/oss/taxonomy/term/2964/all en /oss/article/you-asked/why-do-i-get-jolt-pain-every-time-i-chew-piece-aluminum-foil <p>The common link among those who experience pain is that they have amalgam fillings. These are composed of a mixture of tiny particles of tin, silver and copper alloyed with mercury. Anyone who has such fillings may have learned the hard way that dissimilar metals that come into contact can generate an electric current.  Basically, they have reproduced one of the most famous experiments in history, that of Alessandro Volta’s discovery of the battery.</p> Thu, 08 Nov 2018 19:20:52 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7439 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/paper-cuts-hurt-so-much-because-our-fingers-are-really-sensitive <p>You’re reading the morning paper, or turning the page on your recipe, when suddenly you notice a little line of blood, and feel a disproportionate amount of pain.</p> <p>Paper cuts are tiny, barely cuts at all, more like deep scratches. So why do they hurt <b>so</b> much?</p> Wed, 29 Aug 2018 15:09:03 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7324 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/where-do-electric-eels-get-their-electricity <p>You’ve probably heard of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_fish">electric eels</a> but did you know that there are electric bacteria? Or that humans also use electricity physiologically?</p> Wed, 31 Jan 2018 22:12:09 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 6908 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