Edu Research & Insights

 - In Russia’s education system, the highest possible score in an exam is 5. And here’s the surprising part—even if a student submits a completely blank answer sheet, they are still awarded 2 marks. The first day I learned this at Moscow University, I was genuinely stunned. To me, it felt illogical. If someone writes nothing at all, shouldn’t they receive a zero? Driven by curiosity, I asked Dr. Theodor Medrayev, “Sir, how does it make sense that a student who writes nothing still gets 2 marks?” Dr. Medrayev smiled. Then, in a calm and thoughtful voice, he said, “Zero means non-existence. As long as a person is trying, how can they be zero? Think about it—how much effort does a student put in just to show up to class? Maybe they woke up before dawn in freezing cold, traveled a long distance standing on a bus, tram, or train. Even if they submit a blank paper, the fact that they came means they tried. So tell me—how can I give them zero?” He continued, “Maybe the student couldn’t wr...

 - Ever wondered why Indian doctors are uniquely identified by the four-letter acronym MBBS? While most of the world uses MD or other titles, India’s medical degree has a fascinating history rooted in colonial identity, educational reform, and a drive for professional equality.  Here are eight key insights into how this unique degree shaped the landscape of Indian medicine. 1. The Birth of the Name "The 'MBBS' acronym is uniquely Indian in its modern dominance. While the world uses various titles for medical practitioners, it was Bombay University that officially inaugurated the MBBS degree in South Asia during a pivotal Senate meeting in December 1905." 2. The 1835 Milestone "Formal modern medical education in India began in 1835 with two landmark institutions: Medical College, Calcutta, and a medical school in Madras. These institutions marked the official shift toward standardized, allopathic medical training under British administration." 3. Before the M...

 - Image product: The isolator helmet  This helmet was an early attempt to solve a psychological problem (distraction) with a hardware solution.  The isolator helmet was a device invented by Hugo Gernsback in 1925 to help people concentrate and eliminate distractions. The helmet was made of wood and felt, and had three pieces of glass that allowed the wearer to see only a narrow slit in front of them.  The helmet also blocked out all sounds, and had a tube that supplied oxygen to the wearer. The idea was that by isolating the senses, the wearer could focus better on reading or writing.  However, the helmet also had some drawbacks, such as making the wearer drowsy after 15 minutes, and being very bulky and uncomfortable. Gernsback claimed that the helmet was 90-95% efficient in blocking out noise, but he only made 11 helmets and they disappeared by 1926. The isolator helmet was featured in Gernsback’s magazine Science and Invention, and later inspired other simil...