Amazing psychological facts #2

1. Smile – Smiling is 69% more attractive than wearing makeup.

2.Insomnia – The world record time without sleep is 264 hours.

3. Brain Structure – There are 100 billion neurons in the brain.

4. Pre-Historic Man – Our brain size has fallen 10% in mass since we were hunter gatherers..

5.Brain Weight – The human brain weighs 1300-1400g which is proportionately more for body size than any other species.

6. Short Term Memory – Working memory can hold 7+/- 2 pieces of information.

7. Colour Productivity – People are often more productive in blue rooms

8.Olfactory Memory – Your sense of smell is the sense which is best attached to your memory.

9.Stress Memory – A small amount of stress helps you to remember things better but a large amount hinders your memory.

10.Talk – Men say approximately 12,500 words per day whereas women say 22,000.

11. Primal Urges – The pursuit of food and water is the most powerful motivator.

12.Colour Blindness – 9% of men and 0.5% of women are colour blind.

13. Scientific Discovery – In 1909, a scientist by the name of Thomas H. Morgan discovered that chromosomes contained inherited information.

14.Creativity – We are most creative at night and least creative in the afternoons.

15. Baby Empathy – People are more likely to return a lost wallet if there is a baby picture found inside of it.

16. Blue-The colour blue causes the brain to release relaxing hormones.

 17. Emotions – The only innate emotions are joy, acceptance, fear, surprise, sadness, disgust, anger, and anticipation. Other more complicated emotions like love and guilt are believed to be combinations of these. 

Biography of James Maxwell

James Clerk Maxwell Biography

James Maxwell was one of the world’s most influential physicists. In particular, he made great strides in helping to understand electromagnetism and produced a unified model of electromagnetism. His research in kinetics and electricity laid the foundations for modern Quantum mechanics and special relativity.

“The work of James Clerk Maxwell changed the world forever.”
– Albert Einstein

Short Bio James Maxwell

James Clerk Maxwell (13 June 1831 – 5 November 1879)

James was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1831. From his early childhood, he displayed a natural inquisitiveness, always asking how things worked and moved as they did.

When he was eight, his mother died, and his father John took responsibility for his upbringing along with his sister-in-law Jane. In 1841, he went to the Edinburgh Academy. He was a satisfactory student but took great interest in subjects outside the school syllabus, especially geometry, drawing and maths. At the age of 14, he wrote his first scientific paper (Oval Curves)

In 1847, he moved to the University of Edinburgh where he studied classes on logic, mathematics, and natural philosophy. However, like at school, he was more interested in pursuing his own studies outside the curriculum. He investigated the properties of polarized light and prisms; he also began his early investigations into electric and magnetic equipment. Aged 18, he presented another two scientific papers – though as he was considered too young, it was delivered to the Royal Society by his tutor Kelland instead.

In 1850, he moved to Trinity College, Cambridge, and studied mathematics under the great tutor – William Hopkins. Maxwell graduated with a top degree in mathematics and was able to pursue his own research interests. At the time, this included investigating the properties of colour. He delivered his first lecture to the Royal Society Of Edinburgh in March 1855 on his Experiments on Colour. In the same year, he was made a fellow of Trinity. But, shortly after, in 1856, an opportunity arose to take the Chair of Natural Philosophy at Marischal College, Aberdeen – he applied and took it. He married Katherine Mary Dewar in 1857.

At Aberdeen h, spent part of his time lecturing and marking exam papers, but he still had the opportunity to pursue other areas of research. He was able to display his considerable talent, by providing a theoretical explanation for Saturn’s Rings, it also earned him £130 and the Adams Prize from St John’s College, Cambridge.

In 1860, he suffered a serious bout of smallpox, but survived and moved to Kings College, London. In his time in London, he became acquainted with Michael Faraday at the Royal Institute and made great progress on his work in electro-magnetism, including a model for electromagnetic induction. In one of his most important works, he wrote:

“This velocity is so nearly that of light, that it seems we have strong reason to conclude that light itself (including radiant heat, and other radiations if any) is an electromagnetic disturbance in the form of waves propagated through the electromagnetic field according to electromagnetic laws.” A Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field (1864), §20.
In 1865, he returned to Glenair in Scotland and wrote a book “Theory of Heat” (1871)

In 1871, he moved back to Cambridge, working on the development of the Cavendish laboratory.

