Topic

Medicine, Psychology & Health

A collection of 141 issues

The Shape-Shifter's Code: How Science Solved the Genetic Mystery of Proteus Syndrome

Caused by a spontaneous mutation in a single gene, Proteus syndrome triggers dramatic, uncontrolled tissue growth. This extremely rare condition, famously associated with Joseph Merrick, has moved from a 19th-century mystery to a solvable genetic puzzle.

Medicine, Psychology & Health Science & Nature History

The Audacious Plan to Revive George Washington with Lamb's Blood

Hours after George Washington's death, a physician and architect arrived with a radical plan: thaw the president's body, inflate his lungs, and transfuse him with lamb's blood. The family's decision left history with one of its most bizarre 'what if' scenarios.

History Medicine, Psychology & Health Oddities & Curiosities

The Spectator in Your Own Skull: What Happens in the Brain During Dissociation

When faced with overwhelming input, the brain can build a mental firewall, cutting off emotion to create a profound sense of detachment. This neurological glitch reveals how our very sense of self is a fragile biological construct.

Medicine, Psychology & Health Science & Nature Oddities & Curiosities

The Soil and the Silicon: Our Last Best Hope Against Superbugs

To combat drug-resistant superbugs, scientists are turning to two unlikely allies: the earth beneath our feet and the artificial minds in our computers. By using AI to scan millions of compounds and exploring soil for novel bacteria, we are finally discovering entirely new classes of antibiotics.

Medicine, Psychology & Health Technology & Innovation Science & Nature

Bubble Trouble: The Anatomy of the Myth That Sparkling Water Is Ruining Your Teeth

The fear that your fizzy water habit is dissolving your teeth is largely a myth. While plain sparkling water is slightly acidic, dental science reveals its threat is minimal, pointing instead to the real, often-overlooked culprits lurking in your glass.

Medicine, Psychology & Health Food & Lifestyle Science & Nature

The Lethal Bath: A Cautionary Tale of Misinformation During the SARS Outbreak

During the 2004 SARS outbreak, a Taiwanese woman died after bathing in a 40.5% ethanol solution, believing it would prevent infection. She suffered fatal ethanol poisoning via transdermal absorption, a stark reminder of the lethal danger of unverified health advice.

Medicine, Psychology & Health History Oddities & Curiosities

Beyond the Hole in the Head: The Complex Case of Phineas Gage

Phineas Gage, a 19th-century railroad foreman, survived a horrific accident where an iron rod passed through his skull. The resulting personality change from responsible worker to an impulsive man offered the first major proof that the brain's frontal lobes govern personality and social behavior.

Biography & Personal Stories Medicine, Psychology & Health History

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