Tongue prints are just like fingerprints
If you’re a fan of crime shows, you’re probably pretty familiar with the concept of fingerprints being used to identify criminals. Yet, a little bit less conventional way to also achieve the same thing is to use a tongue print.
That’s correct, each person in the world actually has a unique tongue print that they can call their very own. This may not ever be relevant in the crime scene area, though, unless criminals go around and lick everything in a home. Given how wrong that is on so many different levels, we’re just going to move on.
Do you feel taller in the morning?
Have you ever woken up, looked in the mirror, and wondered if you were taller than you normally were? Even though you might think we’re crazy, if that has happened to you, it probably wasn’t your imagination playing tricks on you.
Due to the fact that there’s pressure on your joints all day long, the cartilage in your spine compresses. While you’re sleeping, this pressure disappears as the muscles are allowed to fully relax. Thus, in the morning, you’re slightly (very slightly) taller than you are in the middle of the day.
A possible cause of nearsightedness
Ready for a good tidbit of information here? Alright, crazily enough, those who have large eyes have a better chance of having nearsightedness. The explanation is somewhat complicated, so we’ll try to make it as easy to understand as possible.
For people who have nearsightedness, light isn’t allowed to properly reach the retina. Where larger eyes come into play is that larger eyeballs oftentimes lead to light being focused too soon before actually reaching the retina. All this totally makes sense, right? Don’t worry, it’s complex to us too.
More than five senses
Everyone knows that humans have five basic senses, right? Hearing, smell, touch, sight, and taste are considered those five basic senses. Hence, this is why when someone refers to a sixth sense, it typically refers to something supernatural.
As it turns out, humans actually do have more than five senses. No, humans aren’t supernatural. Instead, the other senses (such as the sense of space and sense of balance) are just slightly harder to grasp. For whatever reason, the world always goes back to just the five basic senses.
Sitting actually affects memory
This, in all honesty, just sounds too crazy to believe. However, researchers have discovered that the way a person sits can actually affect their memory. Yeah, it still sounds too absurd to believe, but check this out.
If you tend to look downwards (while sitting), you’re more likely to recall painful and negative memories. On the contrary, looking toward the sky can more easily help to trigger memories linked to happiness and joy. Gee, who would’ve ever thought this would’ve been linked together?
Tickling yourself
Wow, this one makes a ton of sense. Have you ever noticed that when you try and tickle yourself, the sensation isn’t nearly the same as when someone else tickles you in the same very location? Well, there’s a specific reason for that, and it’s not just random.
To keep it simple, research has shown that the anterior cingulate cortex and the somatosensory cortex (the two regions of the brain that process being tickled) are much less active when someone tickles themselves. Yeah, we know that wasn’t very simple, but we tried.
Being visible in the dark
Umm, this one is kind of terrifying. Humans are actually bioluminescent, and, in Layman’s terms, that means that they glow in the dark. Wait, you’re telling us that we glow in the dark? That has to be a lie.
Well, we do glow but it’s around 1000 times too weak for a human to be able to detect. Now, the reason we said this one is kind of terrifying is that certain animals have much better eyesight than humans do. Think about that when you’re in the middle of the woods at night.
The liver growing back
One of the most unique organs in the human body is the liver. For no other reason, it’s unique due to the nature of it being able to grow back if it gets reduced in size. In a life-or-death situation, this could end up saving a human life.
As for how long the liver takes to grow back to its normal size, according to research, it takes roughly a month. That’s certainly not as long as we would’ve thought, which is certainly a positive for those who have liver issues.
Being the only animal that cries
Alright, so we do need to clarify something right off of the bat. Land animals do produce tears, but they do so to lubricate and protect their eyes. While the same is true for humans, we’re the only type that produces tears due to strong emotions.
Whether it’s due to happiness, anger, depression, sadness, you name it, humans produce tears for a much different reason than land animals do. At least we now know we don’t make our pets cry due to them being sad.
Growing faster in the summer
No, there’s no need to admit us to an insane asylum for what we’re about to say here. It’s actually been shown by research that children tend to grow faster in the summer. Again, we know we sound insane but if the research backs it up, is it really all that insane?
When you think about it, it kind of makes sense as kids do tend to have growth spurts in life. So, in other words, if you have to buy new clothes for them after the summer months, you now know why.
Humans are as hairy as chimpanzees
Some humans appear more naturally hairy than others, but did you know that chimpanzees and humans have the same amount of fur? Research has shown this to be the fact per square inch. The reason it’s not very noticeable is human is hair is much finer.
Due to this, it’s hard to visually see that the same amount of hair is present. Additionally, humans have the option of shaving as much hair as they want. But the facts are the facts. Kind of crazy, huh?
As strong as steel
This right here is proof that you can never underestimate the gift of the human body. When measured on a per ounce basis, bones are actually stronger than steel. Basically, this means that bones have a higher tolerance of pressure than steel.
