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  • Experiment

    Magic Travelling Flame

    Relighting a candle using its smoke as a flame looks like magic but it’s real science. You may think it’s impossible but we are going to show you a simple trick that will surprise anyone who sees it. You can relight a candle without touching the flame to the wick; only the smoke needs to be touched by the flame. It may seem absurd too you, but it really works and it’s easy, too.

    Material:

    • Candle
    • Lighter
    • Candle Stand

    Let’s do it:

    The trick has a little bit of science behind it. When a wick is lit, the flame vaporizes the candle wax and turns it into heat and light. As soon as you blow it out, the trail of smoke released by the blazing wick still contains a bit of wax that hasn’t fully burned. When you hold a fire source up to the smoke, they can reignite and flow back down to relight the candle.

    How does it work?

    The smoke from a candle is a very complex material. It actually contains a substance called ‘soot’ which is a black material composed mostly of carbon that comes from burning organic items. In fact, the yellow flame you see on a candle is comprised mainly of burning soot. However, what you don’t see is the blue flame surrounding it in which the temperature can be around 2,500°F (1400°C).

    Another component of the smoke from a candle is unburned wax vapour. This is the material that causes candle wax to appear white or grey. For a few seconds, its temperature is high enough that it will combust (burn) with the touch of a flame. It rises, because it is hot, so you will have to move above the wick to light it. The smoke trail is very straight when the air is still and you can touch the flame to any part of the trail that’s connected to the wick. The wax vapour reignites and the blue flame travels along it to the wick where the candle burning process starts all over.

    -Team ScienceNow

  • The Martian

    Adapted from Andy Weir’s novel of the same name, Ridley Scott’s, ‘The Martian’ depicts a tale of extreme optimism, courage, determination and imagination. Astronaut and botanist Mark Watney along with the Ares 3 crew led by Commander Melissa Lewis is collecting samples from the Martian surface. A sudden windstorm wreaks havoc on the crew and sweeps Watney away. Assuming Watney to have been killed by the falling debris, the crew abandons the planet and begin their journey back to Earth. But as the storm settles, Watney is injured and finds himself stranded alone on the red planet. As he struggles to survive with limited resources, Watney wanders around the Martian surface and tries to establish contact with folks back home. Though NASA reports about Watney’s death and aborts the mission, the crew is shocked to know about Watney being alive and thus contemplates a rescue plan to bring him back. The movie brilliantly illustrates loneliness, uncertainty, hope and survival. The application of scientific knowledge to his situation helps Watney survive. The movie reinstates human faith in science and evolution. The Martian brings us close to the possibilities of science and human potential for survival.

    -Team ScienceNow

  • Earth lost its Magnetic Field?

    Body:  

    The earth’s magnetic field shields us from many things, including space rocks and charged atoms of solar winds. So, without the magnetic field we could be susceptible to the sun’s emissions and other cosmic events. Some scientists believe that the solar winds could rip holes into the ozone layer, increasing the risk of cosmic radiation on Earth. And this could be quite dangerous for living beings on our planet. In addition, a vanishing atmosphere could cause life-threatening climate changes and weather events. Nonetheless, let’s take a look at what will be happen if Earth loses its magnetic field:

    • Compasses may act weird- Compasses are tiny magnets, and like all magnets, they align themselves with nearby magnetic fields. Thankfully Earth’s magnetic field is strong enough to force compasses to align north to south. But with our planet’s magnetic field gone, compasses would point to any nearby source of magnetism.
    • Birds wouldn’t be able to navigate – Many birds, turtles, honeybees, fishes, and even fruit flies have biological compasses known as ‘magnetoreceptors’ built into their bodies. Birds use this capability to fly to warmer places during winter months, while turtles navigate the open ocean to lay their eggs on the beaches. If the Earth’s magnetic field disappeared, many animals that depend on compass navigation could be in serious trouble. 
    • Solar Wind could harm us – Solar winds are harmful to life on Earth, and without the protection of our magnetosphere, our planet would be regularly blasted by a stream of deadly atoms. If Earth’s magnetic field disappeared, the entire life on our planet would be in trouble. And these cosmic rays can have quite a horrifying effect on our body as it can damage DNA and increase risk of cancer and other illnesses.
    • Power outages & broken satellites – Without Earth’s magnetic field, satellites can suffer severe damage from solar winds, and even electronic devices could be exposed to deadly atoms. In fact, in the year 1989, a huge solar flare had slammed into Earth’s magnetosphere and threw away electricity out of gear in Quebec, Canada.
    • Atmosphere will be gone– The sun’s natural wind is so powerful that it can easily absorb all the gases out of a planet’s atmosphere. This is exactly what happened to Mars which was somewhat like Earth with water and atmosphere. But like Earth, its magnetic field disappeared billions of years ago. Its atmosphere was left completely exposed causing it to be torn away into space. So, there is no doubt that without our magnetic field, our atmosphere, our oceans, and life on Earth, could face the same terrible fate.

