I am a firm believer that there has been a paradigm shift regarding the study abroad programs at American universities. I am a caller at Lion Line which is the calling center for Penn State where students, like myself, reach out to alumni and try to get them to give back to the university. Whenever I call people that graduated as early as the 1970’s and ask them whether or not they studied abroad, a lot of them say “no.” For me, that is surprising because I feel like a lot of students now-a-days go out of their way to travel overseas for school at some point during their undergrad education. Personally, I would like to go to Italy during my junior year. However, the alumni that I call that graduated in the 1970’s or earlier often say that studying abroad wasn’t as big of a deal, or as common as it is for students now. In fact, according to the Institute of International Education, “overseas studies by U.S. students is up 8.5% and has increased four-fold over the past 20 years.” Statistics like these, and comments from alumni have forced me to speculate what the benefits are for studying abroad. Does it make us smarter? I did some research, and decided to share my finding with all of you. So, let’s find out!

My null hypothesis: Studying abroad does not make you smarter

My alternative hypothesis: Studying abroad does make you smarter

According to the GLOSSARI project where 20,000 students from the University of Georgia were tracked for ten years, “those who participated in study abroad programs performed better in school after returning to their American universities.” During this project researchers compared the grade point averages of the study abroad students before they went overseas and their grade point averages once they returned. In addition, researchers compared the graduation rate of study abroad students to those who stay at their university for all four years. In the end, the students who studied abroad increased from a 3.24 GPA to a 3.30 GPA. Not to mention that 49.6 percent of the students that studied abroad, graduated in four years while 42.1% of the students in the control group that remained at their universities graduated in four years.

Moreover, William Maddux conducted a study called “Expanding Opportunities by Opening Your Mind.”  which consisted of tracking students over a “highly international ten-month master of business administration program.” Maddox even kept in mind and controlled personality and demographic variables. However, in the end, he came to the conclusion that people who have experience with different cultures are more open minded and innovative.

Clearly, the GLOSSARI project and Maddox’s study have produced results that are consistent with my alternative hypothesis. As a result, I am able to reject my null hypothesis. However, while the findings are consistent with my alternative hypothesis, I cannot full accept it, especially because these experiments were not double-blind, they were observational. Observational experiments do not rule out chance and confounding variables. Due to that fact, students knew that their studies were being tracked while they were studying abroad which could have motivated them to work harder in their studies to help prove the hypothesis. Another confounding variable could be the types of classes the participants took at their American universities versus the classes they took while they were overseas. It is a possibility that students engaged in easier classes, thus elevating their GPA while they were studying abroad. Last, but not least, the GLOSSARI project and Maddox’s study are only two experiments. There is a lot more research that can go into this topic to see whether or not study abroad programs affect the intelligence of students. When these experiments occur, researchers should be sure to control important personality and demographic differences like Maddox did. However, they should also keep in mind what classes the students are taking, and what kind of country they are traveling too. For instance, a students who goes to Spain would have to learn a different language opposed to a student who travels to the United Kingdom where the inhabitants speak English.

Hope you found this interesting! Never Stop Exploring! 🙂

Websites Used:

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2011/03/does-studying-abroad-make-you-smarter-turns-out-it-might/73217/

http://bcastudyabroad.org/blog/2015/02/does-studying-abroad-make-you-smarter/

http://www.ibercampus.eu/does-studying-abroad-makes-you-smarter-1762.htm

http://www.studyoverseas.com/includes/tmp/browser/images/static_europe.jpg

http://www.iie.org/who-we-Are/News-and-Events/Press-Center/Press-Releases/2009/2009-11-16-Americans-Study-Abroad-Increasing

Saying “ouch” is something we never think about. The response is automatic and it occurs daily, but we have no idea why that is. So, I did some research in order to figure it out, and now I would like to share my findings with all of you.

According to researchers at the National University of Singapore, “vocalizing may interfere with pain signals traveling to the brain, distracting you from the uncomfortable sensations you are feeling.”

However here is my null and alternative hypothesis:

Null Hypothesis- Saying “ouch” does not interfere with pain signals traveling to the brain or distract you from the uncomfortable sensations you are feeling.

Alternative hypothesis-Saying “ouch does interfere with pain signals and does distract you from the uncomfortable sensations you are feeling.

