The Green Flash – A rare optical phenomenon

Sunrise and Sunsets are always stunning to watch and some rare occurence during these events makes it more beauiful to watch. Yes, there is an interesting and a rare meteorological optical phenomenon called the green flash. It is a green spot or flash visible for only few seconds at the top edge of the sun…

How does a pulse oximeter work?

The pulse oximeter is a device used to measure oxygen saturation in the blood. Humans breathe oxygen in the air which enters the lungs. Then the oxygen is carried in our blood to the entire body by the hemoglobin in our red blood cells. Oxygen saturation refers to the percentage of the hemoglobin that carries…

Mirror neurons – Why you yawn or smile back when someone does it?

Ever wondered why you smile at others back when you see someone smiling at you? Ever thought about why you yawn whenever you see someone does it? Sometimes when you see a stranger hit their toe on something, you might have flinched. You might be watching a cricket match on TV, and when the batsman…

Eye Floaters – Why do we get eye floaters?

Have you ever noticed strange shapes floating in your vision from time to time with different shapes, sizes, and forms? They are definitely not optical illusions, and they will tend to drift away with a slight lag from our sight when we try and look at them directly. These little objects that float in our…

The Glass Delusion – A disorder that makes us think we are made of glass

There was a strange delusion going on mainly during the late Middle Ages and early modern ages (15th to 17th centuries). It was a regularly recorded condition and it is an unusual psychiatric disorder. The disorder is called Glass delusion. People with this disorder believed that their whole body or part of their body was…

Why do we cry – The reason behind it

Usually, we relate crying to sadness. But, do you know why we really cry? Experts believe crying may be an evolutionary trait. When our ancestors hurt themselves or felt upset, they cried. Their tears evolved as a way to send a message to people close to them that they needed help from others. The same…

Can humans walk straight when blindfolded? – Explained

There is a common belief that if someone got lost in unfamiliar terrain, they often end up walking in circles. Although there is no scientific evidence, this belief has widely spread throughout popular culture. Scientists have been trying to resolve this great mystery since the 1920s. Well, blindfold yourselves and try to walk straight. You…

Moonquakes – Is the moon shrinking?

The Moon is the only natural satellite of Earth and, it is the most studied object in the night sky. It is the only object in our solar system that humans have visited. One of the first surprise discoveries, when humans landed on the moon in 1969, is Moonquakes. Just like Earth has earthquakes, a…

The Dunning Kruger effect – Are you as brilliant as you think?

Have you ever come across someone who has very little knowledge in a subject but still claims and boast as if they know a lot as an expert? Have you ever met someone in your office who is an underperformer but still very confident about their performance? If so, this phenomenon has a name. Though…

Pica – A disorder that urges you to eat non food items

Pica is a psychological and a compulsive eating disorder. People with Pica will crave or eat items that are not food and have no nutritional value. The most common items eaten are Clay (geophagia), ice (pagophagia), dirt, and flaking paint. Less common items include hair (trichophagia), feces (coprophagia), starches such as cornstarch and dried pasta(amylogphagia),…