Ballot Mark Through Real Science
Summary of Cube Chatshaala (09/04/2026)
###Today’s CUBE Chatshaala session began with a simple but thought-provoking scientific question: Can the indelible ink mark placed on a voter’s index finger during elections be used as a natural and non-invasive way to observe and study the growth of human nails?###
Observation
Today’s CUBE Chatshaala session started with an interesting question about using indelible ink as a natural marker to study nail growth. While discussing this, @Sailekshmi ma’am shared that she had recently voted in Kerala. I carefully thought about the ink mark on her index finger and realized that this mark can be used to observe nail growth over time.
##Understanding Nail Growth##
Nails grow continuously from the base (cuticle). As new nail cells are formed, the older part of the nail is pushed forward. This slow and steady growth can be observed over days.
Real-Life Incident (My Experience)
After my Class 10 exams, I applied nail paint on my nails. After a few days, I noticed that the nail paint mark was moving upward.
When I placed my finger on graph paper, I could measure this movement using the grid lines. This helped me understand that nail paint can also act like indelible ink to track nail growth.
Misconceptions
Ink moves on its own
Nails do not grow
Ink disappears suddenly
Correct understanding: Nail growth causes the visible change.
(Tinke moment )This I Never Knew Earlier
Nails grow continuously without us noticing
Ink or nail paint can act as a natural marker
The “movement” we see is actually nail growth
We can study biology through real-life situations like voting.
How We Can Study Nail Growth (Using Real Example)
From Sai Lakshmi ma’am’s voting example:
When ink is applied on the nail during voting, we can observe its position daily. As days pass, the mark will move upward due to nail growth.
By using tools like graph paper, we can even measure how much the nail has grown by tracking the distance of the mark.
Scientific Explanation
Indelible ink sticks strongly to the nail and skin due to special chemicals. It cannot be easily removed. As the nail grows from the base, the ink mark moves forward with the nail. This helps us observe and study nail growth in a simple, real-life way.
Conclusion / Summary
This activity helped me connect science with real life. From observing a simple ink mark during voting, I learned how nails grow and how we can track this growth. Both Sai Lakshmi ma’am’s voting example and my own nail paint experience helped me understand this concept clearly.
It also helped me correct my misconceptions and think scientifically about everyday observations.
Photograph during Chatshaala
