Ordinary Things Scientists Don’t Actually Understand
Science has done a great deal to demystify the world. Things that would once have been ascribed to the supernatural or to gods have, thanks to the scientific method, been explained rationally. However, while science has managed to discover some fascinating things about both earth and space, there are a number of surprisingly common things it has yet to fully understand. These aren’t the “big think” mysteries like reconciling quantum physics and relativity, or understanding the fundamental nature of time itself. These are things you’d expect scientists to have a handle on - like how bicycles work, or why sand is soft. Here are some of the ordinary things that scientists don’t actually understand.
Why We Yawn, And Why It’s Contagious
Yawning is one of those physical actions it seems impossible to escape. In addition, anyone who has been in the presence of someone else who is yawning can attest to a simple fact: it’s contagious. Given how common yawning is and how quickly it seems to spread, it is all the more remarkable to discover how little science actually knows about it.
Prevailing wisdom suggests the process is the body’s way of getting more oxygen-rich blood to the brain, since it seems possible humans take fewer deep breaths when they are tired. However, the actual neurology behind the need for this particular process is still somewhat lacking. Many other animals yawn as well, however. The contagiousness of yawning may stem from social mirroring, which is the process by which animals mimic the behavior of others, particularly those actions that might seem to be beneficial1.
Why We Cry, And How It Affects Us
Crying is, of course, one of the experiences almost all people have had at one time or another. On the one hand, the physical process of crying is well understood: tears are produced by lacrimal glands in response to various stimuli, such as pain, emotion, or irritation. On the other hand, the psychological and social aspects of crying are much more mysterious.
Why do humans cry when they are sad or happy? What purpose does it serve? How does it affect our mood and our relationships? These are some of the questions that scientists have not been able to answer conclusively. Some theories suggest that crying is a way of releasing stress hormones, or signaling distress or attachment to others, or regulating emotions. However, these theories are not universally accepted or supported by evidence. Crying may also have different effects on different people: some may feel relieved or comforted after crying, while others may feel worse or ashamed.
How Bicycles Work
Bicycles are one of the most common and popular modes of transportation in the world. They are also one of the simplest and oldest inventions in human history. Yet, despite their ubiquity and simplicity, scientists still don’t fully understand how they work.
More specifically, scientists don’t understand how bicycles balance themselves when they are moving. You may think that it has something to do with gyroscopic forces or steering geometry, but experiments have shown that these factors are not essential for a bicycle to stay upright. In fact, researchers have built bicycles that defy conventional wisdom about stability and still manage to ride themselves without falling over. The exact mechanism that keeps a bicycle balanced remains a mystery.
Why Sand Is Soft
Sand is one of the most abundant and familiar materials on earth. It is also one of the most puzzling. Sand is composed of tiny grains of rock or mineral that have been eroded by water or wind over time. When these grains are packed together, they form a solid mass that can support weight and resist deformation. However, when these grains are disturbed by an external force, such as a footstep or a shovel, they behave like a fluid and flow around the object.
Why does sand switch between being solid and fluid? How does it know when to stick together and when to break apart? These are some of the questions that scientists have not been able to answer satisfactorily. Sand is an example of a granular material, which is a collection of discrete particles that interact with each other through friction and collision. Granular materials exhibit complex and unpredictable behaviors that challenge conventional models of physics and engineering. Understanding how sand works could have implications for fields such as geology, construction, and robotics.
How Tylenol Works
Tylenol is one of the most widely used and trusted painkillers in the world. It is also one of the most mysterious. Tylenol contains acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol), which is a chemical compound that reduces pain and fever by interfering with certain enzymes in the body. However, scientists don’t know exactly how acetaminophen does this.
Unlike other painkillers such as aspirin or ibuprofen, which block the production of prostaglandins (chemicals that cause inflammation and pain), acetaminophen does not seem to affect prostaglandins at all. Instead, it may act on other substances in the brain or spinal cord that modulate pain perception. However, the exact mechanism and target of acetaminophen remain elusive. Furthermore, acetaminophen can be toxic if taken in large doses or combined with alcohol, causing liver damage or even death. The reason why acetaminophen has such a narrow margin of safety is also unknown.
These are just some of the ordinary things that scientists don’t actually understand. There are many more examples of everyday phenomena that defy scientific explanation, such as why we sleep, why we dream, why we laugh, why we itch, why we age, and so on. Science may never be able to answer all these questions fully, but that doesn’t mean we should stop asking them. After all, curiosity is what drives science forward.
0 Comments