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One of the best way to keep your drink at its best taste for a longer time is to use a sphere of ice used for keeping straight spirits, and short cocktails like the old fashioned, cold for as long as possible. Being one large piece of ice with a smaller overall surface area than several pieces of ice, the ball melts more slowly and keeps the drink cooler, and less diluted, for longer. It also looks really cool.

Popularized by the Japanese who hand-carve them using ice picks or insanely sharp sushi knives , a variety of other products have popped up as alternatives for those who value having ten fingers. Silicone moulds are perhaps the cheapest and easiest method but invariably leave an unsightly seam along the ball’s circumference. The best products I’ve seen though are ice-ball molds – large hunks of metal that seemingly defy all logic by using just thermal capacity and gravity to form a perfectly round sphere in under a minute.
Here’s is the instruction using which you can make an ice ball:
1. Take a round balloon of any size and fill it with water from the sink. You can fill it up as much as you like, but keep in mind that the bigger it is, the longer it will take to freeze. You should also be sure that the balloon will have enough space in your freezer.
2. Let all the air out of the balloon. If an air bubble remains inside the balloon, it will cause a large dip in the ice ball. Tie the balloon once the air has been released.
3. Put the balloon in the freezer. If you have a round bowl that is about the size of the balloon, you should put the balloon inside it. This will help the balloon keep a round shape during the freezing process. You can freeze it without putting it in a bowl, but the ice will end up being flat on one side.
4. Let it freeze for at least one day. A large ice ball could take up to three days. A balloon the size of a softball will be ready in one day and a balloon the size of a basketball will take three.
Reference
http://www.taisin-ss.co.jp/icemold/english/index.html
Keeping our teeth clean is the basic principle of dental hygiene, and daily use of toothpaste helps us keep our teeth germ-free. The natural question that may come to one’s mind is – how is toothpaste made? First toothpaste dates back to the nineteenth century, but naturally, it was quite different from the toothpaste we use today. There are several standards that toothpaste manufacturing process and materials need to meet before the toothpaste can be sold in the market. Organizations evaluate the standards and offer guidance to toothpaste manufacturers as to how the toothpaste can meet the requirements set by different governments.

One of the major ingredients of toothpaste is a binder. Binder is what gives toothpaste its pastiness. Binder also has effects on the appearance of the toothpaste. There are many chemicals that can be used as binders. Abrasives are also present in toothpaste. The common abrasives are chalk, baking soda, silica etc. The abrasive helps in cleaning of the teeth while brushing. There can be one or more abrasives in toothpaste. A foaming compound is also added that produces the foam. This foaming compound cleans food particles stuck in teeth. Another common ingredient is humectants. It gives toothpaste its sweet taste and moistness. Flavors such as mint are also added to give the mouth a fresh feeling.
Biotechnology is a relatively newer field but it has already made rapid progress in terms of discoveries. A major development in recent times has been the successful association of 13 new genes to some heart diseases. There were about 10 genes that were known previously to be linked to several heart diseases, most notably coronary artery disease or CAD. So altogether there are now 23 genes that are known to be directly or indirectly related to the complex biological phenomena that can cause the heart diseases. The previously known 10 genes have also been reconfirmed to be associated to heart diseases. Only 6 of the 23 genes have been satisfactorily shown to have links with high risk factors like cholesterol, high blood pressure etc. Another parallel discovery made with the help of institutes like Japanese contract research organization has also helped scientists know how certain genes can influence biological processes like development of fat or obesity and the formation of diseases like atrial fibrillation.

Scientists have also made rapid progress in the field of biotechnology concerning the stem cell research. These researches have improved the understanding of Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, which is a condition in which accelerated aging occurs. Researchers interested in the functions of aging found out recently that a malformed lamin A protein is closely linked with the disease, progeria. Several researches have been conducted in conjunction with institutions like the Japanese contract research organization in the field of induced pluripotency, which has given us a better insight into the worlds of “normal” and “rapid” aging and the differences between the two conditions.
Recent discoveries have been made in the field of biosensors and biomarkers. Tel Aviv University is one such place where advancements have been made in the field of solar cells to make testing for diseases like multiple sclerosis and cancer much easier. A Japanese contract research organization is an outsourcing partner for medicinal and medical products, pharmaceutical drugs and medical equipments. It helps in biotechnology research through its testing and statistical analyses.






