The Best Medicine

The recent launch by the University of Haifa of a degree in medical clowning was greeted in many quarters by cynical smirks. Yet new research into the effect of laughing on reproductive health should wipe the world weary smiles off a few oh so knowing faces. The international journal 'Fertility and Sterility' has just published research that seems to demonstrate that laughter significantly increases the chances of conception by women attempting to become pregnant through IVF. In the study quoted, of 219 women undergoing IVF, 36% successfully conceived when they had been entertained by a professional medical clown shortly after their womb had been implanted with an embryo. The corresponding rate of pregnancy amongst those who had had a chuckle free experience at the important moment was only 20%. The researchers suggested that laughter made such a dramatic difference because of its stress reduction qualities. So in delight that laughter really is the best medicine, Highly Questionable takes it as the theme of today's quiz. 

Laughter Quiz

 1  Which actor took the lead role in the 1998 movie 'Patch Adams' which was based on the life of a real physician who felt strongly that humour had much to contribute to the effectiveness of medical practise?

 2  What is the chemical name for the anaesthetic commonly known as 'laughing gas'?

 3  Which artist painted the famous 17th century picture known as 'The Laughing Cavalier'?

 4  Who had a chart topping hit with the song 'Laughter In The Rain'?

 5  In the abbreviation 'lmao', which is widely used in texting on phones and on internet posts, where the 'l' stands for 'laughing', what are the three other words which complete the phrase? 

Answers to our laughter quiz will be published along with tomorrow's quiz questions. 

Friends Quiz Answers

The answers to yesterday's friends themed quiz are:-

 1  The Rembrandts were the band that played the theme song of the hugely successful US TV comedy drama 'Friends'.

 2  Dale Carnegie was the author of the best selling self help book 'How To Win Friends And Influence People'.

 3  'The Golden Girls' was the classic US sitcom that had 'Thank You For Being A Friend' as its theme song.

 4  Harvey was the six foot three and a half inches tall rabbit whose name provided the title of the 1950 film starring James Stewart in which his character, Elwood P Dowd, had the outsized mammal as an imaginary friend.

 5  Queen were the British rock band who had a hit with 'You're My Best Friend', a track taken from their 1975 album 'A Night At The Opera'. 

The author of the Highly Questionable? blog, harry Reid is a freelance question setter, writer and blogger. He can be contacted at harryreid@btinternet.com.