Always wonderedNEVER ASKED but BY AMELIA THOMAS |
dorothythomas@csdecatur.net
We continue our series by examining the likeli- hood of desirable and unfortunate events. Whether you believe in free will or fate, some of these things could happen to you.
What’s the chance of stumbling upon a four-leaf clover?
Te extra leaf on a four-leaf clover is a mutation that occurs in about one in every 10,000 clovers, according to Sciencebase: science news and views. Tis chance is even lower on a first try. Even so, Chicago Tribune writer Edward Martin discovered a man who has spent two hours per day for 60 years searching for the lucky weed. His attempts have been success-
ful, yielding 160,000 clovers in his lifetime. Many would suggest that he must be the luckiest man alive, but the myths surrounding clovers state that they only provide luck to those who come across them by accident.
What’s the likelihood of dying from air pollutants?
Although the United States Environmental Protection Agency reported that on only 4.8 percent of the days in a year is the air pollution high, Science Daily found that even small amounts of air pollution can con- tribute to an early death. For every 10 ug/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter of air, which is a very small measurement), the risk of dying from a respiratory-related illness increases by four percent. It goes to show that, yes, you can die from simply breathing.
What’s the probability of marrying your high school sweetheart?
Oh, young love. It’s particularly easy for teenagers to get swept up in
the romance of their high school relationships, saying “I love you,” planning the future and even sometimes talking about baby names. Unfortunately, Debbie Downer has to bring the bad news: according to the U.S. Census Bureau, less than 10 percent of the population married before the age of 20, and the Pacific University’s School of Professional Psychology found that marriage age is directly correlated with marital satisfaction. Tis means that the younger in age at the time of marriage, the more likely it is for the couple to divorce. So even though Billy Joe buys you flowers and takes you to dinner and Sally Sue makes your heart flutter, the odds are against you.
Illustration by Claire De Pree 26 CARPE DIEM • DECEMBER 2011
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