What would happen if you didn’t drink water? – Mia Nacamulli
Water is virtually everywhere, from soil moisture and ice caps, to the cells inside our own bodies. Depending on factors like location, fat index, age, and sex, the average human…
The benefits of a bilingual brain – Mia Nacamulli
¿Hablas español? Parlez-vous français? 你会说中文吗？ If you answered, "sí," "oui," or "会" and you're watching this in English, chances are you belong to the world's bilingual and multilingual majority. And…
How to spot a pyramid scheme – Stacie Bosley
In 2004, a new company called Vemma Nutrition started offering a life-changing opportunity to earn full time income for part time work. Vemma’s offer was open to everybody, regardless of…
What causes dandruff, and how do you get rid of it? – Thomas L. Dawson
Here in this abundant forest, Malassezia is equipped with everything it could ever need. Feasting constantly, it’s in paradise. But wait— what’s this? In fact, Malassezia is a type of…
What causes kidney stones? – Arash Shadman
The biggest kidney stone on record weighed more than a kilogram and was 17 centimeters in diameter. The patient didn't actually swallow a stone the size of a coconut. Kidney…
The surprising reason our muscles get tired – Christian Moro
You're lifting weights. The first time feels easy, but each lift takes more and more effort until you can’t continue. Inside your arms, the muscles responsible for the lifting have…
What is MSG, and is it actually bad for you? – Sarah E. Tracy
In 1968, Dr. Robert Ho Man Kwok felt ill after dinner at a Chinese restaurant. He wrote a letter detailing his symptoms to a prestigious medical journal, pondering whether his…
How does caffeine keep us awake? – Hanan Qasim
Over 100,000 metric tons of caffeine are consumed around the world every year. That's equivalent to the weight of 14 Eiffel Towers. Most of this caffeine is consumed in coffee…
How sugar affects the brain – Nicole Avena
Picture warm, gooey cookies, crunchy candies, velvety cakes, waffle cones piled high with ice cream. Is your mouth watering? Are you craving dessert? Why? What happens in the brain that…
Why is being scared so fun? – Margee Kerr
Somewhere right now, people are lining up to scare themselves, maybe with a thrill ride or horror movie. In fact, in October of 2015 alone, about 28 million people visited…