Health
Discover facts about health. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Health
Your teeth grow a film you have to remove daily
Dental plaque is a community of microbes clinging to teeth. Some use sugars from food to make acids that attack enamel. Brushing disrupts that sticky film;…
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Why hiccups still have no reliable cure
A hiccup is a reflex: the diaphragm contracts suddenly, then the opening between the vocal cords snaps shut, making the familiar sound. Tricks such as…
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Your fingernails are leftover claws
Our nails are hard keratin plates at the ends of the fingers and toes—an evolutionary relative of claws, now scaled down for everyday work. That sturdy edge…
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Your body needs cholesterol to make sex hormones
Cholesterol is a raw material your body uses to build steroid hormones, including testosterone and estrogen. Cells convert it through several steps into those…
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Vitamin C's cold story depends on when it is taken
A Cochrane review found that regular supplementation modestly shortened colds on average, while starting vitamin C after symptoms appeared showed no…
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Burning our exterior layers for a summer tan
Ultraviolet light prompts skin cells to make more melanin, the pigment that darkens a tan, but the same exposure also damages skin cells. If the damage…
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Paying someone to aggressively crack your delicate spine
A cracking sound during spinal manipulation can come from a quick pressure change in a joint, which releases gas bubbles in the joint fluid. The pop may sound…
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The cure built on impossibly diluted drops
Homeopathic remedies are made by repeatedly diluting a starting substance, sometimes beginning with a single drop in an enormous volume of liquid. At extreme…
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Why the carnivore diet bans bread and grains
The carnivore diet excludes bread and grains because followers aim to imitate what they believe prehistoric hunters ate. That’s a choice based on a story…
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Experiencing the ridiculous blank pill effect
An inactive pill contains no medicine, but expecting relief can change how the brain processes symptoms such as pain. That can make someone feel better even…
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Gyms make money when you don't show up
Gyms can collect annual fees from members who rarely attend. The strange trade-off is built into the subscription: you keep paying for access, while the…
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Enduring miserable posture correcting braces
A posture brace uses tension to pull the shoulders or spine into a straighter position. If that pull feels uncomfortable, the device can end up in a drawer…
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Walking around with uncomfortable shoe inserts
A rigid insert changes where your foot meets the inside of the shoe. If it presses on unfamiliar spots or does not suit the shape of your foot, a sneaker that…
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Your hair may be bleaching itself from within
Hair can bleach itself when follicles stop making enough of an enzyme that breaks down naturally produced hydrogen peroxide. As peroxide builds up inside the…
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How fear can briefly make you strong enough to lift a car
A threat can trigger adrenaline, which pushes the body into emergency mode and may temporarily increase the force a person can summon. That can help explain…
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Your pinky toe is an expert furniture detector
When your pinky toe hits a table leg, sensory nerves carry the impact to your brain as pain. The toe may do little for balance compared with other parts of…
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Bethlem once let visitors look at patients for entertainment
London's Bethlem hospital became a public spectacle as visitors came to observe people living with mental illness. Its history helped make 'Bedlam' a word for…
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Why ice cream can give you a brain freeze
Cold ice cream rapidly cools the palate, and nerves there react to the temperature change. The resulting pain can be felt in the head rather than the mouth—a…
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A headache can be a sign your fluid balance is off
Losing more fluid than you replace can bring headache, thirst, dizziness, and darker urine. Sweat, illness, or simply drinking too little can shift that…
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Why blood types make transfusions so risky
Red blood cells carry identifying markers, and your immune system has antibodies ready to react to markers it doesn't recognize. Give someone incompatible…
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Slicing your fingers on literal tree pulp
A paper cut is shallow, but its sharp edge can split the skin where sensitive nerve endings are close to the surface. That is why a flimsy sheet can deliver a…
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Your thumb's secret is its angle, not its length
The saddle-shaped joint at the thumb's base allows it to move across the palm and oppose the fingers. That turns a row of digits into a gripping tool: you can…
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Ordinary soap already has a very effective exit strategy for germs
Washing loosens material on your hands so running water can carry it away. For everyday consumer handwashing, antibacterial soaps have not shown an added…
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How sloppy doctor handwriting can cause medication errors
A pharmacist has to turn a handwritten drug name and dose into a precise order. If the letters blur together, a similar-looking medication or a misplaced…
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