Blog

What is fanfiction?

Fanfiction is an outlet for fan engagement, allowing readers to become writers and creators in their own right. This thriving subculture within the literary world, can be understood as a form of fiction created by passionate fans, featuring borrowed characters from popular books, movies, TV shows, or other media. Through this medium fans-turned-storytellers bring their own twists to established narratives, exploring new scenarios, relationships, or adventures.

Origin                                                                                                                                                

The concept of fanfiction may seem contemporary, primarily driven by the internet era, but its roots can be traced back much further. In fact, the origins of fanfiction can be traced to the 18th Century, shortly after the publication of Irish writer Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels. Readers, captivated by the titular character’s fantastical journeys, began to write and imagine Gulliver in different, invented circumstances. These early fan-written stories can be seen as precursors to what we now know as fanfiction. With the advent of the internet, fanfiction indeed found its home. Online communities and forums provided a space for fans to connect, share, and explore their creative works. The popularity of this type of fiction multiplied exponentially as fans delved into the worlds they loved, breathing life into characters and relationships that captured their hearts.

 

Authors on fanfiction

However, the phenomenon of fanfiction has not been without controversy some authors, like American author Anne Rice, have expressed concerns over this kind of writing diluting the integrity of the original characters and stories. On the other hand, writer, such as English authors Douglas Adams and JK Rowling, have embraced fanfiction, acknowledging how it can expand the understanding of their universes and foster a deeper connection with their readers.

Rowling’s stance on the subject is particularly noteworthy. While she discourages fanfiction that aims to profit from her creations, she has expressed appreciation for fans desire to write their own stories based on her characters. Fanfiction reflects the deep connection fans have with their favourite characters and universes while providing an avenue for fresh perspectives and alternative narratives. As long as there are beloved characters and captivating narratives, this type of writing will continue to thrive, providing a space where imagination knows no bounds and the possibilities are limitless.

Picture Credit: Google

What is the highest temperature of water in Celsius?

The surface ocean temperature in southern Florida soared in July 2023.    

The surface ocean temperature in Manatee Bay, on the southern tip of Florida, hit an unprecedented 38.4°C on July 24. in what is likely a global record for the hottest seawater ever recorded.
Meteorologists say the record is unofficial (it may be disqualified because the area is shallow, contains sea grasses and may be influenced by warm land in the nearby Everglades), but the initial reading on a buoy maintained by the Everglades National Park in Manatee Bay hit 38.4°C (101.1°F).
National Weather Service meteorologist George Rizzuto believes the buoy is accurate, citing other nearby buoys which measured in the 36.7°C and 37.2°C (98°F and 99°F) range.
Scientists are concerned by prolonged hot waters around Florida’s coastline because they are causing coral bleaching and even in some cases deaths.
A recent study lists a 37.6°C sea surface temperature recorded in Kuwait Bay in July 2020-likely now the former world’s hottest seawater.

Picture Credit: Google

 

 

How long does it take the International Space Station to orbit the Earth ______ minutes?

The International Space Station (ISS) is a large spacecraft that orbitis around Earth every 90 minutes. It is not only a science laboratory but also serves as a home to crews of astronauts and Cosmonauts.

Its laboratory has components from the United States, Russia, Japan, and Europe.

The space station is used by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists to learn more about living and working in space. The research here will make it possible to send humans farther into space than ever before.

History                                                                                               

Originally called ‘Freedom’ in the 1980s, then U.S. President Ronald Reagan authorised NASA to build the space station. It was redesigned in the 1990s to reduce costs and expand international involvement, at which time it was renamed.

In 1993, the U.S. and Russia agreed to merge their separate space station plans into a single facility and incorporate contributions from the European Space Agency (ESA) and Japan.

It took 10 years and more than 30 missions to assemble the space station. It was launched in 1998 with the help of the U.S., Russia, Canada, Japan, and the participating countries of the ESA. The first piece of the ISS was launched in November 1998. The ISS is the size of a large five-bedroom house or a football field and is able to support a crew of six people and some visitors

It is made up of several parts that were assembled in space by astronauts. The first crew reached the space station on November 2, 2000. People have lived on the space station ever since.

International Space Station

The space station is equal to a five-bedroom house or the size of a football field and is able to support a crew of six people, plus visitors. The laboratories in the space station help the crew members to do research that could not be done anywhere else.

At the ISS, the scientists also study what happens to the human body when people live in microgravity (place where there is almost no gravity) for a long time.

The space station has solar arrays, which collect energy from the sun to provide electrical power. The arrays are connected to the station with a long truss, which is a beam that is the backbone of the space station.

