In this work we construct a timer system consisting of both hardware and software to be used in introductory-level laboratory physics courses. The Parallax P8X32A propeller based-microcontroller hardware consist of a board that registers the times of events triggered when IR photogates are blocked and unblocked. The software allows the user to…

A reliable method for bleach-based alcohol oxidation has been developed. Use of sodium bisulfate as the acid additive in the reaction mixture eliminates the various problems associated with acetic acid, which has commonly been used for this type of oxidation. By conducting the reaction in an ethyl acetate/water two-phase reaction mixture,…

A laboratory experiment utilizing locally available Indian Gooseberry ("Phyllanthus emblica" Linn.) extract as a bioreagent to determine iron(III) is described with the goal of providing students with hands-on experience in spectrophotometry and green chemistry. Spectrophotometry was used to measure the concentration of the complex…

A laboratory experiment introducing the concept of chemical bioconjugation of proteins to undergraduate students in a therapeutically relevant context was developed. Initially, students installed an aldehyde functionality into a protein via the oxidation of the N-terminal threonine residue of the cholera toxin subunit B (CTB) protein, which was…

This paper reports an innovative, hybrid teaching model for a junior level lab course. This model leverages in-person lab operation by adding a student-led online learning mode. Both course outcomes and student outcomes were evaluated. Student feedback was collected, and its analysis showed both positive and negative impacts in this hybrid model.…

Science is all about how and why. India is a land of diversity and having an equally diverse education system. In a diverse classroom, it is important for the teacher to impart knowledge in such a way that it kindles curiosity in the learner. The best way to communicate science is 'learning by doing'. This requires great skill and apt teaching…

The directional feature of Earth's geomagnetic field has been contributing to the technological development and prosperity of humankind since the invention of the magnetic compass navigation centuries ago. Today, for instance, magnetoresistance sensors are commonly used in nanosatellites and unmanned aerial vehicles for high accuracy geomagnetic…

Classical magnetic resonance is a phenomenon that occurs when the magnetic moment is exposed to combined strong, constant external, and weak alternating magnetic fields. When the frequency of the alternate magnetic field matches the resonant frequency of the oscillator, the amplitude of its oscillation increases drastically. Since the magnetic…

Brewing science is an interdisciplinary course taught at many universities in both lecture- and lab-based modalities. The laboratory component of this class typically focuses on the brewing process from malted barley to beer. However, this ignores the malting process--an essential step in making beer, although one typically performed by maltsters…

Dilute guarana´ ("Paullinia cupana") powder aqueous extract is a soft drink that contains three structurally related methylxanthines (MXs), caffeine (CF), theobromine (TB), and theophylline (TP); CF is present in a large excess. Literature data show that values of [lambda][subscript max] and [epsilon][subscript max] of these three MXs…

Despite extensive conceptualization of ions as hard spheres in most textbooks, solid-state structures are more accurately modeled as overlapping soft spheres that better reflect the size of the ions. The corresponding soft-sphere ionic radii of alkali and halide ions can be empirically established from the partial molar volume of the ions in…

The inhibition of porcine pancreatic lipase by the drug orlistat was studied through a series of activities that combine experimental and computational procedures. The enzymatic activity of the lipase was determined by measuring enzyme kinetics and calculating parameters such as K[subscript m] and V[subscript max] from experimental data. Assays of…

Additive manufacturing (AM) is projected to require 60,000 jobs in the UK by 2025, but there are a series of barriers to the industrial application. One of the most problematic is non-comprehensive knowledge in design for AM (DfAM). This study aims to test the effect of two undergraduate DfAM teaching approaches. A visual and audial approach…

Immersive learning technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and educational digital games offer many benefits to teaching and learning. With their potential to immerse learners in realistic environments and facilitate higher-order cognitive learning, these technologies could be used to complement current classroom…

Concepts relating to enzymes and energy are central to understanding chemical and biological processes at the molecular level. Student learning of these crosscutting concepts can be challenging, so it is important to identify misconceptions and remediate them early, especially in introductory classes. Here we describe an activity in which…