How Often Does a Person Get a New Skeleton?

Humans get a new skeleton about every 10 years.

The human skeleton is sometimes called the scaffolding of the body, and the name is apt because, like scaffolding, our bones are less permanent than you might think. 

Human bones grow in a process known as modeling, and once a person reaches adulthood, the skeleton system refreshes itself in a process known as remodeling.

Kids Grow Faster in the Spring

If you think the son/niece/grandchild in your life is sprouting before your eyes now that the winter clothing has been shed, you're probably not imagining things.

Researchers have long studied the connection between seasonal changes and youth growth patterns, with substantial evidence pointing to higher rates of growth among children in the Northern Hemisphere during the spring and summer months.

Redheads Need More Anesthesia

There are all sorts of (false) rumors and superstitions floating around about redheads. They bring bad luck. 

They have fiery tempers. They are more susceptible to pain sometimes and hate going to the dentist. 

On that last account, at least, there's a decent amount of research that might explain the anecdotal evidence. 

Sense of Smell is Strongest in the Evening

Smell is one of humanity’s most important, and often overlooked, senses. 

It’s intimately tied to taste and memory, and plays a pivotal role in detecting danger, whether it’s fires or rotten food. It may even play a role in how we choose our mates.

One little-known aspect of smell is how it fluctuates throughout the day. 

According to research conducted by Brown University and published in the journal Chemical Senses in 2017, our sense of smell is somewhat regulated by our circadian rhythm, the internal biological process that regulates a human’s wake-sleep cycle. (If you’ve ever traveled across the ocean, the resulting jet lag is a disruption of this rhythm.)

Dreams in Color or Black and White?

Whether they’re about showing up to school in your underwear or having your teeth fall out, most dreams have one thing in common: They’re in color. 

Not for everyone, though. Roughly 12% of people dream entirely in black and white, making their nightly visions much like watching an old movie. 

That comparison isn’t a coincidence, either. The number used to be much higher: In the 1940s, 75% of Americans reported seeing color in their dreams only rarely or never, and some researchers believe that black-and-white television is part of the reason why. 

Mouth Breathing and Health

If we could track our breaths the way many people do steps or exercise, the results would be astonishing. 

While there’s no app for that, scientists estimate that an average person takes 20,000 to 25,000 breaths over the course of 24 hours. 

That breaks down to between 12 and 18 breaths per minute for an adult. Children typically breathe more quickly, up to 60 breaths per minute, which tapers down to the adult rate by their teenage years. 

All those inhales and exhales add up, and by age 50, the average human has taken at least 400 million breaths. Each one helps fuel our bodies; oxygen is a crucial component needed for our most basic functions, like moving muscles, digesting food, and even thinking.

Why Are Foods Recalled?

How does that happen, and what does it mean when food is recalled? Here’s what you need to know about the FDA’s contaminated food product warnings and what to  do if an item you’ve purchased is being pulled from store shelves.

What Is a Food Recall?

Food recalls sound pretty straightforward. Food gets contaminated during some stage of the production process, the FDA steps in, and the items are removed from shelves to keep people safe, right? But the food recall process can actually get a bit murky for shoppers due to two terms: “voluntary” and “mandatory.”