There are radiators on the truss that control the space station’s temperature. Astronauts reach the space station on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft Operating the space station is more complicated than other space flight programmes as it is an international programme. Each partner is mainly responsible for managing and running the hardware it provides It is the largest space station ever constructed and yet it continues to be assembled in orbit.

Till now, it has been visited by astronauts from 18 countries During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the U.S.. President Joe Biden said that India and the US. will collaborate to send an Indian astronaut to the ISS in 2024.

Picture Credit: Google

What is Indian ocean Dipole?

With climate change wreaking havoc all across the globe, you must have come across the weather phenomena El Nino and La Nina. But have you heard of the Indian Nino? Come let’s find out what it is and how it impacts the monsoon

A climate phenomenon

El Nino is a naturally occurring climate pattern associated with the abnormal warming of surface waters in the central Pacific Ocean and this will push up global temperatures and bring less-than-normal rainfall to many parts of the world, while La Nina refers to the large-scale cooling of surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. With an El Nino phase now underway, the warm water spreading across the Pacific Ocean releases a large amount of heat into the atmosphere and this results in hot and dry weather conditions in many parts of the world. So what happens climatically in one place will affect weather worldwide. If there is an El Nino developing in the Pacific, it changes the winds and atmospheric circulation over the Indian Ocean.

warming it up. The Indian Ocean Dipole (1OD), which is commonly referred to as the Indian Nino, is a similar climate phenomenon playing out in the Indian Ocean, the world’s third largest ocean after the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The Indian Ocean most of which lies in the tropical region. is bounded by Africa to the west by Asia to the north, by Australia and the islands of indonesia to the east, and by the Southern Ocean to the south. So the IOD plays out between the African coastline in the west and indonesian coastline in the east, that is between the westem and easter parts of the Indian Ocean

Phases of IOD

The IOD is an irregular shift of ocean surface temperatures in which the western Indian Ocean gets alternately wanner and colder than the eastem part. That is if the temperature of the ocean is warmer on the westem side, it is cooler on the opposite side. The Indian Ocean Dipole plays an important role in influencing weather patterns, particularly the monsoon season in India. It is known to have two main phases, positive and negative, which have their distinct impact on the monsoon.

The rainfall tends to move with the warm waters. During a positive phase, warm waters are pushed to the western part of the Indian Ocean resulting in greater-than-average surface sea temperatures and a greater-than-normal rainfall, while cold waters from the deep are brought to the surface in the eastern Indian Ocean. In other words, a positive IOD means a wetter west and a drier east. The IOD is said to be negative when the western Indian Ocean gets cooler. This fluctuation in temperatures leads to changes in atmospheric circulation patterns, affecting the monsoon.

A positive phase of the IOD enhances the monsoon flow to India and causes floods in African countries, while it reduces rainfall and causes drier conditions and droughts in Indonesia and Australia. This pattern gets reversed during the negative phase. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). there is a higher probability for positive IOD conditions this year and this could potentially limit the impact of El Nino on the subcontinent.

Picture Credit: Google

admin

The supernova now known as SN 1181 was first observed between August 4 and August 6 in 1181! One of less than 10 supernovae in the Milky Way that was observable with the naked eye in recorded history, finding its remnant hasn’t been easy. A.S.Ganesh takes a look at SN 1181 and the mystery behind it….

A powerful and luminous explosion of a star is referred to as a supernova. In the Milky Way, there have been less than 10 instances in recorded history when a supernova has been observed with the naked eye One of those instances took place in 1181.

Between August 4 and August 6 in 1181, observers in China and Japan were able to stare up at the sky and see what they believed was an unusual bright star in the area that we now describe as the constellation Cassiopeia. They called it a “guest star as it appeared briefly for a visit in one area of the sky and then went away again.

The visitor, in fact, was visible in the night sky for over six months-185 days by popular accounts. We now know that these observers had witnessed a supernova, an event now referred to as SN 1181.

Numerous accounts

 Numerous accounts of this supernova have been found in Japanese and Chinese scriptures While a diary entry by a member of the Japanese imperial court in September 1811 calls it “a sign of abnormality.” another saw it as an “occasion for making auspicious offerings for a good harvest”

A Japanese history from the mid-1200s mentions that “A guest star was seen in the northeast. Among the Chinese. the 1345 History of the Song Dynasty states that “A guest star (ko hsing) appeared in Kuei hsiu and invading Chuan-she until the day keui-yu of the first month of the following year [Feb. 6, 1182], altogether 185 days: only then was it extinguished.”

Cosmic jigsaw puzzle

These and the various other accounts that mention this astronomical event serve as pieces of a jigsaw puzzle on a cosmic scale for today’s astronomers. This is because astronomers are tasked with the challenge of matching such historical accounts to real nebulae – the expanding cloud of gas left behind by a supernova.

