Health on ZME Science

The Ames Room: The optical illusion that will make you doubt your eyes

The Ames Room illusion challenges our understanding of perception and shows how easily our brains can be tricked by visual cues.

What causes dark circles under the eyes? A sciency look behind them

Dark circles under the eyes can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetics, lifestyle choices, and environmental factors.

What makes things cute?

It's obviously kittens. Just stick kittens on everything.

What causes hangovers? The science behind the dreadful morning after

There is no science-based cure for hangovers, but there are some helpful pointers.

Five ways to cure hangovers that anybody can apply

They all boil down to "treat yo' body right".

Why is insulin so outrageously expensive in the United States?

There is little genuine competition and manufacturers are free to set high prices with impunity. But there is also more to this story.

Meet the people who literally feel no fear

Fear is hundreds of millions of years old. But some people have the superhuman ability to laugh in its face.

What happens in the brain when you mix marijuana and alcohol

Mixing alcohol and marijuana, known as crossfading, can amplify the highs but also the lows.

Why some people have ingrown toenails, explained by science

Ingrown toenails are a common but painful problem.

Why the most expensive coffee in the world is ingested and then defecated

There are many types of coffee in the world, each with its own particular taste and aroma. The quality and the price of coffee can vary greatly, and sometimes, it can go way overboard. For instance, the most expensive types of coffee are the ones that have been ingested and defecated. What makes this process […]

The types of vaccines that help our society gain the upper hand against disease

Here is why vaccines are the greatest miracles of medical science.

The best coffee beans: what type of coffee comes from what beans

There are over 120 known species of coffee.

Who invented pizza? A trip down memory lane

Grab a slice!

The sleepless elite: are you a short sleeper?

Many claim to be a part of the sleepless elite. But short sleepers are few and far between.

Does the 'Superhero' pose actually make people feel more confident?

A lot of bold claims have been made about the psychological impact of standing tall with a puffed chest and hands plants on the hips.

Why do we stretch when we yawn?

We all do it.

Why getting a tattoo hurts -- the science behind inking

Humans have tattooed themselves since times immemorial to celebrate gods, show social standing, for medicinal purposes or just to look good. And since the dawn of this controversial form of art, people have endured excruciating pain to adorn their body with ink; but why does tattooing hurt so much?

6 Reasons Why Your Eye is Twitching

Never has something so benign been so annoying.

What was Albert Einstein's IQ?

Einstein never took an IQ test but some academics have estimated his score based on historical records.

How eye color is determined: from brown to blue

Have you ever wondered why your eyes are the color they are? The answer lies in the complex world of eye color genetics.

They smell like garlic but sell like diamonds -- what are truffles?

The fruit is so rare that it needs to be hunted.

Redheads do feel more pain -- and they're tougher than anyone else

Redheads might not have more fun, but they're definitely more interesting.

Where does the taurine in energy drinks come from?

Taruine doesn't actually come from bull urine.

What is the highest IQ in the world (and should you actually care?)

A high IQ is a nice head start -- but it's far from telling the whole story.

How long can we survive without food or water?

This will vary a lot from person to person, but the ‘rule of three’ is generally valid: 3 days without drink and three weeks without food.

What is the most common blood type?

Have you ever wondered why people around the world have different blood types?

What is decision paralysis and how to not let it defeat you

It happens more often than you think.

Are strawberries berries? Uhm, not really. But bananas are berries, and it gets weirder

Corn and pumpkin are berries, but blackberries and raspberries are not and nothing makes sense anymore.

The science behind meat sweats: what causes them and how to prevent them

A high-protein meal can be tasty, but it may come at a price you have to pay in sweat.

Will going outside with your hair wet actually make you sick? A common myth debunked

Going outside with wet hair won't turn you into a viral magnet, but that doesn't mean you should do it anyway.

Inside Kuru: the strange brain-eating disease caused by human cannibalism

How a strange illness connected to consuming human flesh led to two Nobel Prizes.

About 69% of the world's diet is 'foreign', and this map proves it

Whenever people from different cultures met, one of the first things they exchanged was food. The world is now a lot richer (and bearable) thanks to them.

What is prosopagnosia: the rare medical condition that makes Brad Pitt (and many others) forget faces

Not all people you've met who don't recognize your face are jerks. Believe it or not, some have a genuine medical condition.

Designer babies may be coming soon. Here's why this matters

There's more than one way to "design" babies. Should we be worried?

Science shows what type of flirting works best

To master the art of flirting, it helps to study the science.

Eliminating toys from fast food menus is an easy way to tackle food waste and childhood obesity

Something as innocuous as a Happy Meal toy could have important consequences.

What is synesthesia: Hearing sounds and tasting shapes

What does this article taste like?

Why does bottled water have an expiration date?

It might seem pointless, but it’s not the water that spoils.

What vaccines and boosters actually do against COVID-19

The data is clear: there's a big difference between death rates from COVID-19 for unvaccinated, vaccinated, and boosted people.

What is eidetic memory: the poor man's photographic memory

Sorry to bust your bubble, but there's no such thing as photographic memory. Here's the next best thing.

What does it mean if your poop is green - do you need to see a doctor?

Many different factors can change your stool color, including diet, lifestyle, and health issues.

Brain scans are saving convicted murderers from death row–but should they?

Perpetrators of horrendous crimes could avoid the death penalty because of their brainwaves.

Left, right, or ambidextrous: What determines handedness?

Less than 1% of the population can use both their hands equally well at any task. But there's still much we don't know about this fascinating ability.