Think you know all there is to know about the human body?
We like to think we know ourselves pretty well. But really, we are one of the biggest, most complex mysteries on the planet.
The human brain alone is so amazingly complex, that it’s too intricate for current science to fully understand & replicate its inner workings. And there are so many other things about us that are still left unexplained.
With all that said, there are however, a lot of things we do know about the human body, that science has already discovered; but leaves us in awe of how it’s humanly possible.
Everything about the human body, right down to the cellular level works beautifully well in harmony. Functioning just right to keep us alive & thriving. We are the world’s most complex mystery; and there are countless wonders about us.
How many things still remain a mystery though? milliions?… billions?… Who really knows
Here are just 9 of the countless incredible things that make our bodies work superbly well:
1. Over a Trillion Smells
We don’t think of our noses as very powerful body parts. Especially because they can easily be fooled. Yet somehow they are the most sensitive part of the human body.
Numerous blindfold and smell tests have be done to see how much we are able to detect subtle differences in what we smell.
The results, usually mediocre. Perhaps it’s because we don’t rely on them as much as our pets do; we don’t really need to. We tend to rely heavily on our sense of sight, hearing, and touch.
Experimental research found that our noses pick up well over 100 different odors with many variations. Over 1 trillion combinations in total.
There’s no way we would even be able to smell 1 trillion scents in our lifetime (at least not 1 at a time). It would take almost 32,000 years just to count to 1 trillion.
2. Swimming Pools of Drool
Saliva is something we don’t talk about much, it’s kind of disgusting, right? When you think of salivating, you probably think of drooling. Or how about that big wet kiss you got in grade school that was a bit too much.
So what’s the big deal about it? Well, do you like having a big bright smile? Saliva plays a important part in keeping our teeth clean and healthy.
Saliva is also a big reason we’re able to taste our food. Thank goodness! it sure would take a lot of enjoyment out of our dining experiences, with all the delicious foods there are.
The amount we produce from our salivary glands is staggering. In just 1 day alone; we produce about a wine bottle’s worth of saliva.
But that’s nothing though; over the course of our lifetime, the human body will typically produce enough saliva to fill up 2 back yard swimming pools. Gross, I know, but you have to admit it’s kind of impressive; and very important.
3. Diverse Body Heat
Ever notice how women always say they’re cold? their hands are cold, their feet are cold, etc; while men usually claim they’re fine. Well, there’s a good reason for that. That’s because men and women have different body temperatures.
We may both be warm blooded, but studies show that women typically have higher body temperatures than men do. While women get cold much easier, men are more acclimated to colder temperatures.
So, it’s not just due to “rugged manliness”; men are actually able to fend off the cold weather better. Hormone levels also play a part in this. High levels of hormones also raise core body temperature for women.
On top of that, men are known to have almost 25% higher metabolism levels than women. Which plays a big part in staying all warm and toasty.
The more your body is working to burn fuel, the hotter it gets. Think of it this way, when you go for a jog, you’re burning energy faster. Which raises you core temperature, and thus making you hotter; same concept here.
The plus side, energy conservation. Women conserve energy much better than men. They tend keep most of the body heat where it’s most vital; in the middle.
Ladies have more heat and more blood flow that’s centrally located. This helps keep the organs working well and healthy.
So there’s a perfectly good explanation ladies, when saying we have cold hands or cold feet. All the more reason to put on some thick cozy socks, and throw on our favorite pair of boots in the Winter.
4. Your Brain Feels No Pain
Many ancient cultures believed that when the human body experienced pain, it was some curse, punishment from the gods, or possession of evil spirits.
The Dark Ages are well past us now though. We now know that pain (both physical & emotional) is just an experience picked up by the brain.
The brain communicates with the body through our central nervous system. Sending signals through neuro-transmitters. This is how we experience pain.
The fascinating thing is that the brain itself does not actually feel pain. Our brains have no pain receptors. This is quite the oxymoron.