For centuries, the remnant of SN 1181 remained a mystery. But over the last 50 years or so, candidates have been proposed that fit this particular puzzle.

The powerful tools and instruments at the disposal of modern astronomers were used in conjunction with the historical accounts to arrive at these results.

In 1971, 3C 58-a nebula hosting a pulsar, a type of rapidly rotating neutron star formed from the wreckage of a supernova-was proposed as the remnant of SN 1181. For more than five decades, astronomers have gathered new data and evidence, and posed more questions, but haven’t been able to prove beyond doubt that it is the remnant of the supernova observed in China and Japan in 1181.

Too old to be right?

3C 58’s candidacy has remained in question owing to a number of reasons. Observations in the past few decades estimate it to be more like 2,500 years old, as opposed to the 842-year age of SN 1181.. Additionally, 3C 58 was also found to be too static in the sky and way cooler to be linked to an event that took place in 1181.

In the last few years, another nebula called Pa 30 has emerged as a much stronger contender. Discovered in 2013 by amateur astronomer Dana Patchik while he was searching archival data from NASA’s Wide Infrared Survey Satellite (WISE), Pa 30 lies 7.500 light-years away in Cassiopeia

An interesting object

In the decade since its discovery. multiple observatories have studied it further and it has proved to be an interesting object. While a Russian team proposed that it was the remnant of a double-white dwarf Type lax supernova when revealing their results in Nature in 2019, a team from Hong Kong added further insights when publishing their results in 2021 in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Pa 30’s age, as estimated by the Hong Kong team, was a much better fit for SN 1181. Further research has helped narrow down the age of Pa 30 to 844 years, plus or minus 55 years, which is nearly an exact match to the age of SN 1181. This means that Pa 30 could well be the remains of the star that the Chinese and Japanese saw in 1181 and the answer to a mystery that has remained for over eight centuries.

Picture Credit: Google

What are the benefits of puzzles in early childhood education?

Puzzles offer a wide array of cognitive educational, and personal benefits. They also help children develop patience persistence, and the ability to approach challenges methodically.

By solving puzzles, children enhance their critical thinking. problem-solving skills, creativity, and analytical abilities. Additionally, beyond their educational and cognitive advantages, mathematical puzzles have practical applications in various fields like cryptography, computer programming. engineering, and scientific research. Give yourself a challenge today and solve the two puzzles provided.

Picture Credit: Google

What parts of when we cease to understand the world are fiction?

Covering a spectrum of genres, from riveting mysteries to hitorical fiction, this article pays homage to the art of co-authorship and the remarkable stories that emerge from such dynamic creative collaborations.

Good Omens Recommended age: 12 and up                                                                        

Good Omens is a remarkable literary collaboration between two exceptional English writers. Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. This imaginative novel is a labour of love that seamlessly blends their distinct narrative styles, humour, and wit into a captivating and unique story. Published in 1990, the story follows the unlikely alliance between an angel. Aziraphale, and a demon. Crowley, who have grown quite accustomed to life on Earth. As the impending apocalypse looms, the duo becomes unlikely allies in their shared goal to avert the end of the world. The novel’s charm lies in its satirical take on the forces of good and evil, exploring the complexities of human nature and the absurdities of divine intervention. Gaiman and Pratchett’s collaboration has yielded a humorous and thought-provoking narrative that delves into morality, friendship, and the cosmic battle between heaven and hell.

The Talisman Recommended age: 9-12

The Talisman stands as a shining example of collaborative literature, co-authored by two accomplished American writers, Stephen King and Peter Straub. This novel unites their distinct voices to create a mesmerising blend of fantasy and horror, offering readers a gripping narrative that showcases their combined storytelling prowess.

Set in a world that bridges reality and fantasy. The book follows the journey of a young boy named Jack Sawyer. Faced with the daunting task of saving his ailing mother. Jack embarks on a perilous quest through parallel worlds to find a magical talisman with healing properties. As he traverses dangerous landscapes and encounters both allies and adversaries, his determination is put to the test. The novel explores themes of loyalty, bravery, and the power of love.

The Personal Librarian Recommended age: 15 and up

The Personal Librarian is an interesting co-authored novel penned by American authors Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. Based on the real-life figure Belle da Costa Greene, the novel delves into her role as the personal librarian to American financier J.P. Morgan. Against the backdrop of the Gilded Age (an era of flashy materialism in the U.S.) and the flourishing world of rare manuscripts and art, Belle navigates a world that is dominated by male power and privilege. As she expertly manages her dual identity as an African American woman passing as white, Belle must confront the complexities of her heritage, personal ambitions, and the price of secrecy.