    –Noel Fernandis

    ScienceNow

  • Bionic Technology – Helping Live A Normal Life

    In the 1973 blockbuster ‘Enter the Dragon, the legendary Bruce Lee is seen competing in a martial arts championship fighting against crime-lord Han who is armed with razor-sharp prosthetic arm. A decade later, in Terminator we see a cyborg assassin played by Arnold Schwarzenegger repair his robotic arm, and later in the climax is seen in his partly burnt robotic skeletal arms and face….

    This on-screen Hollywood fictional journey from ‘metallic’ arm to ‘robotic’ arm in many ways is also the journey of the modern day, bionic technology. A journey that started centuries ago with artificial ‘wooden’ implants seems to be closer to its climax of ‘bio-mechanical’ ones.

    Centuries ago…
    In fact, the term ‘prosthetic’ has been derived from ancient Greek word prosthesis, which denoted an addition, application or attachment that is used to replace a missing body part. Not only the term, even the concept of using ‘prosthetic body parts’ is centuries old. Archeologists have found a wide range of crude body implants – wooden peg legs, strap-on toes, metallic limbs with hinged joints… though are primitive in nature, nevertheless are impressive attempts.

    Modern day story….
    Specialist prosthesist have donned the herculean task of precisely fitting a prosthetic part on the amputee’s stump, nonetheless even a job well done may not guarantee success as the stump can slip the surface owing to sweat or mere body pressure. While the most advanced prostheses have some degree of mental control, but expecting in-built sensory feedback mechanism – the wait could be just about a long one.

    Future Challenges
    One of the biggest challenges that modern-day bionic engineers are faced with is to match ‘nature’. To develop devices/tools that are able to perform exactly the same functions as a natural body part does, in a real-life scenario. Thus we use this technology to replace a missing body part. The two major challenges that every engineer is likely to face whilst developing a prosthetic that is closer to nature are: complex mechanics and multi-dimensional interface. In the first case, he has to design a mechanical limb using a range of miniaturized electric motors and advance computing power, and in the second try establishing an interface between these small machines and also the amputee’s body.

    Journey Ahead
    Owing to rapid advancements in modern science and computation technology, today it’s possible to think about moving a ‘bionic’ prosthetic arm or leg in perfectly synchronized manner using just brain power. We may be even getting closer to nature in the near future, as use of sophisticated bio-sensors coupled with new-age bionics will allow us to mimic the hand’s original sense of touch. Moreover, using the ‘Osseointegration’ technique it is now possible to graft some metal system onto the skeleton. Thereafter the metal system attached to the shaft of a bone activates the body’s innate healing process allowing the bone to grow directly onto and into the metal. Later, using 3D printing technology it is possible to cover the metal system using customized textures in accordance to the shape suited for bone tissue to look real.

    In Conclusion
    In future, bionic prosthetics directly attached to the skeleton would have several advantages. For instance, as they are fixed there would be a lower risk of slippages and there would be no incidences of sores being developed on the skin of the stump. The stress of movement would be directly passed onto the skeleton, reducing future complications. Also, neural connection already established through use of implants similar to cochlear implants, the system’s movements would be more sturdy and coherent.

    Definitely, the sensory inputs from a synthetic system may not match the richness of a natural neural system, but the fact that the mind would be able to ‘send’ and ‘receive’ information to a bionic prosthetic would make an amputee function just about normal.

    The terminator robot straight out of the sci-fi movie is no more a pipe-dream, we may be closer than we all think!

