Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause diseases in mammalian, avian, and reptilian species. Note that some species such as bats serve as mere reservoirs of these viruses without causing symptoms associated with an infection. In humans, some of these viruses can cause respiratory tract infections with varying severity ranging from mild illnesses […]
Tag Archives: Environment
Difference Between Viruses, Viroids, and Prions
There are three known types of non-living pathogens or infectious agents that affect living organisms. Of course, viral infections are frequently heard alongside bacterial and fungal infections. However, two other types of non-living organic agents also affect living organisms. These are viroids and prions. What are Viroids and Prions? What is the Difference Between Viruses, […]
The Difference Between Bacteria and Archaea
Both bacteria and archaea are two of the three major groups of cellular life forms categorized under the three-domain system, which was first introduced American microbiologist and biophysicist Carl Woese in 1977. Similarities Between Bacteria and Archaea Archaea were once classified as bacteria. Hence, they were initially called archaebacteria. Furthermore, both are prokaryotes, and as […]
Structure of the Earth: Compositional vs. Mechanical Layers
The structure of the Earth consists of various spherical shells or layers that can be categorized in two manners: either by their chemical compositions or mechanical properties. Hence, compositional layers and mechanical layers are the two types of layers Categorizing the Structure of the Earth: The Difference Between Compositional Layers and Mechanical Layers The Compositional […]
The Pacific Ring of Fire Explained
The Pacific Ring of Fire or the Circum-Pacific Belt is a geologically defined path along the Pacific Ocean characterized by a string of active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes. It has a length of approximately 40,000 kilometers or 24,900 miles spanning from the western sides of the South America and North America and all the way […]
Why Volcanoes Erupt? What Causes Volcanic Eruption?
A volcanic eruption is a geological phenomenon occurring when hot materials from the interior of a planetary-mass object are thrown out of a vent or fissure found on the surface. These vents or fissures are collectively called volcanoes. The volcanoes on Earth occur because the crust is broken up into 7 major and 152 tectonic […]
White Eggs vs. Brown Eggs: What is the Difference
Are brown eggs better than white eggs? Is there any nutritional difference between the two? Which one is healthier? What is the difference between the two varieties? The Difference Between White Eggs and Brown Eggs The Formation of Chicken Eggs and How They Get Their Color Some believe that the color of the feathers dictates […]
Water Cremation 101: Pros and Cons of Alkaline Hydrolysis
Body disposal through alkaline hydrolysis involves placing the intact dead body in a pressurized vessel that is then filled with a mixture of water and potassium hydroxide. It is then heated to a temperature of around 160 degrees Celsius while under an elevated pressure to prevent boiling. The entire process effectively breaks down the body […]
Advantages and Disadvantages of Cremation
Cremation has become an alternative to the burial of an intact body because of pressing concerns over limited land availability and the increasing price of burial land. It is specifically a method of final disposition of a dead body through burning or combustion. During the cremation process, the body is subjected to a temperature of […]
Pros and Cons of Carbon Capture and Storage
The entire process of carbon capture and storage or CCS involves capturing carbon dioxide from point sources, processing and transporting the captured CO2 for storage, and storing or disposing them to a final location selected and in most cases, reinforced to prevent the captured CO2 from entering the atmosphere. The process has been positioned as […]