Latest news with #Kinjal
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
How did cockroaches survive the asteroid that led to the extinction of dinosaurs?
Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you'd like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@ How did cockroaches survive the asteroid that led to the extinction of dinosaurs? – Kinjal, age 11, Delhi, India When the rock now known as the Chicxulub impactor plummeted from outer space and slammed into the Earth 66 million years ago, cockroaches were there. The impact caused a massive earthquake, and scientists think it also triggered volcanic eruptions thousands of miles from the impact site. Three-quarters of plants and animals on Earth died, including all dinosaurs, except for some species that were ancestors of today's birds. How could roaches a couple of inches long survive when so many powerful animals went extinct? It turns out that they were nicely equipped to live through a meteoric catastrophe. If you've ever seen a cockroach, you've probably noticed that their bodies are very flat. This is not an accident. Flatter insects can squeeze themselves into tighter places. This enables them to hide practically anywhere – and it may have helped them survive the Chicxulub impact. When the meteor struck, temperatures on Earth's surface skyrocketed. Many animals had nowhere to flee, but roaches could take shelter in tiny soil crevices, which provide excellent protection from heat. The meteor's impact triggered a cascade of effects. It kicked up so much dust that the sky darkened. As the sun dimmed, temperatures plunged and conditions became wintry around the globe. With little sunlight, surviving plants struggled to grow, and many other organisms that relied on those plants went hungry. Not cockroaches, though. Unlike some insects that prefer to eat one specific plant, cockroaches are omnivorous scavengers. This means they will eat most foods that come from animals or plants as well as cardboard, some kinds of clothing and even poop. Having appetites that aren't picky has allowed cockroaches to survive lean times since the Chicxulub extinction and other natural disasters. Another helpful trait is that cockroaches lay their eggs in little protective cases. These egg cartons look like dried beans and are called oothecae, which means 'egg cases.' Like phone cases, oothecae are hard and protect their contents from physical damage and other threats, such as flooding and drought. Some cockroaches may have waited out part of the Chicxulub catastrophe from the comfort of their oothecae. Modern cockroaches are little survivors that can live just about anywhere on land, from the heat of the tropics to some of the coldest parts of the globe. Scientists estimate that there over 4,000 cockroach species. A handful of these species like to live with humans and quickly become pests. Once cockroaches become established in a building, it's hard to rid every little crack of these insects and their oothecae. When large numbers of roaches are present in unsanitary places, they can spread diseases. The biggest threat they pose to human health is from allergens they produce that can trigger asthma attacks and allergic reactions in some people. Cockroach pests are hard to manage because they can resist many chemical insecticides and because they have the same abilities that helped their ancestors outlive many dinosaurs. Still, cockroaches are much more than a pest to control. Researchers study cockroaches to understand how they move and how their bodies are designed to get ideas for building better robots. As a scientist, I see all insects as beautiful, six-legged inspirations. Cockroaches have already overcome odds that were too great for dinosaurs. If another meteorite hit the Earth, I'd be more worried for humans than for cockroaches. Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question you'd like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@ Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live. And since curiosity has no age limit – adults, let us know what you're wondering, too. We won't be able to answer every question, but we will do our best. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Brian Lovett, West Virginia University Read more: To help insects, make them welcome in your garden – here's how Why are moths attracted to light? The invasive emerald ash borer has destroyed millions of trees – scientists aim to control it with tiny parasitic wasps Brian Lovett does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Dance is the best way I express myself: Kinjal Rajpriya
Kinjal Rajpriya joined us for a fun dance shoot on International Dance Day Dance is the best way I express myself,' says Kinjal Rajpriya , whose inclination towards dance and music 'has been constant since childhood'. On International Dance Day , the 3 Ekka and Shu Thayu? actor joined us for a shoot where she performed her favourite dance moves and shared stories about being a disciple of the late Kumudini Lakhia , why she loves dancing and more. 'I won a lot of dance trophies for my school' At a very young age, Kinjal realised her love for music and dancing thanks to her parents. She says, 'My parents would give me a particular beat, and I used to dance on it. I eventually joined Kathak classes and was also known as a dancer in my school. I have won many trophies and dance competitions for my school.' She adds, 'I realised pretty early that as compared to other art forms, dancing is the best way I express myself. It has helped me get over stage fear as well. Also, dancing helps me empty myself when things feel overwhelming. There are many emotions like love, happiness, sadness, or anger, which I convey best through dance. It is like my therapy (smiles).' 'I love dancing on Krishna bhajans' Kinjal enjoys dancing on songs about Lord Krishna's life Asked about her favourite genre of dance, Kinjal says, 'I love dancing on Krishna bhajans and songs about Lord Krishna's life. Iss ek dance form mein hi bahot saare bhava hai. Iss mein Meera (Mirabai) ka, Radha ka, Rukmini ka, Yashoda ka aur khud Krishna ka bhi bhava hai. I find my most joyful self while dancing to such songs, as it allows me to express the navarasas together.' 'I have learnt a lot from Kumiben' Kinjal learnt Kathak at the Kadamb Centre for Dance , which was founded by the late Kumudini Lakhia. Kinjal, who fondly calls her Kumiben, shares, 'While I learnt Kathak from different teachers, Kumiben used to visit occasionally. While interacting with us, she would say, 'You dance for yourself, and not for the audience.' She also told us, 'Enjoying dancing from within and outside will be the reflection of your expression.' I would write all these things in my journal and still look back at those notes when I can. I learnt a lot from her.' She says, "Dance helps you gain flexibility of mind, body, and thoughts, and gives you a sense of liberation. It allows you to break a lot of barriers," adding, "I wish every child would learn classical dance or classical music. While other dance forms are good too, classical dance forms would help them to understand our roots, mythology and learn so many rasas." "I hope Gujarati films explore classical dance forms soon, or make them a part of storytelling," Kinjal concludes.
