Spend enough time on any college campus, and you will see that most students ingest some sort of caffeinated beverage daily, whether it's soda, an energy drink or coffee. According to Newsweek, we don't drink our daily lattes for the taste: We drink them because we are addicted to caffeine.
This revelation explains so much our culture, such as why people willingly drink Red Bull. For the three people out there who have never tried the beverage, Red Bull tastes like liquefied Smarties in club soda; in other words, it is disgusting.
All this time, I just thought my classmates had lost their minds and taste buds, but it turns out they are just addicted to the caffeine. As ridiculous as caffeine addiction sounds, quitting the habit may lead to side effects other than difficulty waking up.
"More than 50 percent of caffeine drinkers experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop," Newsweek reports.
Laugh now, but apparently caffeine withdrawal is a legit disorder, according to a study conducted by John Hopkins Medicine. The most common withdrawal symptom the study's participants experienced was headache; the second most common was "significant distress or functional impairment."
And while caffeine will keep you awake for your next class, it may also keep you awake when you are actually trying to sleep.
I know, I know: That's what sleeping pills are for, right?
Yeah, if you want eat a buttered cigarette in your sleep.
New Scientist reports that using the drug zolpidem, which is found in popular sleep aids Ambien, Stilnoct and Stilnox, may increase the likelihood of sleep-eating, a rare condition which is exactly what it sounds like. CBS lists the signs of sleep-eating as -- no lie -- missing food, crumbs in bed and unexplained weight gain.
These could also be signs that your girlfriend is pregnant, especially if her "unexplained weight gain" is in her midsection.
Like pregnant women, sleep-eaters crave the most disgusting food combinations they can find, such as raw bacon, salt sandwiches and the aforementioned buttered cigarette. A friend of mine used to skip the cigarette and just eat butter in his sleep.
Given my food cravings, I don't think I would use condiments at all if I was a sleep-eater. Ice cream, snack cakes and Cheetos are all plausible, but salt? Butter? Barf. The upside is that the sleep-eaters seem to realize their inability to operate the stove, which they would probably leave on during their feeding frenzy.
Other odd side effects that are possible with Ambien are hallucinations and amnesia, reports New Scientist.
As a former insomniac, the pros of the sleeping pills outweigh the cons: We need sleep like a caffeine addict needs a cup of coffee, and a lack of either can lead to "significant distress or functional impairment." Plus there are other brands of sleep aids out there, although their possible side effects may be as strange.
If you have difficulty falling asleep at night, there may be a cheaper solution than those pricey sleep aids: Try cutting back on your caffeine intake, and if all else fails, read a textbook.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
Bicycler Beware: Helmets May Cause Accidents
College students and bicycles are a match made in heaven: you stay in shape, save money and can always find a parking spot. The downside is you are more likely to be injured in an accident on a bike than if you were in a car, and it turns out that your helmet may be to blame.
A psychologist at the University of Bath in England hooked sensors onto his bicycle and rode around town to see which types of bicyclists are given the most room by cars. He found that motorists tend to drive closer to bike riders wearing helmets than those without, and that men wearing long-haired wigs (which are supposed to represent women) are given more room than men with shorter hair.
Granted, one man on a bike does not make for a very convincing study, but the results are a bit unnerving. Do we actually drive closer to bicyclists who are wearing helmets? Is it because we secretly hope a helmet makes someone safer, or is a helmet like a big sign reminding us not to push the proverbial red button?
Since I constantly see cars driving all over the bike lane, I like to think we Floridians are equal-opportunity bicyclist maimers; helmet or no helmet, male or female, someday we will hit you all. On a broader level, though, it is more difficult to check someone out if he or she is wearing a helmet, so you may need to get that extra inch or two closer to see if the person is worth pursuing.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 2004 bicycle safety data (in pdf format) backs up the claim that guys on bikes are more likely to be injured than girls. The report states that 6,000 male "pedalcyclists," a term which neither dictionary.com nor Merriam-Webster can define, between the ages of 16 and 24 were injured that year, as compared to 2,000 female bicyclers in the same age range.
You may be thinking, "Hey! That data says nothing about the riders' head coverings!" Look again: In terms of gender, the University of Bath study doesn't either, so we are good to go.
Anyway, some can argue that more guys use bicycles than girls, but I think guys are just more likely to do stupid things, such as ride a bike into oncoming traffic.
Already ahead of the game is Swiss company Ribcap, which sells hats designed to help cushion your fall. Marketed toward skiers and snowboarders, Ribcap's beanies may also fool drivers into thinking that you are not wearing some sort of helmet while riding your bike.