Moreover, the scientists from the National University of Singapore conducted an experiment to see whether or not they would receive correlations consistent with their hypothesis. Their experiment consisted of 56 participants who were asked to stick their hand into “painfully cold” water, all the while, they were told to say “ouch,” listen to a recording of another person saying “ouch,” to press a button, or to say nothing at all. At the end of the experiment the researchers found that the participants who said “ouch,” and the participants that were told to press the button were able to “withstand” the painfully cold water for seven seconds longer than those participants who did not. In fact, the subjects that said “ouch” and pressed the button tolerated the pain for an average of 30 seconds compared to the average of those who did not being 23 seconds. In the end, the researchers concluded that, “the muscle movement to required to cry out loud (or to push a button) may disrupt pain messages as they travel from the area affected to the brain.”

A psychology journal by the name of, Neuroreport, conducted a similar experiment to that of the one done by the researchers at the National University of Singapore. The only difference was that Neuroreport used 67 college students  and broke the experiment up into two trials. The first trial the 67 college students had to stick their hand in painfully cold water and say nothing at all. During the second trial the participants stuck their hand in painfully cold water and were allowed to say “ouch” or swear. By the end of Neurreport’s experiment, their subjects reported that they were able to last, on average, 40 seconds longer with their hand submerged in painfully cold water. Not to mention that they also reported less pain when they were able to say “ouch” or swear during the second trial.

The researchers in these two experiments all ended up receiving strong correlations consistent with their hypothesis. As a result, I am able to reject my null hypothesis. However, even though the correlations are strong I cannot fully accept my alternative hypothesis, especially because the experiments conducted were not double-blind. Due to this fact, participants could have undergone a placebo affect. They thought they were supposed to have a longer pain tolerance while saying ouch, pressing a button, or swearing, so they did. Also, the experiments conducted are open to chance and third variables.

I don’t know about you guys, but I find this topic very interesting, and would love to see more data that supports my alternative hypothesis and the hypotheses of the researchers that conducted the experiments that I talked about. I read somewhere that how you express pain can be influenced by culture and language. Clearly, the reasonings as to why we say “ouch” are endless. If I find anymore probable causes I will happily share my findings. Thanks for reading guys!

Websites Used

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/03/why-you-say-ouch-pain_n_6594170.html

http://img.techentice.com/img/Pain_Swallower.png

In the article, “One of Us or One of My Friends: How Social Identity and Tie Strength Shape the Creative Generativity of Boundary-Spanning Ties,” Gina Dokko, Aimee A. Kane, and Marco Tortoriello seek to answer two main questions. First, Why is it that some people find boundary-spanning ties more beneficial when developing creative ideas than others? Second, why are some boundary-spanning relationships more creatively produced than others? You see, a common theory shared between Dokko, Kane, and Tortoriello, is the fact that, “The creative generativity of a social network tie is the ease with which a person can generate creative ideas and solutions from interacting with another person.” (pg. 706) As a result, when searching for answers to their questions, they focused on the strength of an individual’s identity and how that shapes their response to information received from a stranger. Also, they focused on the strength of an individual’s identity that is associated with a larger group or organization and how that affects their response to knowledge acquired by an outsider.

My null hypothesis: the strength of one’s social and team identity has no effect on the production of creative ideas with outsiders.

My alternative hypothesis: the strength of one’s social and team identity has an effect on the production of creative ideas with others.

Moreover, the methods used in order to test the four hypotheses in this article were surveys. Dakko, Kane, and Tortoriello collected responses from a wide range of people. They sought out individuals that worked as researchers for developmental teams, archival data on team assignments, and the formal organization chart. Not to mention the individuals surveyed were from a very diverse pool regarding gender, tenure, and education. However, before the respondents were selected for the experiment they took a two-part survey that consisted of a questionnaire on working relationships and a questionnaire on social identity. They were asked to make a list of all of the co-workers that they had collaborated with over the last two years that were from other work teams. From there, Dakko, Kane, and Tortoriello asked additional questions in order to gage the strength of these relationships and the strength of creative ideas spurred from them.

While it was good that their experiment was randomized, due to the fact that they used surveys makes it observational. Thus, leaving more room for confounding variables to affect the strength of one’s individual and team identity.

