What makes us want to laugh?

Luckily, though the world is imperfect in many ways, humans still can find reasons to laugh with others—and at themselves. But, the reasons we laugh may have more to do with evolution than our excellent senses of humor.

The physiology of laughter

Laughter, which is physiological in nature, has two parts. The first is a set of gestures. The second is the production of sound. The brain conducts both responses at the same time. A “laughter sensor” in the brain triggers other neural circuit and generates more laughter.

Interestingly, laughter happens almost spontaneously during pauses at the end of phrases—that’s why scientists call it “the punctuation effect.” Humans are the only species that laughs. The average adult laughs 17 times per day. Children laugh hundreds of times a day.

Laughter really is the best medicine

Laughter lowers the blood pressure and increases the vascular blood flow and oxygen to the blood. It also reduces our level of stress hormones.

Laughter exercises the diaphragm and the abdominal, respiratory, facial, leg and back muscles. Laughing 100 times is equivalent to a 10-minute workout.

A good chuckle also defuses the damage done by negative emotions, such as anger, fear and sadness, which can cause harmful biochemical changes and undermine our overall emotional well-being.

So laugh it up!

—Adapted from AbsoluteTrivia.com

Events for May 2009 

Electrical Safety Month. May 1-31. A good time to review your electrical safety practices at work and in the workplace. The Electrical Safety Foundation International reports: “Home electrical problems account for nearly 55,000 home fires every year. These fires cause over 500 deaths, injure more than 1,400 people, and account for $1.4 billion in property damage.” Go to www.esfi.org for more details.

National High Blood Pressure Education Month. May 1-31. Almost one-third of people with high blood pressure don’t even realize they have this potentially dangerous condition. For health information, see the Web site of the National Heart, Blood, and Lung Health Information Center, www.hnlbi.nih.gov.

Cinco deMayo, May 5. On May 5, 1862, the outnumbered Mexican Army defeated better-equipped French forces at the Battle of Puebla. This victory marks the last time an army from any other continent has attempted to invade the Americas. Though not an official government holiday in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated around the world as an expression of Mexican heritage and pride. Mexico’s official independence day, by the way, is celebrated on September 16.

World Red Cross Day. May 8. To recognize the humanitarian work of the Red Cross. For more information, visit www.redcross.org. 

Mother's Day. May 10. First observed in 1907 at the request of Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia, Pa., who asked her church to hold a service in memory of all mothers on the anniversary of her own mother's death. Congress passed legislation in 1914 designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.

Armed Forces Day, May 16. Established in 1949, Armed Forces Day replaced celebrations separately honoring the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force as they were consolidated under the U.S. Department of Defense. The first Armed Forces Day was observed with parades, receptions, and air shows.

Memorial Day. May 25. To honor those who have died in battle. Also known as Decoration Day because of the tradition of decorating the graves of service people.

The (genetically altered) color purple

Anthocyanins are naturally occurring pigments in blackberries, cranberries, and chokeberries and are known to offer protection against certain cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and age-related degenerative diseases. Yet most people don’t eat large quantities of these fruits. So scientists have been researching ways to elevate the levels of similar health-promoting compounds in the fruits and vegetables people eat more often.

Recently, snapdragon genes were successfully activated in tomato plants, hence creating purple tomatoes high in anthocyanins. When these purple tomatoes were used to supplement the diets of cancer-susceptible mice, the life spans of the mice were significantly extended as compared to a supple-mentation of ordinary red tomatoes. Scientists hope to broaden this research so that common foods eaten by the general population can provide as many positive health effects as possible.

How a pocketful of gooey chocolate altered our kitchens

A candy bar and some popcorn led to the invention of the microwave oven. One day in 1945 a smart engineer named Percy L. Spencer was working at his lab at Raytheon Co.  Spencer was standing next to the magnetron, a power tube that drove radar technology. Feeling a strange sensation, he checked his pockets. The candy bar that he’d brought to work that day had melted!

Curious, Spencer theorized that the magnetron might be emitting something that cooked without heating. To test it, he bought a bag of popcorn and held it in front of the machine. Soon he heard popping. From this unexpected discovery, Spencer and Raytheon developed the first microwave oven, changing the way people everywhere cook (and make popcorn).

UNUSUAL WORDS & PHRASES

What is the origin of the phrase “bush league”? The phrase means amateurish, second-rate or not very sophisticated. It arose in American baseball, referring to the minor leagues, especially those not of very good quality.  Players from the bush leagues were referred to as bush leaguers.  The term has come to be used beyond baseball, so that anyone who is considered a novice or not skilled in some area may be called a bush leaguer, and his or her work referred to as bush league.

Why “bush”?  This evolved, apparently first in Australia, from the Dutch word bosch, meaning woods, but also meaning un-cleared, untamed lands.  It also came to mean "country" versus "city".  By the middle of the 19th century, bush came to refer to anything crude or roughly made, or to a person practicing a craft for which he had received no formal training, like a "bush carpenter".  That sense was picked up in America and applied to the minor baseball leagues, which often played in small towns and were not as skillful as the major league players.  Bush league is first recorded in that sense in 1906, as is bush leaguer.  By 1943 it was being used beyond baseball. 

Don’t waste a drop of water:
Tips for conservation

Water covers the Earth, yet using it efficiently is more important than ever. You’ll avoid wasting water (and energy) by following these simple tips:

• Check your toilet. Toilet leaks can waste a ridiculous amount of water. Place a few drops of food coloring in your tank, then check the bowl a half-hour later. If you see any color, you’ve got a leak that should be fixed.

•  Shut off your hose. When watering your lawn or washing your car, use a nozzle you can shut off when you don’t need it. Better yet, fill a bucket of water instead of running the hose constantly and you’ll use less water.

•  Keep a pitcher of water in your fridge. Don’t run the faucet when you need a drink. A pitcher or bottle of water in the refrigerator will ensure that less water goes down the drain. If possible, try to use the same glass or cup all day long to cut down on the number of dishes that need washing.

• Shorten your showers. The average eight-minute shower can use up to 17 gallons of water. Trim your shower time to three or four minutes and save up to 150 gallons of water per month.

•  Run your washing machine only when it’s full. This can save up to 1,000 gallons of water per month.

•  Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway.