The Boffins Portal Team 
When we go out to eat, how often do we worry about food poisoning? You probably shouldn’t worry because HACCP may have you covered. This is a system designed to keep everybody safe so that they can enjoy their dinner out without worrying about falling ill from bad food. But is your favorite restaurant following …
DEFINITION: The placebo effect is a phenomenon where a person experiences a perceived improvement in symptoms or conditions after receiving an inactive substance or treatment, often attributed to psychological factors or expectations. EXPLANATION: Medicines aren’t too exciting, especially when we think of the negative side effects they may cause. But what if we could swap …
The relationship between two variables can be represented graphically. When the rate of change for both variables is constant, the relationship between these two variables is represented by a straight line. When the rate of change is constantly varying, the relationship between the two variables is represented graphically by a curve. Instantaneous rate of change …
Similarity statements are logical arguments that show how two or more shapes are similar. They focus on two things: the lengths of the sides and angle measures in the two shapes. The similarity comes from the fact that two figures are identical in shape but differ in size. This is due to a scale factor …
The name Ivan Pavlov stirs strong images for many people. He is the famous Russian psychologist who performed experiments that made his dogs salivate each time they heard the bell ring. But why should dogs salivate at the sound of a bell when there is nothing delicious about it? The answer is that Pavlov had …
Levers are simple machines used in many everyday tools. They have three parts: the effort, fulcrum (pivot), and load. When effort is applied, it moves the load through the fulcrum—the lever’s balance point. Levers are grouped into three classes based on the arrangement of these parts. In third-class levers, the effort lies between the fulcrum …
A linear model is an equation that is used to compare two values i.e. x and y. In linear models, the change between the two values is consistent. This means that the x changes at the same rate in which y changes. These equations can be represented on a graph using a straight line, hence …
Game theory is a process or framework that defines how several interacting choices affect the outcome of something. It can also be considered to be a science of strategy or to some extent—the optimal decision-making of competing but independent actors in a strategic setting. The primary focus of game theory is the game, which often …
Light energy and chemical energy can be considered opposites in one respect: light energy cannot be stored while chemical energy can be stored for later use. Energy is said to be interchangeable from one form to another. If light energy could be changed into chemical energy, this can be a brilliant way to stockpile reserves …
How do our visual senses organize stimuli and make meaning of our complex world? A group of German psychologists in the early 20th century introduced the principle of continuity which tries to explain how vision is used to perceive and process elements in our surroundings. Continuity is the idea that people view stimuli (i.e., objects) …