[IR] Candles

Well, again, this is not my usual post day, its a Sunday, not a Saturday, but, its my birthday today, so I thought I would write about something related to birthdays - candles. If you remember, my last post was way back in the 22nd of September and I said that it would probably be my last post before my termly reflection. Well you get a treat. So let's get right to the post.

So, how do candles work?
Candles really are an amazing lighting system -- the fuel itself is the package. There are two parts that work together in a candle:
The fuel, made of some sort of wax
The wick, made of some sort of absorbent twine


The wick needs to be naturally absorbent, like a towel, or it needs to have a strong capillary action. If you buy a length of un-waxed wick at a craft store and play with it, you will find that it feels like soft string and absorbs water very well. This absorbency is important in a candle because the wick needs to absorb liquid wax and move it upward while the candle is burning.


Paraffin wax is a heavy hydrocarbon that comes from crude oil. When you light a candle, you melt the wax in and near the wick. The wick absorbs the liquid wax and pulls it upward. The heat of the flame vaporizes the wax, and it is the wax vapour that burns.

The reason the wick does not burn is because the vaporizing wax cools the exposed wick and protects it. You may have seen the camping trick of boiling water in a paper cup. The cup does not burn because the water inside cools it. The liquid wax does the same thing for the wick.

Paraffin wax will burn on its own, but it is like cooking oil, motor oil and coal in that you have to get it very hot for combustion to begin. An oil fire is intense and very hard to put out. Paraffin is the same way. In a candle, this works great -- only the tiny amount of wax on the wick is hot enough to vaporize and burn.

[IR] Stem Cells

So yeah, that was a short introduction to stem cells.

• These, are probably, the most useful cell in multi-cellular organisms.
• In mammals, there are two main types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells.

Before we get started, we need to know more about potencies in cells.

1) Totipotency:

• Is the ability of a single cell to divide and produce all the differentiated cells in an organism.
• Totipotent cells include spores and zygotes which are the initial cells formed when two gamete cells are joined by means of sexual reproduction.

2) Pluripotency

• Refers to a stem cell that has the potential to differentiate into any of the three germ layers:
• Endoderm (interior stomach lining, gastrointestinal tract, the lungs)
• Mesoderm (muscle, bone, blood, urogenital)
•Ectoderm (epidermal tissues and nervous system).

3) Multipotency

• Have the potential to give rise to cells from multiple, but a limited number of lineages.
• An example of a multipotent stem cell is a hematopoietic cell — a blood stem cell that can develop into several types of blood cells, but cannot develop into brain cells or other types of cells.

4) Other potencies

• They include ogliopotency and unipotency.
• Ogliopotency refers to the ability of progenitor cells to differentiate into only a few cell types
• Unipotency refers to a cell that has the capacity to develop into only one type of tissue or cell type.

So now, let's get down to business. So, as I was saying, In mammals, there are two main types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells.

Embryonic Stem Cells

• Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent stem cells
• Derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, an early-stage embryo.

• Embryonic stem cells are distinguished by two distinctive properties: their pluripotency and their ability to replicate indefinitely.
• They are able to differentiate into all derivatives of the three primary germ layers: ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm. These include each of the more than 220 cell types in the adult body.

Adult Stem Cells

• Adult stem cells are mutlipotent
• So they have limits to what cells they can develop into unlike the embryonic stem cells.
• However, there are pluripotent adult stem cells but they are rare and generally small in number

• However, there are pluripotent adult stem cells but they are rare and generally small in number
• But can be found in a number of tissues including umbilical cord blood. This is why parents are given the option of storing their babies’ umbilical cord blood, so if the babies develop cancer or other such diseases when they grow up, they can use these stem cells to save their child.

So, how can these stem cells be used for treatment of medical illnesses?

• Medical researchers believe that stem cell therapy has the potential to dramatically change the treatment of human disease.
• A number of adult stem cell therapies already exist, particularly bone marrow transplants that are used to treat leukaemia.

• In the future, medical researchers anticipate being able to use technologies derived from stem cell research to treat a wider variety of diseases including cancer, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, amongst a number of other impairments and conditions.

So, lets end off with a cartoon.

