Smaller Fingers = More Sensitive Finger Tips

Research finds that people with smaller fingers have more sensitive fingertips, probably because of a higher concentration of touch receptors in that area.

100 volunteers' index fingertips were measured. Researchers pressed parallel grooves against the subjects’ fingertips. If they could feel those grooves, then they pressed a narrower set, and so on (kind of like an eye test where you read progressively smaller letters until they’re indistinguishable).

Those with the smallest fingertips felt the narrowest grooves. Scientists think its because of a higher density of receptors - like a larger pixel count that creates a clearer image. Researchers then measured sweat pores density because touch receptor cells cluster around sweat pores. They found that smaller fingers did have a higher concentration of sweat pores.

Muscle Cramps? Drink Pickle Juice

For cramps to occur, certain mechanisms within muscles start misfiring when a muscle is fatigued, causing muscles to bunch together when it should relax. So how do we stop it?

In a study, athletes conducted a variety of exercises and then cramps were electrically stimulated in their big toe. Volunteers were told to relax and cramps lasted for ~2.5 minutes. The volunteers did not drink any fluids.

Then cramps were again stimulated, but athletes immediately drank 2.5 ounces of deionized water or pickle juice. Within 85 seconds, the men drinking pickle juice stopped cramping. But cramps continued in men drinking water. Pickle juice stopped a cramp 45% faster than drinking no fluids and 37% faster than water.

While the mechanism is unclear, the key ingredient is vinegar as another study showed drinking pure vinegar was more effective than drinking pickle juice.

Bad Smells Are Good

Scientists used to think odors directly activate the trigeminal nerve - which responds to touch, temperature and painful stimulation in the head, and extends to the nose. New research suggests that specialized chemosensory cells lining the nasal cavity first detect smells and pass the news to the trigeminal nerve, alerting the brain.

Having these special sensory cells as a medium might make our noses sensitive to a variety of odors which helps us avoid bad stuff.

What is, and how to stop, a Brain Freeze

The esteemed British Medical Journal published an editorial on the science behind brain freezes. Good news: you don't have to give up ice cream.

The most common cause of head pain is ice cream - occurring in 1/3rd of a randomly selected population. When something cold touches the roof of your mouth, blood vessels in your head dilate. The dilation may be due to contact with a nerve center in the roof of your mouth.

Whatever the case, if you want to avoid brain freezes don't give up ice cream or cold drinks. Instead, just avoid having anything cold touch the roof of your mouth.