Strange But True: May 9, 2019

* The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not ‘Eureka!’ but ‘That’s funny...’.” — Isaac Asimov

* If you’re planning a summer vacation in Maine this year, you might want to keep in mind that in that state, it’s against the law to tickle a woman under the chin with a feather duster.

* You might be surprised to learn that drinking tea increased the life expectancy of the British — and even more surprised to learn why. It wasn’t any beneficial compound found in the tea itself; rather, it was the act of boiling the water, which had the effect of killing pathogens found in the untreated water that was largely in use in England at that time. Also, once the Brits started drinking tea, they became addicted to the caffeine and therefore drank quite a bit more boiled water than had been their wont, decreasing even further their exposure to the pathogens that caused illness.

* You’ve doubtless heard of paranoia, but you’re likely not familiar with metanoia. “A profound transformation in one’s outlook” isn’t terribly common considering today’s deep societal divisions.

* Food for thought: What could you do with an extra $1,500? According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for every person in an American home, almost 300 pounds of food is thrown out each year. For a family of four, this amounts to about $1,500 in waste annually.

* Researchers in Greece who recently completed a study on napping found that men who nap at least three times a week were at a 37 percent lower risk for heart-related death. So now you have an excuse to do what you want to do anyway.

Thought for the Day

“We’re here to put a dent in the universe.”

--Steve Jobs

(c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.