Top 10 Amazing Science Studies
Top
10 Amazing Science Studies
Believe it or not,
there are amazing scientific studies going on right now—and not in a mad
scientist lab with an Igor in tow.
From medicinal marijuana to vaccines,
Viagra to journaling, see just what is going on behind closed lab doors …
beginning with No. 10
1:
Can medicinal marijuana actually be ... medicinal?
That's right, studies
are just now beginning to show that a small daily dosage of the ganja can
actually prevent Alzheimer's. Never mind that the stuff is known to cause
memory loss (short term, anyway)—this study is shattering your entire belief
system. And also giving you even more excuses to give your parents when you get
caught.
In an initial study,
half a group of rats were given a dose, while the other half were not;
surprisingly, it proved to reverse memory loss. And we're guessing those rats
learned real quick how to use the pellet lever. Over. And over. And over. And
over.
Anyone else want to order a pizza?
2:
Is hydrogen sulfide the next Viagra?
Somewhere, the poor
man's Hugh Hefner is smiling.
While larger doses of
hydrogen sulfide have been known to be toxic (and also, really stinky), it's
the smaller doses that really play a huge role in the body (proving once and
for all that size indeed does not matter). And since it had been proven that
hydrogen sulfide had an *ahem* interesting effect on mice, scientists decided
to give it a whirl on men. Let's just say the results so far have been *second
ahem* stimulating. Basically, the hydrogen peroxide seems to relax the nerves
inside the penis while expanding the blood vessels.
We're just saying, as more information
comes in on this study, avoid smelling any rotten eggs on a first date. Unless,
ya know, you need to.
3:
Are video games better for you than carrots?
This may be a stretch,
but studies are currently being conducted to find out if high-action video
games are actually good for your ocular health. Meaning, of course, that when
your parents said both, "Playing all those video games will ruin your
vision!" and "Carrots are the best thing for improving your
vision!," they were—GASP!—wrong! Well … maybe.
Apparently, the ability
to discern between different shades of gray is an attribute in humans that is
unable to be improved; however, it has recently come to the attention of
scientists at the University of Rochester that playing video games that utilize
high levels of action (like first-person shooters) actually improves the
aforementioned attribute—meaning said video games actually improve your vision.
BUSTED! Parents, NOW what's your reason
for having us put down the controller?
4:
Mind eraser: Drink? Or reality? Or both?
Sure, we all want to
forget that horrible relationship, or all four years of high school. And maybe
college too. And throw Middle School in there while you're at it. But until
recently, the "spotless mind" was not exactly a possibility.
Studies are now showing
it may be possible to rid your brain of potentially painful or traumatic
memories. For now, it has been proven that mice can have some of their painful
memories deleted from their brain (which is totally unfair given they don't
even have high school to have painful memories about), and scientists are now
working on whether this is a possibility for us humans.
Memories of a negative
nature are typically stored in a specific region of the brain called the
lateral amygdala. When activated by a scary or traumatic trigger (that would
make you think of the bad memory), the neurons in the lateral amygdala set to
work producing cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein,
to be known to us as CREB from this time forward. Scientists recently began to
wonder if this CREB was what actually initiated the painful memory, and whether
or not destroying it would help … well, destroy the memory.
Studies are still in the works, but
here's hoping they're not testing it on themselves. Cause we'd kind of like
them to remember the results.
5:
The Candy Man ... Can?
Apparently some candy a
day keeps the doctors away. Well, sorta.
Studies have shown so
far that a chemical component in licorice may be just the ingredient needed to
combat colorectal cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the
United States. Licorice, of course, has been known for years as an aid for
everything from cough to constipation—but now it seems as though it has the
possibility of doing a whole lot more, including being able to target the exact
tissues with the issues.
While we're waiting for the official
results, however, you have our permission to use this study as an excuse to
splurge on Twizzlers at the movies. Even if they are $42.
6:
Normal People Surviving the "Wild?"
You may THINK you've
seen it all because you've watched an episode or seventy of
"Survivor," but the Discovery Channel's new show Out of the
Wild: The Alaska Experiment brings actual meaning to the word
"survivor."
Having seen only the
preview (the secrets of the show are highly guarded, and perhaps for good
reason: there are supposedly some Sixth Sense-level surprises to be
had over the season), the Alaska Experiment going on here
consists of "9 Ordinary people" being "dropped off in Alaska's
wilderness." And ya know, having to "make it out … alive."
It sounds like we'll definitely find out
what it's like when people stop being polite … and start trying to actually
survive the wild. Aside from this experiment, we've started our own study on
who hooks up with whom; for the most part, our money's on Jake and Kimberly.
7:
Can we actually read minds?
Some scientists believe
it may be possible to read peoples' minds based on the patterns of the neurons
in their brains. As current studies are showing, a participant navigating
around a virtual environment records a certain pattern of neurons that indicate
to scientists exactly where the participant is located in the virtual world.
The idea for current studies is that this basic pattern of neurons suggests
that in the future, we will literally be able to read minds. Meaning, of
course, you'll never again hear your boss ask, "Why can't you just read my
mind?"
But then, to what will we respond
sarcastically?
8:
Vaccines without needles?
The Feinberg School of
Medicine at Northwestern University is currently studying vaccines that can be
taken orally, up to and including a vaccine to prevent breast cancer. So not
only would kids these days get to avoid getting poked in the arm against their
will, but the vaccine is also more effective when taken orally.
In OUR day, we had to get vaccines in 14
feet of snow. Without shoes. Uphill both ways. Just saying.
9:
Writing: The ultimate weight-loss tool?
We don't mean writing
your first novel (although we're sure it would be very interesting, because we
just love your writing!. But studies have begun to show keeping a weight loss
journal leads to a more successful attempt at losing weight.
For years, Weight
Watchers has been trying to get their clients to keep an accurate account of
what they're consuming, much to the chagrin of a lot of their clients. Part of
the reason they suggest this activity, however, is that the simple of act of
writing down what you have eaten, and accounting for what you've consumed, has
proven to double typical weight loss results. Keep in mind though, current
studies are showing this journal does not have to be official in any way; it
really just consists of the act of writing it down, whether it be in a book, in
an email, on a post-it, or via carrier pigeon. Whatever your method, it seems
like the weight just melts off once you start this simple ritual.
Now that's food for thought. Just be sure
to write that food for thought down in your journal.
10:
Can dolphins control their sonar-like eyes?
If you think those
monks who can sing multiple notes at once are creepy, they ain't got nothin' on
Flipper.
We all know (or have
guessed) that dolphins use something called sonar to navigate, and to figure
out where they're physically heading. Until recently, we had always believed
that dolphins could really only aim this sonar straight ahead in one direction;
it wasn't until we realized they could possibly control the aim on this sonar
that the studies began. The idea is that the dolphin uses an organ in its head
called the melon to control the sonar's aim; now THAT'S using the ol' melon!
(Come on, you know we had to.)
Studies are currently in the works to
find out the exact specifications of this newfound sonar information. Until the
results are in, what we do now is that dolphins live in a world full of wonder,
flying there under, under the sea! Again, you know we had to.