by Belinda Ollewagen | Feb 25, 2019 | water cooler
Unless you pursued a career in chemistry, the periodic table is a distant memory – something we were forced to learn in school or college and promptly forgot the moment we no longer needed it, and definitely not something we think about when standing at the water cooler filling our glass.
While we all know H2O is named as such because it has two hydrogen atoms bonded to a single oxygen atom, can you still remember the layout of the periodic table, how it came about, or for that matter which scientist it was that first recognized water as H2O? If not, here’s a little refresher course thanks in large part to our omniscient friend, Wikipedia.
“The periodic table is a tabular arrangement of the chemical elements, organized on the basis of their atomic number (number of protons in the nucleus), electron configurations, and recurring chemical properties. Elements are presented in order of increasing atomic number, which is typically listed with the chemical symbol in each box. The standard form of the table consists of a grid of elements laid out in 18 columns and 7 rows [rows are called periods while columns are called groups], with a double row of elements below that. The table can also be deconstructed into four rectangular blocks: the s-block to the left, the p-block to the right, the d-block in the middle, and the f-block below that.”
While the recognised architect of the periodic table is Dmitri Mendeleev, a Russian chemist and inventor, who first published the table in 1869; it is the French chemist, Antoine Lavoisier, who first recognised and named oxygen and hydrogen in the 1770s. According to the Royal Society of Chemistry it was then either Henry Cavendish in 1781 or James Watt in 1783 that explicitly discovered the makeup of water. The scientist who in 1826 fixed the atomic ratio and came up with the H2O we are familiar with today was Jöns Jakob Berzelius, a Swedish chemist who, along with Lavoisier and two others, is considered to be one of the founders of modern chemistry.
Did you also know that 2019 has been designated by UNESCO as the International Year of the Periodic Table, marking the 150th anniversary of Mendeleev’s periodic table?! Well, now you do –something interesting to mention the next time you’re up for a little water cooler chat.
by Belinda Ollewagen | Feb 25, 2019 | water cooler
Last week was #LoveYourPetDay in the # world and it’s wonderful to know that there’s a day dedicated to something that brings so much joy to so many of us! It’s well established how therapeutic having a pet can be, in fact certain companies even encourage a ‘Bring Your Pet to Work’ day as a form of reward and recognition – absolutely lovely if your pet is a dog or cat, not so lovely I’d imagine if your pet is something more slithery or rodent-y, but then again, who are we to judge…
If you are lucky enough to work for a company who encourages such a policy, be sure to bring along everything your pet might need for the day, and very importantly remember that pets , just like us humans, need to remain properly hydrated too, so make regular trips to the water cooler to top up their water bowls. Hmmm, equally important then are regular toilet breaks.
But anyway, back to the benefits of having a pet – and in this case specifically dogs, because we’re a little partial to dogs here in the AquAid water cooler office. Mordecai Siegal said ‘acquiring a dog may be the only time a person gets to choose a relative’ and that’s so true. Research shows that there are physical benefits to having a dog around, from improved cardiovascular health and increased physical activity, to lower cholesterol and decreased blood pressure – not something all relatives can lay claim to. Dogs also help reduce our stress and teach us mindfulness.
As M.K. Clinton said ‘the world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog.’
by Fern Shaw | Feb 25, 2019 | water cooler
Here at AquAid Water Coolers, we’re always on the lookout for helpful health tips drawn from nature that can accompany your drinking water. We’ve referenced mint before on a few occasions – once in 2015 and again in 2017 and last year – but we’ve never really looked at the herb itself. Turns out, this fresh smelling little wonder packs a power punch of health, has many varieties and is used across all spectrums, from medicinal to culinary.
With more species than one can hiccup at (mint is a great digestive aid) it has been around for centuries. Spearmint, penny royal (toxic to humans), wild mint, apple mint and chocolate mint (yum) are just a few of more than a hundred varieties.
Health Benefits
Prevent Respiratory Disorders: Research led by Professor Ron Eccles at the University of Wales, UK, states that menthol, present in mint, helps in relieving nasal congestion. The strong aroma of this herb is also very effective in clearing up congestion of the throat, bronchi, and lungs, which give relief from respiratory disorders that often result from asthma and common colds.
Digestive Aid: Mint is a great appetiser or a palate cleanser. The aroma of the herb helps activate the salivary glands in your mouth as well as the glands which secrete the digestive enzymes, thereby facilitating digestion. It also soothes the stomach in case of indigestion or inflammation. It is a potent remedy for relieving the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
A study conducted in 2013 reveals that the menthol present in mint has the ability to relieve diarrhoea. Also, for those that travel long distances via plane or boat, menthol oil derived from mint sweets can be very soothing for nausea and related motion sickness.
Oral Care: According to research, mint has germicidal qualities and it quickly freshens breath. It also adds to oral health by inhibiting harmful bacterial growth inside the mouth and by cleaning the tongue and teeth.
In modern times, for the same reason, menthol is one of the most common elements in toothpaste, mouthwashes, and other dental hygiene products. Of course, the easiest way to get these results is to simply chew on the leaves.
Prevent Memory Loss: A study was conducted by Dr. A. P. Allen and Dr. A. P. Smith from Cardiff University, on the effect of chewing gum on stress, alertness, and cognition. It found that people who frequently used chewing gum, in which the major active ingredient is mint, had higher levels of memory retention and mental alertness than those who did not.
Reduce Depression & Fatigue: Mint is a natural stimulant and the smell alone can be enough to charge your energy and get your brain functioning at a higher level again. done in 2014 has shown that mint and its essential oil can help combat feeling sluggish, anxious, depressed or exhausted. It can be ingested, applied topically in a salve form or inhaled as a vapour.
