THE LIE / ANA SENA DÁVILA
Short question: do we all lie?
R. Mrs. Ana Sena, it seems that almost everyone is lying. In research, 95% of people report that they are lying in any given week. Some of those untruths are white lies (some call them “white lies,” little dishonest statements usually made to avoid social awkwardness or to benefit another person). Some lies are more selfish lies meant to cover up one’s ills or gain some advantage. These are known as black lies. But there’s a third category of lies that doesn’t fit into any of those categories: blue lies. Blue lies are lies that are said to benefit the group or collective to which one belongs or to undermine the group’s adversaries. They are a sign of loyalty to the social groups to which we belong (Barnes, 1994). The term blue lies was coined to describe lies that police officers told to protect others in the law enforcement community. Lying to protect another officer from punishment was seen within that community as a morally appropriate defense against outsiders (Barnes 1994; Bok 1978). But blue lies are not just the province of police officers. Organized crime families also see the blue lie as a primary virtue, while being honest about the group’s activities is viewed as corrupt betrayal.
THE CELL PHONE
It is known that we must put down electronic devices before going to sleep, due to blue light. What other kind of problem does having cell phones by the bed cause?
A. As you say, the blue light problem in devices is well known, as blue light suppresses melatonin and is stimulating content. But having your phone nearby can pose even more problems once you finally doze off. “A sudden beep, buzz, or other sound emanating from your cell phone is enough to wake you from sleep,” says Peter A. Fotinakes, MD, medical director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Providence St. Joseph Hospital, in Orange County. , california. “If the phone indicates an incoming call or text, you may be forced to fully wake up to respond. If you choose not to answer, you can lie awake in bed wondering who is calling or texting you at 2:00 am.” Either way, your rest time has been interrupted, which decreases the quality of your sleep. And you’ll likely end up logging less sleep compared to if your phone wasn’t in the bedroom—on average, about 48 fewer minutes, according to an October 2018 study in PLOS One. nightstand is a lethal weapon. “The risk of [cáncer] it is very low. The radiation is not deeply penetrating,” says Dr. Weiss. But sleeping next to his device could definitely interrupt his sleep, which could affect his energy level and mood the next day (and, before long, his health). So it’s a good idea to put him in another room when he goes to bed.
GOLD
Why is gold so coveted?
A. Pure gold, sunny yellow in color, bright and smooth, and about the same hardness as a penny, is the most coveted type. It is the most malleable metal: one gram of gold, equivalent in size to a grain of rice, can be hammered into a sheet of gold leaf measuring one square meter. Gold does not oxidize or break down due to friction or high temperatures. It conducts heat well and can be endlessly melted or reshaped without losing its elemental qualities. Gold can also be alloyed with other metals to increase hardness or create different colors and is used in many scientific and industrial applications.
