Mental Floss

MEDICINE

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The iPhone Shortcut That Can Direct You to the Nearest ER in an Emergency

You're not always thinking clearly in an emergency. Let your phone do some of the work for you.

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Some Flea and Tick Medications Are Causing Seizures In Cats and Dogs, the FDA Warns

Here are the brands to look for.

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What Is Catgut Made From?

No kitties were harmed in the making of your tennis racket. Or violin. Or sutures.

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20 Killer Words Every True Crime Buff Should Know

Brush up on some medical and legal jargon before your next true crime binge.

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12 Facts About Fibromyalgia

Pain ranges from sharp stabbing to a pins-and-needle sensation.

Young John the Baptist, Leonardo da Vinci (1513-16, Louvre, Paris).

Could Leonardo da Vinci's Artistic Genius Be Due to an Eye Condition?

The brilliant painter and inventor may have been cross-eyed.

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What You Need to Know About Acute Flaccid Myelitis, the Polio-Like Disease That's Spreading in Kids

Doctors don't know what causes it or how to treat it.

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How the Hubble Space Telescope Helped the Fight Against Breast Cancer

NASA technologies have dozens of applications outside of space exploration.

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Why You Shouldn't Skip the Flu Shot This Year

About 900,000 people were hospitalized for influenza last year. Here's how to avoid becoming one of them this season.

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The Most Googled Health Symptoms in Each State

Wisconsin has a green poop problem.

Ji-Elle, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

Benjamin Franklin and History's Most Dangerous Musical Instrument

The glass armonica was Benjamin Franklin's biggest contribution to the world of music—and then it started to kill people.

Jenny Romell, et al./Radiology

Advanced CT Scans Reveal Blood Vessels and Skin Layers in a Mummy's Hand

Researchers can look at the inside of a mummy on the cellular level without ever slicing into it.

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The Phony Disease That Helped Researchers Identify Bach's (Purported) Body

Can playing the church organ give you a disease?

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Should You Take a Daily Aspirin to Prevent Heart Disease?

A new study raises new questions.

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10 Facts About Rosacea

A recent study found that an estimated 415 million people worldwide suffer from the disorder.

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The Surgeon Who Removed His Own Appendix

They call it the "practice" of medicine for a reason.

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Why You Should Be Wary of Prescription Drug Ads on TV

The persuasive ads can run afoul of FDA regulations and may not be telling you the whole story.

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Ig Nobel Prizes Honor Self-Colonoscopies and Kidney Stone-Dislodging Roller Coasters

These were the most unusual scientific studies of the past year.

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What to Put in Your Go-Bag in Case of an Emergency

It’s always a smart idea to prepare for the worst while still hoping for the best.

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How Do Placebos Work?

There's a very real reason why your grandmother’s chicken soup makes you feel better when you're sick.

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Bacteria Can Turn Type A and B Blood Into a Universal Type O

This discovery could have life-saving applications.

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Debunking 6 Common Home Remedies That Aren't Worth Trying

If you are sick or injured, the treatment isn't usually in your kitchen pantry—despite what your grandmother may have told you.

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Everything You Need to Know About Activated Charcoal

You don't need it in your toothpaste or croissant.

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The First Generic EpiPen Just Received FDA Approval

In comparison, a two-pack of the brand-name drug costs $600.