Category Archives: Uncategorized

The strange history of the anti-vaccine movement Vaccine scepticism may seem like a new, growing movement. It’s probably a lot older than you think. Since the dawn of human history, our species has been besieged by terrible viruses and deadly … Continue reading →

THE UNIVERSE Scientists estimate there are about 10,000 stars for every grain of sand on Earth’s beaches. Astronomers calculate that the observable universe holds roughly 200 billion trillion stars (that’s a 2 followed by 23 zeros). In comparison, all the … Continue reading →

LED light therapy for skin is trendy—but does it work? Dermatologists explain the science behind the wildly popular treatment, which is now available at home—for a steep price. Full-face LED masks like this one can cost up to several thousand … Continue reading →

WALKING AND LITERATURE The Unbearable Smugness of Walking Glorified for its creative benefits, the pastime has become yet another goal-driven pursuit.   LifeSpan, a maker of fitness equipment, claims that a treadmill desk will boost my creativity. The company’s website, where I can … Continue reading →

Face wraps promise a snatched jawline—but do they really work? A centuries-old technique is finding new life in beauty routines thanks to social media influencers. Experts weigh in on what compression can—and can’t—do. A snug compression wrap promises to sculpt … Continue reading →

Childhood is short-lived. It’s okay if kids’ drawings are, too. An Object Lesson. By Mary Townsend Annie Otzen / Getty September 16, 2018 THE ATLANTIC MAGAZINE  Children make art constantly. From the earliest age, adults press crayons into their hands. Art … Continue reading →

WALKING BACKWARDS 5 reasons to start walking backward A new (to me, at least) spin on walking: backward walking, also known as retro-walking. Though it’s trending on social media platforms, physical therapists and fitness trainers have been touting its benefits … Continue reading →

Those molecules released by contracting muscles target the brain, and blood flow delivers them. One of those myokines is called irisin, named after Iris, the Greek goddess of rainbows and Hera’s personal messenger. Alarmingly low levels of irisin have been … Continue reading →

Many foot ailments – plantar fasciitis, collapsed arches, bunions, hammer toes, high ankle strains, and all sorts of other maladies – are exacerbated by the very technology that allowed humans to inhabit the globe: shoes. Footwear helped humans spread into … Continue reading →

The way each of us walks is unique and recognizable, whether it’s John Wayne’s slightly off-balance swagger, Dorothy’s skip toward Oz, Mae West’s exaggerated hip swivel, or the lope of Shaggy from Scooby-Doo. This observation is more than anecdotal. One … Continue reading →