    -Noel Fernandes

  • Magic of Mantras

    The science of mantras has fascinated mankind for centuries. It is believed that the resonating sound of mantras in our body and mind stimulates the nervous system to evoke favourable physical and emotional energy…

    Mantras

    In Sanskrit, mantras are referred to as ‘sound tools’, and these tools are used to induce energy movements in one’s body and his immediate environment. When used repetitively, it is believed that the sound of mantras is capable of penetrating deep into one’s conscious and sub-conscious mind creating the desired physical and emotional changes.

    No wonder, since the Vedic era, people have resorted to regular chanting of mantras with the belief that it will resolve one’s state of fear, anger and depression, and also help relieve disorders concerning respiratory, digestive, reproductive, circulatory, speech, intellectual and cognitive systems.

    Probably, it has been the most popular sought-after psychosomatic route known to mankind for achieving physical and mental wellness – a panacea for all ills, and it seems to continue for centuries.

    Do mantras work?

    Though mantras have been accepted as beneficial meditative practice – empowered The Magic of Mantras Spirituality by faith, intention and concentration, there continues to be an iota of doubt amongst a section of society about the science behind it. For some, it is hard to believe that mere chanting of certain ‘words’ or ‘passages’ can have a far-reaching impact on one’s health and environment.

    There are some who think mantras have no power per se, and it is purely their faith. Like it’s believed ‘faith can move mountains’, it’s one’s feelings and strong desire that give strength to this resolve which in turn brings about the change, aka ‘positive affirmations’.

    Insight

    While this discussion/debate can go on endlessly, there are some research institutions who have been dedicatedly working to get unto the depth of the reality.

    How do mantras work?

    According to Brahmvarchas Shodh Sansthan, a Haridwar-based research centre for Integration of Science and Spirituality, mantras being energy-based sounds produce physical vibration and thought-energy waves aligning body organisms in-sync with the bodily functions, thereby creating a state of perfect harmony.

    No wonder, some professionals practicing spiritual modalities recommend rhythmic chanting of mantras for creation of the desired Neuro Linguistic Effect (NLE).

    “You just need to have a good ear, stay true to the punctuation, pauses, pronunciation, notation, length and the force of the chant and repeat it over and over again. The transformation happens step by step, over a period of time,” claims a Vedic Scholar.

    In short, whether one understands the meaning or not, the mantras if uttered in a scientific manner will give you the desired results, every time, no matter who does it.

    The Science of Mantras

    “Knowing the meaning of mantras that one is chanting will only facilitate the process, as one’s mind will be more focused and concentrated. One would experience the added advantage of the Psycho Linguistic Effect (PLE),” iterates Usha Sundar, Director – Vedic Chanting Division, Viniyoga Healing Foundation (VHF). Whether it be Neuro Linguistic Effect (NLE) or Psycho Linguistic Effect (PLE), the process results into production and spread of certain chemicals in the brain, which has a calming and curative effect on the entire body.

    While listening to mantras helps regulates blood pressure, the heart rate, adrenalin levels…, it is important that one is aware that like medicine there are specific chants for specific purpose and professional help of an expert should be sought to get the desired results. While there is a universal acceptance to the fact that sound can alter molecular structure of a substance.

    For instance: Maseru Emoto studied effect of positive and negative sound on water. He found that water exposed to positive sounds such as mantra revealed intact and beautiful crystals when frozen, whereas water exposed to negative sounds showed the opposite.

    So if sound had a profound effect on all liquids, definitely they would have a significant impact on all humans, animals and plants, as each one of them have water as a major constituent of the body. As social beings, we humans have been using speech and language as a means of communication and interaction involving our brain. So it would be reasonable to assume that sound and language can influence our lives significantly; and if this be true, mantras that use high impact ‘sound’ words would definitely have a resonating impact on us.

     

    –Dr Shobha Tawade

    ScienceNow Digital

     

  • Superfood Micro Algae

    Spirulina has caught the fancy of people! It has more beta Carotene than Carrots, more Chlorophyll than Wheatgrass, 50 times more Iron than Spinach, twice as much Protein as that of meat, not to mention large amounts of Calcium, Niacin, Potassium, B-vitamins and all essential Amino Acids. And what’s more interesting, it is easier to absorb all these nutrients from Spirulina than any other protein-rich food known to mankind, be it Meat, Soybeans, Sweet Peas and Chickpeas…

    Welcome to the new world of micro-algae!

