Institute of Design (NID) and Darpan Academy for Performing Arts.

Death came to Sarabhai in 1971 at his favourite resort on Kovalam beach, after he had witnessed the launch of a Russian rocket and inaugurated Thumba railway station earlier that day.

 

Picture Credit : Google

Who is Quentin Blake?

An English cartoonist, illustrator and designer, Quentin Blake is known for his collaborations with children’s author Roald Dahl. Through his expressive style, Blake breathed life into Dahl’s endearing characters such as the gentle BFG, the graceful Matilda, and the toe-curling Witches. He also created other memorable characters in children’s literature. And there is no stopping the octogenarian. He continues to sketch, winning the hearts of millions of children even today.

Early life

Blake grew up in Sidcup in the U.K. with a pencil in his hand. A self-taught artist, he never went to an art school. He learned to draw on his own by poring over the technical plans, or drawings, of machines that his father, a civil servant, brought home.

At 16 while still in school, his first sketches were published in the Punch magazine. He entered the children’s book sphere when he illustrated “A Drink of Water” by John Yeoman in 1960. He went on to become the head of the illustration department at the Royal College of Art in 1978, and served there till 1986.

Friendship with Dahl

Blake became friends with Dahl when he began to draw the BFG, Dahl rejected the first two sets of illustrations and even sent Blake one of his old sandals with a note stating “this was what the BFG should be wearing and not the clumsy knee-length boots” that he drawn.

Blake went to visit Dahl at his home in Gypsy House, at Great Missenden, northwest of London. There he saw Dahl with his family, especially his granddaughter Sophie after whom the little girl in “The BFG” was named. It prompted him to re-think the character of the giant as he found a similarity between the BFG and Dahl. Both were “tall men who put dreams into the heads of children.” At first, he had drawn the BFG with a clown face. But he redrew him in a “gentler manner” and made him “grandfatherly.”

The making of Matilda

Like the BFG, Blake created the character of Matilda in his unique style. She was drawn repeatedly until her face exuded “not her intelligence exactly, but her magic powers”. Willy Wonka’s appearance was also Blake’s visualization. He drew Wonka like a sprite because everything that happened inside his factory seemed unreal, like a fairy tale.

Such examples show that Blake gave shape to Dahl’s characters in his own way and that he did not blindly follow Dahl’s instructions. Perhaps, that’s why Dahl entrusted only Blake with his work. Blake has illustrated almost all of his books. Dahl’s final book, “Billy and the Minpins” was the only children’s book Blake did not originally illustrate, but a new updated version includes Blake’s illustrations.

Centre for illustration

A new gallery dedicated to Quentin Blake will open in London in 2022. The Quentin Blake Centre for illustration will become the world’s largest public arts space.

The House of illustration in King’s Cross, founded by Blake in 2014, will make way for the new centre in Islington. The Quentin Blake Centre for illustration will be built at an estimated cost of whopping $8 million.

It will feature exhibition galleries, education studios, and events spaces.

It will also become a permanent home for Blake’s archive of over 40,000 drawings.

Oh really?

• Blake has worked with other children’s literature authors, including Russell Hoban, Joan Aiken, Michael Rosen and David Walliams. His own heavily illustrated and quirky books include “Mister Magnolia”, “Zagazoo” and “Loveykins”.


• Blake was honoured with a knighthood in 2013 for his work as an illustrator.


• So far, he was illustrated more than 300 books, Blake also works with hospitals and mental health units, decorating buildings with his sketches.

 

Picture Credit : Google

On May 25, 1977, a low-budget science-fiction film opened in just 32 movie theaters across the United States. The film, packed with strange characters such as lightsaber-wielding Jedis and Wookiees, surprisingly caught the public imagination and broke all box-office records across the country.

That film was none other than the cult classic Star Wars, and the little-known filmmaker, who conceived, wrote and directed it was George Lucas. He pioneered a new way of making films and merchandising in Hollywood.

Want to know more about this cinematic genius? Read on…

Early life

George Lucas Walton Jr. was born in a small town of Modesto in California on May 14, 1944. From a young age, Lucas had big ambitions: he wanted to become a professional race car driver. A young Lucas was dazzled by the speed, glamour and thrill of the car racing circuit. As a teen, he even took part in underground car races. A near-fatal car racing accident however altered his aspirations and forced him to pursue other interests.

Cine-magic

He gave up car racing and instead, began filming car races. Gradually, he developed an interest in cinema, Lucas started devouring avant garde and classic European films such as Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless and Francois Truffaut’s Jules et Jim. His interest grew so strong that he decided to study the art of film making. He signed up at the University of Southern California (USC) School of Cinematic Arts, one of the earliest universities devoted to motion picture film, where he met many other aspiring filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg and Randal Kleiser. At USC, Lucas developed a passion for camera work and editing.

Opportunity of a lifetime

In 1967, he submitted a short film Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB at a student film festival. The film received critical acclaim, earning him a student scholarship by Warner Bros. As part of the scholarship, Lucas could work on the making of a film of his choosing. An enthusiastic Lucas chose Finian’s Rainbow directed by Francis Ford Coppola, a revered filmmaker of the time.

