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.

THE BODY
Anesthesia is a complex mixture of medications that lessen pain during procedures. Different types affect the body in different ways.
China, Chile, and New Zealand are a few places that have historic mummies of their own.
Barring some dramatic medical advancements, living into your eighties remains the best-case scenario.
Many people underestimate the damage that suppressing a sneeze can cause.
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.
If a trip to Target inevitably ends with you making a pit stop at the restroom, you're not alone.
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.
Corpses are less scary than you think.
‘The Care & Keeping of You’ paved the way for countless puberty books to come.
Considering how familiar we all are with the human body—since we all have one—there is a surprising number of enduring myths about it.
The ancient art of sword swallowing may seem like some sort of elaborate trick—but it’s very, very real (and very, very dangerous).
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.
It's known as "middle-aged groan," and it afflicts millions who dare try to get off the couch.
Even if sunscreen is part of your daily routine, there might be some major areas—like your eyelids—where you’ve been forgetting to apply it.