The Personal Librarian is a rich blend of historical fiction and powerful character exploration, shedding light on a hidden figure whose contributions shaped the literary and artistic landscape of her time.

Beautiful Creatures Recommendedage: 12 and up

Beautiful Creatures authored by American writers Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, is a remarkable co-authored book that emerged from a playful dare. Friends before collaborators. Garcia and Stohl were dared by Stohl’s children to join forces SAMI GARCIA & MARGARET STORIL and write a book together. This casual challenge evolved into the creation of the beloved Beautiful Creatures series.

Set in the Southern Gothic town of Gatlin, the series follows Ethan Wate and Lena Duchannes, two teenagers caught in a web of supernatural secrets. ancient curses, and a haunting history. As their bond deepens, they uncover the mysteries of their families legacies and the magical forces that intertwine their fates. The series explores themes of love, destiny, and the struggle between light and dark. Garcia and Stohl’s collaborative effort has given birth to an engaging saga that keeps readers spellbound across four novels.

Best Night. Ever.: A Story Told From Seven Points of View

Best Night Ever A Story Told From Seven Points of View is a dynamic co-authored book that showcases the creative synergy of seven American authors Rachele Alpine. Ronni Ammo, Alison Cherry. Stephanie Faris, Jen Malone. Gail Nall, and Dee Romito. This collaborative work weaves together their distinct voices to create a multi-perspective narrative that offers readers a vibrant and engaging storytelling experience In this spirited tale, the authors skillfully interconnect the lives of seven characters who fit themselves linked through a seemingly ordinary middle school dance. As the night unfolds, readers gain unique insights into each character’s hopes, fears and aspirations. The diverse viewpoints highlight the complexities of friendship, crushes, and personal growth, all set against the backdrop of a single event that shapes their experiences. This book captures the essence of adolescence showcasing the authors ability to craft a cohesive narrative while honouring the individuality of each character’s voice.

Picture Credit: Google

What is habit 7 of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People?

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teenagers is a tailored guide that offers practical strategies to foster proactive and purpose-driven lives.

                                                                                                                                                                         

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey has been a part of our home library for as long as I can remember. During a recent trip to the bookshop, I came across The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teenagers At first glance. I thought it was the same as Covey’s book. but upon closer inspection. I realised the differences. Since it is tailored for teenagers, I managed to convince my father to purchase it. During the last club meeting, the president shared his personal experience to highlight the importance of reading self-help books. Here are his thoughts as he expressed them

The first thing I did when we got back home was to get the book from the shelf and to look at both of them, as the title was similar. 1, then. noticed that they address two different sets of audiences and are authored by different persons. Opening the first page I saw that the latter is written by Covey’s son. Sean Covey.

Like father, like son was the idiom that crossed my mind and I remembered the fathers-and-sons duos. namely, Charles Dickens and Charles Dickens Jr., H.G. Wells and Antony West. Stephen King and Joseph Hillman King, and a few more, who take after their fathers. In fact, there aren’t many such duos, which puzzled me because we believe writing runs in the genes. If it were true, what happened to the centuries of Shakespeare’s family members or Mulk Raj Anand’s sons? There must have been a huge lineage of writers, but the reality contradicts. So, unique talents such as singing. dancing, drawing, writing. and so on, seem to be individual talents and hardly are they inherited. And even the sons listed did not parallel their fathers popularity.

The duo. Stephen Covey and Sean Covey, however almost matched each other, which compelled me to dig out the reasons for their successes. The obvious reason appears to be the son’s adherence to his father’s footprint. On the contents page. I noticed both of them are dealing with the same seven habits such as ‘Be Proactive. Begin with the End in Mind, Put First Things First. Think Win-Win, Seek First to Understand. Synergise, and Sharpen the Saw.

Sean Covey, finding the overwhelming success of his father’s book published in 1989, realised that teenagers’ life and their challenges are varied from the grownups and decided to write this book ten years later. His father records the variations between them as. “Unlike my book on the 7 Habits, this book, by my son, speaks directly to teens in an entertaining and visually appealing style.”

Though their Paradigms and Principles exhibit similarities, they approach them differently. Let me illustrate their distinctions using Habit 1-Be Proactive as an example. Both stress its significance as it’s foundational, yet the way they explain it varies based on their audiences experiences and cognitive levels. They effectively relate the concept to their respective age groups. Sean Covey highlights the contrast between “two types of individuals in the world: the proactive, who take charge of their lives, and the reactive. who place blame.”