It makes sense as when you break a bone, it doesn’t exactly tickle. This also makes sense, additionally, as it does take a lot to actually break a bone (much like it does for steel to break).
Blinking to recharge the body
Talk about something that we do all the time and take for granted, how about blinking? When you’re not paying attention to the act of blinking, you forget that you actually blink. Now, while it’s quite commonly known that humans blink to clean and moistened the eyes, there’s also another reason.
A fantastic study was conducted by Washington University and the study found that blinking is also done to sharpen attention spans and almost recharge the eyes (so to speak). You know like a pair of batteries.
Getting butterflies in the stomach
Humans experience nerves and anxiety in their lives, and when this occurs, they end up getting butterflies in their stomachs. This is a common expression and though butterflies aren’t actually fluttering around in the stomach, the feeling is very much a real sensation.
Scientists have referred to the gut as having a second brain that has nothing to do with digestion and has everything to do with reflexes and senses. Dang, it truly is great how the human body functions.
The brain during pregnancy
Only women who’ve experienced pregnancy can really relate to how much of a struggle it can be. However, though it’s kind of a cliche that pregnant women tend to be more forgetful and unfocused, there’s actually research out there that points to it being a real thing.
In fact, one study actually showed that during pregnancy, there are some reductions in the grey matter in the brains of women. Have you ever heard of the expression, “pregnancy brain”? Basically, it’s a valid excuse for pregnant women as it actually has science behind it.
Growth spurts in the spring
Growth spurts in kids can happen at any time, but did you know that children tend to grow more during the spring? Research has shown that growth spurts occur mostly in the springtime, likely due to a combination of longer daylight hours, increased physical activity, and better nutrition.
The body’s production of growth hormone may also be influenced by seasonal changes. Studies have observed that children can grow as much as twice as fast in spring compared to other seasons. So, next time you notice your child’s pants getting shorter, it might just be the season!
Licking your elbow
The skin on your elbow, often called the “wenis,” has a much lower density of nerve endings compared to other parts of your body. This means it’s less sensitive to touch and pain. Because of this, if someone were to lick your elbow, you might not feel it at all!
The thick skin and sparse nerve receptors make this area surprisingly unresponsive to light touch, making it one of the rare places on your body where you might not notice a gentle stimulus like a lick.
Wingspan rule
Did you know that the length of your outstretched arms is approximately equal to your height? Though you wouldn’t think so, based on the length of your arms, this fascinating phenomenon, often referred to as the ‘wingspan rule,’ is true for most people.
It means that if you extend your arms horizontally, the distance from fingertip to fingertip mirrors your height. So, if you ever need to measure something and don’t have a tape measure handy, just stretch out your arms!
Smelling Death
Besides helping us enjoy scents, new research suggests that losing your sense of smell might be a red flag for serious health issues. A study from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project had 3,000 participants aged 57 to 85 identify common scents like rose and peppermint.
Five years later, those who couldn’t recognize these odors were found to be four times more likely to have passed away. This suggests that a declining sense of smell could indicate the body’s inability to repair itself efficiently. Who knew our noses could sense more than just odors?
Beards mean baldness
If you’ve ever seen a man with an astonishing beard and felt a pang of jealousy that you can’t grow the same facial hair, fear not. Did you know that men who can easily grow beards might have a greater risk of baldness?
It turns out that higher levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone responsible for facial hair growth, can also contribute to male pattern baldness. So, while a thick beard might be a sign of strong masculinity, it could also be an indicator of future hair loss.
Your heart at 70
If you live to age 70, your heart will have been beating approximately 2.5 billion times. On average, the heart beats around 100,000 times per day, which totals about 35 million beats per year. Over 70 years, this adds up to over 2.5 billion beats.
Throughout this time, your heart will have pumped roughly 48 million gallons of blood, tirelessly circulating it to supply oxygen and nutrients to your entire body.
Jolting awake at night
If you’ve ever felt yourself dozing off and then been jolted awake by your own body, there’s no need to worry—this is super common and totally normal. Hypnic jerks, or sleep starts, are involuntary muscle twitches that occur as we transition into sleep.
Experienced by 60-70% of people, these jerks happen during light sleep stages. Factors such as stress, anxiety, caffeine, fatigue, and intense physical activity increase their likelihood. Evolutionary theories even suggest that hypnic jerks may have helped our ancestors avoid falling from trees.
Why nipples become raised
We know that the chest contains one of the most sensitive parts of the human body. Teets become raised when stimulated, but what’s fascinating is that the mechanism behind it isn’t always what you think.
Our breast area contains a dense concentration of nerve endings, making them highly sensitive to touch, temperature changes, and even emotional stimulation. When these stimuli occur, smooth muscle fibers contract, causing the teets to become erect. This response is part of the autonomic nervous system and can be triggered by various factors, showing just how intricately our bodies are wired.
Perils of pooping too hard
Have you ever strained harder and harder on the toilet only for nothing to come out? We’ve all been there. If you find yourself in this position, experts believe it’s safer to call it quits. Pooping too hard can lead to a drop in blood pressure, cause dizziness and fainting, or even deadlier consequences.
