A chemist looks at Kate's sapphire ring

Here's a look at the chemistry of Kate's famous sapphire-and-diamonds engagement ring, which once belonged to Princess Diana

I am taking a break from the elemental table today because unless you've been hiding under a rock for the past few months, you know that William and Kate are getting married today. Which means that traffic in London will be a nightmare, so everyone in the UK is getting a holiday.

Even though Kate will no doubt be given lots of diamonds in the next few months, I rather like her sapphire engagement ring (see above, right), so I am sharing this video where our favourite chemistry professor tells us about the chemistry of this famous ring. This ring, which formerly belonged to Princess Diana, William's mother, is a 12-carat sapphire, surrounded by 14 white diamonds set in 18-carat white gold:

Sapphire Ring - Periodic Table of Videos
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For those of you who are interested, here are a few facts about sapphires:

• Sapphires are comprised of aluminum oxide with plenty of iron ions (as impurities), which gives the sapphire its lovely blue colour.
• Sapphires are extremely hard, ranking 9 of 10 on the Mohs Scale of mineral hardness. They are second only to diamonds in hardness and are similarly resistant to chipping.
• Sapphires are a variety of stone known as corundum and they come in every color from blue to green to pink -- red is the exception; red corundum is known as the ruby.

And now, for some myths and traditions about sapphires:

• Sapphires are a traditional gift on a 5th and 45th wedding anniversary (I am eagerly awaiting mine).
• Sapphires are the jewel of wisdom, truth, beauty and clarity.
• Sapphire is the birthstone for September, symbolising clear thinking.
• The most valuable and popular sapphire is a deep blue shade called "corn-flower blue." No doubt, this sapphire has lots of iron impurities in it since this is what generates that coveted blue colour.

This article is reprinted from http://www.guardian.co.uk

Traveling To The Lost Cities Of The World

Gazing at the Andean peaks soaring above the Lost City of the Incas and the lush valley below, it's easy see why it was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. The 15th century A.D. Peruvian site was abandoned shortly after Spanish conquistadors invaded the neighboring areas, falling to ruin until 1911, when an American scholar stumbled across the remains.

History's once glorious metropolises have become ever more sought-after destinations as Americans get back into travel mode. Machu Picchu welcomes as many as 1 million tourists annually, and that number is said to be growing as much as 6% per year. Last August the UNESCO World Heritage Committee even sent a recommendation to the Peruvian government to limit the number of visitors because the increasing foot traffic was starting to erode the UNESCO World Heritage site.

For boutique travel companies specializing in trips to historical, archaeological and cultural sites, the economic downturn of recent years was little more than a speed bump. For Bruce Poon Tip, founder of Gap Adventures, a Canadian travel company specializing in adventure tours to 100 countries, business actually expanded 40% in 2008, at the height of the recession. It continues to enjoy double-digit growth among its American customers, he says.

"The old traveler used to like Marrakesh and markets and the hustle and bustle of travelers' towns like Cairo, but the new traveler is interested in Antarctica, Galapagos, Mongolia and Tibet," Poon Tip says. "Archaeology falls into that trend, especially newly excavated sites that are often harder to get to and very remote."

The Americas offer travelers dozens of lost cities to explore. Mexico has the Mayan city of Chichen Itza, with Mesoamerica's largest ball court and the hulking pyramidal remains of Teotihuacan, with its well-preserved, color-splashed murals. There's Tical in Guatemala and Copan in Honduras. Even the the Western U.S. boasts the tumbleweed-strewn ghost towns of two centuries ago.

These ancient wonders are well worth a visit, even in troubled times.

In Pictures: 15 Lost Cities Of The World

Beyond well-traveled Machu Picchu, Gap Adventures arranges tours to lesser-known citadels as well. One is Choquequiroa, an Incan site excavated a few years ago. Getting there requires an arduous five-day hike, but Poon Tip says it's become a popular destination. He's also negotiating to bring groups to the so-called Lost City of Colombia, a site perhaps better identified as the Lost City of Gold.

"We're working with the government to solve issues to get passengers in and out, and we've even met with the elders of the [indigenous] communities there," says Poon Tip, who plans to launch the first tour there this fall. "It's incredible, and something I've personally never seen before."

Some of history's most awe-inspiring ancient architectural wonders reside in areas of unrest, most notably in the Middle East. Mesopotamia, Babylon and other cities are located in what is now Iraq. There is even speculation that the lost city of Akkad lies fragile and exposed under the foundations of modern-day Baghdad, where recent troubles have helped unbury ancient archaeological clues. 

Several other lost cities sit in nearby protest-rattled countries like Jordan. There lies the rose-colored, cliff-carved city of Petra, which dates back to the sixth century B.C. In Tunisia is the ruined city of Carthage, where the Romans burned the buildings and salted to earth to punish Hannibal in the third century B.C., and where the land remains infertile even today.

Archaeological Tours is a New York, N.Y., travel company that teams travelers with archaeologists and other academic experts to tour major historical sites. It has led numerous tours to the lost cities of the Middle East over the past three decades. When the U.S. State Department issued an advisory that Americans visiting Syria should leave this past week, Archaeological Tours had to make hasty arrangements to extract a group visiting the fifth century B.C. "Dead Cities."