In the end, all four hypotheses were consistent with the methods taken in this article. Dakko, Kane, and Tortoriello came to the conclusions that the strength of one’s social and team identity has a negative correlation on the production of creative ideas with outsiders. In addition, they found correlations that show that strong ties between an individual and an outsider would reduce the negative association between team identity and the creative generativity of a boundary spanning tie. Also, through this study, correlations were found regarding the likelihood that workers from two different teams have a positive association due to the fact that they are both able to come up with original ideas together and then report them back individually to their perspective teams. Thus, elevating each individual’s identity amongst their internal contacts.

As Andrew has taught us, observational surveys leave room for third variables and chance. Due to this fact, we know that there are possible third variables that could be at play that are affecting the strength of the individual and team identity. Nonetheless, we know for sure that Dakko, Kane, and Tortoriello were able to reject my null hypothesis, and while you can never fully accept the alternative hypothesis, the methods they took during this experiment are consistent with my alternative hypothesis and the four hypotheses that the researchers started out with.

Websites Used:

https://grist.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/thumbs-up.jpg

http://oss.sagepub.com/content/35/5/703.full.pdf+html

http://wp.patheos.com.s3.amazonaws.com/blogs/formerlyfundie/files/2014/02/outsider.jpg

I don’t chew gum that often, but when I do, I chew Stride Spearmint gum. Anyway, recently my friend told me about this superstition she has. She says that she chews gum when she studies, and then she has to chew the same kind of gun while she is taking the exam. She said that it’s supposed to help you with memorizing, and focusing. I’ve never tried it, but I did decide to research it. Does chewing gum actually help you concentrate for a long period of time? Let’s find out.

Kate Morgan performed one experiment in 2013 where she gather 38 participants and randomly split them up into groups of two. One group was given gum to chew, and the other was not. During the experiment, “both groups completed a 30 minute audio task that involved listening to a list of numbers from 1-9 being read out in a random manner.” In addition, they had to answer questions pertaining to their mood before and after the audio task, and were scored on “how accurately and quickly they were able to detect a sequence of odd-even-odd numbers, such as 7-2-1”  By the end of this experiment, the hypothesis that, “chewing gum can help you stay focused for longer on tasks that require continuous monitoring,” was correct because the participants that chewed gum came up with more accurate answers in a shorter period of time compared to the participants in the controlled group that did not chew gum at all. In fact, those who did not chew gum at all were found to have better accuracy and reaction times in the beginning of the experiment, but towards the end, their focus dwindled.

While Kate Morgan’s experiment proved her hypothesis, I am still skeptical. I am skeptical because her participants knew the hypothesis of the experiment beforehand which could have possibly resulted in the particpants actively focusing more because they knew that, that is what the outcome was supposed to be. As a result, I sought out a few other experiments to solidify this idea of gum increasing one’s focus.

Another experiment that was conducted by psychologists at Saint Lawrence University  consisted of 159 students. The students had to do logic puzzles and recite random numbers backwards. Again, half of the subjects were randomly placed in a group where they would chew gum while the other half were placed in a control group where they did not chew gum. By the end of this experiment the subjects that chewed gum performed better on 5 out of 6 tests compared to those in the controlled group. However, the psychologists from St. Lawrence college  also noted that their “better performance” was only in the, “first 20 minutes of testing. After that, they performed identically to non-chewers.” As a result, the final conclusion of this experiment was that chewing gum does help you focus by making you more alert, but that boost of help is fleeting which means if you are going to chew gum to help you focus on an exam you should save it for the most difficult parts.

Last, but not least, I found this experiment that was conducted at Cardiff University. It consisted of 133 volunteers. Once again, the volunteers were split into two groups, gum chewers, and a controlled group of non-chewers. During the experiment, “half of the volunteers were tested while listening to a screeching noise-this was the stress condition- while the other volunteers took the test in a quiet room.” This experiment was consistent with the hypothesis as well because gum-chewers were recorded as being more attentive than non-chewers with faster reaction times. Not to mention that the psychological measurements and the mood tests that all of the volunteers took after the experiment showed that gum-chewers also had elevated heart rates and cortisol levels, and were in a more positive mood.

