When someone nearby yawns, we often feel as if we've lost bodily control. Our jaws open involuntarily, overcome by some unseen force and compelled to mimic the gaping mouth in our midst. Merely thinking about yawning can cause you to yawn — an unrelenting problem for anyone pondering and writing about the subject.No one knows for sure what triggers this automatic (and often unconscious) response, but experts have proposed a few theories. Whether simultaneous yawning raises our collective aware ...read more
It's been 485 years since the last eruption at Italy's Campi Flegrei. As you might guess, a lot has changed. When Monte Nuovo formed in 1538, the population in and around Naples was a few hundred thousand people. Today, that number is closer to three million people. The 1538 eruption produced a small cinder cone in Pouzzuoli at the mouth of the Bay of Naples, burying parts of medieval villages. With increased restlessness under the Campi Flegrei, Italy has to contend with the fact that even a sm ...read more
With the gnawing emptiness that follows a skipped lunch, or a day of fasting in preparation for a big meal, you might wonder if that rumbling stomach of yours is actually capable of shrinking with hunger. After all, it sometimes feels like it.The idea that our stomachs can shrink is thrown around often, especially in the context of dieting to curb appetite or by medications promising weight loss. Sure, you can lose weight and body fat, but does that mean your stomach has changed sizes, too? To a ...read more
Women make up about a third of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Though still underrepresented, women have made gains over the years and now comprise almost half of students earning STEM undergraduate degrees. But despite women's current struggles in pursuing STEM education and careers, historically, there have always been women who persevered in these areas. Marie Curie, Lise Meitner and Katherine Johnson are just a few. Anna Mani is another. As a pioneer ...read more
The human liver is renowned for its regenerative capabilities. Some researchers describe it as “one of the most amazing tissue injury response.” “Liver regeneration […] has fascinated clinicians, surgeons, and scientists who have observed this apparently supernatural process and studied its mechanisms for many years,” write a group of researchers in a 2019 paper. The not-so-supernatural process has cells called hepatocytes that split and proliferate in response to injury or loss. Even ...read more
Author Vishay SinghPosted on Categories Discover Magazine