Category BackStory

Zen: the art of finding peace within

A student once asked his master, “What is Zen?” The master smiled, poured tea into a cup, and continued pouring until it overflowed. “Like this cup,” he said, “your mind is already full. Empty it, and you will begin to…

picture showing an airbag after a crash

How car airbags deploy in a split second

Airbags protect occupants by inflating in a fraction of a second during a serious crash. The system does not react to speed alone; it detects a sudden, severe change in the vehicle’s motion and then triggers a rapid chemical gas-generating…

Why is social discrimination called stigma?

The word stigma refers to a mark of shame, disgrace or social disapproval associated with a person, group or condition. Interestingly, its original meaning was quite literal: a physical mark made on a person’s body. The word originates from the…

Why do we measure engine power in horsepower?

A car engine rated at 100 HP and a railway locomotive rated at 6,000 HP have something in common: both use horsepower to describe their power. But what exactly is horsepower? Why is an engine’s power measured in horses, and…

The weed that refused to leave India

It looks harmless, even attractive, with its delicate green leaves and clusters of tiny white flowers. But beneath its innocent appearance lies one of India’s most troublesome invasive weeds: Congress grass, scientifically known as Parthenium hysterophorus. Popularly called Vayyari Bhama…