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The human body is a remarkable creation. Our anatomy is the outcome of thousands of years of adaptation to the ever-changing environment of Earth, making us one of the most intricate forms of life. Even though advancements in medicine over the centuries have allowed us to study the human body in incredible detail, we continue to uncover new elements and processes within. Some of these discoveries were unimaginable in the past. From explosive substances to cosmic matter, we’ll explore some of the most astonishing, mind-blowing, and largely unknown features that make up our bodies.
10. Alcohol
Alcoholic drinks rank among the most popular beverages worldwide. It’s no surprise, considering that nearly 36 billion liters (9.5 billion gallons) of alcohol are consumed annually around the globe, enough to fill over 14,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. This shows how deeply intertwined alcohol and humans are. In fact, our bodies are so connected to alcohol that they actually produce their own alcohol constantly.
Ethanol is a naturally occurring form of alcohol that results from the fermentation of organic materials and is the alcohol found in drinks. In the human body, bacteria in the mouth and intestines are capable of generating ethanol naturally. These bacteria and yeast ferment carbohydrates like sugar in the digestive tract, producing small amounts of ethanol, which is then absorbed into the bloodstream.
Research shows that a healthy, sober person typically has up to 0.8 milligrams of ethanol naturally in every liter (0.26 gallons) of blood. Methanol, another form of alcohol, has also been detected in the blood at concentrations of 0.6 milligrams per liter. Thankfully, these amounts are too minimal to be detected easily and are not a cause for legal concern.
However, some individuals face greater challenges, particularly those with a condition called “auto-brewery syndrome” (ABS). In these cases, the digestive system becomes overrun with bacteria and fungi that ferment sugars from food into significant amounts of alcohol. People with ABS can have over four grams (0.14 ounces) of alcohol per liter of blood, leaving them perpetually intoxicated without consuming any alcoholic drinks.
9. Ozone
Ozone is a volatile substance. Made up of three oxygen atoms, it rapidly breaks down into simpler molecules within minutes. As a result, the ozone in the atmosphere needs constant replenishment, or it would vanish entirely without certain sources. Ultraviolet radiation, thunderstorms, and human activity generate the majority of Earth’s ozone. But your body also plays a role in its production.
Around 20 years ago, scientists uncovered that the human immune system produces ozone to combat biological threats. Inside the body, neutrophils—white blood cells coated with antibodies—travel to sites of infection to neutralize harmful bacteria and fungi. To perform this task, neutrophils convert high-energy oxygen molecules into ozone, which is essential for eliminating invading bacteria. The neutrophils engulf these foreign organisms and release the ozone to destroy them.
Since neutrophils make up nearly three-quarters of our body’s white blood cells, the amount of molecular ozone produced in our bodies is considerable. However, this isn’t necessarily beneficial—large quantities of ozone are harmful. At an altitude of 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) above Earth, ozone forms a protective gas layer shielding life on Earth from harmful solar radiation. But at ground level, ozone contributes to air pollution and is a major component of “smog.” In the human body, ozone also breaks down cholesterol, producing toxic molecules that accelerate the development of conditions like atherosclerosis and arthritis.
8. Cyanide
Cyanide is an extremely toxic substance for humans. It rapidly causes death by interrupting cellular respiration. The deadly power of cyanide is well-documented, as it has been used in chemical warfare to claim countless lives throughout history. Given its potency, it is astonishing to realize that cyanide is naturally present in the human body.
Small amounts of cyanide enter our bodies daily, as it is found in the air, water, and food we consume. Some foods, such as apples and spinach, naturally contain cyanide. But there’s no cause for alarm—these concentrations are very low, typically just a few micrograms per plant (a microgram equals one-millionth of a gram). In contrast, ingesting 0.1 grams of cyanide is enough to kill a person weighing 70 kilograms (154 pounds).
Our bodies also generate cyanide. For instance, chemical reactions in our saliva produce cyanide gas within our throats, which is expelled when we breathe. On average, a healthy person can contain up to 50 micrograms of cyanide per 100 grams ( ounces) of tissue at any given moment. Fortunately, cyanide does not accumulate in the body. The liver processes most of it, and it’s eliminated through urine. The remainder is converted into carbon dioxide by the lungs and exhaled with each breath.