He died in of abdominal cancer on 5 November 1879 at the age of only 48 .

James Maxwell was a real polymath. As well as his scientific discoveries, he loved poetry and enjoyed drawing. Though befitting of his image as eccentric, many contemporaries mentioned he lacked grace and confidence in social situations. He was also an evangelical Christian. He wrote on the link between science and Christianity

“I think men of science as well as other men need to learn from Christ, and I think Christians whose minds are scientific are bound to study science that their view of the glory of God may be as extensive as their being is capable. But I think that the results which each man arrives at in his attempts to harmonize his science with his Christianity ought not to be regarded as having any significance except to the man himself, and to him only for a time, and should not receive the stamp of a society.” (Draft of a reply to an invitation to join the Victoria Institute (1875), in Ch. 12 : Cambridge 1871 To 1879, p. 404)
James Maxwell Scientific Achievements

“Maxwell’s equations have had a greater impact on human history than any ten presidents.”
– Carl Sagan

Maxwell’s greatest contribution to science included:

The observation electromagnetic fields travel at the speed of light showing the connection between light and electro magnetism.
Prediction of waves and oscillating electric and magnetic fields
Writing equations for electromagnetism. Later known as Maxwell’s equations.
The concept of the electromagnetic field, which was later worked on by Albert Einstein, leading to his theory of special relativity.
His work on optics and colour, which laid the foundations for practical colour photography.
He also helped explain the phenomena of colour blindness
He developed Kinetic theory for gases – Called ‘Maxwell distribution.’
Work on thermodynamics
Control theory relating to centrifugal governor used in steam engines.

Biography of Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein Biography


Born in Germany in 1879, Albert Einstein is one of the most celebrated scientists of the Twentieth Century. His theories on relativity laid the framework for a new branch of physics, and Einstein’s E = mc2 on mass-energy equivalence is one of the most famous formulas in the world. In 1921, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions to theoretical physics and the evolution of Quantum Theory.

Einstein is also well known as an original free-thinker, speaking on a range of humanitarian and global issues. After contributing to the theoretical development of nuclear physics and encouraging F.D. Roosevelt to start the Manhattan Project, he later spoke out against the use of nuclear weapons.

Born in Germany to Jewish parents, Einstein settled in Switzerland and then, after Hitler’s rise to power, the United States. Einstein was a truly global man and one of the undisputed genius’ of the Twentieth Century.

Early life Albert Einstein

Einstein was born 14 March 1879, in Ulm the German Empire. His parents were working-class (salesman/engineer) and non-observant Jews. Aged 15, the family moved to Milan, Italy, where his father hoped Albert would become a mechanical engineer. However, despite Einstein’s intellect and thirst for knowledge, his early academic reports suggested anything but a glittering career in academia. His teachers found him dim and slow to learn. Part of the problem was that Albert expressed no interest in learning languages and the learning by rote that was popular at the time.

“School failed me, and I failed the school. It bored me. The teachers behaved like Feldwebel (sergeants). I wanted to learn what I wanted to know, but they wanted me to learn for the exam.” Einstein and the Poet (1983)
At the age of 12, Einstein picked up a book on geometry and read it cover to cover. – He would later refer to it as his ‘holy booklet’. He became fascinated by maths and taught himself – becoming acquainted with the great scientific discoveries of the age.


Albert Einstein with wife Elsa
Despite Albert’s independent learning, he languished at school. Eventually, he was asked to leave by the authorities because his indifference was setting a bad example to other students.

He applied for admission to the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. His first attempt was a failure because he failed exams in botany, zoology and languages. However, he passed the next year and in 1900 became a Swiss citizen.