    Is it a plant? Often mistaken for being a water plant, but technically speaking they aren’t. Instead, one could look at them as the evolutionary bridge between bacteria and green plants. As they are not plants, these organisms can virtually grow in all kinds of habitat and at a much faster rate – at times doubling their size within a day. Now at a time when the world appears to be struggling to come to terms with poverty and hunger, owing to its unique qualities and high nutrient values, micro-algae is being looked at as the ‘Super Food’ of the future – a sustainable alternate nutrition to plants and animal meat, which not only can feed the ever bulging population but also tackle rampant malnutrition in under-developed countries across the world.

    Micro-algae and Sustainability

    Considering the fact that the nutritional value of micro-algae like Spirulina is equivalent to 1,000 Kilograms of assorted Fruits and Vegetables, scientists reckon the fact that they have a bigger role to play in our food system. Moreover, these organisms can be grown in all types of water – brackish or alkaline using less than 1/3 the amount of water, and on a smaller area of land surface that doesn’t necessarily have to be fertile. So there is no more cutting of rain forest thus, taking the pressure off deforestation for land-based cultivation. In fact, it could be an alternative to Soya-based animal feed, which is used globally to feed livestock, poultry and aquaculture industries.

    By substituting micro-algae as animal feed, the vast tracts of lands presently used to grow Soybean crop could be instead used to grow grains, fruits and vegetables for human consumption without any adverse impact on ecosystem, wildlife, soil quality and climate.

    Impact on Environment

    While growing one Kg of Micro-Algae, 1.8 kg of Carbon Dioxide gets converted into Biomass and Oxygen. It absorbs CO2 directly from the atmosphere, reducing greenhouse gases and improving quality of air without adding any added pressure on the environment. As these organisms have the ability to grow almost anywhere, including wastewater, greywater and sea water, they could be used for recycling of industrial wastewater. Interestingly, substances such as Nitrates and Phosphates which are considered harmful to humans and environment, and which eventually end up into the sea are a source of nutrients for micro-algae.

    In an increasingly urbanised habitat, micro-algae could help reduce the harmful environmental impact and also strip greenhouse gases from the atmosphere so as to improve the quality of water and air.

    Future Unlimited

    Micro-algae are tiny factories and renewable, sustainable and economical sources of biofuels, bioactive medicinal products and food ingredients. If scientists are convinced that micro-algae are going to be ultimate source of nutrition to mankind and answer several environmental problems, then why isn’t it grown everywhere when the requisite technology and knowhow is available? Popularly, micro-algae are grown in either a Raceway Pond or Photo-Bioreactor. In the first case, the cost of production is more economical but the chances of contamination are very high, whereas in the second the production cost is comparatively high as it requires huge land parcel and controlled environment. But, the good news is, scientists across the globe are working dedicatedly to make the plantation and harvesting process more cost-effective. They are working on the associated challenges and limitations, so as to overcome them and make it feasible and viable for commercial production on a larger scale. The pursuit for finding solutions to severe social and environmental concerns is on, and it is just a matter of time when the final breakthrough could be achieved.

    Team ScienceNow

  • To be a Scientist

    India is celebrating 75th anniversary of Independence. Our progress is underlined by the efforts taken by our nation builders. Whose names are in the forefront? In Science, Homi Bhabha for Atomic Energy, Vikram Sarabhai for Space Research, Abdul Kalam as Rocket Man, Vasant Gowarikar, Jayant Naralikar, Mashelkar, Anil Kakodkar, Udgaonkar, Chitre and Shekhar Mande and so many to follow. They have changed the world.

    In this list you will find one engineer, Sir Mokshgundam Vishwesharayya, no Doctors or other Professionals. Outside India, when you interact with academia they know Indian scientists mainly with work contributed by them. That is the beauty of working as a Scientist that you are recognized by your contribution

    Think the other way round, Are you invited in Europe, USA or Japan for presentation of your research paper? At the prime age, this can happen with you for your contribution in science. Innovation is becoming the buzzword of modern times, especially in the in last decades. Institutions are graded with number of Patents they have for their Innovations and are equally recognized by the scientist associated with them.

    This makes the difference… Choice is yours.

