subject: Are These Answers To Unasked Questions? [print this page] Do orchestras need conductors? In a University of Maryland study researchers installed an infrared light on the tip of a conductor's baton. They also installed infrared lights on the violinists' bows and surrounded the orchestra with infrared cameras. When the conductor waved his baton and the violinists moved their bows, patterns of light were created and caught by the cameras. A computer analysis of the patterns showed the movement of the conductor predicted the violinists' movements. The conductor was leading the orchestra and the quality of the music depended on how well he "conducted" himself.
What are the chances of winning a Powerball jackpot? According to a CNN report, the chances are 1 in 175,223,510. Yes, the chances are better than the chances of winning a Mega Millions jackpot - 1 in 175,711,536 - but not much better. In fact, there's a better chance of a golfer hitting two, consecutive holes in one on par-3 holes - 1 in 156 million. The chances of being struck by lightening in an 80-year lifetime are 1 in 10,000. The chances of hitting a deer in Hawaii - the state where deer-vehicle collisions are least likely - are 1 in 6,267. Obviously, one shouldn't pay "deerly" for Powerball tickets.
When shouldn't you have an operation? Operations starting between 3 and 4 pm have higher rates of nausea, vomiting and postoperative pain. According to a study published in Quality and Safety in Healthcare, there are 2 reasons for that. First, our bodies follow circadian rhythms, which dip between 3 and 5 pm causing us - as well as surgical teams - to feel sleepy. Second, the 8-hour shifts of most anesthesiologists, OR nurses and surgical technologists end at 3 pm. Thus a surgical team can change during surgery and not pass on all necessary information. However, surgeons remain during operations. They don't "cut and run".
Does a full moon make people crazy? Although 80% of ER nurses and 60% of ER doctors supposedly believe a full moon affects patients' mental health, a Canadian study says no. Researchers reviewed medical records for 800 people who came to ER's because of unexplained chest pain (often linked to psychological difficulties) to see if they came to the ER during a full moon. They found full moons have no effect on the occurrences of panic attacks, anxiety, mood disorders or suicidal thoughts. It seems luna, the Latin word for moon, doesn't cause "luna-tics".