At college, he met a fellow student Mileva Maric, and after a long friendship, they married in 1903; they had two sons before divorcing several years later.

In 1896 Einstein renounced his German citizenship to avoid military conscription. For five years he was stateless, before successfully applying for Swiss citizenship in 1901. After graduating from Zurich college, he attempted to gain a teaching post but none was forthcoming; instead, he gained a job in the Swiss Patent Office.

While working at the Patent Office, Einstein continued his own scientific discoveries and began radical experiments to consider the nature of light and space.

Albert Einstein’s Scientific Contributions

Quantum Theory

Einstein suggested that light doesn’t just travel as waves but as electric currents. This photoelectric effect could force metals to release a tiny stream of particles known as ‘quanta’. From this Quantum Theory, other inventors were able to develop devices such as television and movies. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921.

Special Theory of Relativity

This theory was written in a simple style with no footnotes or academic references. The core of his theory of relativity is that:

“Movement can only be detected and measured as relative movement; the change of position of one body in respect to another.”
Thus there is no fixed absolute standard of comparison for judging the motion of the earth or plants. It was revolutionary because previously people had thought time and distance are absolutes. But, Einstein proved this not to be true.

He also said that if electrons travelled at close to the speed of light, their weight would increase.

This lead to Einstein’s famous equation:

E = mc2
Where E = energy m = mass and c = speed of light.

General Theory of Relativity 1916

Working from a basis of special relativity. Einstein sought to express all physical laws using equations based on mathematical equations.

He devoted the last period of his life trying to formulate a final unified field theory which included a rational explanation for electromagnetism. However, he was to be frustrated in searching for this final breakthrough theory.

Biography of Galileo galilei

Galileo Galilei Biography

Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) – Italian astronomer, scientist and philosopher, who played a leading role in the Scientific Revolution. Galileo improved the telescope and made many significant discoveries in astronomy. His findings encouraged him to speak out for the Copernican view that the earth revolved around the sun. However, his views were considered heretical, and he was placed under house arrest. His greatest scientific works included Two New Sciences  about kinetics and the strength of materials.

Short biography of Galileo

Galileo was born in Pisa, Duchy of Florence, Italy in 1564 to a poor but noble family.

His parents recognised their child’s innate intelligence and talents and made sacrifices to have him educated. At his father’s insistence, Galileo studied the profitable career of medicine. But, at the University of Pisa, Galileo became fascinated by a wide range of subjects. He also became critical of many of Aristotle‘s teaching which had dominated education for the past 2,000 years.

Galileo was appointed to be a mathematics professor at the University of Pisa, but his strident criticisms of Aristotle left him isolated amongst his contemporaries. After three years of persecution, he resigned and went to the University of Padua, where he taught maths. His entertaining lectures attracted a large following, and he was able to spend the next 18 years pursuing his interests in astronomy and mechanics.

During this time, Galileo made important discoveries about gravity, inertia and also developed the forerunner of the thermometer. He also worked on the pendulum clock Galileo also worked tirelessly on the science of gnomonics (telling time by shadows) and the laws of motion.

It was in astronomy that Galileo became most famous. In particular, his support for heliocentrism garnered the opposition of the Holy Roman Catholic Church.

Galileo came to the same conclusions of Copernicus – that the sun was the centre of the universe and not the earth. Galileo was also a great admirer of Johannes Kepler for his work on planetary motions.

By inventing the world’s first powerful telescope, Galileo was able to make many ground-breaking explorations of the universe. Galileo’s His telescopes increased magnification from around just 2x to around 30x magnification. Using this new telescope he found that:

Saturn had a beautiful ring of clouds.
The moon was not flat but had mountains and craters.
Using his own telescope, he discovered four moons of Jupiter – Io, Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa. He also noted these moons revolved around Jupiter rather than the sun.
To support the theory of heliocentrism, Galileo had the mathematical proofs of Copernicus but also new proofs from the science of astronomy. However, Galileo knew that publishing these studies would bring the disapproval of the church authorities. Yet, he also felt a willingness to risk the church’s displeasure.

