Yahoo! India Answers blog

I have to admit, I found this question by Brenden Das simply fascinating.

Would the flame of a candle go upwards in space? Or which direction would it take? I know there isn’t any oxygen there to promote combustion but let us assume there is!

Photo Courtesy: Pratanti on Flickr

The answer?

Alan one of our Top Contributors says:

If they tried to light a candle on the space station it would go out.  As you suspect without gravity there is no “up” so the flame could not go up and draw fresh oxygen from below. It could be made to burn of a fan was used to blow air gently at it but it would be difficult.

And it is this spirit of inquiry that makes Answers what it is!

Keep asking and answering, Answerers!

About CM’s Pick:

Ask a question that is interesting and chances are your question will feature in a new section called Community Manager’s Pick or simply CM’s Pick. The answerer that the CM judges the best will also be featured on the blog! At the end of the week, after a lucky draw, two Answerers (one asker of question and one answerer) will win 100 additional Answers points!

Have an interesting question to share? Leave a comment.

Bhumika Anand

Community Manager

This has got to be the next popular question on Answers.

When I was still in school/college, I didn’t have too much of a problem with concentration. I’ve recently begun to study a foreign language and even though I love the language, I’m just unable to study. I barely get through in my tests. There is little motivation to relegate an hour or so for just studying. Not when there is work and friends and spending time on the internet to think about.

So this question, How to improve my concentration, asked by Raji Kitty really spoke to me, as I’m sure it will to many students like me.

Photo Courtesy: xb3 on Flickr

I really found the tips Marissa Maldonado has given to be useful.

She says:

*Get organized. Spending 15 minutes every Friday organizing your stuff will save you the extra 30 minutes looking for those important permission slips or missing assignments.

*Nix multi tasking. Research shows that working on more than one thing clips your brain of its ability to concentrate. Kill the cell, exit outta those extra windows, and focus on your project. If it’s truly mind-numbing, take a breather ever 20 minutes. Even with a break, you will get it done faster.

*A blissed out bedroom is the key for relaxing, but you are not gonna get your work done in such a chilled out spot. So set up a desk or a corner of your room that’s solely for school stuff. Sorry, no clothes, mags, or tube allowed.

*Make sure you are getting tons of sleep at night. Research shows that kids who hit the sack early almost always ace their exams. Make sure you’re getting a nutritious breakfast too. Head straight for bedtime at eight, please!

*Everyone has a needy friend, if she’s endlessly texting you about drama, send her a quick message saying you are swamped and you can talk about it tomorrow. Soon, she’ll see she has the power to handle her own problems.

Do you have any tips you would like to share? Leave us a comment.

About CM’s Pick:

Ask a question that is interesting and chances are your question will feature in a new section called Community Manager’s Pick or simply CM’s Pick. The answerer that the CM judges the best will also be featured on the blog! At the end of the week, after a lucky draw, two Answerers (one asker of question and one answerer) will win 100 additional Answers points!

Last week’s winners are:

Girlygirly6

Budumpum

Congratulations, winners!

- Bhumika Anand

Community Manager

I never do well in quizzes. That’s because I usually remember all the answers and the trivia after I’ve passed the question and someone else answers it. My typical response at a quiz has always been, “Oh, that one. I knew that!” which as we all know doesn’t really fetch one points. So I’m always collecting trivia and questions on general knowledge like this one. Sajith wants to know which is the smallest mountain in the world. And I am hoping this is one answer I will remember on time in the next quiz.

And the answer Ryan gives is:

Mount Wycheproof in the Mallee region of Victoria, Australia is the smallest mountain in the world. It stands 47m above the surrounding plain. The town of Wycheproof is built on it’s ‘slopes’. It was mistakenly classified as a mountain by the Surveyor-General even though by size, it should be a hill. Mount Wycheproof is predominantly granite and has a quarry on the east face of the mountain. It is also where Whycheproofite was discovered.

Photo courtesy Prince Roy on Flickr.

Read more about Mount Wycheproof here.

About CM’s Pick:

Ask a question that is interesting and chances are your question will feature in a new section called Community Manager’s Pick or simply CM’s Pick. The answerer that the CM judges the best will also be featured on the blog! At the end of the week, after a lucky draw, two Answerers (one asker of question and one answerer) will win 100 additional Answers points!

And as promised, two of last week’s winners have got an additional 100 points each. Last week’s winners are:

Vikash

Bitterman

So keep asking and answering!

Bhumika Anand

Community Manager

We are all health-conscious these days. And so we are all very particular about the sort of food that goes into our system. A lot of health drinks in the market promise to make you fitter, leaner, meaner, healthier and any other quality you may desire to be. A lot of that advertising leaves us confused about what most of those drinks really contain and why they are healthy. Or how they help us to keep fit and lean. Just like Vikash here is wondering on Answers – What is a pro-biotic drink?

I really liked the answer Tygress has sourced from Wikipedia:

A pro-biotic drink is a drink that contains active cultures (live bacteria) in it. This is intended to help you digest food better. Your stomach naturally contains bacteria that digests food, but sometimes you do not have enough of it. Yogurt is one thing that contains active cultures, all brands, not just Activia. Activia just has a different strain of bacteria in it than other standard yogurts.

