/oss/taxonomy/term/2436/all en /oss/article/health-you-asked/does-tylenol-affect-human-empathy <p>Tylenol is a trade name for acetaminophen, a medication that has been used for over a hundred years to treat pain and fever. Unlike acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) it does not affect blood clotting and can safely be used by people who are on “blood thinners.” Metabolism of acetaminophen occurs in the liver with its breakdown products being readily excreted. However, an overdose can result in exceeding the liver’s ability to safely eliminate metabolites and one of these, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine, can damage the liver to the extent that a liver-transplant is needed.</p> Fri, 03 May 2019 16:00:00 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7743 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know-general-science/youre-annoying <p>Scientists are now beginning to believe that people who annoy us are actually changing the way our brain works when we look at them. According to a study done that the University of Southern California, our brain mimics movements of people that we are watching. For example, if someone stubs their toe, we feel a form of physical empathy towards them. However, this process changes when we look at someone that annoys us – someone we don’t want to empathize with. In fact, if someone that annoys us begins to move, our brain perceives them as moving much slower than they actually are.</p> Wed, 24 May 2017 23:17:10 +0000 OSS 2487 at /oss