Interesting, right? I have to admit that when my friend first told me about her superstition I just thought she was being ridiculous. That is why my null hypothesis was that gum does not increase your level of focus. Clearly, the alternative hypothesis was that gum does help one to focus for a longer period of time. Now, due to the experiments that I found and shared with all of you. I can reject my null hypothesis, and even though an alternative hypothesis can never be fully accepted, these experiments provide evidence that the alternative hypothesis is a possibility and consistent with the evidence found in these randomized control trials.

Websites Used:

http://www.confectionerynews.com/var/plain_site/storage/images/publications/food-beverage-nutrition/confectionerynews.com/r-d/chewing-gum-is-a-cheap-way-to-help-stay-alert-study/9068061-1-eng-GB/Chewing-gum-is-a-cheap-way-to-help-stay-alert-Study_strict_xxl.jpg

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130308093933.htm

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/can-chewing-gum-really-help-students-focus/article16002410/

http://www.wired.com/2011/11/the-cognitive-benefits-of-chewing-gum/

http://mail.colonial.net/~hkaiter/1AAAImages/spongebobbubble.png

Happy October! Fasten your pink ribbon because it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! This dreaded disease really hits home for me because my grandmother suffered from it. She is a survivor,  so no worries here, but I still like to spend the month spreading awareness for all of those going through treatment now.

Andrew has said, time and again, correlation does not equal causation. When it comes to Breast Cancer, this is very true, that is why a cause and a cure has yet to be found. The best scientists and researchers have been able to do is propose precautions that people can take to diminish their chances of getting the disease, and if you do get the disease, they have proposed different methods to take to, not cure it, but to go into remission. Scientists propose these precautions because they hope to rule out any confounding variables that may contribute to the developement of Breast Cancer.  I did a little research in honor of the time of the year, and I have decided to share my findings with all of you.

So, we all know that Breast Cancer is a tumor where cells begin to grow uncontrollably and then spread to surrounding tissue or other areas of the body. However, some of the main precautions that doctors suggest people take have to do with their lifestyle choices. For example, reducing one’s intake of alcohol, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight have all produced correlations with “lower risk,” but again, just because a person abides by these principles does not mean that they won’t extract the disease. In addition, some women who are of “high risk” of getting breast cancer due to hereditary reasons may lower their risks by digesting tamoxifen or raloxifen, which are “estrogen blocking” drugs.

stay active!

Unfortunately, just because you are of “low risk” doesn’t mean Breast Cancer won’t sneak up on you. Therefore, your next best option is early detection. The American Breast Cancer Society, says that the detection process, for women, should start in their 20’s. 20-years old should start breast self-examinations and report any changes to a health care provider. Then, once women are in their 30’s they should start seeing a doctor every three years for a clinical breast exam. Lastly, women who are 40 years old or older should go and have their doctors perform monograms once a year. If Breast Cancer is found early, for instance, in stage one, the National Cancer Institute, reports that there is 100% survival rate. There are so many different treatment options for patients to take advantage of like breast conservation surgery, mastectomy, and removal of the lymph nodes under ones arms. Not to mention,  radiation, hormone, and chemotherapy. So, while it may be disheartening, there is always hope! All in all, the National Cancer Institute stresses the fact that, “many other factors may affect a person’s outlook, such as your age and health, the presence of hormone receptors on the cancer cells, the treatment received, and how well the cancer responds to treatment.” So, in the end, due to the multiple confounding variables that contribute to this disease, in the end, chance is a major factor that we can’t control.

Fight Like A Girl!

Websites Used:

http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@nho/documents/document/breastcancerpdf.pdf

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-what-is-breast-cancer

http://d3vsdfvkxh87qp.cloudfront.net/articles_images/t3/1413832539533/image.jpg

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-survival-by-stage

http://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/files/2014/04/shutterstock_155269400.jpg

I don’t know about you guys, but the only time I workout outside is when I am playing soccer. Other than that, I find it much easier to go to the gym. I feel as if when you are outside all of the elements get in your way. It’s too hot, it’s too cold, dodge this person, watch that hole in the ground. It just seems as if when you workout outside there are so many distractions. When I go to the gym I feel focused and efficient. I run at a steady pace on the treadmill, I lift weights, I do crunches, I go home. In the same breathe, it has never occurred to me that one might be better than the other. So of course, I looked into it, and hears what I found.

