THIS time around we shall not consume much time and space to preamble and instead go straight to the remaining part of the alphabetical letter, B. Here it is:

Bionics: In general terms it means the development of artificial organs. As a result, a new variety of spare parts have been derived from this new branch of science, like artificial ears, synthetic skin, blood vessels, kidney, and artificial joints and limbs. Many human, and in some cases animal, body portions that emulate (even simulate) the functions and even behaviour, if partially, of a living organism.

Robots are a glaring example. They play chess and have been utilised to great advantage in factories and assembly lines. Science fiction is another engaging example, the Bionic Man that no one can ignore. More recently, the movie Avatar is another example.

Aspiring and trainee astronauts are imparted this branch of science as an essential discipline to groom them for the jobs ahead. Astronomers are taught how their various body parts will behave under conditions of weightlessness and how they should learn to maximise their use. Remember weightlessness puts a human, or an animal, under unspeakable stress.

Biophysics, astrophysics, atmospheric physics and acoustical (related with sound) are a few of the related branches of bionics. Some close cousins, some distant ones.

Biosphere: The entire region of the planet that supports self-sustaining as well as self-regulating ecological system, i.e. total life on the planet. For the Earth, it is a combination of the atmosphere, the hydrosphere (water bodies like the seas, oceans, rivers, lakes and also the water vapours in atmosphere), and even the lithosphere (the solid part).

The whole can be imagined as a thin film on the surface of the planet. From the deepest ocean depths to the upper-most limit of the atmosphere, the life-supporting layer is not more than 20 miles thick. The biosphere supports life and is affected by the consequence of life, either assisting in the upkeep of one another or helping each other in a grand way.

For example, flora (plant life) removes carbon dioxide from the air, using the carbon for synthesising (processing) sugars to stay alive, releasing oxygen in the bargain. That is the 21 per cent oxygen which we breathe on our planet.

That is why they insist that 1) we do not cut trees, and, 2) we should plant as many trees as possible for posterity (future generations). Hence the assured supply of oxygen. Because we are not only made from the same material but all things — lizards, humans, snakes, whales or else — are basically the same matter.

Astronomy is the study of stars, galaxies, planets, our own star, the Sun, all other heavenly bodies. It is as much about the Earth as it is about other planets. The close examination of Earth has revealed to us for certainty that there is no life elsewhere, but here on Earth it is expressed in a million interesting ways.

Black Holes: We have discussed this at length not very long ago. Still, briefly again for new readers. These regions in outer space are extremely rare, and sparsely located, highly romanticised though, with a handful of astronomers denying their presence altogether.

The available matter is sucked into these bodies due their intense gravity which is so strong that nothing can escape their deadly gravitational power, not even light. That is why the Black Holes are not visible objects but detected by the force they exert on nearby objects.

The phenomenon has only been understood in recent times, first identified toward the middle of last century, although scientists had been making effort to explain it somewhat earlier. They are detected from the intense gravity they exert on nearby, unsuspecting, passing stars that they gulp in a jiffy the moment they happen to venture close to the hungry Black Hole. Just imagine, a whole star being eaten alive by this terrible object, because a star never remains a star once the demon catches sight of the hapless victim. Just like a chameleon devours a grass hopper out of existence.

All stars do not end up as B.H. Only a massive star will form an iron core at its centre as it burns out its fuel. The iron core will collapse and so will the rest of the star, forming a Black Hole. This process of the death throes of the star will occur only to a star of 20 solar masses and above.

Chandra Sekhar, (1910-1995, born in Lahore, died in Chicago, the great astro-physicist is credited with providing the explanation for this phenomenon, and awarded with the Nobel Prize in 1983). His Nobel Prize came after about 40 years after he discovered it, that too because Arthur Eddington, his worst detractor, had died.

I personally met the unassuming great from South India, in Chicago sometime before his death. He wore ordinary clothes and very simple sandals. In that mundane attire he looked great to boot. I was deeply inspired. When I told him that I too was from Lahore, he was pleased. Such are the ways of the truly great. The phenomenon has been christened as, Chandra’s Limit, and thus the man has been immortalised for his contribution to science.

Briefly speaking, it is the theoretically maximum possible mass of a stable cold star, at least about twice the size of our Sun near the time of its death that cannot support itself against its own gravity, and become a Black Hole at the time of its death. And begins life anew — that of snuffing the life of others!

Tycho Brahe: The great Danish astronomer (1546-1601). Regarded as the founder of Western observational astronomy, and a mentor of Johannes Kepler, he was the most prolific, if sometimes inaccurate, the greatest of all pre-telescope astronomers. Kepler benefitted immensely from his observations. The telescope was invented a few years (in 1609) after his death.