Fear by the Numbers

Your breath and sweat change when you feel fear. Scientists have found that moviegoers exhale more carbon dioxide in theaters during suspenseful scenes. And according to a study of 36 women in the Netherlands, the scent of others’ “fear sweat” can make you feel afraid!

Your breath changes when you feel fear. Scientists observed people in a movie theater. The scientists played a movie with suspenseful scenes. The scientists found that the people in the theater exhaled more of the chemical carbon dioxide when they watched the scenes that were suspenseful. Another study found that fear changes your sweat. The study took place in the Netherlands. It included 36 women. The scientists found that the scent of others’ “fear sweat” can make you feel afraid!

It’s estimated that about 6 percent of Americans have a phobia. A phobia is an extreme fear that won’t go away. In a survey of 1,190 U.S. adults, a quarter said they had thalassophobia: the fear of deep oceans and lakes.

It’s estimated that about 19 million Americans have a phobia. A phobia is an extreme fear that won’t go away. Scientists surveyed 1,190 U.S. adults about their fears. More than a quarter said they had thalassophobia. Thalassophobia means the fear of deep oceans and lakes!

After we’ve been scared, our bodies often release a rush of chemicals that make us feel good. Scientists believe that those chemicals are what make some people want to be scared for fun. There are more than 7,500 haunted houses in the U.S. The longest one is in New Mexico—people happily pay to walk through 7,183 feet of fright-inducing attractions!

Our bodies often release a rush of chemicals after we’ve been scared. Those chemicals make us feel good. Scientists believe that those chemicals are what make some people want to be scared for fun. There are more than 7,500 haunted houses in the U.S. The longest one is in New Mexico. It has 7,183 feet of scary attractions. People are happy to pay to walk through it!

On a scale of 1 to 100, how afraid are you of failing a test? Psychologist Stephen Whiteside is working on a project to film situations that make kids anxious, such as getting a bad grade. When his patients put on a headset, they’ll find themselves in a virtual-reality version of their fear. The goal is to face your anxieties until your fear rating is reduced by half, such as from a 98 to a 49. 

How afraid are you of failing a test, on a scale of 1 to 100? Psychologist Stephen Whiteside is working on a project. He plans to film situations that make kids anxious, such as getting a bad grade. His patients will put on a headset. Then they’ll be able to see their fear in virtual reality. The goal is to face your fears until you become less scared. Whiteside’s patients rate their fear from 1 to 100.  They try to lower their fear rating by half, such as from a 98 to a 49.

Use the number line to round 36 to the nearest ten.

Use the number line to round 36 to the nearest ten.

It’s estimated that about 6 percent of Americans have a phobia. A phobia is an extreme fear that won’t go away. In a survey of 1,190 U.S. adults, a quarter said they had thalassophobia: the fear of deep oceans and lakes.

It’s estimated that about 6 percent of Americans have a phobia. A phobia is an extreme fear that won’t go away. In a survey of 1,190 U.S. adults, a quarter said they had thalassophobia: the fear of deep oceans and lakes.

A. Round 7,183 to the nearest hundred.

B. What is 7,183 rounded to the nearest thousand?

A. Round 7,183 to the nearest hundred.

B. What is 7,183 rounded to the nearest thousand?

Round both 98 and 49 to the nearest hundred. Is your answer the same for both? Explain why or why not.

Round both 98 and 49 to the nearest hundred. Is your answer the same for both? Explain why or why not.