They, obviously, argue for being proactive, “I am the force. I am the captain of my life. I can choose my attitude. I am responsible for my happiness or unhappiness. I am in the drivers seat of my destiny, not just a passenger.” Both of them powerfully argues for becoming proactive, quoting real-life people they had come across Defining the characteristic features of being proactive Sean Covey states taking responsibility for ones own life and having a “can-do” against a “no-can-do” attitude He dismisses the misconception that proactive people are ‘pushy, aggressive, or obnoxious, but they are the ones who are ‘courageous. persistent, and smart

To transform people to become proactive they closely analyse the language that these two categories employ in their communication; the reactive people say, I’ll try and “I have to” but the other category contrarily says. “I’ll do it and choose to”. They persuade the readers to understand the meaningfulness of becoming proactive to craft a meaningful life.

I would without any hesitations state that these two books have a tremendous influence on me.

Picture Credit: Google

What are 3 interesting facts about Enid Blyton?

Enid Blyton’s birth anniversary was observed recently. Though the British author who has penned more than 600 books has been called out for racism in recent years, the magic she wielded over generations of young readers cannot be disputed. Let’s sift through the pages of six of her famous series.

 

The Secret Seven

The Secret Seven constitute a group of seven adventurous duldren who go about solving mysteries. They have their own set of rules. There is a shed with a door that has “SS” marked on it. This is where the children meet. One can access this space only through a password and one needs to wear badges as well. The group comprises Peter, his sister Janet, and their friends Jack, Colin, George, Pam and Barbara. They hunt for clues and solve mysteries and suspicious occurrings in their local community such as burglaries, cases of missing children and so on. All thanks to the Secret Seven, there are such societies all over the world formed by children inspired by the book series. The series consists of 15 books and the first in the series titled “The Secret Seven” was published in 1949. Time to form your own secret society, is it?

St. Clare’s series

The first St. Clare’s book “The Twins at St Clare’s” was published in 1941. Even today, the books are popular among the children. The plot of the book series revolves around the many adventures a group of girls go through as they navigate life in a boarding school. St Clare’s is a boarding-school for girls and our stories follow the twins Pat and Isobel O’Sullivan, who arrive at the school in the first book. The book follows them from first form and upwards and ends at the fifth form. Amidst midnight feasts, sports matches, exams, and fun and friendship, Enid Blyton weaves a bewitching story that can hook the young readers. Another similar series that you can check out is the “Malory Towers”.

Noddy Series

“The Noddy” series by Enid Blyton is famous to a point that Noddy is an icon. For many children. Noddy is the first character that introduces them to the author’s world. Noddy was created in wood by Old Man Carver. He then goes to Toyland and this is where the adventure starts. The many colourful characters in Toyland, a land that brims with towns and villages populated by toys, add charm to the series and makes it a wonderful read for kids. The first title “Noddy Goes To Toyland” was published in 1949.

The Wishing-Chair

Picture this. A chair which will fly you to wonderful places. The stories revolve around the adventures of Peter and Mollie. One fine day, the duo walk into an antique shop to buy a present for their mother’s birthday. But their lives change with just one visit. They acquire a wishing-chair which develops wings and flies them wherever they want to. They travel to many unique lands and interact with a multitude of vibrant characters who take the children as well as the reader on a journey laden with adventures. The first book in the series “The Adventures of the Wishing Chair’ was published in 1937. Pick up the book and traverse the Land of Dreams, Village of Slipperies and Land of Goodies, besides indulging in the exploits with the children.

The Famous Five

 The Famous Five is a mystery-solving gang of five siblings. They go about on a range of adventures. The famous five includes Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the dog. They embark on an adventure every school holiday. The first book in the series was published in 1942 and the adventure began with the book “Five on a Treasure Island”. The book became a huge hit and Enid Blyton went on to write 20 more books in the series. Their adventures include finding hidden treasures, stumbling upon secret passageways, caves and so on as the children go about to catch the villains. Here, the children have absolute freedom as they solve mysteries, hopping on from one adventure to another.

The Naughtiest Girl series

There is a naughty girl in every classroom. The spoilt and defiant Elizabeth Allen is every bit the naughtiest girl you will encounter. Tired of her antics, her parents decide to send her off to a boarding school. That’s how the Naughtiest Girl series begins. The first book in the series “The Naughtiest Girl in the School” was published in 1940. Elizabeth hatches a plan to be very rude and disobedient so that the she will get kicked out of the school. But Elizabeth is in for a sweet surprise at the boarding school “Whyteleafe” which is unlike any boarding school one comes across. Join Elizabeth as she embarks on a whirl-wind journey and even starts to enjoy life at the school.

Picture Credit: Google