Breathing, Waking Up, To Morning Tea: How Physics, Chemistry, And Biology Shape Your Daily Life

National Science Day: Science is interwoven into our daily lives. Physics governs our movement, chemistry powers the world with substances, and biology explains body functions and the natural world.

Whether it’s the phone in our hand, the food we eat, or even the way we wake up in the morning, physics, chemistry, and biology are constantly at play.

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Dr Dhriti Majumder: In school, we come across different subjects like Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and Literature. Some of us love science, while others find it a bit intimidating. But can we really live without it? Whether we realise it or not, science is deeply woven into our everyday lives.

So, what is science, and how does it impact us every single day?

Science, as the dictionary suggest, is the knowledge of the physical world and its laws. It explains everything from why the sky is blue to how our bodies function. But science isn’t just confined to labs and textbooks; it’s all around us, shaping every moment of our lives. Whether it’s the phone in our hand, the food we eat, or even the way we wake up in the morning, physics, chemistry, and biology are constantly at play.

This National Science Day let’s take a closer look at how these fields of science influence our daily routine in ways we often overlook.

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Physics — Friction, Inertia, Acceleration

Physics governs everything from waking up to moving around. Our alarm rings because of sound waves travelling through the air. When we walk or run, Newton’s Laws of Motion control our movements.

Driving or cycling? That’s physics — friction, inertia, and acceleration in action. Even the smartphones, that we can't live without now, relies on electromagnetic waves to connect calls and send messages. Something as simple as boiling water is an example of thermodynamics, where heat energy increases molecular motion, leading to a phase transition.

From the way airplanes fly to how a cricket ball swings in the air, physics is present in every aspect of life.

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Atoms To Innovation, Chemistry Powers The World

Chemistry is behind everything from the food we eat to the products we use.

Our day starts with a steaming mug of tea or coffee in the morning. This drink is nothing but a chemical reaction that extracts flavours from the leaves or beans.

Toothpaste contains fluoride, which protects our teeth from cavities. The soaps and detergents we use work on the principle of surfactant molecules, which reduce surface tension and break down grease.

At a more advanced level, the redox reactions in lithium-ion batteries, and the carbon fixation process in plants during photosynthesis showcase chemistry’s vast influence on our daily lives. Whether it is rusting of iron, glowing fireflies, or the fizz in soft drinks, chemical reaction is working in nature. It’s the science that makes our lives cleaner, tastier, and healthier.

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Biology, The Foundation Of Everything Living

Biology explains how our bodies work and how all living things survive. Every breath you take, every move you make — our body is powered by biology.

With each breath, our lungs absorb oxygen and deliver it to our blood, fuelling every cell in our body. Our heart beats tirelessly, pumping this oxygen-rich blood to keep us moving.

Meanwhile, our immune system works like a personal defence army, identifying harmful invaders and fighting off infections. Vaccines act as trainers, teaching our body to recognise and defeat diseases before they can harm us.

In the plant world, chloroplasts capture sunlight and drive photosynthesis, the foundation of life on Earth. From digestion to muscle movement to healing wounds, to neurotransmission resulting in brain functions and cognition, biology is the force that keeps us alive and thriving. Understanding biology helps us make better health choices, grow nutritious food, and develop life-saving medicines. From genetics shaping who we are to biodiversity sustaining life on Earth, biology is the foundation of everything living. 

Science, therefore, isn’t just limited to theories in textbooks; it’s what makes our world function. It helps us build new technologies, solve problems, and improve our daily lives. This National Science Day let’s take a moment to appreciate the role of science in everything we do. Who knows? Maybe the next big scientific breakthrough will come from you!

Dr Dhriti Majumder is Assistant Professor, Dept of Science (Biology), Alliance University.

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