The beanies are made with d3o, a material that is soft and flexible when bent slowly, but instantly hardens upon impact. The material was also used in the suits worn by U.S. and Canadian skiers in the 2006 Olympics.
While beanies are not the most practical head coverings in hot, humid Florida, they are probably more stylish than a helmet. I will not buy one strictly on principle: I cannot ride a bike (bad knees), and I look terrible in hats.
Clothing companies Quicksilver and Ignite are going to start carrying similar beanies this winter. Much like helmets, they will not prevent a broken leg or keep your pretty face from getting road rash, so still use common sense while "pedalcycling."
A psychologist at the University of Bath in England hooked sensors onto his bicycle and rode around town to see which types of bicyclists are given the most room by cars. He found that motorists tend to drive closer to bike riders wearing helmets than those without, and that men wearing long-haired wigs (which are supposed to represent women) are given more room than men with shorter hair.
Granted, one man on a bike does not make for a very convincing study, but the results are a bit unnerving. Do we actually drive closer to bicyclists who are wearing helmets? Is it because we secretly hope a helmet makes someone safer, or is a helmet like a big sign reminding us not to push the proverbial red button?
Since I constantly see cars driving all over the bike lane, I like to think we Floridians are equal-opportunity bicyclist maimers; helmet or no helmet, male or female, someday we will hit you all. On a broader level, though, it is more difficult to check someone out if he or she is wearing a helmet, so you may need to get that extra inch or two closer to see if the person is worth pursuing.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 2004 bicycle safety data (in pdf format) backs up the claim that guys on bikes are more likely to be injured than girls. The report states that 6,000 male "pedalcyclists," a term which neither dictionary.com nor Merriam-Webster can define, between the ages of 16 and 24 were injured that year, as compared to 2,000 female bicyclers in the same age range.
You may be thinking, "Hey! That data says nothing about the riders' head coverings!" Look again: In terms of gender, the University of Bath study doesn't either, so we are good to go.
Anyway, some can argue that more guys use bicycles than girls, but I think guys are just more likely to do stupid things, such as ride a bike into oncoming traffic.
Already ahead of the game is Swiss company Ribcap, which sells hats designed to help cushion your fall. Marketed toward skiers and snowboarders, Ribcap's beanies may also fool drivers into thinking that you are not wearing some sort of helmet while riding your bike.
The beanies are made with d3o, a material that is soft and flexible when bent slowly, but instantly hardens upon impact. The material was also used in the suits worn by U.S. and Canadian skiers in the 2006 Olympics.
While beanies are not the most practical head coverings in hot, humid Florida, they are probably more stylish than a helmet. I will not buy one strictly on principle: I cannot ride a bike (bad knees), and I look terrible in hats.
Clothing companies Quicksilver and Ignite are going to start carrying similar beanies this winter. Much like helmets, they will not prevent a broken leg or keep your pretty face from getting road rash, so still use common sense while "pedalcycling."
Monday, July 23, 2007
One Step Closer to the Robot Revolution
Some scientists recently made a breakthrough in their ongoing efforts to instill fear into the hearts of the global population: they are replacing humans with machines.
Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology are working on the next generation of androids, which could easily surpass clowns as the scariest humanoids on Earth.
In order to make these robots more life-like, and therefore more terrifying (although Wired uses terms like "appealing"), these androids will have flexible spines to increase their range of motion and improve their balance.
Jimmy Or, of the Korea Advanced Institute hopes these machines will be a big hit in the field of geriatrics. Yes, you read that correctly: He wants to mix electronics and old people.
"Due to the aging population worldwide (especially in Japan), there is a need for robots to be humanized in order to communicate more naturally and take care of the elderly," Or told Wired.
I am fairly certain Or has good intentions, but I don't think androids would be well received in America. While elderly Asians may be open to technology, I, for one, know that my American grandma is afraid to use her cell phone, let alone interact with a robot.
I am also worried this will bring our culture one step closer to having "Stepford wives." I don't expect anyone to marry a robotic nurse, but where will the line be drawn once the technology further progresses?
You can read more about the androids here.
If full-fledged robots are too much for you to handle, you could always just purchase an arm.
Scottish company Touch Bionics has created a bionic arm which has fingers that can move individually, and functions like a human limb. Wearers of the i-LIMB can now turn a key in a lock, hold playing cards and give someone the finger -- with both hands.