[IR] Double Rainbow All the Way

Rainbows are a phenomenon that has been widely recognized as a beautiful natural occurrence throughout the stone age and now we understand the physics of the rainbow.
A rainbow is an optical and meteorological phenomenon that causes a spectrum of light to appear in the sky when the Sun shines on to droplets of moisture in the Earth's atmosphere. It takes the form of a multicolored arc. Rainbows caused by sunlight always appear in the section of sky directly opposite the sun.
In a so-called "primary rainbow" (the lowest, and also normally the brightest rainbow) the arc of a rainbow shows red on the outer (or upper) part of the arc, and violet on the inner section. This rainbow is caused by light being refracted then reflected once in droplets of water. 
It is impossible for an observer to maneuver to see any rainbow from water droplets at any angle other than the customary one (which is 42 degrees from the direction opposite the Sun)

The light is first refracted entering the surface of the raindrop, reflected off the back of the drop, and again refracted as it leaves the drop. The overall effect is that the incoming light is reflected back over a wide range of angles, with the most intense light at an angle of 40–42°. The angle is independent of the size of the drop, but does depend on its refractive index. 

DOUBLE RAINBOW!!!

Although most people will not notice it because they are not actively looking for it, a dim secondary rainbow is often present outside the primary bow. Secondary rainbows are caused by a double reflection of sunlight inside the raindrops, and appear at an angle of 50–53°. As a result of the second reflection, the colours of a secondary rainbow are inverted compared to the primary bow, with blue on the outside and red on the inside. The secondary rainbow is fainter than the primary because more light escapes from two reflections compared to one and because the rainbow itself is spread over a greater area of the sky. A very dim tertiary rainbow, caused by a triple reflection of sunlight inside the raindrops, has been seen on rare occasions.

Supernumerary rainbow

A supernumerary rainbow—also known as a stacker rainbow—is an infrequent phenomenon, consisting of several faint rainbows on the inner side of the primary rainbow, and very rarely also outside the secondary rainbow. Supernumerary rainbows are slightly detached and have pastel colour bands that do not fit the usual pattern.

Reflected rainbow

When a rainbow appears above a body of water, two complementary mirror bows may be seen below and above the horizon, originating from different light paths. Their names are slightly different. A reflected rainbow will appear as a mirror image in the water surface below the horizon, if the surface is quiet. The sunlight is first deflected by the raindrops, and then reflected off the body of water, before reaching the observer. The reflected rainbow is frequently visible, at least partially, even in small puddles.

[IR] Fireworks - The Science

         Well fireworks to start with are the result of chemical reactions between elements, compounds or mixtures.They are used for mainly aesthetic purposes. The history of fireworks goes back to China but they were not really the fireworks we saw today...
         A long time ago, in a land faraway (actually it is not that far from Singapore...) the villages in China were always terrorized by a big, fat and ugly monster called "Nian". "Nian" always seemed to attack on the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar. One day, an ancient Chinese alchemist found out the magic (as it would seem at that time) of fire and realized its potential to ward off  "Nian". So that nest Lunar New Year, they all waited in their houses with firecrackers put out. And when "Nian" finally came, he was warded off quickly by the noise of the firecrackers and the villagers lived in peace ever since.
        Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices that are designed to burn with coloured flames or sparks. They take many forms to produce four primary effects- sound, light, smoke and floating materials. Fireworks are made out of 5 main components
-Fuel (To allow the firework to burn)
-Oxidizer (To feed oxygen for combustion)
-Mixtures of compounds or elements (For colouration)
-Chlorine (To strengthen the colour of the firework)
-Binder ( To hold the firework together)\



Fireworks come in many different colours based on the mixture and percentage of the compounds and  elements

Red	Strontium (intense red) Lithium (medium red)	SrCO3 (strontium carbonate) Li2CO3 (lithium carbonate) LiCl (lithium chloride)
Orange	Calcium	CaCl2 (calcium chloride)
Yellow	Sodium	NaNO3 (sodium nitrate)
Green	Barium	BaCl2 (barium chloride)
Blue	Copper	CuCl2 (copper chloride), at low temperature
Indigo	Cesium	CsNO3 (cesium nitrate)
Violet	Potassium Rubidium (violet-red)	KNO3 (potassium nitrate) RbNO3 (rubidium nitrate)
Gold	Charcoal, iron, or lampblack
White	Titanium, aluminium, beryllium, or magnesium powders

Here is a stellar fireworks display:

Fireworks at Singapore Flyer Opening

Burj Dubai Opening

May not explain much science, but at least it looks pretty :)

[SR] Marvels of Aviation B787

Firstly, welcome to the 3-part mini series Marvels of Aviation, to see the other articles in this series, click the links above.