First, let’s start off with the great outdoors. A few small observational studies have found that working out outside can reduce the levels of the hormone cortisol in the blood. Of course, because the studies have been observational there is a possibility of chance and confounding variables. Nonetheless, Cortisol is a hormone that is produced in the adrenal gland in response to low blood-glucose concentration, and stress. Working out outside has been found to reduce stress levels due to the fact that people tend to exert themselves more when outdoors.  In addition, outdoor fitness leads to sun exposure, thus increasing one’s levels of Vitamin D. In fact, researches advise that 30 minutes in the sun, twice a week is best! As a result, you will be able to keep the Vitamin D synthesis in your body up. Not to mention, you’ll have strong bones and an incredible immune system! However, there are some setbacks to going outside for your workout. For instance, dehydration and heat exhaustion. This is why whenever you are working out, especially during the Summer months, it is crucial to drink lots of water and hydrate your body. Or, you can drinking gatorade and replenish your body with electrolytes. Refer to one of my older blogs, and look into coconut water for all I care. The point is, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Other setbacks are frostbite and hypothermia. They are most common during the winter months, and that’s why you have to layer up. Under Armour, gloves, hat, face mask, you name it! Lastly, while we all should appreciate mother nature, sometimes she is a force to be reckoned with. The elements of Nature can cause respiratory problems like allergies and asthma, so be wary!

Now, let’s transition into the great indoors. Experts conducting observational studies have reported seeing an increase in motivation in gym-goers. Researchers suggest that the social aspect of the gym provides for a safe and effective workout as well, due to the fact that trainers are responsible for teaching there pupils all of the proper cues, and force them to remain accountable. Unfortunately, a setback for going to the gym are the germs. 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “indoor air is two to five times more polluted  than outdoor air.” Also, MRSA is an infection created by staph bacteria that spreads to various areas of your body like the skin and lungs. According to, The National Athletic Trainer’s Association, “MRSA is the most dangerous superbug you can catch at your fitness facility.”

I will admit, this information is a bit frightening. There are pros and major cons to workouts inside and outside. My verdict is that, it’s whatever you prefer. Just be safe and mindful of what’s going on around you.

Be fit!

Websites Used:

http://pegitboard.com/pics/t/170009.png?cb=NJAuHh1F4b

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/outdoor-fitness?slide=7

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/understanding-mrsa

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortisol

http://www.skyngymtowel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/GymGermWithSign-300×263.jpg

http://tadsoutdoorfitness.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/mainimages_run.jpg

http://98five.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/gym-2.jpg

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/understanding-mrsa

I am sure that you all have heard of the infamous quote once said by Eleanor Roosevelt, “great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people.” While I agree with Eleanor, it turns out that gossip does serve a purpose. Once again, I did some research on the topic and would like to share my findings with you.

In our daily lives, idle chatter is accepted and ignored. Everyone gossips from time to time, but these frivolous conversations aren’t thought of as having any meaning. However, investigators have started to pay attention to gossip and have found that our meaningless conversations are actually a fundamental part of group interaction. Multiple studies have shown that gossiping keeps people in their place. Through rumors, people often figure out what is expected of them in a group of people and then they try to fall in line. Then, for people who are already in the group, through rumors, they learn how to evolve and keep in the groups good graces socially. According to Elena Martinescu , “Gossip recipients tend to use positive and negative group information to improve, promote, and protect self. Individuals need to evaluate information about others to evaluate themselves.” Personally, I have never thought about gossip and rumors in this light, but Martinescu raises a good point. Her statement can also be proved by researchers who reported studies in the journal, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

One study reported, consisted of 178 undergraduate students who were broken up into groups of at least four students. Once the undergrads were in their groups, they were told to describe a situation in which a fellow group member gossiped to them about another incident that revealed the confidence levels of an additional group member. Interestingly enough, 85 undergrads described hearing positive gossip and 93 described hearing negative gossip. As a result, after hearing these rumors about their fellow group members, students reported coming across three major evaluations of themselves. One-third felt that the information they received was beneficial because they were able to take away a lesson for themselves based on someone else experiences. Other undergrads came to the conclusion of self-promotion in which they felt that they were doing well compared to the target of the gossip. Lastly, some undergrads increased in personal concerns. They felt as if hearing the rumors about their fellow group members made them feel the need to protect their own image.

