Health
Discover facts about health. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Health
Why you don't hear your name when you're focused
Inattentional deafness happens when your visual cortex demands so much sheer computing power to read a difficult text or play a game that your brain simply…
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Somatostatin inhibits competing hormone release
In the chaotic chemical factory of your body, this hormone acts as the ultimate buzzkill, aggressively shutting down other internal secretions. It effectively…
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Why veggie chips may be no healthier than potato chips
Frying a slice of a root vegetable in heavy oil and blasting it with sodium does not suddenly make it medicinal. The colorful crisps in the premium snack…
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Could dark chocolate be good for your heart
Finally, an excuse to eat candy for medicinal purposes. Cacao is packed with potent flavanols that dilate your blood vessels and lower blood pressure,…
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Why reusing floss spreads plaque
Trying to be frugal by using the same section of string twice just relocates plaque from one tooth to another. You are essentially organizing a free public…
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Why deep sleep burns more energy than television
Your favorite streaming binge is literally less active than being totally comatose. During deep slumber, your internal systems aggressively repair tissue and…
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Your eyeball is filled with clear jelly
Pop an eyeball open and it does not ooze water. The inside of your eye is securely stuffed with a clear, gloopy biological gelatin known as the vitreous…
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Shake weights relied completely on dynamic shifting inertia
The most visually ridiculous fitness device ever marketed actually utilized a minor principle of physics. By violently oscillating a heavy mass back and…
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Pus is made partly from dead immune cells
Neutrophils are the incredibly tragic, short-lived shock troops of your biological military. They rush into infected tissues, unleash a toxic burst of…
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Coffee isn't dehydrating after all
Time to vindicate your crippling caffeine addiction. While caffeine itself is a mild diuretic that makes you pee, the sheer volume of water you consume in a…
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Neanderthal genes may affect your hair texture
If you have thick, straight hair that refuses to hold a curl, you can sarcastically thank your ancient ancestors for hooking up with Neanderthals. Those…
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Why you shouldn't brush right after drinking soda
Your healthy instinct to scrub your mouth after downing a sugary soda is actually a massive act of dental sabotage. The phosphoric and citric acids in soft…
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Tongue scraping evicts microscopic oral squatters
That white film on your tongue is essentially a hostile takeover by anaerobic bacteria. Dragging a piece of metal across it every morning physically removes…
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A brutal workout can temporarily weaken your immune system
Running a marathon might technically make you fit, but it also leaves you biologically defenseless. While moderate exercise boosts immunity, pushing your body…
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Raw flour can carry E. coli
People fear raw eggs in cookie dough, but the uncooked flour is often the real villain. Harvested straight from dusty fields with minimal processing, it…
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Why muscle takes up less space than fat
Because muscle fibers are tightly woven and heavily saturated with dense biological water and proteins, they occupy vastly less physical volume than an…
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O-negative blood: universal donor, limited receiver
O-negative blood types are the absolute saints of the medical world, able to donate life-saving blood to literally anyone in a trauma ward. The universe…
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Medieval bathhouses became centers of prostitution
Going to the public bath in the Middle Ages wasn't just about scrubbing the mud off your legs. These massive, steamy communal tubs quickly devolved into…
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Human blood strictly regulates its exact pH balance
Despite what heavily marketed alkaline water brands want you to believe, you cannot naturally change the acidity of your body by drinking fancy liquids. Human…
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Green mucus doesn’t automatically mean you need antibiotics
Stop bullying your doctor for amoxicillin every time your nose runs green. The color of your snot doesn't indicate a bacterial infection. The green hue…
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Myocardium constitutes the absolute thickest cardiac layer
The highly dense middle layer of your central pump is practically solid armor. While the inside and outside get incredibly thin, shiny coatings, the…
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Your fingerprints may make smooth surfaces harder to grip
Everything you thought you knew about your evolutionary advantages is a lie. While monkeys use ridges to grip rough tree branches, human fingerprints actually…
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Why slouching can make positive memories harder to recall
If you're spiraling into a cynical depression, your terrible desk posture might actually be to blame. Studies show that collapsing your chest triggers a…
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Nail polish blocks vital oxygen exchange pathways
Slathering thick, hardened lacquer over your nails deprives the underlying tissue of necessary air exposure. Leaving it on endlessly eventually causes the…
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