While the arm deserves praise for its abilities, its major drawback is that it needs to be recharged overnight. What happens if -- God forbid -- there is a power surge? You have an $18,500 paperweight if it's not on a surge protector. Caught outside in a storm? Hello, lightning rod.
You cannot take the arm on a rural camping adventure or a weekend sailing trip, because you would have no way to charge it. It seems like the times when you would need two hands the most, you cannot bring the arm with you (although I suppose you could throw it at a bear, or wave it around if trying to signal a helicopter).
All things considered, the bionic arm is an amazing invention and will be a great help to the non-adventurous people who are missing a limb. If you ever have to face amputation, you now know that you can still lead a normal life with two functioning arms.
You can see a video of the i-LIMB in action here and read more about it here.
And although it may seem silly to fear androids but adore a bionic limb, I have decided that I'd rather be chased by Thing from the Addams Family than Star Wars' C-3PO.
Lastly on the robotics front, scientists have now found a replacement for Jesus, or rather, replicated his supposed walk across water.
Called water strider robots, these useless mechanical insects can walk across water's surface tension at a whopping three centimeters per second. Scientific American mentions that the bugs are cheap to produce, so once they hit the market, you could probably buy a couple and watch them fight... slowly.
Considering that a needle can also be supported by surface tension, I fail to see how this invention is as exciting as the articles make it seem. The "Jesus bugs" themselves have no real purpose, so why make a fake one? To say it can be done? It has about as much justification as a hotdog eating contest or winning America's Next Top Model, except the "bug" makers probably won't get a cool trophy or meet Tyra Banks.
To read more about the bugs, go here or here.
Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology are working on the next generation of androids, which could easily surpass clowns as the scariest humanoids on Earth.
In order to make these robots more life-like, and therefore more terrifying (although Wired uses terms like "appealing"), these androids will have flexible spines to increase their range of motion and improve their balance.
Jimmy Or, of the Korea Advanced Institute hopes these machines will be a big hit in the field of geriatrics. Yes, you read that correctly: He wants to mix electronics and old people.
"Due to the aging population worldwide (especially in Japan), there is a need for robots to be humanized in order to communicate more naturally and take care of the elderly," Or told Wired.
I am fairly certain Or has good intentions, but I don't think androids would be well received in America. While elderly Asians may be open to technology, I, for one, know that my American grandma is afraid to use her cell phone, let alone interact with a robot.
I am also worried this will bring our culture one step closer to having "Stepford wives." I don't expect anyone to marry a robotic nurse, but where will the line be drawn once the technology further progresses?
You can read more about the androids here.
If full-fledged robots are too much for you to handle, you could always just purchase an arm.
Scottish company Touch Bionics has created a bionic arm which has fingers that can move individually, and functions like a human limb. Wearers of the i-LIMB can now turn a key in a lock, hold playing cards and give someone the finger -- with both hands.
While the arm deserves praise for its abilities, its major drawback is that it needs to be recharged overnight. What happens if -- God forbid -- there is a power surge? You have an $18,500 paperweight if it's not on a surge protector. Caught outside in a storm? Hello, lightning rod.
You cannot take the arm on a rural camping adventure or a weekend sailing trip, because you would have no way to charge it. It seems like the times when you would need two hands the most, you cannot bring the arm with you (although I suppose you could throw it at a bear, or wave it around if trying to signal a helicopter).
All things considered, the bionic arm is an amazing invention and will be a great help to the non-adventurous people who are missing a limb. If you ever have to face amputation, you now know that you can still lead a normal life with two functioning arms.
You can see a video of the i-LIMB in action here and read more about it here.
And although it may seem silly to fear androids but adore a bionic limb, I have decided that I'd rather be chased by Thing from the Addams Family than Star Wars' C-3PO.
Lastly on the robotics front, scientists have now found a replacement for Jesus, or rather, replicated his supposed walk across water.
Called water strider robots, these useless mechanical insects can walk across water's surface tension at a whopping three centimeters per second. Scientific American mentions that the bugs are cheap to produce, so once they hit the market, you could probably buy a couple and watch them fight... slowly.
Considering that a needle can also be supported by surface tension, I fail to see how this invention is as exciting as the articles make it seem. The "Jesus bugs" themselves have no real purpose, so why make a fake one? To say it can be done? It has about as much justification as a hotdog eating contest or winning America's Next Top Model, except the "bug" makers probably won't get a cool trophy or meet Tyra Banks.
To read more about the bugs, go here or here.
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