LOCAL Strange But True YOU CAN TRUST.
Our dental problems stem from changes in our diet
Q. Crowded teeth, cavities, gum disease, impacted wisdom teeth — why are we humans afflicted with so many dental problems? A. “Most other…
Plenty of examples of horsing around with the language
Q. Unpacking a new pair of shoes, you notice in the box a packet of silica gel with directions to THROW AWAY, “DO NOT…
The right name can encourage us to eat our veggies
Q. What’s in a name? Plenty, if you’re trying to encourage people to eat more vegetables. Can you explain? A. At five university dining halls…
They may have a bad reputation, but wasps are useful critters
Q. As far back as the fourth century B.C., Aristotle lamented the shortcomings of Greece’s young people, saying “They think they know everything and are…
Love is a drug, with real medicinal benefits
Q. Have you heard talk about a “love medicine”? Is it a new wonder drug? A. It’s certainly wonderful but no doctor’s prescription is necessary. …
We have many phobias, and the words to describe our fears
Q. 2020 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, founder of the nursing profession and undoubtedly the most famous nurse in history. …
Put on your Mae West, but try to avoid being a Chadband
Q. With astrophysicist Chris Lintott, let us praise those citizen scientists who answered the call to join Galaxy Zoo in 2007. What vital function did…
Being found relies on how we get lost
Q. Fear of being lost seems to be hardwired in the human brain, yet it’s particularly difficult to know why lost people make the decisions…
Left-wing geese make the best shuttlecocks for badminton
Q. Playing badminton in your backyard on a summer evening is a lot of fun, even if the cheap plastic birdies (shuttlecocks) get easily damaged,…
A little Viagra for women in labour
Q. Who or what are WEIRDos, and why are some psychologists turning elsewhere for future study? A. They’re people from WEIRD societies — western, educated,…
