15 strange facts you didn't know about the human body
The human body can do amazing things. But did you know that the hair can absorb air pollutants? There are still tons of facts we are still discovering all the crazy facts about our body.
The hair can actually taste.
That's right, your lungs and nose are lined with little hairs called cilia that detect impurities by sensing a bitter taste. When something bitter passes through them they increase the rate of movement to get rid of any potentially bad stuff.
Stomach acid can dissolve razor blades.
A study was conducted with stomach acid and metal over 24 hours and resulted in the stomach acid dissolving razor blades by 63%. That doesn't mean we should eat them though.
Humans are the only creatures that can weep.
Tears are not only an environmental response but for some people they also serve as a social signal. However, this emotional crying is only exhibited in humans.
People have more than 5 senses.
Along with taste, touch, sight, smell and hearing people also have senses of space (proprioception), of pain (nociception), of balance (equilibrioception), of temperature (thermoception) and a sense of time (temporal perception).
Your stomach has a second brain.
The gut is lined with its own set of neurons which scientists call 'our second brain'. The gut reacts to its own signals of reflexes and senses and is intricately intwined with our nervous system.
There are actually no muscles in your fingers.
While there are muscles in your hands there are actually none in your fingers. Instead the digits work with a system of tendons, bones and muscles signals from your palm.
We are taller in the morning than we are at night.
This sounds like a bit of a myth but it's actually true. Due to the pressure put on our joints during the day we actually end up being taller when you wake up.
People are as hairy per inch as gorillas.
People have been found to have just as many hair follicles per inch as any other great ape, making us just as hairy as a gorilla, technically speaking...
Your body position affects your memory.
Scientists have discovered that if you sitting and looking down, it is easier to recall negative memories. However, if you sit upright and look up it helps you to recall happy memories.
You have a one of a kind tongue print.
Just like your fingerprints your tongue print is unique to you!
Fingernails grow faster today than they did in the past.
Studies from both 50 and 70 years ago show that growth has increased by almost a quarter. Supposedly this is due to the rapid growth of protein rich diets.
You lose almost a third of your bones as you age.
Humans are born with about 300 bones but as they grow some bones actually fuse together. By the time a person stops growing they will end up with around 206 bones.
Humans actually glow, we just can't see it.
Research has proven that people actually emit light. However, the light is 1000 times duller than can be seen by the human eye.
A blink acts as a micro-nap.
Blinking not only keeps the eyes moist and dust free but research shows it also helps us to sharpen attention and acts as a tiny recharge.
Your hair helps the environment.
If your hair is dirty it could be doing the world a service. Environmental engineers from Missouri University have proven that hair and scalp oils help to absorb air pollutants.
