Life's Little Mysteries Body & Mind Archives
Why Do Some People Have Hair on Their Knuckles?
September 7 , 2010, by Michelle Bryner, Life’s Little Mysteries Contributor
Hair isn't just for looks. The hair on our heads keeps us warm and protects against the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays, while that growing in our noses keeps out dust and other unwanted intruders. But… View Full Article »
Is Bad Handwriting Genetic?
September 7 , 2010, by Remy Melina, Life's Little Mysteries Staff Writer
Whether a person writes in script like their mother or sloppily slants their letters like their father, their handwriting is a mix of both nature and nurture, experts say.
Many factors go into determining… View Full Article »
Do MRI Machines Affect Tattoos?
September 1 , 2010, by Remy Melina, Life's Little Mysteries Staff Writer
From infectious diseases to allergic reactions, tattoos carry many risks – but one often overlooked safety hazard is how tattoos react to MRI scans.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machines are used… View Full Article »
What Does the Gallbladder Do?
September 1 , 2010, by Joe Levit, Life's Little Mysteries Contributor
The gallbladder is a muscular organ the size of a dill pickle that helps the small intestine digest food. It's located in the middle of your torso on the right side – picture a pouch shaped like a pear… View Full Article »
How Are Memories Stored in the Brain?
August 31 , 2010, by Molika Ashford, Life's Little Mysteries Contributor
Because memories underlie so much of our rich life as humans — our ability to learn, to tell stories, even to recognize each other — it's unsettling to think that it all hinges on the mass of flesh… View Full Article »
What Causes Anorexia?
August 31 , 2010, by Benjamin Radford, Life's Little Mysteries Contributor
Anorexia is a very rare and complex psychological disorder that is characterized by dramatic weight loss, perfectionism and an obsessive concern over weight gain.
About 0.6 percent of the adult population… View Full Article »
What's Black Lung?
August 27 , 2010, by Remy Melina, Life's Little Mysteries Staff Writer
Aside from collapses and other hazards that all miners face, coal miners also have to worry about developing black lung, a deadly but preventable disease caused by the inhalation of coal dust.
In severe… View Full Article »
Are Organic Eggs Safer?
August 26 , 2010, by Remy Melina, Life's Little Mysteries Staff Writer
Federal officials matched the Salmonella bacteria responsible for the current egg recalls to bacteria found in barns and chicken feed at two major Iowa egg producing facilities today. The wave of recalls… View Full Article »
What Exactly Do They Do During an Autopsy?
August 26 , 2010, by Nicholas Gerbis, Life's Little Mysteries Contributor
What most of us know of autopsies comes from popular television crime dramas, with their super-sleuth forensics teams and equipment so cutting-edge it borders on science fiction. We're spoiled by the convenient… View Full Article »
Are Tattoos Risky?
August 26 , 2010, by Remy Melina, Life's Little Mysteries Staff Writer
Getting a tattoo carries major risks. In a recent University of British Columbia study, researchers determined that the risk of hepatitis C is directly linked with the number of tattoos a person gets,… View Full Article »
