Your heart– the surprisingly small, pear-sized, muscular organ that’s located in the center of your chest– is responsible for circulating blood throughout your body. It’s not an easy task. According to The National Geographic, if you were to unravel all your body’s blood vessels and arrange them in a straight line, the total distance would … Read more
According to researchers at the University of Washington, the human body’s metabolism outputs about 80 watts of energy on average. In other words, all the metabolic processes that your body performs on your behalf consume less energy than an 100-watt light bulb! This amazing energy efficiency probably played a huge part in helping our ancestors … Read more
Over 70 percent of American workers hate sitting when they work, yet that’s what 86% of us do according to a 2013 study commissioned by furniture maker Ergotron. The boredom and discomfort that comes with sitting for eight hours or more a day is only part of the problem. Health issues are the main concern. … Read more
According to the American Chiropractic Association, Americans spend $50 billion on various types of back pain solutions every single year. That’s a huge number, especially when you put it in perspective. $50 billion is enough money to purchase 50 private islands, 10 nuclear reactors or 33 Yankee Stadiums. The core reason for all the economic … Read more
Edward Knabusch and Edwin Shoemaker revolutionized the furniture industry in the 1920s with the introduction of their patented La-Z-Boy recliner. However, it wasn’t until the 1980s that mechanical lift chairs started to become available. Despite their many technical flaws, lift chairs proved to be very popular. According to the New York Times, Medicare spent $185 … Read more
The history of massage therapy dates all the way back to 2700 BC. In fact, one of the earliest medical texts that references massage techniques– called The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine– is still widely read today. According to The National Geographic, most Chinese hospitals have a ward that’s dedicated to ancient disease cures. Many … Read more
To help its astronauts survive and thrive in space, NASA had to develop all kinds of innovative new technologies. Many of these innovations were spun-off into a wide range of different consumer products. According to the NASA Technology Transfer Program, Bowflex exercise equipment, scratch-resistant lenses and memory foam are just a few of the many … Read more
The human spine does far more than just hold you upright. According to the Nebraska Spine Hospital, it contains over 120 muscles, around 220 ligaments and over 100 individual joints. Even though your spine is strong enough to hold up hundreds of pounds of weight, about a quarter of its mass consists of flexible cartilage– … Read more