2009 October

Archive from October, 2009

Oct 27, 2009 -

Health & Fitness, History, Myths & Facts, Science & Technology, Special Needs and Disabilities

2 Comments 31,335 views

Who was the first doctor?

There have always been doctors and healers throughout history. Before the modern doctor, tribes would have their tribal healer or their physicians so it is difficult to say who the first true doctor was.
However according to enote’s History Fact Finder, the first medical doctor we know by name is Imhotep, who was an Egyptian who lived around 2650 B.C. He was an advisor to King Zoser and made contributions to the world of medicine by way of a textbook on how to treat wounds, bones as well as tumours. He was so well revered that Egyptians used to worship him as a god.

Image is a picture of a statue purchased in Egypt & is retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Imhotep.JPG

Reference:
Saari, Peggy. “Medicine And Disease – Who Was The First Doctor In History?.” History Fact Finder. Ed. Julie L. Carnagie. UXL-GALE, 2001. eNotes.com. 2006. 30 Sep, 2009

If you want to read more on the topic, here are books that you can check out at our libraries.

Medical breakthroughs by Gary Jeffrey
Publisher: New York : Rosen Central, 2008.
Call No.: J English 610 JEF

Pills and potions: a history of remedies by Mary Atkinson
Publisher: New York : Children’s Press, 2008.
Call No.: J English 610 ATK

Health and medicine by Saviour Pirotta
Publisher: London : Franklin Watts, c2004.
Call No.: J English 362.1 PIR

All websites are last accessed on 25 Sep 2009. Please refer to the terms and conditions on the homepages for use.
For the availability of the above book titles, please check the library catalogue.

Originally answered by Ms Felicia Chan
Librarian, Children’s Services

Oct 9, 2009 -

Science & Technology, Singapore

1 Comment 33,284 views

What are hybrid cars and what are some models available in Singapore?

According to How Stuff Works, a hybrid vehicle is “any vehicle that combines two or more sources of power that can directly or indirectly provide propulsion power”. Hybrid cars usually combine a gasoline source with an electric source. This results in a smaller, more efficient engine and less emissions.

Source: How Stuff Works (a website by Discovery Communications)

Link: www.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-car.htm

A Straits Times article mentions that, in Singapore, models from brands like Toyota, Honda and Lexus are available. This article also provides an overview of the pros and cons of buying a hybrid car.

Source: ST – AsiaOne

Link: www.asiaone.com/Motoring/Owners/Story/A1Story20090407-133934.html

An older article in the Straits Times (2007) listed the following available models:

Honda Civic Hybrid

Lexus RX400H

Toyota Prius

Lexus LS600H

Source: The Straits Times, Hybrid car sales pick up speed

by Christopher Tan, 29 November 2007

*This article is accessible through Factiva, an e-database available in the libraries. You would need to register for a free Digital Libraries membership, then use the database at the multi-media stations in the libraries. More details are available at: http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/

For a look at some newer/upcoming models, you could refer to the following article.

Source: ST – AsiaOne

Link:motoring.asiaone.com/Motoring/Owners/Buying%2BGuide/Story/A1Story20090407-133940.html

If you’d like to read more about cars and the environment, here are some of our reading suggestions:

[1] Zoom : the global race to fuel the car of the future by Iain Carson and Vijay V. Vaitheeswaran

Call No.: 338.47629222 CAR -[BIZ]

[2] Clean car wars : how Honda and Toyota are winning the battle of the eco-friendly autos by Yozo Hasegawa ; translated by Tony Kimm

Call No.: 629.231 HAS

[3] The clean tech revolution : the next big growth and investment opportunity by Ron Pernick and Clint Wilder

Call No.: 333.794 PER

All websites last accessed Sep 14, 2009.

To check the availability of book titles, please visit the online catalogue at: http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg/

Posted by Yen Yen Toh, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment

Oct 5, 2009 -

..Children, Environment, Myths & Facts

1 Comment 8,405 views

Why Is There Smoke During Fires?

When you burn wood or paper, the smoke you see at the start of the fire is volatile hydrocarbons evaporating from the wood. They start vaporizing at a temperature of about 149 degrees Celsius.

There can be a fire without any smoke produced. For example, you will not be able to see any smoke coming out from a charcoal fire, or a fire that has burned down to embers. This is because the volatile hydrocarbons are turned into carbon dioxide and water (both invisible) when they burn.Therefore, smoke from burning objects can only be seen at the start of the fire.

Sources:

1) How fire works?.” From howstuffworks? website. 3 Oct 2009.

http://www.howstuffworks.com

For more books on fire and its elements, do check out these books!

Originally Answered By:

Miss Goh Mei Ming
Children’s Librarian
Children’s Services