The mechanisms behind cyanide absorption, production, and detoxification in the human body are intricate. We should be grateful to our bodies for quietly eliminating this deadly poison.
7. Radioactive Elements
Excessive exposure to any form of radiation is harmful to humans. For instance, even when ultraviolet radiation isn’t causing burns, the constant background radiation around us is still pushing us closer to developing cancer. But did you know that some radioactive materials also reside inside us?
One radioactive element found in our bodies is thorium, a heavy metal commonly used in electronics. Although we consume small amounts of thorium daily through food and water, it typically exits the body within a few days.
Another notable radioactive substance we carry is uranium, a dense, highly radioactive element present naturally all around the world. As you may know, its most significant uses have been in nuclear reactors and weapons of mass destruction. Research suggests that an average adult contains about 22 micrograms of uranium in their body and ingests roughly five micrograms every day. The main sources of uranium intake are food—particularly unwashed vegetables—and water.
After entering the body, uranium can travel through the bloodstream and accumulate in various organs, where it remains for a few months before being eliminated. Around two-thirds of the uranium we ingest is stored in our bones.
We should also note potassium-40, a radioactive isotope of potassium that we absorb through many foods, which, fortunately, is beneficial to the human body. As it turns out, we are quite radioactive ourselves. But don’t worry; it’s very unlikely you’ll set off a nuclear explosion just by sneezing.
6. Precious Metals
Not everything within your body is dangerous or radioactive. There are also precious elements that make you valuable by nature. However, it’s not advisable to try to extract them from your body for profit.
First, there’s gold. The majority of the gold in an average person is found in their blood, with gold making up 0.02 percent of it. Overall, the human body contains around 0.2 milligrams of gold, enough to form a cube of pure gold measuring just 0.22 millimeters (0.008 inches) across. We also carry silver, another precious metal that poses minimal toxicity to humans. On average, a person consumes up to 88 micrograms of silver daily, which is roughly equivalent to a few grains of sand.
However, that’s probably too little to be considered valuable, right? Well, researchers have discovered that human feces also contain gold particles and other precious metals. One kilogram (2.2 pounds) of human waste could hold up to four grams (0.14 ounces) of copper, silver, vanadium, and gold. Based on this, it’s estimated that the waste produced by one million people could be worth around 13 million dollars.
So unbeknownst to you, your body has been functioning as a money-making machine all along. The challenge, of course, is finding a way to extract these precious metals for profit, which might involve some rather unpleasant methods.
5. Hard Drugs
It’s widely known that the human body produces its own versions of some commonly used drugs. For instance, our bodies create endocannabinoids, which are similar to the chemicals in marijuana. Our brains also produce endorphins, chemical compounds that have the same pain-relieving effects as morphine. However, the human body can also generate other substances that, when present in large enough quantities, could be life-threatening and entirely illegal.
One such substance is dimethyltryptamine, or DMT. This drug is often extracted from specific South American plants and can be consumed through drinking, smoking, or injection. DMT causes powerful hallucinatory effects, with users claiming they’ve traveled to other worlds or encountered divine beings after taking the drug. Interestingly, evidence suggests that the human brain produces small amounts of DMT naturally. It’s believed that the body may release this compound during deep sleep or near-death experiences.
Another drug naturally produced by the human body is GHB, also known as “liquid ecstasy.” This substance has a variety of uses; bodybuilders take it to help build muscle, while doctors prescribe it to treat sleep disorders. However, if not used properly, GHB can become highly dangerous.
In certain situations, taking GHB with alcohol can be fatal or result in a coma. Surprisingly, however, our bodies produce this drug naturally, but only in tiny, harmless amounts. GHB can be found in various tissues, including the blood and brain, where it is present at concentrations of up to one milligram per liter.
It is important to note that both DMT and GHB are illegal drugs, and their use is prohibited in many countries. So, be cautious if you ever mention that your body produces these substances, even if it’s true.
4. Magnetic Fields
Magnetism is crucial for life on Earth. The magnetic field of the Sun, for instance, shields our planet from harmful cosmic radiation. Without Earth’s magnetic field, solar radiation would strip away our atmosphere and wipe us out like ants under a magnifying glass. However, magnetic forces are not exclusive to celestial bodies. Living organisms also generate their own magnetic fields, and humans are no exception.
