Bullet Ant

Given its name because its sting can make a human feel like they have been shot, the sting from a bullet ant can last for 24 hours. The Schmidt Sting Pain index registers the bullet ant sting as the most severe, likening it unto fire-walking with a 3-inch rusty nail grinding into one's heel. The sting results in temporary paralysis of the hand and arm as well as uncontrollable shaking.

And that's why some South American tribes make men wear bullet ant gloves - up to 20 times - as a rite of passage.

X-Ray Machine That Detects Pain

Scientists have developed an x-ray machine that can detect pain. See the video.

Swearing Alleviates Pain

College students put their hands in a tub of cold water and repeated the swear word of their choice. Students tolerance was much higher if they swore. These students also had increased heart rates, indicating that swearing activates a classic “fight or flight” response. However, the more we swear, the less emotionally potent the words become. Without emotion, only the swearword remains.

Researchers say swear word are different than most language, activating emotional centers in the brain's right side instead of the brain's left side - used for regular communication.

Envy = Pain

Research finds that feelings of envy activate brain areas responsible for pain processing and when we learn of bad news towards those we envy, brain areas responsible for pleasure are activated.

Participants read a story about themselves and their friends. In one scenario, subjects were told that, unlike their classmates, they failed a job interview. Reading about this classmate’s successes, financial and romantic, activated brain areas responsible for pain. Then subjects learned that something bad happened to this friend and the brain registered happiness in return. Pleasure, however, could just be the relief of no longer being envious.

That would help explain this.

Sore Losers, Don't Bid

Research finds that people overbid at auctions to avoid defeat more than to experience victory.

Half the subjects started the auction with a $15 bonus, which they would keep if they won. The other half were told that after the auction, if they won, they’d get an extra $15. Either way, the winners would get the same bonus.

But people bid more when they were afraid they might lose the money they already had.