Mental Floss

THE BODY

The pineal gland is located in the center of the brain.

René Descartes once described the pineal gland as “the principal seat of the soul.” Medical knowledge has vastly progressed since his time, though. Here’s what we know about this critical organ.

Jordan Rosenfeld
A doctor checks a young girl for swollen tonsils.

You might think they’re unnecessary, because so many people have had their tonsils removed—but tonsils actually serve an important role in your immune system.

Jordan Rosenfeld


Nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas) is a common anesthetic that only requires a mask over the mouth and nose.

Anesthesia is a complex mixture of medications that lessen pain during procedures. Different types affect the body in different ways.

CaLea Johnson














Land Sickness can be just as unsettling as seasickness.

Seasickness happens when a person’s body struggles to grow accustomed to a boat’s motion patterns, causing them to feel unsteady and often nauseated. But land sickness happens in reverse.

Mary Beth Skylis
iStock

Thanks to binding her ribs in tight corsets, Guinness World Record holder Cathie Jung has a waist that is the same circumference as a jar of mayonnaise.

Jordan Rosenfeld








Watching a scary movie can definitely send shivers down your spine—but why?

You’re watching a scary movie or the music swells during your favorite song—the shiver up and down your spine is your body responding to a range of emotions.

Stephanie DePetrillo