Painful Memory

Ever wake up terrified and swear that someone has been cutting you up with a knife? According to researchers at the Texas A&M; University Health Science Center, you might be right. In rare cases, a patient can experience “breakthrough awareness”--a condition in which surgical pain can be recalled despite being under general anesthesia at the time. “Breakthrough” patients often complain of nightmares, depression and fear of future surgery.

Cold Reminder

Maintaining a busy schedule, even an occasionally harrowing one, may be a healthy thing, according to a recent university study. People who had six or more regular activities, such as participating in sports, attending classes or volunteering in the community, were far less likely to catch colds than less-active types, according to researchers at Carnegie Mellon, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Virginia. The study also showed that those with fewer friends and less group contact were four times more likely to get sick than others. Need an activity? Befriend a lonely couch potato.

Color Me Mad

Men in black may indeed be “badder” than the rest. According to a four-year study by the Research Institute of Addiction in Buffalo, N.Y., professional sportsmen whose dominant team color was black displayed more aggressiveness than players who wore other colors. But the dark jerseys carry a few drawbacks--pressure situations such as the playoffs tend to diminish the effect. And even worse, black-shirted players draw 6% more penalties than bright-colored teams. This explains the Oakland Raiders.

Color Me Hungry

It’s no mistake that most fast-food chains display signs in bright reds, yellows and oranges. According to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Health, Weight and Stress Clinic, bright colors encourage appetite. For those looking for an edge in weight management, researchers recommend decorating kitchens and eating areas in dark green, blue and brown. But consult Martha Stewart first.