Anyone else find it interesting that the first thing the students in this experiment thought of after receiving positive and negative gossip was “personal value?” Again, I have always thought of gossip and rumors as idle chatter. I have never thought that it was beneficial to me in particular situations. At the same time, maybe its benefits are subconscious?

Moreover, the researchers of this experiment concluded three things. One, positive gossip equals self-improvement. “Competence-related positive gossip about others contains lessons about how to improve one’s own competence.” Second, negative gossip equals self-promotion. “It provides individuals with social comparison information that justifies self-promoting judgements, which results in feelings of pride.” Last, but not least, researchers concluded that, “most negative gossip is not intended to hurt the target, but to please the gossiper and receiver.”

I don’t know about you guys, but this sure is a different take on gossip and rumors that I would have never thought about. Let me know what you guys think! “Pass the word.” 🙂

Websites used:

http://theweek.com/articles/442686/why-gossip-according-science

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/16/science/have-you-heard-gossip-turns-out-to-serve-a-purpose.html?_r=0

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/b6/75/1c/b6751c9c67741a78aeeac66b836d1dde.jpg

http://omgdgt.com/images/03052014/twitter-will-offer-mode-whisper–0.jpg

I am an avid coffee drinker. My go-to drink is a caramel latte. At the same time, have you guys ever had a salted caramel mocha or a chestnut praline latte? If you haven’t, you have to try them. They are delicious! Anyway, I love coffee. I love to start my day off with it, and whenever I am starting to feel a little run-down, I look to coffee as my pick-me-up. However, I do feel bad because I love tea too, especially green and earl grey tea. Unfortunately, the only time I drink tea is when I go to those cute tea rooms that look like Alice in Wonderland. Or, I put off drinking tea until I am having trouble sleeping or feeling sick. Tea is kind of like my back-up option. Lately, I have been wondering, Why coffee over tea? Which one is better for you in the grand scheme of things? I did some research, and lucky for you guys, I have decided to share my findings.

First off, tea and coffee have been around for ages. In fact, next to water they are both the world’s most widely consumed beverages. In addition, they both share a similar history of being founded by religious gurus on the eastern part of the world. Both drinks, have been used for centuries with the intention of keeping people alert. Now, of course, as the world advances, we look for the wrong in things that have been doing so much right for generations of people. So, what are the pros and cons of tea and coffee? Well, let’s start with coffee.

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, “coffee’s overall effect on health is pretty neutral.” There are no specific benefits, but the drink doesn’t increase a person’s chance of dying in anyway either. Coffee is capable of doing a lot of good. For example, studies have shown that coffee can prevent type 2 diabetes, it can decrease the risk of Gout in men over 40, caffeine can improve the effectiveness of painkillers, it can protect against liver cancer, and coffee can improve short-term memory and reflexes. At the same time, the phrase, “too much of a good thing,” is very true. Some people don’t know their limits, and when you abuse coffee, that is when you can run into problems like increases in bad cholesterol and tooth discoloration.

As for tea, according to the National Cancer Institute, it contains “polyphenol compounds, which are antioxidants that might aid in cancer prevention.” Also, polyphenol is known for protecting cells from DNA damage due to its free radical content. Free radicals are compounds that usually come about during metabolism and they are meant to get rid of viruses and bacteria. Moreover, tea is capable of doing a lot of other good things like preventing type 1 diabetes and liver cancer. It also decreases the risk of heart attacks and hydrates you! Nevertheless, like I said earlier, too much of a good thing can hurt you! Too much tea, black, white or green, can result in anemia, high blood pressure, and tea may contain pesticides(even when labeled organic), so watch out. You wouldn’t want to overdose on pesticides!

All in all, the the calming and rejuvenating qualities of tea and coffee are clearly amazing, but know your limits! No one likes a jitter bug.

