Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Our odd bods
Scientists crack human mysteries
roller coaster plummets... but your nerves are telling a different story.
While your rear is held in place by the harness, the organs move. Nerves register this as if your stomach has “jumped” into your throat.
KNEES
We can only stand up on two feet because of our knees. Out of more than 250 species of primate, only one – humans – goes around on two legs. Our knees have the ability to lock into place, unlike chimps who have to walk on all fours.
GOOSEBUMPS
Our ancestors once had a great need for goosebumps.
They used to help their hair stand on end to make them appear larger in a threatening situation, similar to animals. But now, as we are less hairy, goosebumps are almost redundant.
They are still visible and the initial response remains, which is why they show up when you are cold or scared.
EARLOBES
While the purpose of earlobes has been long-debated, having
LINES ON YOUR PALMS
Palm reading is all very well if you want to know how long you’re going to live, but that isn’t all the lines on hands do. They are actually so we can scrunch our hands into a fist or other shapes.
The lines, called palmar flexion creases, allow us to do this without any excessive stretching or creating loose skin.
NEW ORGAN
This week, scientists discovered a previously undetected organ in humans – and it’s one of the largest.
According to a journal in the online Scientific Reports, what were thought to be layers of dense, connective tissue are actually a series of fluidfilled sections or “interstitium”.
These compartments are found beneath the skin, in the gut, lungs, blood vessels and muscles. They join together to form a large network throughout the body – and may exist as a shock absorber.