No clear cancer link to dry-cleaning chemicals
Q. I've heard that the chemicals used in dry cleaning may increase a person's risk of cancer. Is this anything I should be worried about?
A. While perchloroethylene (perc) has been shown to cause cancer in animals, no reliable link has been established in humans.
"The perc cancer-study results have been ambiguous," says Dr. Noel Weiss, a cancer researcher and professor of epidemiology at the University of Washington. "There are indications it might cause cancer of the esophagus and bladder, but the jury is still out."
Don't want to take any chances, but don't want to give up those merino sweaters either? Take a whiff of your clothes to estimate how much perc was left behind by the dry cleaner's extraction process. If the chemical smell is noticeable, you can try airing out your garments before putting them away, or you can switch to a different dry cleaner.
Another option: Find a cleaner that uses nontoxic, chemically inert D5 liquid silicone. For a list, go to www.greenearthcleaning.com.
Q. Does alcohol kill brain cells?
A. "The concentration of alcohol in the brain of even a terrifically drunk person doesn't come close to the levels required to kill living cells," says Stephen Braun, a science writer and the author of "Buzz: The Science and Lore of Alcohol and Caffeine."
People become intoxicated with only a tenth of a percent of alcohol in their blood. But alcohol is a "dirty bomb," Braun says. Rather than zeroing in on one specific region of the brain, alcohol impacts your entire noggin. The result: A few drinks can temporarily block new memory formation, dull your thinking, and reduce muscle control.
Q. Is there any way that I can train myself to become ambidextrous?
A. If your ultimate goal is to become a two-handed terror on, say, the basketball or tennis court, then yes, it's possible, just not easy.
Start basic: Use your non-writing hand for simple activities like brushing your teeth, buttoning your shirts, and combing your hair. At first you'll be tempted to revert back to your dominant hand, but resist. "With enough practice, the tasks will feel natural," says Ira Perelle, a professor of psychology at Mercy College in New York who's studied handedness for 30 years.
When you're no longer applying toothpaste to your face, pick up a pair of scissors and cut up some old newspapers. The squeezing motion required to use the scissors will train different hand muscles. Eventually you'll be able to snip straight lines, and you'll start seeing improvements in your dribbling, swinging, and more.
At that point, you can drop the scissors and focus your efforts on improving in those specific areas. There's no set amount of time for how long this last stage will take, but trust us, you'll know when your game is ready.