Ingabe Saklanywa?

Isimiso Sebhungane Esikhipha Ubuthi

◼ Nakuba lingaphansi kwamasentimitha amabili ubude, isimiso sebhungane sokuzivikela esingavamile siyaphawuleka. Lapho sisongelwa, lesi sinambuzane sisuza uketshezi olushisayo, olunuka kabi, oluxosha izicabucabu, izinyoni ngisho namaxoxo.

Ake ucabange: Leli bhungane lihlonyiswe “ngebhangqa lezindlala ezivuleka phezulu esiswini salo.” Ngayinye yazo inegunjana eligcina uketshezi olune-acid ne-hydrogen peroxide kanye negumbi lokulumbanisa amakhemikhali eligcwele amangqamuzana ancibilikiswe ngamanzi. Ukuze sizivikele, lesi sinambuzane sikwazi ukukhama lobu buthi kula magumbi siwafake egumbini lokulumbanisa amakhemikhali. Uba yini umphumela? Sifutha isitha ngamakhemikhali anuka kabi—anezinga lokushisha elingaba ngu-100°C. La magumbi angaphansi kwemilimitha elilodwa ubude, kodwa leli bhungane lingashintsha ijubane, nendlela elibukhipha ngayo lobu buthi.

Abacwaningi balihlolile leli bhungane ukuze bafunde indlela abangakha ngayo izinto zokufutha ezingeyona ingozi emvelweni. Bathole ukuthi leli bhungane alisebenzisi nje umgudu owodwa ukuze lifake amakhemikhali emagumbini okuwalumbanisa kodwa futhi linanomgudu elifutha ngawo. Onjiniyela banethemba lokusebenzisa ubuchwepheshe bokufutha obufana nobebhungane ezinjinini zezimoto nasezintweni zokucima umlilo, kuhlanganise nemishini yokwelapha, njengemishini yokusiza iziguli ukuba ziphefumule. Uprofesa Andy McIntosh wase-University of Leeds, eNgilandi, uthi: “Akekho umuntu owayeke wacwaninga ngebhungane kwezesayensi yemvelo noma kwezobunjiniyela njengoba senzile—futhi besingaqondi ukuthi kungakanani esingakufunda kulo.”

Ucabangani? Ingabe isimiso sebhungane esiyinkimbinkimbi semigudu, ukulumbanisa amakhemikhali nokuwakhipha saba khona ngengozi? Noma ingabe sadalwa?

[Umthombo Wesithombe ekhasini 18]

Oxford Scientific/photolibrary