I’D LOVE TO TREAT MYSELF TO A GEL MANICURE, BUT ARE THEY BAD FOR ME? DELICATE ISSUES DEALT WITH BY SCIENCE FOCUS EXPERTS

Gel polish contains small molecules called monomers. When you put your hand under the ultraviolet (UV) nail lamp, the UV radiation triggers a chemical reaction that causes the monomers to link together to form long polymer chains, setting the gel. The result is a tough, flexible nail polish.

In 2009, US researchers sparked concern with an article describing how two nail bar regulars had developed skin cancer on the backs of their hands. However, the researchers weren’t able to make any strong conclusions about whether the UV nail lamps were responsible, and a separate 2018 review of the literature concluded that the cancer risk from nail lamps is low. Nevertheless, the authors of the review recommend using fingerless gloves or sunscreen to protect the hands while under the lamp.

Finally, the nail filing that occurs before the polish, and the soaking in acetone to remove gel nails, can make nails more brittle and likely to split. So treat yourself, but it might be worth planning in some gel-free periods, and protecting your hands. ED

I’M HUNGRY, THE SHOPS ARE SHUT AND ALL I HAVE IN MY CUPBOARD IS DOG FOOD. WOULD IT BE SAFE TO EAT?

Dog food is nutritionally balanced for the canine metabolism, so it has more fat and less protein than we need, and it’s also enriched with vitamin A, which can be harmful in high doses to humans in the long term. None of this should be a problem if you’re only eating one tin. More of a risk is that – although most tinned pet food is made from ingredients that are left over from human food manufacture – stringent human food safety regulations don’t always apply, and there have been incidents of contaminated pet food. So it’s probably best to find an all-night café! LV

I HATE PUBLIC SPEAKING. IS ‘IMAGINE THE AUDIENCE NAKED’ REALLY THE BEST ADVICE FOR OVERCOMING NERVES?

This advice has been around for years. The idea is that it will make your audience seem less threatening and so reduce your nerves. However, public speaking experts say it’s an unwise technique – after all, the key to being an effective presenter is to respect and engage your audience, not to see them as the enemy or to mock them (if you have a vivid imagination, the strategy could also be overly distracting!).

To calm your nerves, you’re better off using a technique known as ‘cognitive reappraisal’. Research at Harvard Business School has shown that speakers who deliberately reevaluate their nerves as excitement rather than anxiety (for example, by saying “I am excited” out loud) perform better than those who try to calm themselves down. More generally, one of the best things you can do is to prepare thoroughly. Make sure your speech does not overrun, practise in front of friends and family, and visit the venue ahead of time if you can. Finally, create some ‘if-then’ plans to help you cope, such as “if I begin to feel overwhelmed, then I will take a deep breath and refocus”. CJ