My Science School

Some fears seem less rational than others. Here is a list of literary phobias that you might find intriguing.

In the realm of writing and literature, where words flow like rivers and imagination dances on the page, there exists a shadowy undercurrent of fears and phobias that grip the hearts and minds of some individuals. While books and the written word have long been celebrated as gateways to knowledge, for a select few, they serve as gateways to a world of dread and irrational anxiety. Step into this labyrinth of ink-stained fears as we explore some literary phobias.

• Bibliophobia is a specific phobia characterised by intense fear or aversion towards books. Individuals who experience bibliophobia may feel significant anxiety, panic, or discomfort when they are near books or even when the idea of reading is brought up.

The underlying causes of bibliophobia can vary from person to person. It may stem from a negative experience related to books, such as being overwhelmed or intimidated by the content, struggling with reading difficulties, or associating books with traumatic events.

• Logophobia is a term used to describe the fear or aversion to words. This fear can make it difficult for individuals to read books, write essays, or even have conversations.
• Scriptophobia is an extreme fear of writing in public. It can make everyday writing situations such as taking notes during a lecture or participating in group activities that involve writing, extremely challenging and distressing. The fear of making mistakes or being embarrassed in front of others becomes so overwhelming that it may cause one to avoid these situations altogether. It can hold one back from expressing their thoughts and ideas freely in public, hindering their academic and social growth.1`
• Metrophobia is the fear of poetry. Individuals with metrophobia experience anxiety, discomfort, or fear specifically related to poetry or poetic expressions. It may manifest as a fear of reading, reciting, or engaging with poetry in any form.
• Papyrophobia is an irrational fear of paper. Individuals who experience this phobia may feel intense anxiety or fear even when thinking about paper. They are often extremely anxious about touching paper, writing on it, or even the possibility of getting a paper cut. It is important to note that papyrophobia is relatively uncommon, with only a small number of people in the world have it.
• Abibliophobia is a word that represents the fear or anxiety someone can feel when they do not have a book to read or when they cannot access reading materials.

People with abibliophobia have a strong emotional connection to books and reading. Books may provide them with an escape, knowledge, or a sense of companionship. When they do not have a book, they might feel lost or disconnected, which leads to a fear of being without the comfort and stimulation that reading provides.

It is important to understand that the intensity of abibliophobia can vary from person to person. For some, it might be a mild uneasiness, while for others, it can be a stronger fear that affects their daily lives. They might constantly search for books, feel anxious when they do not have one, or avoid situations where books are not available.

• Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia, is the fear of long words. The humorous contrast between the fear and the cumbersome word used to label it adds an interesting twist to this particular phobia. It is important to note that it is primarily used for amusement.

Phobias such as "abibliophobia" and "Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia," were created with a humorous intent or are not officially recognised. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that there are real and debilitating phobias that can significantly impact individuals who have them.

Remember, it is important not to dismiss or trivialise someone's fear, regardless of whether it is a recognised phobia or not. Most of these phobias can be addressed through therapy and gradual exposure to the stimuli in a supportive and controlled manner. Offering understanding and support can make a significant difference in helping individuals navigate and overcome their fears, enabling them to lead happier and more fulfilling lives.

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What makes us humans different from our ape cousins? Well, our brain power. And, that came about through tweaks in the genes, according to an ambitious project, whose results were published recently. Come, let's find out more about this, and also how we are similar to and different from other mammals.

The Zoonomia Project compared the genomes (the genetic material that makes up a living organism) of 240 mammal species, including humans, to trace evolutionary changes over 100 million years. It studied a wide variety of mammals-from the huge North Pacific right whale (59 feet long) to the tiny bumblebee bat, just 3 cm long. It also included our closest evolutionary relatives - chimpanzees and bonobos. Do you know what startling result the study threw up? "The researchers identified genomic elements- 4,552 in all - that were pretty much the same across all mammals and were identical in at least 235 of the 240 species, including people." It means that certain parts of genomes have remained unchanged across all mammal species, humans included, over millions of years of evolution.

