Ask Uncle Pai -- Why does coconut oil freeze in winters?

Wednesday, July 30 1997

Ask Uncle Pai -- Why does coconut oil freeze in winters?

Mr is used for men irrespective of their marital status. Then why is the abbreviation -- Mrs -- used for married women and Miss for those who aren't married?
Syed Shamim Usmani, Malad (East)

In the case of men, only Mr which is abbreviation of Mister is used. This does not indicate whether the person is married or not. Many women thought that it is not fair to use Mrs (abbreviation of Mistress) to address married women and Ms (abbreviation of Miss) to indicate unmarried women. Hence Ms is now being used for both married and unmarried women.

Why does coconut oil freeze in winter, while mustard oil does not?
Pravin Chandra Sekharan, Raigad, Maharashtra

This happens because the freezing point of coconut oil is much higher than the freezing point of mustard oil.

Why and how does a chameleon change its colour?
Bhavin S Vashi, Valsad

Chameleons have dark pigments in their skins called melanin. It is found in the cells called melanophores. The pigment may spread within the boundaries of these cells, making it look dark. Instead the pigment may aggregate into a small mass near the centre of the melanophore, making the skin look pale. According to biologists, in the case of chameleons, these changes take place depending on the temperature (and not colour) of the surroundings.

Can electricity be produced from tidal waves? How?
David Y Karwadi, Belgaum, Karnataka

Yes, of course. The principle is the same as that, which produces hydroelectric power. When water falls from a height, it is made to rotate turbines. When there is high tide, water level rises. It is stored and is prevented from escaping. Later when the water level of the sea goes down the stored water is made to fall from the earlier height and is made to rotate turbines.

Mummy says we should never drink milk after consuming curd. Why?
Ankita P, Aurangabad

There is no scientific reason for it. In the stomach, the milk too gets curdled. However, if you take sweetened milk after curd, fermentation might take place. You may soon feel sleepy.