Aviation. The youngest mode of transportation at just over a 100 years old, but it has since become the premier way to travel long distances. 3 aircraft have changed commercial aviation and have contributed greatly to the advancement of technology for aircraft in the future. This is Marvels of Aviation.

Well, let's get started with a disclaimer. The 3 aircraft that I have chosen are for commercial aviation only, simply because I prefer the look of commercial aircraft to military aircraft.

So, today, let's discuss the Boeing 787. Or what Boeing dubs, the Dreamliner.

It all began in 2001...

The global airline market was upended by the September 11, 2001 attacks and increased petroleum prices, making airlines more interested in efficiency than speed. The airlines in the United States, potential customers of a Sonic Cruiser Boeing was developing, were the worst hit. This caused Boeing to scrap the Sonic Cruiser plan and begin what was known as the 7E7. Boeing wanted to replace its entire airliner product line, in an endeavour known as the Yellowstone Project. The 7E7 was the first stage of that project. It was to replace its existing 767 and 777 product lines. The 7E7 is said to be the most efficient aircraft Boeing has ever created. The "E" was said to stand for various things, such as "efficiency" or "environmentally friendly"; however, in the end, Boeing claimed that it stood merely for "Eight". Boeing later changed its name to 787 in 2005, and it was finally rolled out in 2007, by which time it had reached 677 orders; this is more orders from launch to roll-out than any previous wide-body airliner. On October 26, 2011, the 787 flew its first commercial flight from Tokyo Narita Airport to Hong Kong International Airport on All Nippon Airways. But what made it such a marvel?

Its design. The 787 is primarily made out of composite materials.  Its materials, listed by weight, are 50% composite, 20% aluminium, 15% titanium, 10% steel, and 5% other. So what exactly are these composite materials?

Each 787 contains approximately 32,000 kg of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP), made with 23 tons of carbon fibre. Carbon fiber composites have a higher strength-to-weight ratio than traditional aircraft materials, and help make the 787 a lighter aircraft. Composites are used on fuselage, wings, tail, doors, and interior. This allows it to become Boeing's most efficient aircraft to date.

Boeing also designed its engines to reduce noise.The engines have have a toothed edge and Boeing calls them chevrons. It allows for a quieter mixing of exhaust and outside air.

Boeing also designed the interior to look and feel better for passengers. They designed the entrance to feel a lot more open so passengers won't feel as cramped. They have also widened the aircraft at eye level so it feels more roomy and spacious for passengers 

They also have cool windows that can tint with a press of a button. Replacing window shades, these cool windows have 5 different shade settings for passengers to personally adjust.

I'm sure that you'll agree with me after reading all these innovations the 787 has pioneered. And it truly is a marvel of aviation.

[IR] Plate Tectonics

Using modern equipment, scientists known as oceanographers have been able to measure and map out the ocean floor. What these scientists have discovered has helped explain how it is that continents are able to move around on the Earth’s crust.

Deep beneath the waves at the surface of the ocean located almost exactly halfway between the continents are raised areas known as ridges. These ridges are similar to under-water mountain ranges. At other locations we find extremely deep trenches, some reaching many thousands of feet in depth.

Many scientists believe that the ridges represent areas where new crust is being formed as hot magma escapes from the Earth’s core and spreads outward. As the seafloor spreads outward away from the area where magma is being released, the continents are carried across the sea, riding on top of the sima crust.

As new crust is created, older crust submerges back into the mantle, being melted once again. It is believed that the deep ocean trenches are locations where crust is being lowered back into the Earth’s core.

The amount of time that it takes for crust to be created, and later destroyed is approximately 100 million years. Thus, most crust has a lifetime of around 100 million years.

Because continents do not fall back into the Earth’s mantle, they survive much longer. Many parts of the continents we see today are almost as old as the Earth itself.

As new crust is created in a particular location on Earth, it forms what resembles giant plates. One side of the plate is where new crust is being created, while the other side is where older crust is being destroyed.
The plates of the world:

Geologists refer to this process as plate tectonics. As we study plate tectonics, a picture emerges of very old continents riding on top of much younger and ever moving plates. These plates move extremely slowly, at a rate of only about 10 cm per year.

