The Body

The satisfying sensation of using Q-Tips has a scientific explanation.

This may not give you the best reading of your body composition.

Body comp scales claim to measure how much fat and muscle you have, but they may not give an accurate picture of health. Here’s why.

Oranges and other fruits can leave you itchy, but there's a simple explanation.

If eating fresh fruit makes your mouth tingle, you might have this little-known (but very treatable) condition.

Digital blood pressure monitors allow people to check their systolic and diastolic numbers at home.

You can’t actually feel your blood pressure, but it’s one of the body’s most important indicators of cardiovascular health. Here’s the lowdown on how blood pressure works—and what it means for your overall wellness.

It sounds like a myth, but hot drinks really can make you cooler.

Here‘s the dreaded wisdom tooth doing its thing.

Once essential for early humans, wisdom teeth are now more of a nuisance than a necessity.

All that steam isn't exactly a good thing.

Why do farts always seem to smell worse in the shower? You can blame science (and how enclosed the space usually is in the first place) for this bizarre phenomenon.

Time to get the facts straight on this fact of life.

Should you be worried about animal attacks when you’re menstruating?

There are many factors to consider when it comes to choosing a wash routine that‘s best for you.

Find out how factors like age, hair type, and lifestyle influence your ideal shampoo routine.

Who cut the cheese? Hard to say in a cabin this packed.

There’s a scientific explanation for why folks fart more on airplanes, but it doesn’t make it any less aggravating.

You can avoid brain freeze with a couple of easy precautions.

Here's what’s happening in your body when you eat ice cream or drink a chilled beverage too fast.

An illustration of the vagus nerve’s location in the human body.

The vagus nerve does it all—tells your lungs to breathe, controls your heart rate, and even forms the foundation for a whole new medical field.

A 19th-century illustration of a human heart.

Technically, your heart isn’t made of gold. And don't wear it in on your sleeve—you’ll make a mess. Here are 11 scientific facts about your ticker.

Several factors make people more susceptible to the flu in winter.

Like clockwork, flu viruses seem to strike more people in winter than in any other season—and there are several reasons for that.

George Washington died after his physician treated his sore throat with bloodletting, but don't let that stop you from learning more about the human circulatory system.

A detail of a copy of Michelangelo’s ‘David’

The male sexual organ is more complicated than it might seem.

Red hair and freckles are two traits partially determined by genes.

Humans are now known to have between 20,000 and 25,000 genes, but researchers still have much to learn about these small segments of DNA.

Feeling like garbage? That’s your immune system at work.

Without our immune system, we wouldn't last very long: this complex network of organs and cells fights off pathogens and helps maintain our health.

Your lungs expel carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water vapor every time you exhale.

Taking in oxygen to power your whole body is just one part of your lung function. Altogether, your lungs are a highly efficient machine—and they do a lot more than you might think.

Discover more about the origins of toenails—plus the real reasons why your toenails may be getting thicker and changing colors.

Body fat is not just something to get rid of. It plays important roles in the human body, from regulating metabolism to storing energy.

Experts say that it pays to proceed with caution.

Worried about the health risks that come with shoveling show? Here's what you need to know, plus a few tips for how to do it safely.

Not only is the liver your largest internal organ; it is in charge of hundreds of bodily processes ranging from fighting infection to manufacturing proteins and hormones to helping your blood clot.

It’s less than an inch in diameter.

Why We Can’t Resist Sticking Q-Tips in Our Ears, Even Though It’s Dangerous

Why Body Composition Scales Aren’t the Best Way to Measure Fitness

Do Oranges Make Your Lips Itch? Here's the Reason Why

How Does Blood Pressure Work?

Does Drinking a Hot Drink Really Cool You Down?

Why Do People Have Wisdom Teeth?

There's a Reason Why It Smells Extra Gross If You Fart in the Shower

9 Misconceptions About Menstruation

How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?

Yes, People Fart More on Planes—Here’s Why

What Causes Brain Freeze?

9 Fascinating Facts About the Vagus Nerve

11 Fit Facts About the Heart

Why Is the Flu Seasonal?

7 Vital Facts About Blood

12 Facts About the Penis

13 Facts About Genes

12 Fantastic Facts About the Immune System

11 Facts About the Lungs

Why Do Humans Have Toenails?

13 Enlightening Facts About Body Fat

Is It Really Possible To Have a Heart Attack Shoveling Snow?

12 Foundational Facts About the Liver

13 Facts About the Spinal Cord