Need access to a constant supply of cool or hot drinking water for your mint leaf water or mint tea?
Install a water cooler from AquAid– possibly the simplest solution to keep you hydrated, refreshed and feeling invigorated too.
*excerpts from an article at Organic Facts
by Belinda Ollewagen | Feb 18, 2019 | Hot Water Taps, water cooler, Water Coolers
Okay, so a waterfall and a water cooler don’t have much in common, other than both being a source of water of course, but have you ever (just as you do with water coolers) lumped waterfalls into one giant group thinking they’re all exactly the same thing? Well that’s completely untrue, there’s a whole subset of waterfall that you might not even have been aware of. So, if you want to know the difference between a cataract and a multi-step waterfall, read on for more of what makes each waterfall unique, thanks to our wonderful, all-knowing friend Wikipedia.
Plunge waterfalls drop vertically, losing contact with bedrock – an example is the Yellowstone Falls in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
Horsetail waterfalls on the other hand, maintain some contact with bedrock – Darwin Falls in Death Valley National Park, California is one such horsetail.
Cataract waterfalls are the largest and most powerful – an example is Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River bordering Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Multi-step waterfalls are a sequence of waterfalls each with their own plunge pool – not common, one such example is the Ouzoud Waterfalls, northeast of Marrakech in Morocco.
Block waterfalls descend from a wide stream or river – the most famous is Niagara Falls which straddles the border between Canada and the US.
Cascade waterfalls flow over a series of rock steps – probably the best-know cascade is the Dunn’s River Falls near Ocho Rios in Jamaica.
Tiered waterfalls descend in a sequence of steps or falls – Yosemite Falls in California’s Yosemite National Park is a prime example.
So there you have it, an overview of the different types of waterfalls. And if you want to know more about the different types of water cooler or hot water taps available for your office – because there really are a wide variety of high-quality water solutions to choose from – then be sure to give AquAid a call today, they are the UK’s leading water cooler supplier and pride themselves on offering premium water coolers at affordable prices!
by Belinda Ollewagen | Feb 18, 2019 | instant tap, water cooler
We’re all in need of a good laugh sometimes, and there’s never a better time to share a good joke or chuckle than when we’re gathered around the office water cooler or waiting in line to use the instant taps in our breakout area for that much needed cup of coffee.
When they say ‘laughter is the best medicine’ – they actually mean it. ‘Study after study has pointed to the health benefits of laughter: Research from Loma Linda University showed that laughing improved the memory of adults in their 60s and 70s; University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers found that hilarious movies improved the function of blood vessels and increased blood flow in a group of 20 thirty-somethings. And other research has shown that laughing can improve immunity, help regulate blood sugar levels, and improve sleep.’
Laughter definitely lifts our spirits and whatever makes us positive, generally also makes us more productive, so the next time you’re at the water cooler grabbing your glass of water or busy with your caffeine fix, here are 5 of our favourite, safe-for-work, delightfully silly jokes to bring a little joy into everyone’s day.
- Yesterday I saw a guy spill all his Scrabble letters on the road. I asked him, ‘What’s the word on the street?’
- What’s the best thing about Switzerland? I don’t know, but the flag is a big plus.
- Hear about the new restaurant called Karma? There’s no menu: You get what you deserve.
- A man tells his doctor, ‘Doc, help me. I’m addicted to Twitter!’ The doctor replies, ‘Sorry, I don’t follow you …’
- A German walks into a bar and asks for a martini. The bartender asks, ‘dry?’ The German replies, ‘nein, just one.’
Okay, so they’re definitely not going to win any awards, but I’ll bet they brought a goofy smile to your face none the less, which is another interesting fact about laughter – it’s contagious. ‘When you see people laughing, you just can’t help but smile, right? That’s because your brain makes it nearly impossible not to. That’s the result of research from the lab of Sophie Scott, a neuroscientist at University College London. When she monitored subjects’ brains while she played laughing sounds, she found that the premotor cortical region of the brain, which prepares the muscles in the face to move, was activated.’
So go ahead and share silly, funny moments – make that office water cooler chat a positive experience for everyone and spread the joy!
Source: Reader’s Digest
by Fern Shaw | Feb 18, 2019 | mains fed water cooler, water cooler, water cooler
You may be aware that AquAid has, since their inception some 21 years ago, donated in excess of £14 million to charity. This extraordinary achievement is due to their commitment to ensure that, since their first day of operations, a portion of their sales is donated to charity.
Charities where the principle focus is the implementation of sustainable water projects across the globe and from AquAid’s perspective, specifically throughout Africa, where a large percentage of the world’s poorest people reside.
What you may not be aware of is that for every bottle of water purchased and for each Mains Fed Water Cooler installed, a donation is made to the charities that AquAid has supported since 1998.
The charities AquAid support:
Christian Aid – AquAid have to date donated over £3 million to this charity, resulting in sustainable water projects throughout Africa aiding more than 338,000 people.
The Africa Trust – AquAid began this charity in 2010: 19 years later, over £6 million in donations has meant more than 1.2 million people have gained access to clean drinking water through the implementation of sustainable water projects such as the Elephant Pump.
What can you do?
If you’re considering installing a water cooler, we recommend AquAid. Not only will your organisation benefit by having constant access to refreshing drinking water readily available, but for each sip you take, you’ll be making a positive change in other’s lives by enabling their access to clean drinking water.
The possibilities are truly endless. Contact AquAid today.
