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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
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Introduction The famous Double-slit experiment is known for providing evidence for the fundamentally probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics. Interestingly, it reveals how electrons and photons switch between particle and wave behaviour following mere observation. The abstract and overarching term “observation” is hard to account for in attempts to explain this
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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
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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
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The brain is recognized not only as the most complex organ but also the most important one in the human body. One of the major reasons why the brain is regarded as our most vital organ is due to its unique ability to influence and interpret emotions and communicate with
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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
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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
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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
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Consciousness has always been and continues to be one of the greatest mysteries of the universe. The state of being conscious refers to how our physical and psychological experiences contribute to our perception of existence, which prompts the awareness of the self. The awareness of the self is what allows
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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
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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
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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