When we get headaches, it’s not our brain that is hurting. Headaches happen when the blood vessels in our head release chemicals that cause inflammation to the membrane that surrounds our brain.
This is one of the reasons why when brain surgeons operate; they can do so with the patient being awake. Could you imagine someone cutting your brain with a scalpel & not feeling a thing?… Sounds freaky.
5. Stomachs of Steel
People who can eat a lot of different foods, like really spicy food, are known to have a “stomach of steel”. But the truth is, we all have stomachs that are incredibly durable.
The fact that our stomachs are able to hold up against the acids in them is surprisingly odd. Given that it can burn right through some metals.
The digestive acids produced in our stomach are made up of an extremely corrosive mix. It’s a combination of hydrochloric acid, sodium chloride, and potassium chloride. This combination about equivalent to battery acid.
Yet, somehow it stays contained in our stomachs, no problem. In fact stomach acid keeps us alive; we wouldn’t be able to digest our food without it.
The production of digestive acid plays a key part in breaking down food, so we can get the nutrition we need from it. Just one more of the amazing things the human body does to stay healthy.
6. Ear Identification
Fingerprints are literally one of a kind. Out of over 8 billion people; no 2 people have the same prints. It’s no wonder we use them to identify who we are. But there’s another body part that is just as unique,… our ears.
Scientists & developers have even been working on softwares to measure ear structure, much the same way they use facial recognition. They hope to one day use it along with fingerprints & DNA for identification. Ear shape is just one more thing that makes us who we are.
7. Really Tough Hair
Another one of the more durable parts of our body, believe it or not, is our hair follicles. While fire can burn hair, it can withstand a host of other things, like chemicals and acids.
Our hair is made up of our skin. It grows as a way of “recycling” our old skin cells, if you will. Which is why a good diet, rich in vitamins and protein, is essential to keeping hair healthy & shiny.
Our hair is the second fastest growing part of our body, and it breaks down very slowly compared to the rest of us.
The average person has somewhere around 100,000 hair follicles. Typically, people with blonde hair have about 40% more follicles (about 140,000); while people with red hair, typically have around 85,000.
8. We’re Taller by Day
Do you know that you have no true height? Height fluctuates all the time. We grow about a half inch every day on average. This sounds crazy right? By that right, we should all be 100 ft tall by now.
This is due to our spines elongating while we sleep. When we lay down at night, our body goes into recharge mode. The vertebrae in our spines decompress, allowing for fluids to replenish the cartilage between the vertebrae.
Now, if you had a balloon and filled it with water, doesn’t it swell up and grow? We have 33 vertebrae going through the same process every night.
When we wake up in the morning, we are at our tallest. Gravity takes effect throughout the day, compressing us back down. So if someone asks you how tall you are, you could reply back “what time is it”?
9. Mark of the Gods
Some people have dimples, and a lot of people find them appealing. If you have them you may receive compliments from time to time. Especially when talking to someone new.
But there’s another kind of dimple we’re talking about here, a little lower on the body. They are called back dimples.
Back dimples are unique too; in that not everyone has them. They were considered a mark of beauty hundreds of years ago.
The artist Michelangelo called them the “dimples of Venus”. The Greek Goddess of love, when referring to women who had them. Men with back dimples were known to have the “dimples of Apollo”.
They are for some mysterious reason, very pleasing to the eye. Perhaps, it’s because they are fairly unique.
Or maybe it could be an instinctual way of signifying someone’s good health. Supposedly they help improve circulation to the lower back, because of the way the ligaments are structured. Giving the lower back these small, unique divots.
Journey Into the Future:
There’s no shortage of amazing wonders that make up our body & how they work. Science discovers new things all the time. And will continue to do so, for many years to come. Medical advances and scientific research are largely responsible for improving the quantity, and the quality of our lives.
The human body leaves us, at least as many open mysteries to discover as the deep blue sea. But as we venture into the unknown depths, we will always continue to shine new light on its inner workings. The light being our curiosity, and our will to make a better world for everybody.
Article Resource: Youtube – TheHUB
