We’ve all probably heard of two of the four stress responses; fight  or flight —the body’s instinctive reactions to danger. But have you ever been in a situation where your body seems to betray you instead?  Maybe, you freeze up during a presentation, your mind going blank. Or perhaps, in a simple interaction with a teacher, you try to smile, but your face feels tense—and you’re now stuck with an award smile plastered on your face, eye twitching. That’s your nervous system in

These days, robots are more than just science fiction; they can conduct surgeries, deliver your pizza, and stack boxes in warehouses. Machines are learning to perform jobs that once thought unattainable for anything without a heartbeat, from factory floors to schools. However, a major concern remains as robots grow in intelligence and capability: will they assist humans or take their place? In actuality, the development of robots has the potential to fundamentally alter how w

In a previous article, we learnt the importance of alternating currents (also known as AC) and its role of transmitting electricity over long distances. In this article, we will learn the physics behind generating AC. Then, we will explore how transformers work and we can answer the question that was left hanging in the previous article: why can AC be transformed, and not direct current (DC)?  How is AC generated?  The process of AC generation relies on  the conversion of mec

As an American-born Chinese, you’re almost destined to be crushed by the reality that is our society. Growing up with a blend of different cultures and expectations, many struggle to discover their identity, and are in a constant dilemma between conforming to societal norms and reinforcing personal cultural heritage. It’s an identity crisis that is much more complex than meets the eye, a topic that is “just a phase” expected of you to experience. Before we move on, I’d like t

Every time you eat an apple, a bowl of noodles, or a sandwich for lunch, your dietary choices have an effect on the environment in addition to your body. Asking questions like "How was this grown, made, transported, and wasted?" will help you determine whether your food is environmentally friendly. What does Eco-Friendly Food Really Mean? An eco-friendly food option is one that meets people's requirements while putting less of an impact on the environment. Several important f

Psychology is the study of human behaviour. It explores why we think and feel the way we do. What motivates us to behave in the way we do? Why do people of similar backgrounds behave differently from one another? In 1943, a psychologist named Abraham Maslow published a paper titled “A Theory of Human Motivation”, where he attempted to explain what motivates us to pursue our different needs.  In this article, we will explore the theory commonly known as Maslow’s hierarchy of n

The world is facing an enormous challenge of converting to clean energy. Sustainability is the primary aim, which means current energy requirements must be met without harming the future. An efficient energy system must be able to conserve the environment, conserve resources, and be cost-effective. As fossil fuels are not replenishable and harm the environment, it becomes imperative to give weight to three major renewable energy sources: solar, wind, and hydropower. For over

Cancer has always been one of medicine’s toughest battles. Treatments like chemotherapy and radiation have saved countless lives, but they often come with brutal side effects and don’t always prevent the cancer from returning. Now, researchers believe they are on the verge of a breakthrough—a new cancer vaccine.   This isn’t a conventional vaccine. It doesn’t stop you from getting cancer, but is instead ‘ therapeutic ’—designed for people who already have it. Traditionally, c

You’ve likely heard that making one hamburger takes 660 gallons of water - enough to fill 10 bathtubs. Now, a new claim is circulating: every ChatGPT prompt is equivalent to pouring out a bottle of water. While the numbers may sound exaggerated, they highlight the growing environmental footprint of machine learning, which is being rapidly revealed as artificial intelligence becomes an integral part of modern society. Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence. It

More often than not, we tend to associate larger body sizes with being more susceptible to cancer. This idea is amplified due to the presence of more cells in species with larger body sizes, such as whales and elephants. However, this is not truly the case.  Peto’s Paradox, first proposed by English statistician and epidemiologist Richard Peto, describes the inverse correlation between body size and the number of cells of an organism at the species level and the incidence of

In today’s society, many things run on electricity, such as the device you are using to read this article. These electrical devices usually have a circuit inside them, where an electric current will flow through to power the device. There are two kinds of electric currents: a direct current and an alternating current. However, why do we need two types of currents? What is the difference between the two of them? In this article, we will explore what direct and alternating curr

In the 21st century, the growth of behavioral economics (BE) revolutionized design and transformed markets into theatres, with products acting as actors to appeal to human decision-makers. This international, multi-billion-dollar phenomenon is absorbed into various financial sectors, such as management consulting. Figure 01 - Big companies - Available at: https://catchbranding.com/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/featured-logos-image-pxysx7ajg3apnhsidqpfrcfuzbtirj856z9v6ts

You, assuming you’re human, have probably (maybe unconsciously) apologized to an object before sometime in your life; whether that’s to your stuffed animal for pushing it off the bed, or to a door for slamming it too hard. But what is the reason behind such actions? Let’s state the obvious. Some may just be apologizing to objects out of habit. Our social norms have whipped humans into shape – on a daily basis, we are expected to behave politely and in a proper manner. So it’s

Why do coaches and parents always insist on warming up before training or competition, and stretching or having a cool-down routine afterwards? Many young athletes tend to skip these routines and give excuses such as “I have no time” or “I’m lazy, I’ll just do it next time”. However, these routines are equally important as the game itself. Warming up prepares the body for physical exertion, while cooling down is beneficial for recovery afterwards. Combining these two routines

Creativity has always been human territory, whether it be brush strokes, melodies, poetry, or stories. It’s where we put our heart on display, show what it means to be curious, flawed, hopeful. And now, with AI stepping into artistic spaces, that territory is both expanding and being questioned. We see the headlines: AI-generated paintings auctioned for huge sums; algorithms composing music; tools that can write, sketch or design. But what’s often missing from the conversatio

Did you know that ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH), is the psychoactive compound present in beer, wine, and spirits consumed globally? It is produced by yeast-mediated fermentation of sugars and plays a significant role in social and cultural practices. Although ethanol intoxication primarily impairs the central nervous system, its metabolic processing in humans is comparatively safe. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) converts ethanol to acetaldehyde, which is rapidly

Have you ever gotten your fortune told by someone, and felt that the readings of the fortune teller were extremely accurate to you? Or perhaps you have read your horoscope reading for a day and thought that it fits you exactly? These are all cases of the Barnum effect in play! In this article, we will explore what exactly this effect is about and how this effect occurs. We will also explore the impacts of this effect on our decision-making and how being aware of it happening

We’ve all heard the phrase, “I’m starving!” or “I’m so hungry I could die”. These are common examples of hyperbole and exaggeration to...

Why does someone with anorexia for years begin binging one day? Then, almost overnight, abscond into a bulimia frenzy? For decades,...

Think back to eighth grade summer camp—oh how we reminisced for earlier times, shared laughters, traded names of our crushes under the...