Websites Used:

https://24.media.tumblr.com/3b6a79dbf4b50d25f47c9e4f725ca0ce/tumblr_mluh54J2yK1qd8wryo1_r2_500.gif

http://www.healthchecksystems.com/antioxid.htm

http://www.medicaldaily.com/health-benefits-coffee-vs-tea-which-one-better-you-309556

http://blog.admissions.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tea-vs-coffee.gif

Anyone who knows me well enough, knows that I cry when I laugh. The most annoying part though is the fact that it is never just a tear or two. Whenever I laugh really hard I have a stream of tears running down my face for a good five minutes. I can’t control it! Lately, I have been wondering why that is, and I’ve decided to share my finding with you!

Mentally, crying and laughing are similar responses. According to Robert R. Provine, PhD, “Both occur during states of high emotional arousal, involve lingering effects, and don’t cleanly turn on and off.”  We all know that tears are often triggered by pain, sadness, and clearly, extreme joy, but is that good or bad? Well, apparently, it’s a really good thing. Have you guys ever heard of cortisol and adrenaline? Cortisol is a hormone that is released in response to stress and low blood-glucose concentration. Adrenaline is another stress hormone. It is produced within the adrenal gland and it makes your heart beat faster, strengthens the force of your hearts contraction, and opens up the bronchioles in the lungs. The fact that cortisol and adrenaline are both stress hormones is also the reason why crying when you laugh is really good for you. It doesn’t matter whether you are crying or laughing, but both responses ease stress. Therefore, they counteract the effects of the hormones cortisol and adrenaline.

Moreover, It is possible that crying when you laugh is an illness regarding your brain. Apparently, there is a syndrome called Pathological Laughter and Crying (PLC). PLC, “is characterized by uncontrollable outburst” of the responses crying and laughing. Patients that have PLC have damaged pathways in the motor areas of their cerebral cortex. As a result, the damage goes all the way down the brainstem and creates a common area for laughing and crying which causes the responses to be irrational.

Furthermore, it is possible that people cry when they laugh because they have too much pressure on there tear-ducts. If this is the case, then, the overwhelming amount of tears streaming down your face when you are laughing are, “reflex tears.” Reflex tears are the “result of airborne irritants or wind.” Last, but not least, the tears could be “emotion-driven water drops.” These kinds of tears can be produced by various hormones that are also considered, “natural painkillers.”

I am still not completely sure why I cry when I laugh, but I hope it has nothing to do with, Pathological Laughter and Crying Syndrome, reflex tears, or emotion-driven water drops. I would like to think that I cry when I laugh because whatever I am laughing at is just, that funny. All in all, it is also reassuring to know that there are benefits to crying and laughter like releasing  stress. You know what they say, “Stress is a silent killer.” So, if laughing until I cry helps with that, I am all for it! Let me know what you think!

Websites Used:

http://www.prevention.com/health/healthy-living/causes-behind-13-odd-physical-body-quirks

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DftzrCO9ohU/TdW1CnCK4PI/AAAAAAAAAEc/enH71xOs_eI/s1600/Mom+crying-kids+laughing+cartoon.png

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortisol

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2155

http://www.livescience.com/32764-can-you-really-laugh-until-you-cry.html

http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/124/9/1708

http://alltoosimple.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/stress-ball11.jpg

So, I was sitting on my bed wondering what I should write my second blog post about, and when I looked up from my laptop, what did I see? Easy Mac. Every college students safety- net, other than ramen noodles of course. When I am too lazy to wait in the long lines at the dining commons or at the mix, I find comfort in Easy Mac. You just add some water, stick it in the microwave, and in three minutes done! This being said, I have always wondered what the white powder in the microwaveable bowl is, and why it is essential to the process of microwaveable macaroni. Well, now I have finally looked into it, and would like to share my findings with all of you.

According to The Huffington Post , a representative from the Kraft Food Consumer Center, “identified the white powder as Modified Food Starch.” Modified Food Starch is starch that has had its fundamental properties physically, synthetically, and chemically altered in order to make foods like Easy Mac “instant.” In fact, modified food starch often starts out as potatoes, tapioca, corn, rice, and/or wheat. However, then, it becomes modified through the use of acid, roasting, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, electrical charge, emulsifiers, and starch ether. It is actually very interesting because, once altered, the now, modified food starch, can help various food products last longer and withstand high temperatures. That is why, “according to the Kraft representative, the starch is added to thicken the water and ensure that it does not boil over violently.”