    Last 30 years IT industry has attracted Indian youth. Salaries in IT industry are very lucrative and going abroad is much easy via this route. Teachers & Parents are focussing on getting the required scores. Ideally they should encourage kids to inculcate the inquisitive mind with focus on gaining knowledge than mere marks scored. Post-Covid the scenario is different, the teachers and the parents are happy by the ease of handling the electronic devises by kids. Mobile savvy Digitally smart kids are found in almost every homes. But the fact is that they are lacking in the necessary skills, they don’t understand the simple scientific principles.

    If asked about the latest model of cars they are aware, speed, gadgets used in it, but they cannot answer a bit about BHP or Engine capacity or Disc brake advantages. Refrigerators are used in most middle class homes, but a student studying in 12th class science is not able to tell which gas is used in the cooling tubes. After the Covid period I asked almost each science student about the composition of Sanitiser he used for almost 18 months. Sorry to share but not a single one could answer it properly. Such is the sad state of the curiosity level of  students. Unless enthusiastic parents & genuine teachers change their attitudes drastically producing good scientist is a distant dream.

    Roadmap to become a Researcher

    Passion
    To start as a science student is a norm who gets good marks. Because you are attracted towards the subjects. To become a researcher is again a dreamy norm in the eyes of a bright students. But only those who have Curiosity, Dedication, Passion & Multidisciplinary interest in all the basic science subjects can become a scientist. Marks based decisions are taken by students and their parents leading to career choices like IT or Professional careers like Medicine, Engineering , Pharma or Architecture.

    Consistency

    Believe me, getting just 70% in all science subjects including maths is not a hurdle to become a scientist. But all through your career years you have to maintain that level of 70% marks.

    Interdisciplinary Apporach

    Interdisciplinary understanding of all subjects is must. The individual liking like this is Physics, that is Chemistry, I don’t like Biology or I am not good at Maths are the obstacles to be a good science student. Studying everything all as well understanding all is the starting phase. In all top institutes across the India or Abroad you have to learn all the basic subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology & Mathematics.

    A Chemist is researching on Biomedical or Cancer related arena, similarly when a Physicist is involved in Genetic Repair or Medical Research or Mathematicians help solving complex Computing problems or AI related Algorithms, all involves the interdisciplinary approach. Each area needs dedication with intense curiosity. After the Secondary education minimum 10 to12 yrs are needed for to get the Ph.D. Later you are allowed to work under supervision of an expert senior scientists.

    Teamwork

    Research is a team work. Give & take of ideas and concepts with sharing success and admitting failures is very prime to become a scientist. Your research can be challenged by anybody and you are answerable to prove your claim. Reproducibility of your work is the test of your success.

    Opportunities to work or find area of your interest comes later. Now you will understand that becoming a Scientist is not a job or 9 to 5 service. To be in the laboratory on your own will till you satisfy yourself is the key to be a Scientist.

    Innovation, Patents, the scientific contribution helping humanity with better and newer discoveries and devises are the rewards. Society/ Industry/ Govt institutes/ Universities fund your work. You are reasonably well placed with basic needs of your family are taken care off. The most important reward as a Scientist is that your research helps in changing the world around and believe me that you defiantly get applaud from the society for your success!

    –Dr Shreeram Geet,
    Career Counsellor

  • Science and Sustainability

    As I accompanied Dr Anil Kakodkar to the Rama and Sundri Watumull auditorium, of the HSNC University for the International Symposium on Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development, my thoughts were on a time travel backward. Dr. Hemlata Bagla, the buoyant Vice Chancellor had firmed up her mind that the historic IYBSSD-2022 richly deserved a closer and sharper focus with engineering wavelength added. As the Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainability is concluding. A conference was organised at HSNC University. I had prepared a concept note with historical perspectives….

    Relativistic Concern

    2022 will go down in recorded history as the existential year when humankind looked inward critically for its very survival as a species. It is an year when the Einsteinian admonition  reverberated the world of thought. “Concern for man and his fate must always form the chief interest of all technical endeavors. Never forget this in the midst of your diagrams and equations.” Sandwiched between the two sentences of the famous 1931 quote is the one – “Concern for the great unsolved problems of the organization of labour and the distribution of goods in order that the creations of our mind shall be a blessing and not a curse to mankind.”  The creations of our mind from which technology emerged with its intensive use of energy and materials do threaten to decimate us.

