Health
Discover facts about health. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Health
The cells that have been dividing for decades
A uniquely aggressive cervical tumor harvested without permission from a young woman in the nineteen-fifties possessed the unprecedented ability to wildly…
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How one blood donation can help three patients
Instead of inefficiently transfusing entire bags of raw whole blood, modern advanced hospitals heavily rely on massive mechanical centrifuges to rapidly break…
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How long missions in space can change astronauts' eyesight
Without gravity pulling bodily fluids downward, intense pressure steadily builds up inside the human skull. This phenomenon physically flattens the back of…
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Your sweat can slowly corrode metal
Human sweat is primarily composed of water, but it also contains distinct traces of lactic acid and dissolved biological salts that lower its overall pH…
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How a mirror can ease phantom-limb pain
When struggling amputees suffer from excruciating phantom cramps in arms or legs they no longer physically possess, doctors use a brilliant optical illusion…
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The man who survived an iron rod through his skull
A railway construction foreman miraculously survived an accidental explosion that blasted a three-foot iron rod directly through his skull. Though he…
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Doctors once treated syphilis by giving patients malaria
Before the discovery of penicillin, advanced syphilis frequently rotted the brain, sending patients into terrifying, fatal states of violent psychosis. In a…
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The man whose blood plasma saved over two million babies
An Australian man named James Harrison possessed such a bizarrely specific anomaly in his blood that it functioned as a literal miracle drug. His plasma…
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How half a brain can learn to do the whole job
When young children suffer from catastrophic, uncontrollable seizures, bold neurosurgeons will occasionally perform an operation that entirely removes one…
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Why dry food won't go down without saliva
Beyond simply breaking down complex starches, your natural saliva acts as an absolutely essential mechanical lubricant for the throat. If your mouth becomes…
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How a fetus can turn to stone
In incredibly rare medical cases, a severely miscarried fetus can become permanently trapped inside the mother's abdominal cavity instead of the uterus.…
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Your blood type can change disease risk
Your inherited blood type dictates significantly more than just who you can accept a transfusion from in emergencies. Certain blood groups inherently carry a…
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Why scientists still cannot fully explain anesthesia
Despite being safely administered to millions of surgical patients globally every single day, medical science still lacks a complete understanding of how…
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Can a pill help protect your skin from the sun
Pharmaceutical companies have cleverly engineered specialized oral supplements designed to shield delicate human skin from aggressive ultraviolet radiation…
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Why losing your sense of smell can affect mood
The sudden loss of an ability to smell, medically known as anosmia, is deeply linked to the rapid onset of severe psychological depression. Because our…
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Painkillers may dull your empathy too
Reaching for an over-the-counter painkiller to cure a headache does more than just numb your physical nerves. Clinical studies reveal that acetaminophen…
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Why doctors give surgery patients chewing gum
After complex abdominal surgeries, doctors actively encourage patients to intensely chew regular bubblegum. The mechanical motion of the jaw safely tricks the…
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A vaccine developer gave away his formula
The brilliant scientist who finally developed the cure for a massively paralyzing global virus intentionally refused to legally patent his groundbreaking…
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Why swallowing two magnets is an emergency
Ingesting more than one tiny, powerful rare-earth magnet is a catastrophic medical emergency. Unlike swallowing a coin, the magnets will actively attract each…
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Dogs can reshape your microbiome
Living closely with a pet dog fundamentally alters your personal microbiome. Over time, individuals and their loyal canine companions develop surprisingly…
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Aspirin began as bitter willow-bark tea
The foundation of the multi-billion-dollar aspirin industry traces directly back to an ancient botanical remedy used by the Egyptians and Sumerians thousands…
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Some people have their organs mirrored
A deeply rare congenital condition known as situs inversus causes a person's major visceral organs to develop perfectly mirrored from their normal…
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When you are conscious but unable to move
Locked-in syndrome is a deeply tragic neurological condition where massive brainstem damage completely paralyzes absolutely every single voluntary muscle in…
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The rare mystery of spontaneous cancer remission
Very rarely, terminal patients riddled with aggressive fatal cancers will experience a sudden, completely miraculous healing where the disease forcefully…
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