[IR] Formation of Diamonds

Many people think that diamonds look like this:

Well, they are right, but diamonds do not always like this. This is what you get after cuts and many processes. This is what they originally look like:

It looks a lot less pretty right?

Well, this is the post about the formation of diamonds.

Methods of Diamond Formation

Many people believe that diamonds are formed from the metamorphism of coal. That idea continues to be the "how diamonds form" story in many science classrooms.

Coal has rarely played a role in the formation of diamonds. In fact, most diamonds that have been dated are much older than Earth's first land plants - the source material of coal! That alone should be enough evidence to shut down the idea that Earth's diamond deposits were formed from coal.

Another problem with the idea is that coal seams are sedimentary rocks that usually occur as horizontal or nearly horizontal rock units. However, the source rocks of diamonds are vertical pipes filled with igneous rocks.

Four processes are thought to be responsible for virtually all of the natural diamonds that have been found at or near Earth's surface. One of these processes accounts for nearly 100% of all diamonds that have ever been mined. The remaining three are insignificant sources of commercial diamonds.

These processes rarely involve coal.


1) Diamond Formation in Earth's Mantle

Geologists believe that the diamonds in all of Earth's commercial diamond deposits were formed in the mantle and delivered to the surface by deep-source volcanic eruptions. These eruptions produce the kimberlite and lamproite pipes that are sought after by diamond prospectors. Diamonds weathered and eroded from these eruptive deposits are now contained in the sedimentary deposits of streams and coastlines.

The formation of natural diamonds requires very high temperatures and pressures. These conditions occur in limited zones of Earth's mantle about 150 kilometers below the surface where temperatures are at least 1050 degrees Celsius. This critical temperature-pressure environment for diamond formation and stability is not present globally. Instead it is thought to be present primarily in the mantle beneath the stable interiors of continental plates.
Diamonds formed and stored in these "diamond stability zones" are delivered to Earth's surface during deep-source volcanic eruptions. These eruptions tear out pieces of the mantle and carry them rapidly to the surface. This type of volcanic eruption is extremely rare and has not occurred since scientists have been able to recognize them.

Is coal involved? Coal is a sedimentary rock, formed from plant debris deposited at Earth's surface. It is rarely buried to depths greater than 3.2 kilometers. It is very unlikely that coal has been moved from the crust down to a depth well below the base of a continental plate. The carbon source for these mantle diamonds is most likely carbon trapped in Earth's interior at the time of the planet's formation.


2) Diamond Formation in Subduction Zones

Tiny diamonds have been found in rocks that are thought to have been subducted deep into the mantle by plate tectonic processes - then returned to the surface. Diamond formation in a subducting plate might occur as little as 80 kilometers below the surface and at temperatures as low as 200 degrees Celsius.

Is coal involved? Coal is a possible carbon source for this diamond-forming process. However, oceanic plates are more likely candidates for subduction than continental plates because of their higher density. The most likely carbon sources from the subduction of an oceanic plate are carbonate rocks such as limestone, marble and dolomite and possibly particles of plant debris in offshore sediments.


3) Diamond Formation at Impact Sites

Throughout its history, Earth has been repeatedly hit by large asteroids. When these asteroids strike the earth extreme temperatures and pressures are produced. For example: when a 10 kilometer wide asteroid strikes the earth, it can be traveling at up to 15 to 20 kilometers per second. Upon impact this hypervelocity object would produce an energy burst equivalent to millions of nuclear weapons and temperatures hotter than the sun's surface.

The high temperature and pressure conditions of such an impact are more than adequate to form diamonds. This theory of diamond formation has been supported by the discovery of tiny diamonds around several asteroid impact sites.

Is coal involved? Coal could be present in the target area of these impacts and could serve as the carbon source of the diamonds. Limestones, marbles, dolomites and other carbon-bearing rocks are also potential carbon sources.


4) Formation in Space

NASA researchers have detected large numbers of nanodiamonds in some meteorites (nanodiamonds are diamonds that are a few nanometers - billionths of a meter in diameter). About three percent of the carbon in these meteorites is contained in the form of nanodiamonds. These diamonds are too small for use as gems or industrial abrasives, however, they are a source of diamond material.

