Facts & Quotes™💡

…

​​How do QR codes work? QR codes are a technology that desperately wants our attention. They appear everywhere from supermarket shelves and magazines to hiking trails and tombstones. QR (Quick Response) code is the trademark name for the two dimensional barcode system. It was originally invented in 1994 by Denso Wave, a Toyota subsidiary, as a way to track vehicles as they were assembled, and to scan components at high speeds. While Denso Wave does hold the patent on the technology, it has granted free licence on it, going so far as to publish the spec online, and allowing anyone to use it. The conventional one dimensional barcodes used on virtually every consumer product are mechanically scanned. That is, they're read by physically bouncing a narrow beam of light onto the code, which can be interpreted using the pattern of light reflected off the white gaps between the lines. A QR code works by encoding data in a certain way (a certain standard) so scanning software can interpret the results. For example, normal barcodes on products are considered 1D barcodes. The lines are different widths that correspond to numbers. Software interprets those line widths as numbers. Same with the QR code; the location of each block is interpreted by the software and the combination of a bunch of blocks combine to represent certain characters. Combine the characters and you can get a URL for example. If you add logic in the scanning software that opens a browser and goes to the link when the encoded data looks like a URL (with http://), you have added the functionality of translating printed material into digital material.

…

“Why do you permit a mere word to stand in your way? Forget the word 'difficult' and take your next step.” - Vernon Howard #quotes

After just under a year in space, astronaut Scott Kelly's gene expression changed significantly and is different than his identical twin brother's DNA. #space

The more attracted you are to someone, the easier it is for them to make you laugh. #psychology

…

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. - Mark Twain #quotes

Mohammed Muqbel set the Guinness World Record for the largest stack of eggs (4). #rank

The richest 1% owns more than 43% of the world's wealth. #knowledge

​​What is use of Calcium Carbide in fruits? Ripening is a process in fruits that causes them to become more palatable. In general, fruit becomes sweeter, less green (typically "redder"), and softer as it ripens.  Ripening agents accelerate ripening. An important ripening agent is ethylene, a gaseous hormone produced by many plants. Many synthetic analogues of ethylene are available They allow many fruits to be picked prior to full ripening, which is useful since ripened fruits do not ship well. For example, bananas are picked when green and artificially ripened after shipment by being exposed to ethylene. Calcium carbide is also used in some countries for artificially ripening fruit. When calcium carbide comes in contact with moisture, it produces acetylene gas, which is similar in its effects to the natural ripening agent, ethylene. Acetylene accelerates the ripening process. Catalytic generators are used to produce ethylene gas simply and safely. Ethylene sensors can be used to precisely control the amount of gas. Covered fruit ripening bowls or bags are commercially available. These containers increase the amount of ethylene and carbon dioxide gases around the fruit, which promotes ripening. Ripening indicators like Iodine (I) can be used to determine whether fruits are ripening or rotting by showing whether the starch in the fruit has turned into sugar. For example, a drop of iodine on a slightly rotten part (not the skin) of an apple will stay yellow or orange, since starch is no longer present. If the iodine is applied and takes 2–3 seconds to turn dark blue or black, then the process of ripening has begun but is not yet complete. If the iodine becomes black immediately, then most of the starch is still present at high concentrations in the sample, and hence the fruit hasn't fully started to ripen.

…

Adulting is nothing more than being scared out of your mind but still acting as if everything is fine. #thoughts

Every time you properly shuffle a deck of cards, you create a new combination of cards that has never existed before. #weird

Male ladybugs can spend up to four hours mating with a dead female before they realize something's off. #animals

​​Why is a 'Red Cross' used as a medical symbol? The sign of the Red Cross is associated with Red Cross Society, which is a voluntary organisation in the field of medical services. It was founded by Henry Dunant about 150 years ago. The sign is always found on hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, dispensary, ambulances, etc. The Blue Cross was introduced in the US but it is not as popular as the Red Cross, which is found worldwide. The reason crosses are used and associated with medical professions is mainly because of its use by the International Red Cross Society The  Red Cross emblem was based on the design of the Swiss national flag. The red cross emblem can’t actually be used by doctors or anyone else, as it’s regarded as an internationally protected symbol. The international Red Cross organization had won noble prize for its work for three times.  Coming to the matter, red cross is named for offering unconditional help to the people in need.  So, medical field, which also offers life saving services to the people adopted this symbol. That is the reason why hospitals and ambulances use red color plus symbol.

…

People don’t hate Sundays because of Sundays. They hate Sundays because of Mondays. #thoughts

Roughly 95% of a cucumber is water. #knowledge

Human sperm cells contain about 37.5MB of data each The average "load" contains nearly 16TB of data. #science