Author: Haniya Javed

Ever wondered why roses, out of all the beautiful flowers out there, are a symbol of love? According to ancient Greek mythology, all roses were of only one color, white. Now legend says that one day Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, was bragging to the rest of the Olympians about how she could make anyone fall in love. Everyone was getting extremely annoyed by her constant boasting, so Zeus, being the biggest jerk that he was, decided to play a prank on her. He used his power as the king of Olympus to make Aphrodite fall in...

Ever wondered why taking a shower is so soothing? Or why being in or near water puts you at peace? Well, if so, let me introduce you to what we call “the Mammalian Diving Response”.  In humans, this response is triggered by wetting the face and nostrils, coming into greater effect when one holds their breath. It can be seen in infants as young as six months old, so they too can perform infant swimming. The heartbeat slows down, and you feel at peace. This is why washing your face helps cope with anxiety – it gives you a...

The four seasons, Summer – I wish it were colder, Winter – I wish it were warmer, Spring – I wish I didn’t have allergies, and Autumn – I wish I were happy. Oh wait, let’s backspace a bit; Summer – beach parties, Winter – bonfire nights, Spring – kite flying, and Autumn – jumping in heaps of leaves. Now that’s a bit better. Each season brings its own unique flavor to the table; Autumn-the short-lived season, squashed in between summer and winter is, without doubt, the most loved of them all. The word autumn is derived from the...