As for how humans are different from other mammals, the study points to areas "associated with developmental and neurological genes". It suggests that when Homo sapiens evolved, it involved changes in how the nervous system genes were "regulated". And these were just tweaks rather than any dramatic and major changes to the genes themselves. This explains why we still share a large part of our genetic makeup with our ape cousins.

And, genes are also responsible for traits unique to some mammals. For instance, hibernation and the sense of smell. While some mammals have a keen sense of smell, others have almost none. Humans are "somewhat average". The study also saw changes in genetic sequences in some species "in relatively short periods of time", indicating how they are adapting to their environments.

While the findings are fascinating by themselves. scientists believe they "could inform human therapeutics, critical care and long-distance space flight", and "also can help identify genetic mutations that lead to disease".

In a study, researchers identified genomic elements - 4,552 in all-that were pretty much the same across all mammals and were identical in at least 235 of the 240 species, including people. It means that certain parts of genomes have remained unchanged across all mammal species, humans included, over millions of years of evolution.

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This affects ocean temperatures, speed and strength of ocean currents, the health of coastal fisheries, and also the local weather in several countries

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has predicted a high probability of El Nino developing later this year. This will fuel higher global temperatures. Let us know more about this phenomenon.

El Nino

El Nino, Spanish word for 'little boy', is a natural climate pattern associated with the warming of the central Pacific Ocean waters near South America. It is the warm phase of El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a recurring phenomenon involving changes in the Pacific Ocean temperature.

El Nino affects the ocean temperatures, speed and strength of ocean currents, the health of coastal fisheries, and also the local weather in several countries. For instance, El Nino can cause rain in South America while threatening drought in Indonesia and Australia.

It occurs irregularly at two- to seven-year intervals and episodes usually last nine to 12 months. An El Nino year creates a mini global-warming crisis because the warm water spreading across the tropical Pacific releases a large amount of heat into the atmosphere. It results in hot and dry weather in Southeast Asia.

El Nino events are indicated when the temperature of the sea surface increases by more than 0.5° C for at least five successive overlapping three-month seasons.

El Nino events of 1982-83 and 1997-98 were the most adverse of the 20th Century. During 1982-1983, the sea surface temperatures in the eastern tropical Pacific were 7.8-12.8° C above normal. These strong temperature increases caused harsh drought in Australia, typhoons in Tahiti, and record rainfall and flood in central Chile.

The 1997-1998 El Nino event was the first time that was scientifically monitored from beginning to end. It caused drought conditions in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Peru faced very heavy rains and severe flooding. While California faced winter rainfall, the Midwest received record-breaking warm temperatures. Strong El Nino events can cause weaker monsoons in India and Southeast Asia and increased rainfall during the rainy season in sub-Saharan Africa.

ENSO and La Nina

ENSO involves changes in the temperature of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. This affects the rainfall distribution in the tropics and weather across the world. El Nino and La Nina are the extreme phases of the ENSO cycle. Besides, there is another phase neither El Nino or La Nina. It is known as the ENSO-neutral.

La Nina, Spanish word for 'little girl', is the cool phase of ENSO. During La Nina events, trade winds (blowing east to west just north and south of the Equator) are stronger than usual and push more warm water toward Asia. Meanwhile, near the west coast of the Americas, upwelling increases, bringing cold and nutrient-rich water to the surface. During such a year, the winter temperatures are warmer than normal in the South and cooler than normal in the North. La Nina ended this year after a three-year run and the tropical Pacific is at present in an ENSO-neutral state.

Prediction

The WMO has predicted a 60% chance for a transition from ENSO-neutral to El Nino during May-July 2023, an increase to about 70% in June-August and 80% in July-September.

This April, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted that an El Nino will likely develop during this southwest monsoon. However, the IMD has stated that India will likely receive a normal amount of monsoon rain this year despite the probability of the weather phenomenon.

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