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Probability and Possibility | EstheraSTEM

You know those uncertain choices you make every day? Like deciding whether to carry an umbrella because the weather is dull or you're wondering if your exam guesses were correct? What if I tell you there's a science behind these choices? And it is called Probability , which is our way of assigning numbers to uncertainty. --- P.S: We're skipping the equations and heavy math in this article to learn more about the decision-making concept of probability. --- What is Probability? At its core, Probability is more than just coin flips and dice rolls, it is a window into how we understand chance, risk and even fairness. Put simply, Probability is a branch of mathematics and statistics concerning events and numerical descriptions of how likely they are to occur. It's also the measure of the likelihood that an event will happen. Think of it as a scale from 0 to 1:  • 0 means an event is impossible, and   • 1 means an event is certain. Beyond a simple coin toss, probability is th...

Reviving Extinction: Science, Ethics, and the Balance of Nature

Bias with Nature: Revival of 10000 years old wolf's using Genetic Engineering Now, the question in my mind is: Will movies like Jurassic Park soon become reality? Should governments form policy regulations regarding the advancement of genetic engineering and the revival of extinct species? How would the revival of species that went extinct thousands of years ago affect today’s ecosystems and their balance? Should we even consider reviving those species? And would it be ethically correct to revive the already extinct species which might have failed that nature's fitness test?    As Darwin's Evolution Theory states the survival of the fittest , so can we say that majority of the already extinct species have failed the nature's test and revival of those species would be the against the Laws of Nature? But surely we can revive the species for which human are responsible for, so we can restore the balance of nature. (One would argue) For instance, Dire wolves which has been...

10 Interesting Facts About the Human Brain

The human brain plays a crucial role not only in our mental health but also in our physical health and overall well-being. By uncovering these 10 interesting facts, we gain a deeper understanding of the brain’s complexity, adaptability and its extraordinary capacity for learning and memory. 1. The Brain acts as the control center for the body's nervous system — coordinating thoughts, movements, emotions and vital functions. (Obviously, it is 😅) 2. The Human Brain consists of approximately 86 billion neurons interconnected by synapses that process and transmit information, emotions and responses. 3. Despite weighing just about 3 pounds (1.4 kg) and making up only 2% of total body weight, the brain is the most energy-demanding organ. 4. About 75% of the brain is made up of water, which is why staying hydrated is essential for optimal brain function and performance. 5. The brain receives around 20% of the body’s oxygen and blood supply— roughly 750 to 1,000 milliliters of blood every...

The Science Behind Soap Bubbles: A Dance of Light and Surface Tension

From their mesmerizing colours to their delicate shape... Soap bubbles hold more science than meets the eye. Why do soap bubble show different colours? W hat is the role of surface tension in keeping the bubbles spherical? What is the role of gravity in colours shown by the bubbles? Explore the answers in this blog post. --- Soap bubbles are far more than mere playthings: they are hollow spheres of soapy water enclosing air. Each bubble is composed of three delicate layers: an inner soap layer, a middle water layer and an outer soap layer. The formation of these layers is a result of the unique properties of soap molecules, which possess both hydrophobic (water-repelling) and hydrophilic (water-attracting) ends. The thickness of a soap bubble is not uniform; gravity plays a pivotal role in creating a gradient of thickness. The bubble is thickest at the bottom and thinnest at the top.  This phenomenon occurs as gravity pulls the water molecules downward, yet surface tension act...

Your STEM Internship: The Ultimate Guide to Landing and Loving It!

As students, Have you ever wondered what it's really like to work in a STEM field? Well, Internships are your chance to find out!  Think of them as the perfect bridge between all those late-night study sessions and your dream career. They are where you get to earn academic credit, build real skills and figure out what you truly love. For us STEM students, internships are way more than a line on your résumé . They are a ticket to the front lines of innovation, a chance to explore exciting new career paths and a way to prove to yourself (and future employers) what you're capable of. In this guide, I'll walk you through why internships are a game-changer, how to find that perfect opportunity, and all the tips to make sure you crush it! Why Your STEM Internship is a Big Deal So, what makes a STEM internship so valuable? It's not just about getting coffee for your boss (we promise!). Here’s what you can expect: 1. See the Future Up Close : Whether it's building the next ...