Smithsonian researchers also found large numbers of tiny diamonds when they were cutting a sample from the Allen Hills meteorite. These diamonds in meteorites are thought to have formed in space through high speed collisions similar to how diamonds form on Earth at impact sites.

Is coal involved? Coal is not involved in the creation of these diamonds. The carbon source is from a body other than Earth.


The Most Convincing Evidence

The most convincing evidence that coal did not play a role in the formation of most diamonds is a comparison between the age of Earth's diamonds and the age of the earliest land plants.

Almost every diamond that has been dated formed during the Precambrian Eon - the span of time between Earth's formation (about 4,600 million years ago) and the start of the Cambrian Period (about 542 million years ago). In contrast, the earliest land plants did not appear on Earth until about 450 million years ago - nearly 100 million years after the formation of virtually all of Earth's natural diamonds.

Since coal is formed from terrestrial plant debris and the oldest land plants are younger than almost every diamond that has ever been dated, it is easy to conclude that coal did not play a significant role in the formation of Earth's diamonds.

[IR] Plasmas

Plasmas are a lot like gases, but the atoms are different, because they are made up of free electrons and ions of an element such as neon (Ne). You don't find naturally occurring plasmas too often when you walk around. They aren't things that happen regularly on Earth. If you have ever heard of the Northern Lights or ball lightning, you might know that those are types of plasmas.

Aurora. Also Known As the Northern Lights

Ball Lightning

It takes a very special environment to keep plasmas going. They are different and unique from the other states of matter. Plasma is different from a gas, because it is made up of groups of positively and negatively charged particles. In neon gas, the electrons are all bound to the nucleus. In neon plasma, the electrons are free to move around the system.


While natural plasmas aren't found around you that often, man-made plasmas are everywhere. Think about fluorescent light bulbs. They are not like regular light bulbs. Inside the long tube is a gas. Electricity flows through the tube when the light is turned on. The electricity acts as an energy source and charges up the gas. This charging and exciting of the atoms creates glowing plasma inside the bulb. The electricity helps to strip the gas molecules of their electrons.

Fluorescent lights

Another example of plasma is a neon sign. Just like a fluorescent lights, neon signs are glass tubes filled with gas. When the light is turned on, the electricity flows through the tube. The electricity charges the gas and creates plasma inside of the tube. The plasma glows a special color depending on what kind of gas is inside. Inert gases are usually used in signs to create different colors. Noble gases such as helium (He), Neon (Ne), Argon (Ar), and Xenon (Xe) are all used in signs.

You also see plasma when you look at stars.

Sigh.... We won't even be able to see 1/10 of the stars here in Singapore

Stars are big balls of gases at really high temperatures.

How I interpret "Big ball of gas" ;) HAHA.

The high temperatures charge up the atoms and create plasma. Stars are a good example of how the temperature of plasmas can be very different.
Fluorescent lights are cold compared to really hot stars. However, they are still both forms of plasma, even with the different physical characteristics.

[IR] Solid or Liquid

This is an experiment Daryl and I did quite sometime ago, it is about non-newtonian fluids.

Things needed for the experiment.
1. A basin
2. Some water
3. A mixing spoon
4. Corn flour
5. Scissors
6. Measuring cup

Steps
1. Measure about 400 ml of water and pour it into the basin.
2. Open the packet of flour using the scissors.
3. Measure about 400g of corn flour with the measuring cup.
4. Pour the 400g of corn flour into the basin of water.
5. Mix flour with water using your hands.
6. Knead the mixture till it is settled.
7. It should look like melted cheese. Yum... : p
See the resemblance???

Now for the Fun Part!!!

Hit the mixture with force.
You should observe...
It feels hard like a solid, but you can clearly see ripples forming from where you hit the mixture but it does not splash out! You should also observe that it seems impossible to penetrate.

Whereas...
If you gently lay your hand on the mixture, your hand should sink through the mixture. And the mixture would gently flow and fill the spaces in the basin!

Try to...
"Tear" the mixture, you should find that you are able to somewhat "pull" and "rip" the mixture apart like a solid but it gently flows back like a liquid!

"Squeeze" the mixture, you should find that instead of flowing out like a liquid, it suddenly becomes hard and you can feel its shape, like a solid. It should feel like plasticine.

To the molecular level...
The 'Super Starch' is just a liquid with corn flour floating in it, but when you hit it with force, the water molecules are forced into the middle of each grain of flour and it becomes a solid!

