We try to learn three things about our bodies every month, but as 2016 draws to a close, we’re taking a look at some of the year’s biggest stories involving our favorite and most important body parts. With that in mind, keep an eye out for our other...
World-class athletes are known for their willingness to embrace extreme training regimens and unorthodox treatments in their pursuits of physical excellence — treatments that often look a little outlandish to the mere mortals who watch from the stands. During the London Olympics, beach volleyball players and others drew notice...
We live in a post-tryptophan world. The idea that turkey makes you sleepy because it has a special chemical in it has been a standard part of Thanksgiving small talk since time immemorial. Plus, having a scientific term on hand let us pretend there was a pseudo-medical...
Like a thief in the night, a panic attack can strike at any moment and without any obvious reason. Those who’ve suffered them understand that they can be a truly terrifying experience: The pounding heart, the shortness of breath, the feverish sweat, all culminating in a seemingly...
For most men, waking up with an erection is as predictable as needing to pee in the morning. (Admittedly, when the two are combined, it does raise a sloppy conundrum.) But what is nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) — affectionately known as morning wood — all about? Why does sleep seemingly inspire...
The Queen of England Can Help You Remove That Annoying Earworm A British study has found that one of the best ways to get rid of a song that’s been stuck in your head all day is to sing the British national anthem, “God Save the Queen.”...
Freaking out about a bump, blemish or rash? Alongside our expert advisor Dr. Anthony Rossi, dermatologist, assistant professor at Cornell’s Weill Medical College and source of all our freckle knowledge, we’re here to help you figure out why they’re there (and, if you don’t love the way...
Spiked eggnog is a great addition to any holiday party, but a large mug of heavy cream and whole milk can take a toll on anyone’s digestive system (and waistline). Don’t, however, banish those Santa mugs to the back of the closet with the paper mache replica...
On an upcoming episode of MEL: On Air, we’ll be focusing on the theme of Lost Loves Found. We’ll be chatting with a professor widely considered to be the world’s foremost authority on reconnecting with high school sweethearts; a TSA spokesperson who desperately wants to reconnect passengers...
Sorry, dentists: Only a little over a third of the men we surveyed are diligent enough to floss daily, it turns out. Nearly half are split between “a few times a week” and “rarely,” while a handful admit to doing some last-minute flossing right before a dental...
In this week of excess, we’re covering gluttony in all its forms — from the traditional face-stuffing variety to people who can’t be regarded as anything other than a glutton for punishment. One of the best examples of the latter is 50-something Australian John Mostyn, who has spent a...
If evolution has taught us anything, it’s that everything on the human body, from cuticles to goosebumps, serves a purpose—or at least, it did for our distant ancestors. Hair is no exception—below, you’ll find a top-to-bottom examination of every different type of fur sprouting from your body...