"Unfortunately recently the world has been getting smaller, not bigger, but we still find new places to go to," says Linda Feinstein, Archaeological Tours' founder and president. She says more than one-third of every tour group consists of repeat clients--in some cases people who've been on every tour the company offers.

Feinstein bemoans the loss of safe access to many historical destinations because of unrest and natural disaster. She cites the Libyan lost city of Leptis Magna, a Phoenician colony like Carthage. Leptis Magna was on Archaeological Tours' list of destinations until the tour operator was forced to cancel a recent trip there when civil war broke out in Libya. Feinstein and Poon Tip say they believe some places will always attract a following due to their history, mystery and spiritual draw.

"People always have and always will want to go to Egypt, because there's something magical about it," says Feinstein. "Certain destinations really have a mystic to them, like Peru, the Silk Road and parts of China."

This article is reprinted from http://www.forbes.com

5 Traits Of Creative People

Are you creative? Have you ever asked yourself that question? People are drawn to creative types, whether that person is an artist, a designer, a writer, it doesn’t matter, we are curious as to how his or her mind works. I work in a place where creativity is encouraged, and I am lucky to be surrounded by such creative individuals. It is always a treat to be invited to join in on the brainstorming sessions. I get a peek into how they process thoughts and concepts, and in the end, come up with brilliant ideas that are very inspiring. I have always believed that creativity can be honed, people do not need to be an artist or designer to be considered creative.

I believe we can be creative in whatever field we are in. For example, chefs are creative masters in the kitchen, and sales people or marketers are creative in coming up with strategies to build businesses. @Minervity and @adamsconsulting are two people I admire because of their creativity. I have learned so much from them and there are certain characteristics that I see present in both of them. There are certain traits that I believe every creative person possesses. Check these out and see if you have any of them!

1. Creative people are curious. They ask questions all the time. When they see or discover something they do not understand, they make the extra effort to learn everything they can about how it works, and how it can benefit them and others.

2. Creative people like challenges. They do not run away from challenges, they tackle them head on. The bigger the challenge, the more they are intrigued. They do not try to escape problems, but rather they treat them as challenges. The most creative people I know are also great problem solvers.

3. Creative people are not afraid to experiment. They are risk takers, and they are not afraid to try something new, whether it be a process, gadget or formula. Experimenting is a way for them to see what works and what doesn’t work. They will not wait for people to dictate their actions, they would rather lead.

4. Creative people have high standards. They do not settle for less than their best. They will find a way to make something better. They never stop learning.

5. Creative people know how to accept and give constructive criticism. No matter what we do, people will always have something to say about it, whether it is good or bad.  Creative people can accept criticism and turn it into opportunities. They also know how to give constructive criticism. Since they have high standards, they many times expect themselves and others to excel in whatever they do.

Image Credits: [Yellow / Shutterstock] [hoboton / Shutterstock]

This article is reprinted from www.bitrebels.com

5 Tips To Turn A Bad Day Into A Good Day

Don’t you wish that we never had to experience bad days? However, we all know there is no such thing as a perfect life. It can be really hard when we experience those days when things just don’t go the way we want them to. What’s even worse are those days when it feels like everything is falling apart around us. When I was younger and this happened, I always ended up feeling frustrated, and sometimes I even had the feeling that I was a failure. It affected me and the people around me. It is great though that as we grow older, we also become wise with age, and we learn how to deal with bad days much better.

I love this quote from Dennis Brown,“The only difference between a good day and a bad day is your attitude.” I have learned that it is really a matter of our attitude and how we look at our situation that matters. Imagine yourself waking up and thinking, “Wow, today is going to be a great day!” Then as the day progresses, things start to fall apart. In those moments, you have a choice to feel down and to be depressed, or to try to make something good out of that day. I know it is easier said than done, but believe me, it will help if you choose to be more positive. Here are some tips that I hope will help turn your next bad day into a good one.

1. Don’t dwell on the situation - Usually bad days seem never ending, but that is because we tend to dwell on the situation and repeat it over and over in our minds. Just let go and face the problem head on.

2. Don’t let negativity set in – One of the things I do is try to look at the silver lining in the situation that I am in, like a rainbow after a storm. I try not to let negativity set in.

3. Talk with a friend – When things get really bad, I try to take a moment and discuss my situation with a friend. It usually helps me get the bad feelings out, especially if the situation makes me mad or angry. Keeping it bottled up inside is not good. We usually tend to bottle it in, but then when we can’t hold it in anymore, we let it out by saying hurtful words that we can never fully take back.

4. Remember how you dealt with a similar situation - Looking back at how we overcame similar problems or bad situations in the past can help us deal with what is happening now. Draw strength from what you have gone through before. You survived that, and you will survive this.

5. Breathe and move on - When situations become really bad for me, I usually take some time and go for a walk, breath a little, and move on. Taking time by yourself to think and allow the day to end peacefully usually helps a lot. Sometimes it’s easier to tackle the problem the next day with renewed strength and enthusiasm.

Maybe you have some additional tips you can share with us. We would love to hear from you!

Image Credit: [Ami Parikh / Shutterstock]
This article is reprinted from www.bitrebels.com