When you hold your breath and push it down to poop, you squeeze your internal organs downward. According to Dr. Satish Rao, the director of the Digestive Health Center at Augusta University, this is called the Valsalva maneuver and the outcome of it can be fatal. This maneuver can cause dizziness and fainting and compromise blood flow to your heart. Dr. Roa says this is especially dangerous for people suffering from heart disease or blood pressure issues.
The truth behind heartbeats
We’re all familiar with the relentless rhythm of heartbeats, but did you know that human hearts thump about 100,000 times per day? This function pumps blood through our body, ensuring the continuous circulation that keeps us alive.
The heart delivers essential oxygen and nutrients to every cell and removes internal waste by pumping an average of around 7,200 liters (12,000 pints) of blood per day. The heart adapts to meet the body’s needs, so the frequency of pumps and quantity of blood depend on whether we’re at rest or during intense activity as well as our individual biology.
Saliva makes food taste good
You might think that a hamburger tastes so delicious because of the combination of meat, cheese, and sauces, but really, you can thank your saliva for making food taste so good. It turns out that saliva plays an essential role in helping your brain interpret the tastes from your food.
In saliva, taste receptors interact with the molecules in food to help you identify the flavor profiles of the things your eating. Who would’ve thought?
Reactions of male prostate
Ever heard of the male prostate reacting to different kinds of stimuli? This small gland below the bladder is packed with nerve endings, making it highly sensitive. When touched during a medical exam or through prostate massage, this gland can release fluids that doctors can use for diagnostic purposes.
In a more intimate setting, some men find that prostate stimulation feels really good—it can cause the release of prostatic fluid and even lead to other types of stimulation. But if you’re going to try it, be gentle and make sure it’s consensual.
Men can produce invisible ink
Ever wondered how spies deliver secret messages to each other? While intelligence agencies have employed different methods over the years, the British Secret Intelligence Service disclosed that it experimented with using semen as an invisible ink during the First World War. This unconventional method was discovered when a spy found that this readily available substance was hard to detect unless exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light.
Semen contains proteins and enzymes that exhibit fluorescence when under UV light. This enabled spies to use semen as ink for writing secret messages, but this method was short-lived due to its distinct smell. However, this discovery wasn’t useless—forensic investigators still use UV light to detect semen in crime scenes.
The power of the human nose
When you compare the human nose to the nose of a canine, there’s truly no comparison. We have nothing on dogs, but our noses are also capable of smelling with pretty good efficiency. As a matter of fact, humans have 12 million smell receptors that help to detect scents.
To put this in comparison, bloodhounds (a specific dog breed known for their insane sense of smell) have four billion smell receptors. By our calculations, that means they have 333 times the smell capacity that we do. Dang.
Nugget-shaped poop
We’re all familiar with the distinct shape (and smell) of poop. Though this may vary from person to person, we know that poop deviating from its standard can be a sign of health issues. But have you ever come across pebble poop? Though it’s normal for some animals to defecate nugget-like feces, this should be a sign of serious health concerns among humans.
Nugget- or pebble-shaped poop is a symptom of constipation, but can also be a sign of various ailments like dehydration, insufficient fiber, or lack of physical activity. This may also be a side effect of certain medications, so it’s important to consult with a professional to address the underlying issue that’s causing your nugget poop.
One hangs lower
It’s completely normal for parts of your body to be asymmetrical. After all no one is perfect. This is also true when it comes to testicles.
It has been found that on average, men’s right testicle tends to be larger than the left, while the left one tends to be the one to hang lower. With more right-handed people in the world, it makes sense that if you’re right-handed, chances are you have a lower left testicle than right. Maybe that’s just the body’s way of balancing itself out.
How important the brain really is
We don’t know but if you had to pick the most important aspect of the human body, it’d probably be the brain. This fact here only makes that point even more paramount, quite honestly. The human brain contains 86 billion nerve cells, and these are joined together by 100 trillion connections.
While it’s certainly hard to put that into perspective, it basically means that the brain is always working its hardest to do even the most mundane of tasks. It’s truly insane how the brain functions, and how important it is for humans to live.
Length of pleasure
It’s pretty well known that there are differences between the way men and women experience pleasure un the bedroom, but did you know there’s a time difference in their pleasure as well?
On average, a woman’s climax can last from 25 to 30 seconds. Men, on the other hand experience a much wider range from four seconds to 22 seconds. Next time you find yourself in the bedroom, time yourself and see how long your pleasure lasts.
Getting a brand-new skeleton
There’s more than one reason to celebrate when the start of a new decade commences. Around every ten years, your skeleton will be replaced by a brand-new one. This doesn’t even seem real because it’s not as if you can feel a new skeleton generating.
Now, it’s worth mentioning that as we get older, this process slows down. Also, as we get older, the skeleton gets more fragile and brittle. This makes sense as the elderly are more prone to broken bones when they fall.