The Spark of STEM: Our 2024 School Outreach Campaign and Magazine Launch

The Energy, Curiosity and Passion of students are what fuel our mission at EstheraSTEM. As  we celebrated our second anniversary, we knew we wanted to do something impactful to spark interest in STEM and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). That's why we embarked on a school outreach campaign in Lagos towards the end of 2024, and what an inspiring journey it was! We began the outreach on November 12 with a visit to Zumratul Islammiyah Junior and Senior High School (ZIJHS and ZISHS) in Yaba . It was a meaningful start, thanks to the students' incredible enthusiasm to dive deep into STEM topics. Building on this momentum, we continued the campaign in December with visits to Victab College in Onipanu and Dee Excellent Tutorial Centre in Ilupeju. Across these four educational centres, we reached over 250 students and welcomed a number of them to our WhatsApp based community , where we regularly share global STEM opportunities and learning resources. Alongside our scho...

Taking STEM Offline

On November 12, 2024, I had the incredible opportunity to visit Zumratul Islamiyyah Senior High School (ZISHS) and Zumratul Islammiyah Junior High School (ZIJHS) in Yaba, to take our mission offline and talk about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It was an inspiring experience to engage with these young minds and share a vision I’ve carried since 2022. I kicked off the session just after their morning assembly, by introducing the SDGs, the 17 global goals created by the United Nations to guide us toward a more sustainable world. I focused especially on SDG 4: Quality Education , which is central to everything we do at EstheraSTEM and I explained how our work promotes this goal through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) education, with future plans of incorporating art into it to be STEAM which promotes more creativity. Next, I introduced EstheraSTEM itself, how it started in 2022 as a STEM club for my Rise challenge project, and how it’s grown into a st...

Reflecting on STEM Day

Every year on November 8, the world observes STEM Day: A Day dedicated to celebrating the impact of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in our lives and future... But have you ever wondered how this day came into existence and who thought of setting aside a whole day to celebrate STEM? Well, It all started in 2015 when MGA Entertainment, the toy company behind popular brands like L.O.L. Surprise! and Bratz, created STEM Day as a way to encourage kids, especially girls to explore STEM fields through fun curiosity-driven activities. The date, November 8, is a clever nod and numeronym to the word “innovate” (innov8) which emphasizes creativity and invention. Significance of STEM Day You might be wondering why STEM Day Matters, but hope you remember that in today’s world, STEM is everywhere, from the phones we use to the medicine we take, the cars we drive, the bridges we cross and even the water we drink. Yet, despite its importance, STEM often feels out of reach for man...

The Power of Recycling

As the World battles with environmental challenges like Climate change, Pollution, Deforestation, Biodiversity loss, etc. Recycling emerges as a one of the crucial practices to solving some of these challenges. It helps lessens the harmful disruption and damage being done to the natural world by conserving it's resources, reducing waste, saving energy, creating jobs and improving our health in general. In this blog post, we'll explore the Power of Recycling, it's benefits and look at initiatives promoting Recycling efforts. Put Simply, Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. Benefits of Recycling The Benefits of Recycling have a far reaching impact on our daily lives and planet and It can be seen in two key areas: Environmental, and Economic Environmental Benefits of Recycling 1. Recycling conserves Natural resources (reducing the environmental impacts of resource extraction and processing) 2. Recycling reduces emissions of gre...

