Science and Culture correspondent
Science
Introduction The ratio between a circle's circumference and diameter is a mathematical constant known as pi. (i.e. C∕D=π) It is estimated to be around π ≈ 3927⁄1250 = 3.1416 (accuracy 2·10^-6). Two of the very earliest civilizations, the Ancient Egyptians and Babylonians both
Literature
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery with its timeless charm and comforting familiarity, holds a special place in my heart. I remember first receiving the book as a gift at the age of eleven. The difficult vocabulary and endless rows of small text were daunting at first, especially
Science
Hormones are chemical messengers that coordinate different functions in the body. The endocrine system, which is made up of all the body's different hormones, regulates all biological processes in the body, from growth and metabolism to conception and brain development. Hormones, produced by glands, regulate long-term ongoing processes
Science
Introduction to the Nervous System The first principle of the biological approach to behaviour is that behaviour is the product of physiology. The term physiology is an umbrella term that encapsulates the structure and function of the nervous and endocrine systems. However, to fully understand this principle, one has to
Science
Introduction to Neuroplasticity Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to change by modifying synaptic connections between neurons typically caused by genetic and environmental factors. Genetic factors refers to the normal pre-programmed development of the brain, while environmental factors include injury, brain damage or acquiring new skills. Naturally, there are
Science
Localization of function is an idea that explores the connection between patterns of behaviour and parts of the brain. This idea has a long history, dating back to ancient times when scholars like Hippocrates speculated about the brain's role in behaviour. However, it was not until the 19th
Science
The Little Albert experiment was a famous psychology experiment conducted by John B. Watson and graduate student Rosalie Rayner, in the mid-20th century. Inspired by Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov, who conducted experiments demonstrating the conditioning process in dogs, Watson wanted to take the research a step further by demonstrating that
Science
What is Temperament? Temperament is the way children respond to the world, influencing the way they handle emotions, regulate behaviour, feel around new people and adapt to new environments. These individual characteristics are assumed to have a biological basis, appear early in development and play a role in subsequent social
Science
Katherine Johnson has been noted as one of the first African-American women to work as a NASA scientist. Her 33-year career at NASA and its predecessor, NACA, is exemplary as she mastered complex calculations and pioneered the use of computers in her field. In fact, the success of the first
Science
Hypatia was one of the last great thinkers of ancient Alexandria as well as one of the first women to study and teach mathematics, astronomy and philosophy. Though remembered more for her brutal death on the streets of Alexandria in the year 415, her life was an interesting and dramatic
Science
Mae Carol Jemison, born October 17, 1956, is an American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut. She is known for being the first African-American woman to travel into space, serving as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour during which it visited the Earth for nearly eight days on
Science
Marie Curie, a Polish-French physicist and chemist, was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, as well as the only woman to be awarded the prize in two different fields. She was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics together with her husband, Pierre Curie, in 1903. And in 1911