Adverse effects are potentially dangerous effects of medical treatment, but not all side effects are bad. Doctors work to minimize negative effects, but some treatments have profoundly negative consequences. Information about adverse effects must be made publicly available, and medicines must be sold with a package leaflet listing information about side effects. An adverse effect […]
The Coriolis effect is the apparent displacement of an object from its path due to rotation of the observation frame, caused by inertia. It is used in various scientific disciplines and affects objects differently depending on their position relative to the rotating body. Most people, when asked about the Coriolis effect, would probably say that […]
The Mozart effect is a disputed theory that listening to Mozart’s music can improve intelligence. The theory grew from a 1993 study that found listening to Mozart temporarily strengthened spatial logic. However, the effect was short-lived, and the belief that Mozart’s music can enhance all forms of intelligence is not backed up by scientific research. […]
The stack effect is the movement of warm air up a building, creating pressure differences and increasing heating and cooling costs. It can be controlled by insulation, window screens, and climate control. In tall buildings, it can be unavoidable, but can be managed with thoughtful design. For houses, it can be fixed with better maintenance […]
The founder effect is a decrease in genetic diversity caused by a small colony of individuals remaining isolated, leading to genetic drift and the concentration of certain genetic traits. It can eventually lead to the formation of a new species. The Amish are an example of this effect. It is of concern to biologists trying […]
The quantum Hall effect describes electron behavior in a magnetic field at low temperatures. It confirms quantum mechanics and is used to measure electrical resistance and study superconductors. The Hall effect, discovered in 1879, is when charge carriers scatter due to a magnetic field, creating a voltage difference. Physicists studied the Hall effect in thin […]
The Zeeman effect is when a magnetic field causes a spectral line to split into two or more frequencies. It was discovered by Dutch physicist Pieter Zeeman and has led to advances in electron paramagnetic resonance studies and measuring magnetic fields in space. The effect can be divided into normal and anomalous, with the latter […]
The Compton effect is the transfer of energy from electromagnetic radiation to stationary subatomic particles, confirming the theory of photons. Compton scattering is observed as a change in direction and wavelength of photons. Compton’s work on this phenomenon earned him a Nobel Prize in Physics. The Compton effect is the transfer of energy from light […]
The moiré effect occurs when groups of lines or dots are arranged in a certain way, distorting an image. It can be observed by drawing parallel lines at a slight angle. Moiré can also occur when an image is rescanned or resized, and can be reduced through image retouching or using a different file format, […]
The Westermarck effect is when people who grow up together, regardless of relationship, don’t develop sexual attraction later in life. It’s named after Edvard Westermarck, a Finnish sociologist. The effect only applies to those raised together before the age of six. Studies show that unrelated individuals raised together also don’t develop sexual attraction. Siblings raised […]
Urban areas have higher temperatures than rural areas due to materials such as concrete and asphalt absorbing sunlight and retaining heat. This causes health risks and financial costs, but planting trees and using lighter colored surfaces can reduce the heat island effect. Los Angeles is proposing a program to repaint streets, plant trees, and renovate […]
Tunneling is a cognitive phenomenon where the brain perceives a persistent object even if it disappears behind an obstacle and reappears, relying on trajectory and speed to predict its reappearance. This plays an important role in visual processing of moving objects and is hard-wired in humans from a young age. Tunneling is a perceptual phenomenon […]
The Stroop effect shows how the brain processes words and colors differently, with most people identifying words faster than colors. Tests involve words with differently colored letters or no meaning, and can be used to measure brain development and mental disorders. The Stroop effect is a phenomenon that can show how the brain processes words […]
The Cinderella effect is the statistical tendency for child abuse and homicide by parents to be more likely to involve a stepparent. Researchers have put forward theories to explain this phenomenon, including a lack of interest in stepchildren and poverty. The findings are important for identifying potential risk factors and making child custody decisions, but […]
Trade effect measures the impact of investments on portfolios by comparing them to industry benchmarks. It is important for investors to track their investments’ performance against others of the same type to maintain a competitive edge. Benchmarks can be chosen based on the investor’s preference, and the trade effect can be used to judge the […]
The Droste effect is a visual effect created by an image containing a smaller version of itself, which can repeat indefinitely. It is a form of weird loop and has been present in art for some time. The effect can be created with mirrors or photomanipulations and is often seen on product packaging. It can […]
Blunt affect is the inability to display emotion in a culturally appropriate way and can be a symptom of various mental disorders. It is important to consider cultural context when evaluating a patient’s emotional expression. Treatment for the underlying condition can lead to more robust emotional expression. Blunt affect is a person’s inability to display […]
The McGurk effect shows that visual cues, such as observing mouth and facial movements, play an important role in understanding spoken language. This phenomenon is observed in both deaf and hearing individuals and has implications for speech recognition software development. The McGurk effect is a principle involved in understanding human language. The essence of the […]
Attending college can increase productivity and wages, with higher levels of academic achievement leading to more money earned over a lifetime. The learning effect suggests that college graduates acquire useful skills and productivity habits, while the screening effect suggests that employers find graduates more attractive candidates. A mix of both effects likely comes into play, […]
The alphabet effect theory suggests that written alphabets can encourage mental tasks like abstraction and analysis. Scholars debate the benefits of specific alphabets and languages, including the Chinese written language. The theory has been criticized as ethnocentric, but examples of cultures distributing their alphabets support it. The use of alphabets in modern technology can also […]
