Murali Duggineni

Murali Duggineni

Understanding the language of rain

When the monsoon arrives, we often hear terms such as drizzle, showers, rain, downpour, and cloudburst. Meteorologists use these words to classify rainfall based on its intensity, measured in millimeters (mm) of rain received per hour. Drizzle consists of very…

The rare flower that gave the Nilgiris their name

The Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) is one of India’s most extraordinary flowering plants, found mainly in the high-altitude shola grasslands of the Western Ghats. What makes this flower unique is its rare blooming cycle: it flowers en masse only once every…

There’s an artist in every profession

This month, we are leaving the house we lived in for nearly six years. During all these years, we managed the household work ourselves. We never employed a maid, and that included cleaning the washrooms. As we prepared to leave,…

Why does the recycling symbol have three arrows?

Three simple arrows chasing one another in a triangle have become one of the most recognized symbols in the world. Found on packaging, products, bins, and public spaces, the recycling symbol quietly communicates a powerful idea: waste need not be…

Why traffic lights use red, yellow, and green

Before traffic lights existed, city streets were crowded with pedestrians, horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, streetcars, and an increasing number of automobiles. The solution to this growing chaos came from an unexpected source: the railways. Railway operators began using colored light signals…

Why every device uses the same power button icon

Look closely at the power button on your laptop, phone, TV, or microwave. You will find a vertical line enclosed within a broken circle, representing one of the world’s most successful examples of universal communication. The story begins in the…

The tearful origins of “maudlin”

Ever wondered how the name of a revered biblical figure came to describe someone who is overly emotional? The story behind maudlin is one of art, religion, language, and centuries of cultural memory. The word maudlin means excessively sentimental, tearfully…