In the past, if you wanted to go somewhere you had to walk, even if it was far away. If you wanted to cross the sea, you had to take a ship; the trip could last several days or even several months. Now, we drive our cars no matter how close we are to our destination and we can fly anywhere in under a day. Science has given us a more convenient life. Often we are unaware of how much science affects our lives. Often we are intimidated by science and feel it is beyond our grasp. But if we take the time, we can learn to use science in our everyday lives.
We all know the saying, "The grass is always greener on the other side." Sometimes we envy others. A recent scientific study revealed that people often misjudge their actions when they compare them to the actions of others. For example, if you and I are carrying heavy boxes, you will probably be thinking that your box is heavier than mine. Doctor Antonio Hamilton conducted a study at London University College to prove this. Subjects in the study were given boxes of different weights to hold. Regardless of the box's weight, the subjects always believed that their box was the heavier box. Knowing these facts helps us to understand why people think that the grass is always greener on the other side even when it really isn't. We can use this knowledge to change the way we view the efforts of others in our everyday lives.
Next, let's use the lessons of science to make our own natural soaps and cosmetics. Whenever you see a pimple on your face, you might get distressed. You should not pop the pimple; that would leave a scar. Let뭩 make a natural soap suitable for our skin. First, find a basic old helical pot and remember, we need to use exact amounts to obtain the soap. Pour 200g of olive oil and coconut oil into a pot. Heat the pot to a temperature between 40 and 50 degrees C. In a second pot, slowly add some soda to the water while you stir. Heat the soda water to a temperature between 80 to 90 degrees C to melt the soda. After the soda has completely melted, cool the soda water to a temperature between 40 and 50 degrees. Pour the soda water into the oil pot and stir to make a gruel. At this point you can add things to change the smell and color of the soap. Eucalyptus essence oils are antimicrobial and lemon essence oils can shrink skin pores. Calendula essence oils help in skin restoration. After adding these additional ingredients, stir the mixture with a rubber spatula and pour it into a large flat wooden box. Let the soap harden for a day then ripen it for four weeks. Now you have made your own natural soap. You can also make skin lotion at home. First pour 50g of lavender water into a pot. After boiling the lavender water, add 10 drops of lavender essence oil and Tea tree essence oil. Lotions include a sugar cane extract called Xanthan Gum. This extract changes the liquid into a type of gel. People with oily skin should use gel-based lotions and avoid oily lotions.
Finally let's learn how to remove fishy smells. We live our lives in an environment made up of various smells; some smells are good, but some smells stink. Different people often find different smells pleasant or unpleasant. Western people often dislike the smell of fish. Scientists have shown us that trimethylamine and piperidine are the ingredients of the fishy smell. Knowing this we can use vinegar or lemon juice to kill the smell. If you rub vinegar on the knife and cutting board after preparing fish, you can easily remove the fishy smell.
Science is a part of our lives. Often we don't think about how much science affects everyday lives. We also don't realize how easy it is to use science to improve our lives. We can make natural soaps and cosmetics at home, without relying on cosmetics companies. You don't have to be a scientist to be able to use science.
By Hong Yu-jin