It seems we are underestimating ourselves, folks!
The Superpowers of the Human Body That We Never Realized
Did you know that our bodies are far more miraculous than you think? We possess “superpowers” that we use every day without ever realizing it.
1. You Can Actually “See” Your Own Hand in the Dark
Give it a try! Enter a completely dark room. Then, wave your hand in front of you and see what happens. You might see something like the image below.
Even in the dark, you can still see your own hand.
Surprised? Actually, it’s not that mysterious. According to a study from the University of Rochester, most of the images we “see” daily do not come from our eyes but are generated by our brains based on the information gathered from our senses.
This doesn’t mean we’re imagining the shape of our hand. In the experiment, researchers added a sensor to track the eye movements of candidates. The result was that their eyes moved in sync with the movement of their hands, just as they would when there is light.
Experts say that even when we cannot see, our brains continue to receive signals from different parts of the body, allowing us to truly “see” what the brain wants us to see.
2. You Can Differentiate Hot and Cold Water… With Your Ears
Let’s try again. Guess which of the two sounds below is from hot water and which is from cold water!
You might have guessed correctly: the first sound is from cold water, and the other is from hot water. According to an experiment conducted by a company in the UK, 96% of respondents identified correctly.
Human ears can detect differences in molecular speeds.
This ability is actually… quite common. Experts explain that the human ear can hear differences in molecular speeds.
Cold water has a slower molecular movement than hot water, which means that the density of the molecules is higher, resulting in different sounds when poured.
The hotter the water, the less dense the molecules.
However, it seems that none of us pay attention to this special ability.
3. You Can Smell Other People’s Immune Systems
Have you ever heard the phrase “the smell of old people”? It’s a term many use to describe a distinctive scent encountered when interacting with the elderly.
However, scientists say that this smell isn’t exclusive to the elderly but can appear in anyone, as it is the scent of a weakened immune system.
Humans can smell the scent of a weakened immune system.
To verify this, researchers conducted an experiment by injecting lipopolysaccharide – a type of toxin that temporarily weakens the immune system. They then collected sweat samples from the candidates and had another group smell and evaluate them.
Sweat from individuals with a weak immune system was rated as more unpleasant than that of healthy individuals.
The results showed that sweat samples from individuals with weakened immune systems were considered more unpleasant. This indicates that our bodies produce relatively… unpleasant odors to alert others when we are sick, preventing the risk of disease transmission within the community.
4. We Become “Super Sensitive” When… Underwater
The maximum hearing threshold for humans is at a frequency of 20,000 Hz, which is quite pathetic compared to other animal species. Dogs, for example, can hear sounds at a frequency of 45,000 Hz, and for bats, it’s 110,000 Hz.
When underwater, your hearing ability greatly increases.
But believe it or not, just by going underwater, you activate a “superpower” in your ears that allows you to hear sounds at frequencies up to… 200,000 Hz. Why is it so… magical? That’s because we can also hear through… our bones.
Underwater, you not only hear with your ears but also with your bones.
Experts explain that we hear sounds through moving air, which creates vibrations in the ear canal, cochlea, eardrum, and tiny bones…
However, when there is no air, sound bypasses this entire process and travels through the mastoid bone – the bone located behind the ear. This is also the principle behind current hearing aids. So the next time you dive underwater, pay attention to what you can hear!
5. Your Skin Has the Ability to Smell and Heal Rapidly
German scientists recently discovered that certain cells that enable the nose to “smell” actually exist on human skin. This means our skin can actually… sniff.
Our skin can also smell…
To validate this, researchers tested skin cells’ response to sandalwood essential oil – a scent that is quite strong.
The results showed that skin cells were stimulated to divide at an increased rate of 32%. At the same time, new cells would “seek out” areas of damaged skin to heal.
The normal healing speed of wounds (above) and after allowing the skin to “smell” (below).
However, for the skin to “smell” effectively, the concentration of sandalwood oil needs to be 1,000 times higher than what is needed for the nose to detect it. That means to heal wounds quickly, you might end up with… a strong scent overwhelming your sense of smell.
6. We Can Lift People but Find It Hard to Lift a Stone of the Same Weight
You can lift a 15 kg baby but struggle to lift a stone of the same weight.
The reason is that the human body can adapt to gravity and distribute the weight in multiple directions, while a stone cannot. The weight of a stone always remains in the same position, making it harder for you to lift.
7. Your Brain Produces Enough Electricity to Light a Small Bulb
Our brains contain about 100 billion cells known as neurons. When we move, see, think, dream, or laugh, electrical signals and chemicals race between billions of neurons on this neural highway.
Therefore, although a single neuron generates a very small amount of electricity, all of them combined at the same time can produce enough electricity to power a low-wattage bulb.
8. Tibetans Require Less Than 40% Oxygen Compared to Average Individuals
Sherpas in Nepal and Tibet often serve as guides for travelers seeking to conquer Mount Everest. Their bodies possess characteristics that allow them to thrive at altitudes of 4 kilometers above sea level.
After years of research, scientists have discovered that 87% of Tibetans carry a special gene known as EPAS1, enabling them to require less than 40% oxygen compared to average individuals. Typically, when a person ascends to an altitude of 3 kilometers, the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood increases. The EPAS1 gene limits the increase of hemoglobin concentration, thereby preventing the heart issues that others often experience.
According to researchers, Tibetans inherit special abilities from the extinct Denisovans. The Denisovans once inhabited the region where the Tibetans currently live. Scientists have also found the EPAS1 gene in their fossils. Today, Tibetans (along with some inhabitants of Pacific islands) appear to be the only ethnic group carrying the EPAS1 gene.