Impressed by Lucas, Coppola teamed up with him to create the American Zoetrope studio dedicated to encouraging alternative approaches to film making. His first major film was American Graffiti, based on his teenage years in Modesto. The film was nominated for an Oscar in best picture, a major achievement for a budding director.

Next Lucas decided to remake his childhood favourite Flash Gordon series. However, he was unable to obtain rights for it. So he embarked upon writing an original story based in space that would eventually become Star Wars.

Overcoming challenges

Contrary to the science-fiction films of the time, Lucas wanted to make something light and targeted towards young adults. So he began working on the space drama Star Wars. But its production was quite tumultuous. From budget constraints and health issues to natural disasters, Lucas had to overcome great odds along the way. On the first day of filming A New Hope, a huge Tunisian storm destroyed the set and delayed shooting, some of the electronic equipment malfunctioned, and to make matters worse, actor Mark Hamil, who plays Luke Skywalker, was injured in an accident towards the end of production. That’s not all, Lucas had an equally tough time finding producers for the film. It was turned down by major studios such as United Artists and Universal. But an undeterred Lucas, finally managed to convince 20th Century Fox to invest in the film.

Indy tales

After the success of the first film, Lucas worked on more Star Wars films and television spin-offs. Desperate for a break, he focused his creative energy on creating another legendary character, the rugged, globetrotting adventurer Indiana Jones. He collaborated with his college friend Steven Spielberg to develop the series, which remains popular even today.

Giving back

Star Wars and Indiana Jones became two of the world’s most successful film franchises, paving the way for others such as Harry Potter and Marvel. Today, Lucas is worth an estimated $6.1 billion. But in 2010, the billionaire signed the Giving Pledge, which is a promise to give away half his wealth during his lifetime. He was particularly interested in donating it for the cause of improving education. A noble gesture, indeed!

 

Picture Credit : Google

Kirby’s origin story

From Captain America and The Hulk to The X-Men and the adorable Groot, comic look artist Jack Kirby breathed life into some of Marvel's biggest and most popular superheroes. Sadly, he never got due recognition in his lifetime.

Written in the form of a graphic novel, “The Epic Life of the King of Comics” by Tom Scioli tells the improbable tale of how a young kid raised in the streets of New York became the most important figure in the evolution of comics.

Rough-and-tumble life

Born as Jacob Kurtzberg on August 28, 1917, Kirby lived in the Lower East Side of Manhattam – a neighbourhood infamous for its violent street gangs, Kirby too joined one of the gangs and led a rough life – partly due to poor financial conditions at home. Years later, these experiences helped him come up with dynamic fight and action sequences in his comics.

Drawing from scrap

The timeless characters that Kirby created are testament to his talent. But id you know how Kirby learnt to draw? No, he could not afford to study at any fancy art school. Instead, he practised his art skills using newspapers stolen from his neighbour’s trash can.

At the age of 11, he started drawing cartoons for the local newspaper. A few years later, he was hired to illustrate columns such as “Your Health Comes First” and “Facts You Never Knew” by another newspaper. From there he moved on to Max Fleischer’s animation studio where he worked for a while creating backgrounds for “Popeye” cartoons.

A timely choice

Working with Timely Comics (which eventually became Marvel), Kirby partnered with writer Joe Simon to come up with the shield-bearing Captain America.

While he was busy illustrating the eye-popping fight scenes of the Cap on paper, he soon experienced them in real life. In 1943, he got drafted into the Army to fight in WWII. On learning of Kirby’s background in the comics industry, his lieutenant made him a scout who would advance into towns and draw reconnaissance maps and pictures, an extremely dangerous duty. During one such mission in Normandy, he nearly lost his leg to frost-bite.

Working with Stan Lee

Kirby worked on several projects with Marvel comics figurehead Stan Lee, and Steve Ditko. They came up with legendary characters such as Fantastic Four, Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Anti-Man, the collective Avengers, Silver Surfer and the X-Men. But while Lee come into the limelight, Kirby and Ditko remained in the shadows.

At Marvel, Kirby struggled for better pay, royalties, and the return of original artwork.

Later, he worked for other publications including DC Comics, created the Fourth World saga, which includes New Gods, an integral part of the DC universe. He also worked with Neil Gaiman to revive the “Sandman” series.

Work ethic

Kirby was known for his strict work ethic. In his prime, Kirby would draw three or four pages a day, resulting in thousands of pages over the course of his career.

Legacy

Kirby died in 1994, but his name remains etched in stone in the comic world.

Did you know?

• In 2017, Kirby was posthumously named a Disney Legend with Lee for their co-creations, which formed the heart of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.


• The Jack Kirby Award was presented in his honour from 985-1987 for achievement in comic books.


• Kirby produced over 25,000 pages during his lifetime as well as hundreds of comic strips and sketches.

 

Picture Credit : Google