From head to toe

Check out these 10 human body myths you didn't know were false

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Is it true that we only use 10% of our brains? Do carrots really improve your vision? Science has spoken and said, "Fake!" There are many widely believed myths about the human body, but despite their popularity and long history, it has been proven that most of these claims are actually not true. Join us as we uncover 10 myths about the human body that have been debunked!

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What do you usually do when you're nervous? Some people tap their feet, others fuss with their hair, and some crack their knuckles like a fireworks show on the 4th of July. If you belong to the last group, this info will help you.

There's a common myth that cracking your joints can cause you to develop arthritis. However, while most doctors advise against making a habit of this practice, there isn't enough scientific evidence to establish a direct link between the cracking (caused by gas bubbles forming and collapsing) and arthritis.

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You've probably heard that shaving makes body hair grow thicker and darker. But this is a myth!

While it may seem like the hair grows back thicker, there's actually a simple explanation for this. The razor cuts the hair at the surface of the skin, leaving a blunt tip. As the hair grows back, that tip feels sharp to the touch, which is why we tend to believe that the hair has become thicker. In contrast, when you wax, every hair is removed from the root, so it grows back with a softer tip.

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This is one of the most famous myths related to the human body. Although it's quite interesting, it's actually false that we only use a small percentage of our brains.

Neuroscience has shown that we use all of our brain, with distinct parts dedicated to different functions. In fact, various tests, such as MRI and PET scans, reveal that different areas of our brain are active even when we're asleep.

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Carrots' high vitamin A content can help maintain eye health. However, this vegetable won't make you skip the eye doctor.

Perhaps this is bad news for Bugs Bunny, but the myth that eating carrots drastically improves vision has already been disproved. This idea is thought to have arisen during WWII when it was suggested that eating carrots helped British pilots see better at night. In reality, the pilots' improved vision was due to the use of radar, but the association between carrots and better vision stuck.

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There was a theory that the human body can't produce new neurons after a certain age. That's a bit scary, isn't it? Fortunately, neuroscience has once again put on its gloves to prove this is a myth.

It has been shown that our body is indeed capable of producing new neurons through a process called "neurogenesis." Although less frequent than in childhood, neurogenesis does occur in adulthood and is boosted by physical exercise and mental stimulation.

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Remember that time when you accidentally swallowed gum, and an adult told you it would stay stuck in your stomach for years? Well, thankfully, that's just a myth!

Although your body can't digest gum like other foods, the natural movement of your digestive system helps it pass through and eventually be expelled.

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For years, egg yolks have been viewed with suspicion. Many believed they were bad for your heart or could significantly raise your blood cholesterol levels.

However, recent studies suggest that if you're not at risk or don't have specific cholesterol-related issues, there's no need to worry much about egg yolks.

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There's a well-known idea that swimming after eating is dangerous to your health and can cause cramps. Remember those moments of staring longingly at the pool, counting down the mandatory 30 minutes after eating? Thankfully, this wait is no longer necessary, as that idea has been discredited as a myth!

While you may feel a little heavy if you go swimming shortly after a meal, the truth is, under normal conditions, swimming with food in your stomach is generally considered safe.

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Often portrayed in movies, TV shows, and cartoons, there's this idea that waking a sleepwalker can have fatal consequences. But it turns out that there's no need to fear, as science has confirmed that as a myth.

However, while it's safe to (gently) wake a sleepwalker, it's generally better to simply guide them calmly back to bed instead.

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It has long been believed that a person's nails and hair continue to grow even after passing away. Although there are reasons to believe it, this creepy myth has been disproved.

What actually happens is that the skin dehydrates and retracts, creating the illusion that the nails or hair are longer. Both hair and nails require living cells and a blood supply to grow.

DECODING DNA

10 Surprising Facts About Genetics and DNA

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Genetics can both fascinate and befuddle us with its complexity, but understanding its mechanisms just might be the key to deciphering the building blocks of our entire existence. From genes that are shared between different species to viruses that insert themselves into our DNA, here are 10 things you—likely—didn’t know about genetics and DNA.

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We vastly underestimate the amount of DNA we carry around in our cells. If you were to unravel all the DNA molecules in your body and lay them end to end, they would stretch an astonishing 10 billion miles—enough to reach the moon and back over 40 thousand times! However, despite the vast amount of DNA in our bodies, if we were to gather and weigh all of it together, it would surprisingly amount to only around 8 ounces.

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Surprisingly, humans share about 50% of their DNA with bananas! But this shouldn’t be too surprising given the fact that all life on Earth evolved from a single organism, roughly 3.5 billion years ago. Every living creature on our planet has the same type of DNA, undergoing almost identical processes in order to live and reproduce.

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Certain species, like salamanders and starfish, possess remarkable regenerative abilities, allowing them to regrow lost limbs. Other species like axolotls or jellyfish can even go further, regenerating anything from parts of their brains to crucial internal organs, or even recovering from being cut in half! Understanding the genetic mechanisms behind this ability holds promise for regenerative medicine and even tissue engineering.

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Surprisingly, we inherit slightly more DNA from our mother’s side. While everyone receives 50% of DNA from each parent, a small portion of mitochondrial DNA, which is passed down exclusively from mother to child, contributes to this imbalance. Mitochondrial DNA also allows for tracing the ancient relationships of human populations, and for this reason, it is extensively studied in anthropology and evolutionary biology.

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Scientists have already successfully stored digital data within DNA molecules, and many believe the technique has potential as a long-term storage solution. Its vast storage capacity and durability make it very attractive to store digital information, but the technology is still in development.

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DNA is sort of a blueprint that determines most of our traits and characteristics, but it is far from having the last say on how particular traits or genes will express themselves. Environmental factors can modify gene expression without changing the underlying DNA sequence, potentially impacting health and development. This is the reason that even identical twins have noticeable differences, like unique fingerprints.

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Studies have shown that certain environmental factors experienced by parents, like exposure to stress or traumatic events, can leave chemical marks on DNA that are passed down to offspring. This phenomenon is called transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, and though it seems to contradict some of the tenets of Darwinian ideas, it is now widely accepted as one of the many mechanisms of genetic inheritance in most living organisms.

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Rare genetic mutations can give natural immunity to certain diseases. In time, if these genes can be distributed sufficiently within a given population this can even lead to collective immunity. For example, there is a genetic mutation called CCR5-delta 32 that provides natural immunity to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) by altering the structure of a specific protein these viruses use to infect cells. Studying these unique phenomena can be promising for developing cures and more effective treatments.

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A significant portion of the human genome consists of non-coding DNA, often referred to as "junk" DNA because it does not code for proteins. However, recent research suggests that this non-coding DNA plays important roles in gene regulation and genome stability, challenging the notion of it being just 'junk'.

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Horizontal gene transfer is a very weird phenomenon where genetic material is transferred between completely different species, bypassing traditional vertical inheritance from parent to offspring. Although the mechanism behind this process is poorly understood, scientists believe that it played a significant role in the evolution of many organisms. In fact, certain types of viruses force this to happen in order to encode themselves into the DNA of their hosts and reproduce.