Do you know anything more about pro-biotic drinks? Whom are they most useful for? Answer away or leave us a comment.

Does this make you feel like indulging in some yogurt immediately?

Here are some recipes you can use:

Making Yogurt

Sweet Lassi/Yogurt

Yogurt Chutney

Yogurt Raitha

This is really the beauty of Answers. Everyday you learn something new and that’s always useful, isn’t it?

About CM’s Pick:

Ask a question that is interesting and chances are your question will feature in a new section called Community Manager’s Pick or simply CM’s Pick. The answerer that the CM judges the best will also be featured on the blog! At the end of the week, after a lucky draw, two Answerers (one asker of question and one answerer) will win 100 additional Answers points!

So keep Asking and Answering.

Bhumika Anand

Community Manager

For the longest time symbols have fascinated humankind. We need our symbols.

In every day life, symbols help us understand the world around us – a red octagon is a symbol for Stop. The world of mathematics is made easy with the use of numerals that symbolise numbers or amounts.

When it is about our faith or our religion, symbols become the means through which we interpret our texts and derive meaning. Which is why I thought this question asked by Banjaran to be interesting because the intersection of common symbols in our religions goes to show how all religions preach the same precepts.

An answer I found particularly fascinating was the one by Average Joe who has sourced it from http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/b_lotus.htm and says:

Lotuses are symbols of purity and ‘spontaneous’ generation and hence symbolize divine birth. According to the Lalitavistara, ‘the spirit of the best of men is spotless, like the new lotus in the [muddy] water which does not adhere to it’, and, according to esoteric Buddhism, the heart of the beings is like an unopened lotus: when the virtues of the Buddha develop therein the lotus blossoms. This is why the Buddha sits on a lotus in bloom. In Tantrism, it is the symbol of the feminine principle. The lotuses are usually differentiated by their colour and grouping, in three or five flowers, which may or may not be combined with leaves.
White lotus
This symbolizes Bodhi, the state of total mental purity and spiritual perfection, and the pacification of our nature. It generally has eight petals corresponding to the Noble Eightfold Path of the Good Law. It is the lotus found at the heart of the Garbhadhatu Mandala, being the womb or embryo of the world. It is characteristic of the esoteric sects, and the lotus of the Buddhas.
Red lotus
This symbolizes the original nature of the heart (hrdaya). It is the lotus of love, compassion, passion, activity and all the qualities of the heart. It is the lotus of Avalokitesvara.
Blue lotus
This is the symbol of the victory of the spirit over the senses, of intelligence and wisdom, of knowledge. It is always represented as a partially opened bud, and (unlike the red lotus) its centre is never seen. It is the lotus of Manjusri, and also one of the attributes of Prajnaparamita, the embodiment of the ‘perfection of wisdom’.
Pink lotus
This is the supreme lotus, generally reserved for the highest deity, sometimes confused with the white lotus it is the lotus of the historical Buddha.
Purple lotus
This is the mystic lotus, represented only in images belonging to a few esoteric sects. The flowers may be in full bloom and reveal their heart, or in a bud. They may be supported by a simple stem, a triple stem (symbolizing the three divisions of Garbhadhatu: Vairocana, lotus and vajra), or a quintuple stem (symbolizing the Five Knowledges of Vajradhatu). The eight petals represent the Noble Eightfold Path and the eight principal acolyte deities of the central deity on the mandalas. The flowers may also be depicted presented in a cup or on a tray, as a symbol of homage.

I also really like what bitterman says:  Lotus has a special status.  It is in water but it never attains the coolness of the water. Sun rays touch it but it never attains its warmth or heat of the sun. It is neithor hot nor cold, so the saints in religion are reported as neither happy nor sorrowing like its Pattrattra thanmai.

What does a lotus signify in your religion?

Leave us a comment or answer away!

About CM’s Pick:

Ask a question that is interesting and chances are your question will feature in a new section called Community Manager’s Pick or simply CM’s Pick. The answerer that the CM judges the best will also be featured on the blog! At the end of the week, after a lucky draw, two Answerers (one asker of question and one answerer) will win 100 additional Answers points!

So keep Asking and Answering.

Bhumika Anand

Community Manager

One thing I have always loved about Answers is that you can learn a lot about what is happening in the world today by spending just a little time on the site. This, even if you have not touched a newspaper in years or watched late night news on television in weeks!

And so it is no surprise that today my pick is this question by ♫Aѕнιѕн♫ тнє ∂єѕι вσу who wants to know:
What is the reason for the violence going on in Kyrgyzstan?

I think Leo has given a great answer:
Resentment at widespread poverty and ethnic divisions between north and south occasionally,the Kyrgyz make up nearly 70% of the population, with Uzbeks accounting for about 15% and concentrated in the Ferghana Valley in the south.Tension between the Kyrgyz and Uzbek communities in the south over land and housing, and relations with Uzbekistan were strained following the flight of refugees into Kyrgyzstan after clashes in the Uzbek city Andijan in 2005.

