Alexandria Q.

It’s raining meteors this monsoon, with the Perseid Meteor Shower starting mid-July and peaking around the end of August.

Considered the best meteor shower of the year by NASA, The Perseid Meteor Shower is best seen from the countryside, away from light pollution.

• Long and Skinny (spaghetti, vermicelli) - best with light seafood sauces, cream or oil based sauces
• Long Ribbon Pasta (tagliatelle, fettuccine) - best with rich, meaty sauces
• Shell Pasta (lumache, conchiglie) - best with heavy cream or any meaty sauces, the large shells can be stuffed as well
• Twist Pasta (fusilli, trifle) - best with light and smooth sauces that cling on to the twist
• Tube Pasta (penne, rigatoni) - best with hearty vegetable sauces / baked cheese dishes
• Mini Shapes Pasta - best for soups, stews and pasta salads
• Filled Pasta - best paired with light buttered sauces or oil sauces

Games with racquets hitting balls have been going on since the Neolithic times. Ruins in Mesoamerica show signs of ball games played in various cultures thousands of years ago.

Greeks, Romans and Egyptians have played games resembling modern tennis.

Some of the ingredients in personal care products are not ideal.

"Clean Beauty" products list supposedly ethical qualities ranging from cruelty-free to fragrance-free to formaldehyde-free. But without regulations to back up the word "clean", the term "clean beauty" could be greenwashed.

• Known as the First-Night Effect, many of us aren’t able to sleep properly at a new place the first time.
• The reason for this, according to research, is that half our brain (the left hemisphere, mostly) stays awake in alert mode. This area of the brain is called the default-mode network and is responsible for being active while we daydream or wander in our thoughts.
• The unfamiliarity of the new place, and the many unknowns in the area surrounding us, makes the brain stay half-awake, resulting in poor sleep.

Drinks such as coffee, sodas, energy drinks, tea, and chocolate, all contain caffeine.

People who have anxiety disorders and panic disorders are generally more sensitive to the effects of caffeine. The stimulants in caffeine can mimic and heighten symptoms of anxiety when consumed in large amounts. It can rapidly increase your heartbeat or even make your body feel restless

When used correctly, there’s nothing to worry about in terms of a microwave’s radiation, according to the World Health Organization.

But other concerns are less clear: for example, whether microwaving food causes nutrient loss, or whether heating food in plastic can trigger hormone disruption.

In 2014, scientists started a 500-year experiment to determine the longevity of bacteria.

The experiment consists of 800 glass vials containing either Chroococcidiopsis or Bacillus subtilis that has been hermetically sealed with a flame.

• Take regular breaks: Desk jobs can be detrimental to your health.
• Bike or walk to work: You’ll jumpstart your metabolism and have more energy.
• Do short bursts of activity: You don’t have to workout for 30 minutes in one shot to reap the benefits of exercise.
• Clean house: cleaning the house, mowing the lawn, or walking the dog.
• Instead of taking the elevator or escalator, hit the stairs.
• Park farther away, Instead of looking for the closest parking spot.
• Dance.You'll work put and you'll also have fun.
• Exercise your mind. Excess stress can lead to weight gain and other serious health conditions

Every Fall, there are ‘limited edition’ offerings of Pumpkin Spice pies, lattes and even Kit Kats.

The ingredients of Pumpkin Spice are usually nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and other spices. These spices have certain chemicals that have sedative and relaxing effects if taken in small doses, and may be a psychoactive reason to crave this holiday special treat.