Skeptics Stack Exchange
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Questions tagged [physiology]

Human physiology is the science of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of humans in good health, their organs, and the cells of which they are composed. The principal level of focus of physiology is at the level of organs and systems within systems.

Human physiology is the science of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of humans in good health, their organs, and the cells of which they are composed. The principal level of focus of physiology is at the level of organs and systems within systems.

Physiology is closely related to anatomy; anatomy is the study of form, and physiology is the study of function. Due to the frequent connection between form and function physiology and anatomy are intrinsically linked and are studied in tandem as part of a medical curriculum.

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Are people taller in the morning than at night?

I've heard this claim quite a few times and have even repeated it as fact. The basic claim is that 'gravity compresses the spine' during the waking hours and since (most people) sleep at night, they are tallest first thing in the morning. I can…
Rob P.
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Did the study mentioned by "The virginity fraud" TEDx Talk happen?

During 2017's TEDx Oslo Talk The virginity fraud, the presenters refer to a (supposed) study on the reliability of virginity testing around 9:15 mark: The absurdity of virgin testing is illustrated in a study done on 36 pregnant teenagers. When…
Dragomok
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Does it take the same force to bite through a finger as a carrot?

I've heard (multiple times) that your finger is as easy to bite through as a carrot. Here are some places I've seen it proposed: KGBAnswers WikiAnswers Additionally, it is a popular question on Yahoo! answers. None of these have particularly…
SSumner
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Can venomous snakes be determined by these pupil, nostril and scale patterns?

This image was recently shared by an Australian Facebook friend: The source appears to be a Facebook post of a man from India with a staggering 380,000 shares from around the world! There are many different species of venomous snakes (and I…
Oddthinking
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Are different prices in wines justified by taste?

According to the BBC, Wine costing less than £5 a bottle can have the same effect on the palate as those priced up to six times as much, a psychological taste challenge suggests. My skeptic sense is on red alert after such a statement: "can have"?…
Sklivvz
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Does the DNA of one sperm contain 37.5 MB of information?

[Source] In an episode of the BBC show QI - Quite Interesting (Series J, Episode 1) Stephen Fry said: How much information do you think is in the DNA of one little sperm...? It's 37.5 MB... ...a normal male ejaculation, if there is such a thing,…
Oliver_C
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Is running anti-clockwise easier than running clockwise?

Athletics events that take place on a track are always run anti-clockwise (IAAF Track and Field Facilities Manual, section 2.2). There has been some discussion in the letters page in The Telegraph about the reason for this. One writer suggested that…
Tom77
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Is this shoe lacing technique effective at preventing blackened toe nails?

See: Reddit: LPT: How to lace your running shoes (June 7, 2015) Reddit: Black toes from ultimate? (May 20, 2015) Runner's World: How To Lace Shoes: Prevent Black Toe Nails (March 4, 2011) They link to these photos: The claim is that this lacing…
user16797
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Can you break a person's neck with a manual head twist?

In a move often seen in action movies (very often!), someone takes the head of another person with both hands, usually from behind, and twists it only once or twice in order to break their neck. A sound of breaking bone is normally played. It is…
Martin Scharrer
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Does vegetarian sweat smell better?

I've read this article online in a Belgian newspaper (in Dutch): Weet wat je zweet: deze 7 dingen wist je nog niet over zweten — HLN. Number 4 is saying that vegetarian sweat smells better then non vegetarian sweat. I've done some research and…
Lyrion
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Can a blow to the base of the neck cause unconsciousness? (i.e., "Karate...CHOP!")

Relating to Are one-hit knockouts possible? : It was a common trope in the 60s for heroes to knock out evildoers with a open-handed chop to the base of the neck (preferably accompanied with a high-pitched cry of 'Kee-YAH!'). I believe the claim is…
Larry OBrien
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Is stretching beneficial after exercise?

A quick internet search on stretching reveals that, if physiologists were a bit more belligerent, the question of whether or not to stretch after exercise is something actual wars could be fought over. As I am not trained in this field, I have come…
Lagerbaer
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Does the sound of water make one want to pee?

I've known it like forever, I think I was told so since I was a kid. But how true it actually is? I clearly can't see what's the connection between the sound of water and a natural need. From my own experience I'd say that sometimes it works, and…
Ilya Saunkin
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Did David Blaine hold his breath for 17 minutes?

David Blaine (born David Blaine White; April 4, 1973) is an American magician, illusionist and endurance artist. He is best known for his high-profile feats of endurance, and has made his name as a performer of street and close-up magic. He has…
George Chalhoub
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Can you punch someone's nose into their brain?

A persistent tale in martial arts is that one can strike an unfortunate other on the nose in such a way that you drive the cartilege up into their brain. Is this possible? I think some points to consider are: Is there a path from the inside of the…
Grimm The Opiner
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