    Woman’s Voice

    The best minds and great thought leaders converged to ponder the fate and destiny of humankind. They weighed in grudging scales the probable and natural consequences of our actions on a planetary level and gravitated to  a doomsday metaphor. The word sustainability gained currency. Defining that abstract noun to kickstart actionable programs was formidable and Sustainable Development was coined to condense all relevant paradigms. Ambassador Brundtland, an outstanding physician-politician, forged the concept of Sustainable development. “Development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations  to meet their own needs”

    Tragedy

    It all began with Garrett Hardin half a century ago. The University of California professor penned an influential essay in the journal Science titled the “Tragedy of the commons.” He saw all humans as unabashedly selfish herders worrying that the neighbours’ cattle will graze the best grass. All of them feverishly send out their cattle first to consume that grass first. This paper remains an academic blockbuster, with  40,000 citations and influencing present thinking on ecology, economics, political science and environmentalism.

    Population Bomb

    In 1966, Harry Harrison wrote a science fiction novel titled “Make Room! Make Room!” He painted a dystopian world in which too many people scrambled for too few resources.” An influential Stanford University biologist, Paul Ehrlich, in his  1968 book, “The Population Bomb,” asserted that humankind stood on the brink of apocalypse because there were simply too many of us. His introductory statement is dismally dark. “The battle to feed all of humanity is over.” He predicted that aggregate world demand for resources, driven by population growth, would lead to future starvation.

    Limited Growth

    Riveting attention on the finite planetary resources, an ominous  paradigm, ‘Limits to Growth’ was brought into public discussion by a team of MIT System Dynamics professionals in 1972. “If the present growth trends in world population, industrialization, pollution, food production, and resource depletion continue unchanged, the limits to growth on this planet will be reached sometime within the next one hundred years. The most probable result will be a rather sudden and uncontrollable decline in both population and industrial capacity.”

    Clearly Nuclear

    The keynote address was delivered by Dr.Kakodkar, a distinguished nuclear engineer.  He asserted in his clear and sober voice of reason that the cacophony of antinuclear noise needs to be filtered out for our survival package and focused on atomic energy and research for sustainable development. He said, “People should be out of catastrophic syndrome and understand the use of nuclear energy and nuclear waste for sustainable development.”.

    Young Mindset

    With a view to capturing the mindset of the new generation, Sanjith Nambiar(23) an engineering graduate of Imperial College London and working at the London office of a leading consulting firm was invited to speak on sustainability initiatives. He explained the concept of ESG and described the challenges faced by the Private Equity Firms and  Portfolio Companies. He highlighted the opportunities and challenges in value creation in the business environment. Expanding the concept of Scale of Sustainability Ambition from the Corporate perspective he categorized CEOs as Sceptics, Pragmatists, strategists and Idealists based on their approach to ESG.

    Sound Mind

    Summing up the daylong sober deliberations, I put my thoughts together: “If we plunge the planet into an  unsustainability holocaust,  we will go down in history not as  scientific citizens but as lunatics. The verdict of history on technological civilization would be suicide in a state unsound and unscientific mind. Sustainability is the only key to survival of the planet earth and humankind.”

     

    -Dr A P Jayaraman

    Chairman, NCSC

  • Just Kidding

    Q: Which university does a hippopotamus go to?

    A: Hippocampus

     

    Q: What is the difference between a dog and a marine biologist?

    A: One wags a tail and the other tags a whale.

     

    Q: What did Abacus say to the students?

    A: You can count on me!

     

    Q: What gas never cries?

    A: Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)

     

    Q: How many software engineers does it take to change a light bulb?

    A: None. That’s a hardware issue.

    -Team ScienceNow

  • Solve This!

    Asha was having a candlelight dinner. So she lit a big candle and placed it on the table. It was a very windy day and the candle was extinguished. She lit it again, but again the candle went off.

    She did not want to close the window because it would have been too hot then. So she found a glass tube and placed it on the candle as a cover. But midway through dinner she found that the candle had got extinguished in spite of the cover.

    Why did that happen?

    Answer:

    Burning of any fuel is essentially an oxidation reaction. The fuel needs oxygen in the air to burn. If there is no oxygen, then the fuel howsoever inflammable, cannot burn. When Asha put a glass tube over the candle, there was some air inside the tube and hence there was a supply of oxygen. However, after some time, the flame in the candle had used up all the available oxygen replacing it with carbon dioxide which was a by-product of the burning process. As no more oxygen was available, the candle could not burn any more and got extinguished.

    -Team Science Now