Hepatitis: Everything You need to Know about this disease

This blog is written in honor of world hepatitis day and all patients who once suffered it or currently suffering from it. What is Hepatitis?    Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver which results from various infectious diseases and non infectious ones. This leads to a variety of health problems, some of which can be fatal. Types of Hepatitis Autoimmune hepatitis. Hepatitis A. Hepatitis B. Hepatitis C. Hepatitis D. Hepatitis E. Neonatal hepatitis. These types of hepatitis are categorized into two groups. Viral hepatitis & Non viral hepatitis . VIRAL HEPATITIS includes: Hepatitis: A, B, C, D, and E (caused by a virus) NON VIRAL HEPATITIS includes: There are 3 types of non-viral hepatitis: Toxic hepatitis is caused by chemicals, drugs (prescription and over-the-counter) and nutritional supplements. VIRAL HEPATITIS: Causes & Mode of Transmission • Hepatitis A    Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV) and is primarily transmitted via consumptio...

Chess: The Story Behind This Fine Art

Chess is an ancient board game that goes back centuries. It is a board game which involves 2 players, and is sometimes called International chess or Western chess to distinguish it from related games such as xiangqi (Chinese chess) and shogi (Japanese chess). Chess is an abstract strategy game that is played on a chessboard with 64 squares arranged in an 8×8 grid. The players, referred to as "White" and "Black", each control 16 pieces: 1 King, 1 Queen, 2 Rooks, 2 Knights, 2 Bishops & 8 Pawns. How Is Chess Played? White moves first, followed by Black. The game is won by checkmating the opponent's king. In other words, placing the king under threat of capture with no possible escape. There are also several ways a game can end in a draw or stalemate . Each Chess piece moves a certain way: The Queen moves diagonally, horizontally & vertically in all directions. The King moves one square at a time. Its movement is restricted when it's in “check” — m...

The Scientific Methods

To begin with, What is this Intriguing method? The Scientific Method is a series of procedures that individuals can utilize to know more about the world around them, better that knowledge, and set out to to elucidate why and/or how things come about. This method, or as they say Modus Operandi in Latin , involves recognizing observations, devising inquiries, forming hypotheses, performing experiments, analyzing the given facts and drawing a deduction. Every scientific experiment performed exemplifies the scientific method in action, but it is also used by non-science figures in everyday situations. A Biology investigation usually starts with an observation—that is, something that catches the biologist’s attention. For instance, a cancer biologist might notice that a specific kind of cancer can't be treated with chemotherapy and begin to wonder what the reason behind this abnormal result the case is. A marine ecologist, seeing that the coral reefs of her/his field sites are turning ...

The Environmental Impact of Cycling

In Celebration of World Bicycle Day ( June 3 ), we will be exploring the Environmental impact of Cycling and why it's an excellent choice for a sustainable future. Cycling is an environmental friendly, sustainable and healthy mode of transportation that offers numerous benefits: 1. Reducing Carbon Footprint    Cycling is a zero-emission mode of transportation producing no greenhouse gas(es) or air pollutants. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “a vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons CO2 per year” equating to about .96 pounds of CO2 per mile while bicycles emit around .03 pounds per mile (including the emissions produced from manufacturing the bike) and that’s substantially less than even other environmentally friendly alternatives to driving. 2. Air Quality improvement    Cycling also improves air quality by reducing vehicles tailpipes emissions, which release harmful particles, chemicals and gases contributing to air pollution and negatively i...

How Melodies Enkindle the Mind... | EstheraSTEM

Introduction For centuries, music has been life, accompanying man through good and bad, evolving over the years from beats to symphonies. It has been translating our souls’ deepest desires, our minds’ complicated thoughts, and hearts’ intricate emotions. Humans have always resorted to music as an escape from reality to soothe their aching souls. But what is the truth behind such joy that seeps into our minds once we listen to music? This question is what will be discussed in the following paper; the psychology of music. How our Brain Perceives Music As we all know, music, or any other sound in general, enters through our ear as sound waves which are then converted into electrical impulses that can be interpreted by the brain. This process takes place in three stages involving the pinna, ossicles, and cochlea (parts of our outer, middle, and inner ear respectively). Stage 1: The pinna channels the sound waves down the ear canal to the eardrum which in response to those incoming sound...