/oss/taxonomy/term/2530/all en /oss/article/general-science/meet-science-mom-alison-bernstein <p>Rewind to July 2013: Picture your typical elementary school cafeteria with rows of uncomfortable plastic chairs filled with nervous parents of soon-to-be kindergartners.</p> <p style="margin-left:36.0pt">Nervous parent: What kind of snacks do you offer in the afterschool program?</p> <p style="margin-left:36.0pt">Principal: Typically, juice and a snack. Often these are CapriSun and Cheez-Itz.</p> <p style="margin-left:36.0pt">Pregnant me (AUDIBLE GASP, whispers to neighbor): Those have artificial colorings, I can’t believe they are serving that to our kids.</p> Thu, 01 Mar 2018 18:01:46 +0000 Alison Bernstein, PhD 6943 at /oss /oss/article/general-science/number-four-kills-again-or-does-it <p>Do superstitions kill? You may have heard the one about Chinese people dying in larger numbers on the fourth of every month because, in both Cantonese and Mandarin (and also in Japanese), the words for “four” and “death” sound the same. Imagine making a medical appointment on January “Death Day”. Might this not create enough stress to push your frail body over the edge?</p> Thu, 04 Jan 2018 18:19:15 +0000 Jonathan Jarry, MSc 6859 at /oss /oss/article/news/gelotophobia <p>Gelotophobia can best be defined as the “potentially debilitating fear of being laughed at.” A person suffering from gelotophobia may hear a stranger’s laugh and believe it is aimed at him or her. In extreme cases the response may be palpitations, breaking out in a sweat, or even violence. Some school shootings have apparently been triggered by classmates having made fun of the shooter. Gelotophobes have a fear of being ridiculed and unfortunately often cannot distinguish playful teasing from ridicule.</p> Tue, 12 Aug 2014 01:40:47 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2181 at /oss