Now, before I end, I have probably scared you by mentioning all of the chemical and synthetic changes to starch, but according to, A Life Less Sweet, there are no studies that show modified food starch to be dangerous. At the end of the day it is a life-style choice, and those of you who feel the need to stay away from processed food will find comfort in more natural, organic, and whole food items such as fruits, vegetables, and certain meats. If anyone at all should be concerned about their health regarding modified food starch, it should be those who are allergic to wheat and gluten due to the fact that manufacturers will often use corn and wheat because it is the cheapest and easily accessible. Lastly, don’t think that easy mac is the only food product that utilizes modified food starch. Modified food starch can be found in candy like jelly beans, chips, canned soup, and low-fat ice cream as well.

All in all, it is safe to say that while the white powder inside your easy mac may appear sketchy. It is really there to provide you with the instant satisfaction of cheesy goodness with barely any cleanup once you are done.

Websites Used:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/29/easy-mac-white-powder-what_n_5730236.html

http://blog.bobsredmill.com/featured-articles/modified-food-starch-demystified/

http://gluten.lovetoknow.com/What_Is_Modified_Food_Starch

http://alifelesssweet.blogspot.com/2009/05/because-you-askedmodified-food-starch.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modified_starch

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g3vark2QPiU/TqxjC3NxKmI/AAAAAAAAARo/37pr-IWBt9w/s1600/IMG_7417.JPG

I have only gotten a gel manicure once in my life and it was a bittersweet experience. First off, the nail polish didn’t even last two full weeks. Second, when I didn’t have access to a nail salon right away, I tried to remove the nail polish myself and it was such a horrible experience. No matter how many different ways I tried I couldn’t get the nail polish off. So, I had to go and pay to get the nail polish professionally removed. While I sat in my chair and watched as they removed my nail polish through the use of chemicals and tools I started to wonder how anyone could go through this process bi-weekly. Not only was it a bit uncomfortable, but it didn’t seem good for you either. That is why I am blogging about this question, for myself and others who deserve to know whether or not the temporary luxury of un-chipped nails is worth the risk.

According to Dermatologist, Anne Chapas, MD, “Gel Manicures are inherently dangerous because many women are innocently going into salons thinking they are making their hands look better, but they are really putting themselves at some really serious risks.” Chapas, also goes onto explain that there are three main things wrong with gel manicures. The application process, the removal process, and the introduction to infections. First, the application process is dangerous because it entails the use of ultraviolet rays. Second, the removal process involves using tools that remove the surface of your nail ultimately thinning your nails. “A recent study shows that one time application and removal of gel manicures thins the nails by 50%,” said Chapas. Third, gel manicures can introduce infections to one’s nail because the tools used not only scrape the surface of your nail bed, but they can also cause cuts at the cuticle lines, thus opening your nails  up to bacteria and fungus.

greenies!

However, have no fear! If you can’t live without gel manicures there are a few steps you can take to make this fad safer for you. First, avoid salons that use UV bulbs. Seeking out salons that utilize LED light will minimize the amount of radiation your hands are absorbing. Second, the go-to product to prevent skin damage. Sunscreen! Last, but not least, anti-UV gloves. You can put them on before you start your gel manicure. They are these white gloves that have openings at the tips so that while your hands are under the UV bulbs only your fingertips are exposed.

Anti-UV Gloves

Be safe!

Websites Used:

http://www.doctoroz.com/episode/are-gel-manicures-safe?video_id=2114091480001

http://images.nailsmag.com/post/M-NA02pseudo1-LR-1.jpg

Hi there! My name is Angelique Santiago. I am from Westchester County, New York, about an hour away from the big apple, and I am majoring in Political Science.

Let’s see, I’m not majoring in science because, while I have never hated the subject, I have never really been passionate about science either. English has always been my favorite subject, I love to read and write, and I have always done well in history. Also, I decided to take this course because it sounded interesting, my advisor gave it a great review, and I had the option of taking a Natural science class or a quantification class, and anything is better than Math. So, here I am, and after seeing the class schedule for the semester I am excited! I can’t wait to hear what Andrew has to say about some of the topics listed.

Another thing about me is that I love to travel. In fact, I spent the first part of my Summer on an Explorica tour with my Spanish class and we took classes at The University of Salamanca.

Explorica has a lot of great tours, check out their website!