BBC News
15-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
'I do 36 blood transfusions during pregnancy' - how pregnant woman survive blood disorder
''Di first time I see my daughter face, I forget all my pregnancy pain," Kinjal Lathi, from Ahmedabad in India tok. "I cry, and also my husband." Until dat moment marriage and motherhood dey always feel like a distant dream for Kinjal becos she get beta thalassemia major disease. She need a blood transfusion everi two weeks and must follow a veri strict diet and medicine regime. Added to her underlying health condition na di challenge to born a child in di first place and to carry am. "E get risks for both mother and child wey dey involved. But I decide to realise my motherhood dream,'' Kinjal tok. Kinjal do 36 blood transfusions during her pregnancy but eventually give birth to a healthy daughter on July 12 in 2019. She get a planned caesarean section birth wey dey designed to minimise any potential blood loss. Even afta she give birth, di 25 year-old, "gatz undergo a blood transfusion," she say. She add say at one point she do transfusion and at di same time she dey breastfeed her newborn baby Di blood disorder no dey inherited by her daughter. Thalassaemia dey caused by faulty genes wey affect di production of haemoglobin wey be diprotein for red blood cells wey dey carriy oxygen around di body. A child fit only be born wit thalassaemia if dem inherit dis faulty genes from both parents. So, if both parents get di faulty gene wey dey cause beta thalassaemia major, e get a one in four chance of each child say dem go dey born wit di condition. Parents of a child wit thalassaemia na usually carriers meaning say dem only get one of di faulty genes. How thalassemia change pregnancy? Kinjal successful pregnancy dey extremely rare, according to paediatrician Doctor Anil Khatri, member of di Gujarat State thalassemia task force. E treat both mother and child. So rare, in fact, na sometin wey im neva previously encounter for di last three decades as a doctor treating more dan 100 thalassemia patients. Worldwide e get around 270 million pipo wey get thalassemia, according to di Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Na devastating disease wey dey make patients weak, short of breath, unable to work and cut dia life expectancy. E get several different types of thalassaemia, including Hemoglobin H disease. Dis fit dey divided into alpha and beta thalassaemias - beta thalassaemia major (TM) na di most severe version of di disorder, India get 100,000 -150,000 children wit TM, di highest number of cases fo di world. Some 10,000-15,000 Indian babies dey born wit di disease everi year. To give birth to a baby in di first place dey harder for pipo wit thalassaemia, gynaecologist Doctor Uma Khatri, wey treat Kinjal explain. Repeated blood transfusions fit affect di hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenaline glands and secretion of hormones wey dey impact fertility. Correctly balancing iron levels through transfusions also dey challenging and patients fit also end up wit too much iron circulating for dia blood. During pregnancy, di volume of blood for your body increases and so also di amount of iron wey you need to support yourself and supply oxygen to your baby. "Thalassemia patients don increase iron due to repeated blood transfusions. Den normally dey take medicine to reduce dis but dem no fit give am during pregnancy as e fit affect di patient internal organs,'' Doctor Uma Khatri explain. "Usually, we dey call pregnant women for a check-up once a month. We dey call Kinjal everi 15 days. Dis na first-time for us too," Khatri tok as she explain say sonography normally na monthly to monitor a baby growth during pregnancy. Why some couples seek genetic counselling? Sake of di additional strain pregnancy fit put on Kinjal body, her husband Naveen Lathia dey understandably worried. E say e dey "afraid im go lose Kinjal for di process." But following her insistence, despiet di risks, she still wan get a baby so e begin to research. E no dey able to find a single oda case of a woman wit thalassemia major giving birth to a healthy child. "But afta e discuss am wit di doctor, I dey ready," he said. Following di birth, doctors advise Kinjal to stick to home-cooked food and stay away from crowded places to reduce any risk of infection. Dr Khatri say TM patients dey at higher risk of infection as dia vital organs like heart, kidneys, lungs fit don damage and weaken dia immune response. Pre-marital testing of couples and pregnant women plus counselling sessions don become widespread across India wit millions wey dey take part. Dr Anil Khatri advise Indian couples say bifor any marriage both partners gatz dey tested for genetic blood disorders. "If both get thalassemia minor, make dem avoid marriage if possible, as e mean say e get a one in four chance of dat couple wey get a thalassemia major child," e tok. Howeva, doctors advise say if a couple wey dey expect a child both get thalassemia minor, a prenatal test fit take place for utero - wen di foetus still dey for di mother womb - at eight to nine weeks old. If dat test den show say di child go get thalassemia major en some couples fit choose to do medical abortion.