In everyday life...
If you run over the wet sand, you should find that it is firm, but, if you stroll along, your feet will sink into the sand.

Why does this mixture have such an interesting property?
Some fluids (liquids & gases) mixtures have two forms.
A liquid can become a solid. This is called "isotropy"

The opposite of isotropy is "thixotropy".
Thixotropy is a liquid mixture becoming "more liquid" (more runny).
An example of thixotropy is when you need to get ketchup out of the bottle, so you had hit the base of the bottle. The act of hitting it at the base makes the ketchup "more liquid" so it can flow out easier.

This is a prezi we also created:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_03fAC0pZ0Q

[IR] Mucus

I don't exactly know why I'm writing about this today, maybe its because I have the flu.

But anyway, what exactly is this slippery secretion found in our body? Well for starters, if you think its only found in our noses, you're wrong. You can find it in throat, oesophagus and even your stomach!
It is produced by mucous cells found in mucous glands.The mucus serves to protect against infectious agents such as fungi, bacteria and viruses.

The average human produces about a litre of mucus everyday. To put this into perspective, 1 litre is the same as 2 500ml Coca Cola Plastic Bottles.

That is a lot of Mucus.

In the Respiratory System:

Mucus aids in the protection of the lungs by trapping foreign particles that enter it, in particular, through the nose, during normal breathing. Small particles such as dust, particulate pollutants, and allergens are caught in the nasal or airway mucus and are prevented from entering the system. In addition, mucus aids in moisturizing the inhaled air and prevents tissues such as the nasal and airway epithelia from drying out. Nasal and airway mucus is produced continuously, with most of it swallowed unconsciously even when the mucus is dried. 

In the Digestive System:

Mucus acts as a lubricant for materials that must pass over membranes. For example, mucus is present in the oesophagus for food to slide down easily, and not get stuck in the tube. A layer of of mucus along the inner walls of the stomach is vital to protect the cell linings of the stomach from the highly acidic environment within the stomach. 

During Cold Weather: 

The cillia which normally sweeps mucus away from the nostrils and toward the back of the throat, become sluggish, which causes the mucus to run down and drip from the nose. This is known as a runny nose. It is a symptom of the common cold. It may also thicken in the cold weather, causing what is known as a blocked nose.

This concludes my last post of the month, see you in March!

[IR] Mouth Ulcers

I was inspired to write this article, because right now, I have two ulcers in my mouth, and they are causing me unbearable pain when I eat, drink or brush my teeth. As a matter of fact, I get ulcers very frequently, and find them the most irritating thing in the whole world. The most ulcers I had in my mouth at a time was 8. I could barely eat, I had to eat porridge all day, thankfully it was during the school holidays so I could stay home and rest. But anyway, after some research, I realised that my ulcers are called aphthous ulcer, which looks like this:

An aphthous ulcer is a painful open sore inside the mouth. It appears as a white oval with an inflamed red border.

So, what is its cause???

Well, there is no exact cause. So I will never no what causes my ulcers but apparently, citrus fruits (e.g. Oranges and Lemons) can play a part in causing these sores.

I will never look at you the same, my sweet, juicy, delicious, ulcer causing friend.

Also, lack of sleep could be a possible cause. This explains a lot as I have gotten ulcers less frequently when I was in the afternoon session in Primary School, where I could sleep till 9am.

There is even a condition known as Sutton's Disease for major, multiple, recurring ulcers. It is one of the most common oral conditions. 10% of the population has this condition. These are the people who record having more than one ulcer per month. In fact, 30 to 40% of patients who have Sutton's Disease report a family history. My father, and two of my paternal aunties also have recurring aphthous ulcers. Does this explain my situation? Yes. I think I can safely diagnose myself with Sutton's Disease. Being a doctor seems easy enough now, just look at the symptoms from Wikipedia, compare it with the patient's symptoms and voila! You are done and can make millions of dollars.

Its interesting to note that people above the age of 55 very very rarely get ulcers.

I don't get ulcers! Isn't that nice honey?
 Let me go grab my glasses and make you a nice cup of hot cocoa.

The Remedy?

Step 1: Avoid eating spicy foods.

Step 2: Rinse with Mouthwashes.

Step 3: Proper Oral Hygiene.

I will definitely try these methods to get rid of the ulcers in my mouth now.
See you next week, for my first experiment post.