An animal obsession, singing gadget, and secret accent — Harvard Gazette

Elika Bergelson is the John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Social Sciences within the Department of Psychology. She additionally identifies as a chilly individual (bodily if not emotionally).

One fascinating facet of the human thoughts is that there are a lot of methods through which info will get encoded, saved, and retrieved. That is, you possibly can “look things up” in several methods: Think of phrases that begin with B! Name all of the fruits you’ve ever eaten! This made it onerous — however enjoyable — to attempt to kind by “favorite things.” Here are my prime three … all of which occur to be proficient at preserving heat.

Starting round sixth grade, my dad and mom inspired me to learn magazines like National Geographic each weekend, discover 20 phrases I didn’t know, and memorize their definitions and etymology. One article I learn was about emperor penguins, and I received obsessive about the entire species from there. When they slide on their bellies, it’s known as “tobogganing”; they’re stylishly dressed; and their younger huddle collectively to remain heat and be cared for communally in what are known as crèches. Wait ’til you hear about some species’ mating behaviors. 10/10.

This is a tremendous kitchen gadget, nicely price its weight in counter area. You simply add nonetheless many cups of rice you need, fill as much as the best line with water, press a button, and go. It sings you a music if you begin it and one other one when it’s prepared! It has a programmable timer so you possibly can schedule your rice to be finished if you get house … and in the event you’re late, it should simply maintain it heat for you. And it’s not only for rice: We use it for steel-cut oats in a single day all winter. We even made a cheesecake in it as soon as! 11/10. 

I’m a chilly individual (principally bodily). I’m additionally a devoted all-weather bike commuter, and I firmly imagine that there’s no cause to really feel chilly in the event you simply costume proper. Fleece-lined tights are superior as a result of they’re comparatively skinny however heat, and you’ll be secretly sporting them beneath your pants from November by way of March, and solely you’ll know. Win-win. 9.5/10 for surviving winter in New England.

— As informed to Sy Boles/Harvard Staff Writer