Articles written by Cheryn Tan

Sleepwalking, or somnambulism, can present many hazards to a child's safety; however studies show that most people will outgrow these late-night episodes.

Aug 24, 2010 - Cheryn Tan

Can a person be born as one gender and gradually transform into the other as he or she grows older?

Nov 25, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

Prolonged exposure to sounds at overly high frequencies (Hertz) or pressure (decibels) can potentially result in permanent noise-induced hearing loss.

Nov 23, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

A ring is commonly worn as a token of love and marriage; however it is also a significant cultural and historical symbol for power, luck and slavery.

Nov 23, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

Dangerously addictive and yet often deceptively simple, Three Stars of Destiny is worth a try especially for fans of casual role-playing games (RPGs).

Nov 19, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

The world's largest and foulest smelling flower, the Rafflesia is a unique plant - not only for its nickname of "corpse flower" but also its strange breeding habits.

Nov 19, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

Snacking can be a guilt-free pastime if the right food choices are made; however, advertising can mislead people into thinking some foods are healthier than others.

Nov 18, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

Highlighted hair can give one a youthful, vibrant look; and can be achieved without a wallet-lightening trip to the hairdresser's.

Nov 17, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

A heart-warming and compulsively readable novel, Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants transports readers to the weird and colourful life of American circus in the 1930s.

Nov 15, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

Despite the advent of illegal downloading and file-sharing software, the piracy-plagued music industry is receiving a boost from an unlikely saviour - video games!

Aug 24, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

Short people are often the brunt of jokes and it's not surprising that there is a speculated link between lack of height and aggression, dubbed the Napoleon Complex.

Aug 24, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

Height is a desirable attribute in almost every culture, but is it to the extent that tall people are actually more successful in life than their shorter counterparts?

Aug 22, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

The cool sweet liquid quenches thirst; the tapioca balls are delightfully chewy - combined, they form the delicious bubble tea which is both a drink and a snack.

Aug 15, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

Guitars, doorknobs, computer mice - these are items encountered and used everyday, and the one thing they have in common is that they particularly favour right-handers.

Aug 15, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

A Muslim woman was tearful but calmly accepting of her fate as she was sentenced to six lashings of the cane - for the crime of consuming beer in public.

Aug 1, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

The idea that one can absorb knowledge without conscious effort must certainly appeal to frantic students burning the midnight oil for the next morning's examination.

May 21, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

Originally hailed as a promising development to Web 2.0, Twitter appears to be in danger of becoming no more than a passing fad.

May 21, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

Using liquid nitrogen in food can be an amusing sideshow to entertain dinner guests - watch them gasp in amazement as plumes of vapour emanate from their food!

May 20, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

Disney animated films, universally beloved by people of all ages, can be seen as a reflection of Western ideals on femininity throughout history.

May 17, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

To adapt a quote immortalised by Gordon Gekko from the film Wall Street: "The point is, ladies and gentlemen, that gaming - for lack of a better word - is good."

May 13, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

Pearly white teeth are central to one's smile, and to avoid spending fortunes for a Tom Cruise or Julia Roberts megawatt smile, some resort to do-it-yourself remedies.

Mar 25, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

Dogs are commonly called by the affectionate name of man's best friend, but in mythology from various different cultures, they are regarded as omens of death.

Feb 25, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

Internationally recognised as a traditional symbol of Ireland, the shamrock is a three-leafed clover believed to bestow good luck.

Feb 25, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

The blooming of the beautiful jacaranda tree envelops the entire garden in a dazzling shade of lilac-blue, heralding the dawn of spring.

Feb 25, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

Curry is a spicy mouth-watering dish enjoyed from all corners of the world, but what are its earliest origins?

Feb 24, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

Shadow plays depict fantastic stories of folklore and mythology, but their stories of origin are equally fascinating as they are vastly differing.

Feb 24, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

The Dinah Shore Weekend is fast becoming synonymous with a lesbian love fest, but not for the organisers who originally intended it to be a prestigious golf tournament.

Feb 24, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

Puppets are often linked with childhood pleasures, but the Javanese wayang kulit is a sophisticated form of puppetry, using silhouettes for characters to come to life.

Feb 24, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

The brutal murder of gay student Matthew Shepard was horrific but not in vain - it has been a shocking wake-up call for the world to gay hate crime issues.

Feb 24, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

The history of makeup is as varied and colourful as the myriad of cosmetics available to consumers today, with beauty products dating back to 4,000 BC Egypt.

Feb 16, 2009 - Cheryn Tan

Embedding foreign objects into one's body seems a high price to pay for beauty and success, but many are willing to take the risk with the ancient art of susuk.

Dec 4, 2008 - Cheryn Tan

Music sampling, which is the mash-up of several different songs, has yielded some interesting results which translates into pop gold.

Nov 25, 2008 - Cheryn Tan

Take a camp 80's music video, a titillating hyperlink and some trigger-happy web surfers with a cheeky sense of humour. The result? An instant internet phenomenon.

Nov 25, 2008 - Cheryn Tan

The fox is a creature found in folk tales of many different cultures, often associated with traits such as cunning and mischief; and even the supernatural.

Nov 23, 2008 - Cheryn Tan

There is a distinct difference between healthy dieting and weight loss dieting; although they often converge in this world where we are made to believe slim is beautiful.

Nov 20, 2008 - Cheryn Tan

Public modesty in most societies dictates that a naked body is to be ashamed of, but challenges to this status quo persist - should nudity be glorified, or vilified?

Sep 19, 2008 - Cheryn Tan

Move over Vanessa Mae, here comes a new challenger to the crown of Crossover Classical Violinist Extraordinaire - Miri Ben-Ari.

Sep 17, 2008 - Cheryn Tan

"Fame is a fickle friend." Thus quoted the sagely Gilderoy Lockhart. Celebrity comes and goes, but there are those who manage to withstand the test of time.

Sep 4, 2008 - Cheryn Tan

Sudoku has enthralled the world and spawned industries, but it may just be more reflective of everyday life than one would imagine.

Sep 2, 2008 - Cheryn Tan

One of the most prominent and controversial studies about music and intelligence is the Mozart Effect, which theorises that listening to classical music enhances memory.

Aug 30, 2008 - Cheryn Tan