“I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.”
—Galileo Galilei, Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina

Galileo was a devout Catholic. He had considered the priesthood as a young man. However, he felt the church was mistaken to take the Bible as a literal source for all scientific studies. As Galileo stated: “The Bible shows the way to go to heaven, not the way the heavens go.” The church’s opposition to heliocentrism centred on Biblical sentences, such as “the world is firmly established, it cannot be moved.” 1 Chronicles 16:30. Galileo contended this was a mistaken view of faith and the Bible.

“Copernicus never discusses matters of religion or faith, nor does he use argument that depend in any way upon the authority of sacred writings which he might have interpreted erroneously. … He did not ignore the Bible, but he knew very well that if his doctrine were proved, then it could not contradict the Scriptures when they were rightly understood.”

Biography of sir Isaac newton

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Biography Sir Isaac Newton

Sir Issac Newton (1643- 1726) was an English mathematician, physicist and scientist. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential scientists of all time, developing new laws of mechanics, gravity and laws of motion. His work  Principia Mathematica (1687) laid the framework for the Scientific Revolution of the Seventeenth Century. A great polymath, Newton’s investigations also included areas of optics, religion and alchemy.

Early Life of Newton

Sir Isaac Newton was born on Christmas Day, in 1643, to a relatively poor farming family. His father died three months before he was born. His mother later remarried, but her second husband did not get on with Isaac; leading to friction between Isaac and his parents. The young Isaac attended school at King’s School, Grantham in Lincolnshire (where his signature is still inscribed on the walls.) Isaac was one of the top students, but before completing his studies his mother withdrew him from school, so Isaac could work as a farmer. It was only through the intervention of the headmaster that Isaac was able to return to finish his studies; he passed his final exams with very good results and was able to go to Trinity College, Cambridge.

Newton at Cambridge

At Cambridge, he was able to pursue his interests in mathematics, science and physics. At the time the prevailing education was based on Aristotle, but Isaac was more interested in modern mathematicians such as Rene Descartes. Isaac Newton had a prodigious capacity to consider mathematical problems, and then focus on them until he had solved the mystery behind them. His one-pointed nature led him to, at times, be detached from the world. For example, he had little time for women. An early teenage romance came to nothing, and he remained single throughout his life.

Sir Isaac Newton, has been referred to as one of the greatest geniuses of history. His mathematical and scientific achievements give credence to such a view. His many accomplishments in the field of science include:

Developing a theory of calculus. Unfortunately, at the same time as Newton, calculus was being developed by Leibniz.  When Leibniz published his results, there was a bitter feud between the two men, with Newton claiming plagiarism. This bitter feud lasted until Leibniz death in 1713, it also extended between British mathematicians and the continent.

Mathematical achievements of Newton

Generalized binomial theorem

Newton’s identities,

Newton’s method,

Classified cubic plane curves (polynomials of degree three in two variables),

Substantial contributions to the theory of finite differences,

Use of fractional indices

Used geometry to derive solutions to Diophantine equations.

Used power series with confidence and to revert power series.

Discovered a new formula for pi.

Scientific Achievements of Newton

Optics – Newton made great advancements in the study of optics. In particular, he developed the spectrum by splitting white light through a prism.

Telescope – Made significant improvements to the development of the telescope. However, when his ideas were criticised by Hooke, Newton withdrew from the public debate. He developed an antagonistic and hostile attitude to Hooke, throughout his life.

Mechanics and Gravitation. In his famous book Principia Mathematica. (1687) Newton explained the three laws of motion that laid the framework for modern physics.

This involved explaining planetary movements.

Newton hit on the head with an Apple

The most popular anecdote about Sir Isaac Newton is the story of how the theory of gravitation came to him, after being hit on the head with a falling apple. In reality, Newton and his friends may have exaggerated this story. Nevertheless, it is quite likely that seeing apples fall from trees may have influenced his theories of gravity.

Newton’s Religious Beliefs

As well as being a scientist, Newton actually spent more time investigating religious issues. He read the Bible daily.