Press and Sun-Bulletin from Binghamton, New York • Page A17

Tax season may cially be over but not for us. We do taxes all year. Whatever your need is, from tax returns, tax planning or just questions, we are here for you. Call or email us for our -season hours. For All Your Tax Needs Kim Carlsson Bonnie Babbitt Patrick Murphy Call for appointment or walk-in Local Firm 607-239-5358 3216 E.

Main Street Endwell, NY www.pressconnects.godigitalpage.com/bctaxservice NY-0000739333 SUMMER PLANNER 2015 You must place SUMMER PLANNER in the subject of the email and please include as much info as possible such brief description of event, the date, time, website (if applicable), and your contact name and number. Deadline to submit is by April 28th. This special section is useful for the entire summer. If you would like to take advantage of advertising in this special section, please reserve your space to us before May 1st. Simply send us an email PLANNING A LIST IT FOR FREE! GREAT EVENT THIS SUMMER? NY-0000740887 Question: Are yawns ontagious? Answer: There are any theories to explain why people yawn.

Howev- they are all still theories. At this point, we do not fully understand the reason behind yawning. Yawning is an involuntary reflex that involves the inhalation of air by the opening and stretching of the mouth and eardrums, followed by exhaling. Yawning is often accompanied by stretching of the body. This is called pandiculation.

Humans yawn and so do animals, like dogs, chimpanzees, baboons and horses. Yawning begins from the hypothalamus in the brain and is affected by neurotransmitter levels. Yawning is involuntary, which means that it is not something we can control. Some chemicals both natural, like seroto- in; or consumed drugs, like alcohol can cause eople to yawn more frequently. Scientists report that babies in their mother's wombs yawn in the irst trimester.

So yawn- i ng starts very young and ontinues through life. There are several ideas and ongoing research to try an under- tand yawning: caused by being tired, but this may be due to timing, because an hour before bed or after we wake up is when we most requently yawn. It gets more oxygen into the blood when carbon dioxide levels get too high. It cools down the brain. Binghamton researchers looked into this and found that yawning a ctually does cool down he brain.

It increases alertness, and ease nervousness or performance anxiety. From an evolution- a ry perspective, it might a herd instinct. Why are yawns contagious? There are also several theories about this, including: Yawning symbolizes empathy and shows oth- rs that you relate to them. Interestingly, people with difficulty in social relations the at the same rate other individuals do. a form of social bonding and connection between groups.

Yawning is a shared xperience that can help educe stress throughout agroup. Different species can also experience conta- ious yawning. For exam- le, my dog yawns after eeing me yawn. You necessarily need to see someone yawn in order to yawn. Just hearing a yawn, watching someone yawn on TV, or reading about it can make ou yawn, too.

I have only been reading and writing the word and it has caused me to yawn a lot. Ask a Scientist runs on Sundays. Questions are answered by faculty at Binghamton University. Teachers in the Greater inghamton area who wish to participate in the program are asked to write to Ask a Scientist, Binghamton Univer- sity, Office of Communications and Marketing, PO Box 6000, Binghamton, N.Y. 13902-6000, or e-mail hamton.edu.

For more i nformation, visit www.binghamton.edu/ Why do we yawn and is it contagious? MEET THE STUDENT ASKING THE QUESTION Asked by: Rose Nguyen Grade: 5 School: St. John the Evangelist, Diocese of Syracuse Teacher: Anu Rai obbies: Playing the computer and iPod Career interest(s): Doctor, scientist MEET THE SCIENTIST Answered by: Jessica Surdey Title: Instructor, Health and Wellness Studies, Binghamton University Department: Health and Wellness Studies esearch area: Stress, identity, self-esteem Exercise, home renovation ASK A SCIENTIST PROVIDED PHOTO Rose Nguyen PROVIDED PHOTO Jessica Surdey.