The human body is a machine as complex as it is fascinating, even sometimes disgusting (the proof is in 30 horrific images), and we may never fully understand all of its possibilities. With these 20 anecdotes about our organs, the history of medicine, and some extraordinary cases, you will discover that our bodies' resources are endless!
#1 A man without a heart
Stan Larkin lived for 555 days without a human heart. Instead, he wore a 6.1 kg backpack containing an artificial heart called the Freedom Driver, which pumped blood throughout his body. This device allowed him to lead an active life until he received a heart transplant in 2016, and even play basketball (photo proof).
#2 Would you like another juice?
The human body detoxifies itself naturally through the liver, kidneys, and digestive system. There is no scientific evidence demonstrating the need to follow detox diets or cleanses to cleanse the body. More bullshit to sell us cucumber juice for 8 euros.
#3 A Morbid Accident
In 1992, John Thompson, a lone farmer at the time, lost both arms in a tractor accident. Despite his injuries, he went inside his farm and managed to call for help using a pencil he was holding in his mouth. He survived and his arms were successfully reimplanted.
#4 Easier Peeing
NHS staff in the UK adapted a male urine bottle to create a device called UniWee, for immobile female patients. It allows them to urinate more easily, without pain or a catheter, restoring their dignity and comfort in the hospital.
#5 A Nose Story
The shape of your nose is influenced by the climate in which your ancestors lived. People whose ancestors lived in colder climates generally have narrower noses to warm and humidify the air, while those whose ancestors lived in warmer climates often have wider noses to cool the air more efficiently.
#6 Men VS Women
Heart attacks can manifest differently in women than in men. Women are more likely to report pain in the middle or upper back, neck, or jaw, shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, indigestion, loss of appetite, weakness or fatigue, cough, dizziness, and palpitations. The lack of chest discomfort explains why they are often misdiagnosed.
#7 A genius
Daniel Tammet, a scientist with synesthesia (a neurological phenomenon in which two or more senses are associated, such as a letter and a color), is able to perform complex mathematical calculations in his head and learn new languages in a week. He is fluent in more than ten languages and was already a language teacher at the age of 19.
#8 The brain, this insensitive organ
Contrary to popular belief, the brain cannot feel pain. It interprets the pain signals sent to it, but it does not have pain receptors: you could touch it or stimulate it and it would feel nothing. This is why brain surgeries can be performed on awake patients.
#9 A Baby Hercules
Olivia Farnsworth, a little girl with a rare chromosome 6 deletion, feels no pain, hunger, or sleepiness. In 2016, she was hit by a car and dragged 30 meters, but felt nothing and suffered only minor injuries. It was then that her mother discovered her exceptional condition. There are said to be 100 people like her around the world.
#10 One brain, two little girls
Krista and Tatiana Hogan, conjoined twins born in Vancouver in 2006, are craniopagus, which means they are fused together at the cranial vault. Thanks to a thalamic bridge, they share a unique neurological connection that allows them to hear each other's thoughts and see through each other's eyes.
#11 Lots of Little Bones
Both human feet contain 52 bones, or 25% of the total number of bones in the body, which is why foot health is so important (apply cream).
#12 A China Without Babies
A study conducted in China reveals that long workweeks (more than 40 hours per week) significantly reduce the desire to have children, suggesting that the work-intensive culture could hamper efforts to increase birth rates. Considering that the birth rate in China was 1.18 children per woman in 2022...
#13 Thumb
Fingers do not contain muscles. They are connected by tendons to the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the hand. Instead, they are controlled by the muscles of the forearm and palm, which pull on the tendons to make them move.
#14 The Intestine and the Brain, a Powerful Duo
The intestine and the brain are connected bidirectionally via the vagus nerve. This means that intestinal disturbances can cause anxiety and stress, and vice versa, due to the constant communication between the gastrointestinal system and the brain.
#15 Like fish in water
The Bajau people, a.k.a. "the sea nomads," are an ethnic group in Southeast Asia capable of sometimes going more than 70 meters underwater. Thanks to a rare genetic mutation that increases the size of the spleen, they can maintain a larger reserve of oxygenated blood in their lungs and hold their breath for 13 minutes.
#16 A smart gut
The human gut, often called the "second brain," contains hundreds of millions of neurons. Although it doesn't exceed the number of neurons in the spinal cord, it nevertheless plays an important role in our emotions and sensations—when you feel it in your gut, it's because of this.
#17 A Surprise Baby
A 23-year-old woman in Wales gave birth without knowing she was pregnant. Thinking she was suffering from cramps, she lay down in labor and delivered within minutes, cutting the umbilical cord with eyebrow scissors. This rare phenomenon is called a cryptic pregnancy or stealth pregnancy. In France, it affects between 600 and 1,800 women per year.
#18 The boss of nurses
Florence Nightingale, the nurse who revolutionized the hospital, significantly improved sanitary conditions in hospitals during the Crimean War (1853 to 1856). The safety methods she developed are still used by doctors and nurses today.
#19 Laugh and Lose Weight
According to the research of Dr. Maciej Buchowski,laughing for 10 to 15 minutes a day can burn up to 40 calories, the equivalent of a Speculoos cookie or a coffee with a dash of milk (we're still a long way from a burger).
#20 I have hiccups, God gave them to me
Charles Osborne suffered from hiccups continuously for 68 years, from 1922 to 1990, the year before his death. On average, he suffered 20 to 40 involuntary diaphragmatic spasms per minute. He hiccuped approximately 430 million times and holds the world record for the longest bout of hiccups. None of the 96 doctors he consulted could help him.
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