Leo’s answer is short, concise and explains exactly what the entire Kyrgyzstan issue has been about.
Read more about this tragedy struck country here. Read about the 2010 riots here.

Do you think you can add more clarity to the Kyrgyzstan issue? Answer away.

Do you have a question related to current events? Ask away.

And isn’t it so terrible that such a fate has befallen this beautiful country? What do you think? What justifies violence? Do let us know. Leave us a comment.

About CM’s Pick:

Ask a question that is interesting and chances are your question will feature in a new section called Community Manager’s Pick or simply CM’s Pick. The answerer that the CM judges the best will also be featured on the blog! At the end of the week, after a lucky draw, two Answerers (one asker of question and one answerer) will win 100 additional Answers points!

So keep Asking and Answering.

Bhumika Anand
(Community Manager)

Keeping a room clean, fresh and fragrant is any house-holders nightmare. You just can’t help it – the kitchen smells often take over your house. Or the cleaning detergents give your house a very antiseptic smell.

I know when we get together, most of my friends and I discuss tips by which we can keep a room sanitary and yet make it look like an interesting boudoir – full of sweet smells!

So going through Answers today, I really liked that I found this question asked by Thar D : How to keep the room fresh always with good odour?

I found Em’s answer very useful:

Occasionally burn incense, don’t let anything nasty or dirty in there, burn beeswax candles, keep fresh flowers in there, and leave the windows open (if they’re near nature) during nice days. Tthat’s the natural way. You can also put a little bit of an essential oil (lavender, peppermint, vanilla etc) in a sponge and that sponge in a tupperware with holes in the lid, and leave that in a corner.

Personally, I believe in the power of fresh air and fresh flowers. What do you think? Do you have a tip to share as well. Do let us know. Leave us a comment.

About CM’s Pick:

Ask a question that is interesting and chances are your question will feature in a new section called Community Manager’s Pick or simply CM’s Pick. The answerer that the CM judges the best will also be featured on the blog! At the end of the week, after a lucky draw, two Answerers (one asker of question and one answerer) will win 100 additional Answers points!

So keep Asking and Answering.

Bhumika Anand

(Community Manager)

Losing that excess fat and getting fab is something I’m sure all of us are working towards. I chose this question asked by Sai on Yahoo! India Answers today to be the CM’s Pick because it is one that resonates with all of us – how can I get a flat stomach?

The answer?

Matt puts it very well – There is no such thing as spot reduction. You need to do what you would do to lose weight anywhere: reduce calorie intake while increasing nutritional content, do aerobic (brisk walking, running, biking, etc.) exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, do strength training exercise to build metabolism-boosting muscle, drink at least 8 glasses of water per day, and drink at least 4 cups of green tea per day.

But I also liked the detailed explanation that Rose gives:

Follow these guidelines to get rid of belly fat:
- Start exercising. Getting a flat stomach involves losing belly fat. To achieve this, start a workout routine. If possible, exercise for at least 30 minutes a day. If this isn’t possible, strive to exercise for at least 90 minutes a week – running, power walking, swimming or biking.
- Strengthen the core muscles. In conjunction with losing belly fat, choose workouts that exercise the core muscles. Effective workouts include dancing, pilates, crunches, and knee and leg lifts. For the best result, keep your abdominal muscles tight during core workouts.
- Improve your diet. Bad eating habits can impede weight loss efforts. Eliminate fatty foods and sugary foods from your diet. Choose lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, and eat no more than 130 grams of carbs a day.
- Eliminate alcoholic beverages from your diet. Drinking more than two alcoholic beverages a day can raise cortisol levels in the body and decrease the metabolism. Cortisol increases hunger, and a slower metabolism makes it harder to burn fat and calories – especially in the abdomen.
- Drink plenty of water. Water flushes excess sodium and fluids from your body, which can help you achieve a flat stomach. Additionally, drinking water fills your stomach quicker, and you’re less likely to overeat.
- Control stress. Being stressed or feeling anxious can also release high levels of cortisol. In addition to increasing appetite, this hormone redistributes fat to the abdomen. Learn how to control or reduce stress. Practice breathing exercises, workout or get a massage.
- Reduce abdominal bloating. A low-fiber diet and certain foods can produce abdominal bloating. This prevents a flat stomach. Increase your fiber intake to fight bloating, and limit trigger foods such as beans, raw vegetables, lactose and starches. Take a digestive enzyme tablet to eliminate bloating.

So there we have it. The steps we need to take to lose weight and have a toned body with a flat stomach.

Kick that flab now. Let’s start working-out.

About CM’s Pick:

Ask a question that is interesting and chances are your question will feature in a new section called Community Manager’s Pick or simply CM’s Pick. The answerer that the CM judges the best will also be featured on the blog! At the end of the week, after a lucky draw, two Answerers (one asker of question and one answerer) will win 100 additional Answers points!

So keep Asking and Answering.

Bhumika Anand

(Community Manager)