Have you ever wondered why it’s so hard to move your ring finger without moving your pinky or middle finger? This happens because two nerves in your forearm control your fingers. One nerve manages your thumb, index, and half of your middle finger, while the other handles your pinky, ring, and the other half of your middle finger. These nerves are intertwined, making it tricky to move your ring finger alone. But with practice, like musicians do, you can improve this skill.
Did you know some people can touch their nose with their tongue? This ability is called the Gorlin sign, and only about 5-10% of people can do it. Those who can often touch their chin with their tongue too! Some people have double-jointed thumbs, allowing them to bend their thumbs backward without pain. This is due to a condition called hypermobility, which makes their joints extra flexible.
Hypermobility can also let people twist their bodies into unusual positions, like putting their head between their feet. However, it can sometimes make them more sensitive because of a larger brain area called the medulla, which processes emotions.
Most people lose the ability to digest milk as they grow up because they run out of a special enzyme needed to break down milk sugars. Only about 30% of people retain some of this enzyme. Another rare skill is the ability to breathe through your nose while talking without pausing. Only about 1% of people, often musicians, can do this.
Some people can even hear their eyeballs move! This rare condition affects about one in 500,000 people and is caused by a tiny hole in the bone covering the inner ear. It can also affect balance and make them hear their heartbeat clearly.
Can you wiggle your ears? If so, you’re among the 22% of people who can move one ear, and only 18% can move both. Scientists think our ancestors could move their ears more, but today, it takes practice to learn this skill.
About a third of people can raise one eyebrow, but raising both separately is rarer. If you want to learn, try holding one eyebrow down with your hand and practice lifting the other in front of a mirror.
Imagine falling from a 10-story building and only getting a few bruises. Some people have a genetic anomaly that makes their bones eight times denser than normal, making them almost unbreakable. This trait can be passed down to their children too!
Our eyes can see millions of colors thanks to three types of cones. Some people, called tetrachromats, have an extra cone type, allowing them to see even more shades. Most mammals used to have four types of cones but lost one through evolution.
About 90% of people are right-handed, 10% are left-handed, and only 1% are ambidextrous, meaning they can use both hands equally well. To test if you’re ambidextrous, try writing or drawing with both hands and see if there’s no difference.
Some people can withstand extreme cold by training their bodies over years. They can walk in the snow barefoot or swim in icy water without feeling cold.
Our tongues help us taste and talk, but they can also do tricks. The world’s longest tongue measures 3.97 inches, while the average male tongue is about 3.3 inches long. Tying a cherry stem into a knot with your tongue is a popular challenge, and the record is 14 knots in one minute!
In yoga, there’s a practice called Khechari Mudra, where you curl your tongue back into your mouth. It can help refresh your mind and body and even aid in lucid dreaming. Most beginners take months to master it, but if you can do it right away, you’re lucky!
Try sitting on the floor and getting up without using your hands or knees. This is called the Sitting Rising Test. While scientists debate its accuracy in measuring health, it’s a fun way to check your muscle and heart strength. If you struggle, it might be time to hit the gym!
Try to move your ring finger without moving your pinky or middle finger. Practice this daily and track your progress. Share your experience with classmates and discuss why this is challenging based on the nerves in your forearm.
Research and present on hypermobility. Can you or someone you know perform any hypermobile tricks, like bending your thumb backward? Share your findings and demonstrate any tricks you can do safely.
Conduct a color perception test with your classmates. Use color charts to see if anyone might have tetrachromacy. Discuss how having an extra cone type affects color vision and what it might be like to see more shades.
Try writing your name with both hands. Compare the results and discuss the challenges of using your non-dominant hand. Explore the concept of ambidexterity and its benefits.
Attempt the Sitting Rising Test with your classmates. Sit on the floor and try to stand up without using your hands or knees. Discuss what this test might indicate about your muscle and heart strength.
Nerves – Bundles of fibers that transmit signals between different parts of the body and the brain. – Example sentence: The nerves in your hand send messages to your brain when you touch something hot.
Muscles – Tissues in the body that have the ability to contract and produce movement or maintain the position of parts of the body. – Example sentence: Exercising regularly helps to strengthen your muscles and improve your overall health.
Enzyme – A protein that speeds up chemical reactions in the body, such as digestion. – Example sentence: Enzymes in your saliva start breaking down food as soon as you begin chewing.
Flexibility – The ability of muscles and joints to move through their full range of motion. – Example sentence: Stretching exercises can improve your flexibility and prevent injuries.
Hypermobility – A condition where joints can move beyond the normal range of motion. – Example sentence: People with hypermobility may be able to bend their fingers backward more than usual.
Senses – The physiological capacities of organisms that provide data for perception, such as sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. – Example sentence: Our senses help us understand and interact with the world around us.
Strength – The ability of muscles to exert force. – Example sentence: Lifting weights can increase your muscle strength over time.
Skills – The ability to perform tasks well, often developed through practice and learning. – Example sentence: Practicing regularly can help you develop the skills needed to play a musical instrument.
Health – The state of being free from illness or injury and maintaining physical and mental well-being. – Example sentence: Eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly are important for maintaining good health.
Genetics – The study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics. – Example sentence: Genetics can help explain why certain traits run in families.
