Burst the bubble

Water has no taste, no colour, no odour; it cannot be defined, art relished while ever mysterious. Not necessary to life, but rather life itself. It fills us with a gratification that exceeds the delight of the senses.
-Antoine De Saint

Sidhaant Nangia, AIS PV, IX B

Water is the most common and abundant resource on earth, forming the most important substance for survival. While enough has been said about the benefits of water, there are many things about H20 that most of us don’t know. Here’s taking a look at the lesser known facts, myths, wonders, science behind and the symbolic facets of water.

H20 science
*Water is an indicator of life and sustenance. It is thereby, the first thing that scientist try to find on any newly discovered planet or moon to check for any sign of life.
*The physical and chemical properties of water are extraordinarily complicated and not completely understood.
*Water molecule is linear but it is bent in a certain manner that one part of the molecule is negatively charged and the other is positively charged.
*The structure of liquid water consists of amassed water molecules that form and re-form continually.
*In a 100-year period, a water molecule spends 98 years in the ocean, 20 months as ice, about 2 weeks in lakes and rivers, and less than a week in the atmosphere.

H20 myths
*Excessive water intake is good. The truth is drinking too much water can lead to water intoxication which can prove fatal. Drinking water faster than your body can sweat, urinate or breathe  out can prove fatal.
*Water is available only in three forms- solid, liquid, gas. Experiments prove that there are at least 5 different phases of liquid water and 14 different phases (that scientists have found so far) of ice.

H20 Wonders
*Water helps to maintain a healthy body weight by increasing metabolism and regulating appetite. This helps in triggering weight loss.
*Drinking adequate amount of water can decrease the risk of various types of cancer like colon cancer, breast cancer and bladder cancer.
*Adequate hydration keeps joints and muscles lubricated, so you are less likely to get cramps and sprains.

H20 Legacy
*Almost all Christian churches or sects have an initiation ritual involving use  of water.
*In Judeo-Christian culture, God is called "the fountain of living waters."
*The Quran says "Every living thing on this earth has been created from water."
*In the Vedas, water is referred to as "most maternal."
*In the New Testament, 'living water' or 'water of life' represents the spirit of God, or eternal life.
*The act of offering drinking water is seen by many cultures and religions as one of the most charitable and kind human acts.
*Anahita, the ancient Persian water and fertility goddess, is associated with rivers and lakes, as ‘waters of birth’.

H20 Intake
*Carry water with you wherever you go. Having accessible water makes you more likely to sip on water instead of soda or other drinks and can provide a visual cue to drink more water.
*Replace at least one drink per day with water. Plan to drink a full glass of water before opening a can of soda or  your favourite beverage. Consider drinking a glass of water instead of a second cup of your morning tea/coffee.
*Make it a habit to drink a quick glass of water–or at least a few sips–before, during, and after eating any meal to increase your daily water intake.
*Slipping a slice of citrus fruit into water can add a subtle flavor and perk up plain water, making it easier to drink more water throughout the day. Try mint leaves, cucumber slices, or berries as some options to add flavour to your water.

 H20 facts
*Water makes up 83% of blood, 70% of brain, 25% of bones and 90% of our lungs. Overall, our bodies are 70% water.
*There is still exactly the same amount of water, as it was when the earth was formed.
*Humans can survive a month without food, but it’s impossible  to survive more than a week without water.
*Pure water has no smell and no taste. It has a pH level of around 7 and is is a poor conductor of electricity.
*Unlike other liquids, water expands on freezing. Also, hot water freezes faster than cold water.
*Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit ie0 degrees Celsius and boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit ie 100 degrees Celsius.
*If we drop a frog into boiling water, it will hop straight back out again but if we drop it in cold water and heat it slowly the frog would boil to death.
*In dreams, birth is usually expressed through water imagery.

H20 Trivia
*It takes 39000 gallons  of water to produce a new car  including tyres.
*About 48000 gallons of water is needed to make a typical American Thanksgiving dinner for 8 people.
*It takes 2 gallons to brush your teeth, 2 to 7 gallons to flush a toilet, and 25 to 50 gallons to take a shower.
* It takes 7000 litres (1850 gallons) of water to refine one barrel of crude oil.
*Approximately 24 gallons of water is required to produce a pound of plastic.