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UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD BETTER

  Astronomers have discovered that they do not know what makes up over 90 percent of the universe. What is more, the discoveries that led to question their understanding of the fundamentals of physics itself. Of course, such questions are nothing new.           Toward the end of the 19 th  century, physicists observed something odd about the speed of light. They found that relative to an observer, light always traveled at the same speed no matter how fast the observer was moving. But that seemed to defy natural law! The problem was addressed in 1905 in Albert Einstein’s special theory of relativity, which showed that  distance [length],   time,  and  mass  are not absolutes. Then, after a flash of intuition that he termed “the happiest thought of my life,” Einstein began to develop his general theory of relativity, which he published in 1916. In this revolutionary work, Einstein wove  gravity ,  space,  and  time  together and refined the physics of Isaac Newton.                       

KILLER HEADACHE

Mary, a vivacious office worker, peers at the document she holds. Parts of the page suddenly appear blank. Then, flashing pinpoints of light dance before her eyes, escalating into a surreal display of zigzag lines and bizarre geometric patterns. Within minutes, Mary can hardly see. Realizing what is happening, she quickly swallows a small capsule that is designed for just this sort of emergency. Mary suffers from migraine, a condition that differs from simple headache in several ways. For example, unlike random headaches, migraines follow a recurring pattern. Also, the condition is severe enough to make the sufferer abandon normal activities. The symptoms of migraine? The pain throbs and may affect only one side of the head. The sufferer may also become nauseating and unable to bear light. The attack can last anywhere from several hours to several days. Although most people have occasional tension headaches, only 1 person in 10 suffers from migraine. More women are affected than men. S

STRESS AS HEALING FACTOR

  CAN we overcome stress? If we can, should we? Today psych physiologists are beginning to formulate models showing that stress, anxiety, and depression influence the body to create or aggravate mental and physical disorders. Greater stress and anxiety tend to degenerate the physical body and depress one’s mental outlook on the world. Are there ways to reverse this process of physic al degeneration while maximizing the condition under which positive attitudes, beliefs, and life-style changes can heal the afflicted body and mind? The basic assum p tion at the root of current research is that there is both a psychological and a physical component to all disease. Another common assumption is that individual is able to exercise a marked degree of will power in the development, aggravation, and alleviation of these disorders. From these assumptions one might conclude that a personal psychology or philosophy may have a pronounced effect upon whether a person maintains a positive attitude reg

GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS

  Genetically modified crops are banned in most European and North America countries and are not grown in these areas. But in Africa the opposite is what is happening, genetically modified crops are found everywhere in Africa. What are the dangers in genetically modified crops? What can be done about it?    Biotechnology has moved at such a dizzying pace that neither the law nor regulating agencies can keep up with it. Research can scarcely begin to prevent unforeseen consequences from arising. A growing chorus of critics warn of unintended results, ranging from severe economic dislocation for the world’s farmers to environmental destruction and threats to human health. Researchers warn that there are no long-term, large-scale tests to prove the safety of genetically modified [GM] food. They point to a number of potential dangers.    If a gene producing a protein that causes allergic responses ended up in corn, for instance, people who suffer from food allergies could be exposed to gra

THE MIND IS THE HUMAN RADIO

  NOW the whole truth of the matter is that not only is the nerve energy in the human body electrical, but it is like unto electrical energy of the kind we know in connection with all other electrical manifestations.   In other words, it is composed of a negative and positive polarity and is a result of the relationship of a negative and positive stress attempting to coordinate themselves in a proper flow through a given channel. Therefore, the manifestation of this nerve energy is an alternating manifestation, consisting of phases of rest and action, or inactivity and activity, causing an undulating impulse of such rapid beat or at such a rapid rate as to seem to be a continuous and uninterrupted flow. I have said that science acknowledges this electrical nature of the nerve energy, and yet I must say that such acknowledgment is of only recent date, and was thoroughly presented only a few years ago in some very complete text books on physiology, written by such eminent authorities as

DISEASES SINCE 1914

  KNOWLEDGE VERSUS SUPERSTITION         In the 14 th  century, when the Black Death threatened the pope’s household in Avignon, his doctor informed him that the conjunction of three planets- Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars –in the sign of Aquarius was the principal cause of the plague.       Some four centuries later, George Washington went to bed with a sore throat. Three eminent doctors treated the infection by draining some two liters of blood from his veins. Within a few hours, the patient was dead. Bloodletting was standard medical practice for 2,500 years –from the time of Hippocrates until the mid-19 th  century.      Although superstition and tradition delayed medical progress, dedicated doctors work hard to discover the causes of infectious diseases and remedies for them. Below are a few of the significant breakthroughs they made.    SMALLPOX: In 1798, Edward Jenner successfully developed a vaccine for smallpox. During the 20 th  century, vaccines have proved effective in preventing

CANCER THAT CONCERNS CHILDREN

  I was overcome by feelings of hopelessness. I felt as if the ground beneath my feet had given way. I began to experience feelings of grief, as if my little girl were already dead.”-Jason, when he discovered that his daughter had cancer. Learning that your child has cancer can be an overwhelming, even terrifying, experience. How often does it occur? According to the International Union Against Cancer, although “childhood cancers represent a small percentage of all cancers, each year more than 160,000 children [worldwide] are diagnosed and cancer is the second most common cause of death, after accidents, among children in developed countries.” For example, “there are an estimated 9,000 new cases of childhood cancer each year” in Brazil, states the National Institute of Cancer. Childhood cancer strikes “a terrible blow that afflicts, without exception, all the members of the family,” says the book A margem do leito –A mae e o cancer infantile [At the bedside- The Mother and Child Cancer

THE MOST COMMON LEARNING DISABILITY

  I have a learning disability –dyslexia. This condition, which affects my father, my mother, and my three younger brothers, has made it difficult for me to read my native Danish, and school proved to be a real struggle. Nevertheless, I have received much help and encouragement, especially from my family. WHAT IS DYSLEXIA? The word “dyslexia” comes from Greek and means “poor speech.” A life-long condition, dyslexia is a language-related disability that especially involves reading. People who have dyslexia tend to have difficulty making the connection between letters and the sounds those letters represent. Specific symptoms, however, may differ from person to person. WHAT CAUSES DYSLEXIA? The exact causes remain unclear, although heredity is a factor. While studies indicate abnormal brain development and function, dyslexia is not linked to general intelligence or lack of the desire to learn. In fact, sufferers are often gifted in areas not requiring strong language skills. HOW IS DYSLEX

AMAZING QUALITIES OF WATER

   One can survive for several weeks without food but only about five days without water! Up to three quarters of our body weight is water. For example, the brain is 75 to 85 percent water, and the muscles are 70 percent water. Among other things, water helps us to digest and absorb food, carrying nutrients to the cells. It removes toxins and other waste, lubricates joints and the colon, and regulates body temperature. But did you know that drinking enough water is also a factor in  weight loss?                                                      DRINKING WATER TO LOSE WEIGHT   First of all, water has no calories, is fat free and cholesterol-free, and is low in sodium. Second, it is an appetite suppressant. Third, water helps the body to metabolize stored fat. How? Well, when the kidneys do not have enough water, they cannot function properly. The liver steps in as a backup, but doing so hinders its ability to metabolize fat effectively.  The fat thus remains stored in the body, and y