Electric currents generate magnetic fields, which means that any object with electrical currents flowing through it also possesses a magnetic field. Since our nervous system operates using electrical impulses, it is responsible for creating magnetic fields within and around our bodies. Additionally, each organ functions with a specific amount of electricity, meaning that each part of the body has its own unique magnetic field.
The strength of the magnetic field surrounding the human body is about one ten-millionth the strength of Earth’s magnetic field. In contrast, the magnetic field produced by the brain is approximately 200 million times weaker than Earth’s. However, the most magnetic organ is the heart, which has a magnetic field one million times weaker than the Earth’s magnetic force. This field is strong enough to extend beyond the body and may influence certain biological processes.
Although the magnetic forces in the human body are very weak, some people still claim to be magnetic enough to attract metal objects. As for the benefits of being able to stick spoons to the body, however, that remains largely unexplained.
3. Antimatter
Matter and antimatter are opposites that cannot coexist. When they collide, they annihilate each other, releasing pure energy in the process. Despite antimatter's volatility in the universe, we still carry a small amount of it inside our bodies at all times.
To comprehend how this works, we must revisit potassium-40, a radioactive isotope of potassium that naturally exists in the human body. As previously mentioned, potassium-40 is one of the variants of potassium, a soft metal. Over time, this isotope decays, transforming into a different element as its atoms lose energy. One such transformation occurs when potassium-40 changes into calcium-40 through a process called beta-minus decay.
During this process, the potassium-40 atom sheds certain particles while generating others, including an antimatter particle known as an antineutrino. This is where the math comes into play. It's estimated that every second, approximately 5,000 potassium-40 atoms decay within the human body. Of these, about 89.25 percent undergo beta-minus decay, which results in the creation of at least 16 million antineutrinos every hour.
In addition to beta-minus decay, potassium-40 can also transform into the isotope argon-40. This occurs when each potassium-40 atom emits a positron, the antimatter counterpart of the electron. However, this is a much rarer process, occurring in only 0.001 percent of cases. Even so, considering the rate at which potassium-40 atoms decay every second, the human body produces about 180 positrons per hour.
And all of this is the result of just one radioactive isotope decaying inside the body. But there are also other elements that undergo similar processes, decaying and producing their own antiparticles continuously. So, congratulations, you are essentially an antimatter reactor.
2. Light
It has long been known that the human body emits light radiation. For instance, the heat our bodies generate produces infrared light, a form of electromagnetic radiation invisible to the human eye but detectable by certain animals. When it comes to visible light, however, one might assume it's impossible for us to emit such a thing. Like nearly all matter in the universe, we reflect light, but we don’t emit it, right? Well, that’s not entirely the case.
In 2009, Masaki Kobayashi, a scientist from the Tohoku Institute of Technology in Japan, decided to explore human bioluminescence—the ability to emit light. To do so, he enlisted five volunteers and photographed their naked bodies every three hours for three days. The photos were captured using cameras highly sensitive to light. The results revealed that specific areas of the individuals, such as their necks and heads, emitted light consistently, with the brightest glow occurring around four in the afternoon.
This phenomenon is likely linked to our biological clock, which causes us to expend more energy in the late afternoon. Scientists believe that the light we emit is generated by tiny molecules known as fluorophores, which release photons after interacting with electrons produced during cellular respiration.
But if we are emitting light, why don’t we glow like flashlights? The answer is ironically simple: the visible light we produce is too faint for us to see. In fact, it is a thousand times weaker than what our eyes are capable of detecting. Nevertheless, this light is emitted from us constantly. So not only are you made of stardust, but you also shine like a star. Well, perhaps just a dim one.
1. Stardust
This point is far more encompassing than the others, as not only do we have stardust in our bodies, but we are actually made from it. The concept that humans are composed of materials born in the stars has been around for decades, but recent discoveries have confirmed that it is indeed true.
In the early universe, only the most basic elements like hydrogen and helium existed. As these elements began to cluster together to form the first stars, they started producing heavier, more complex elements within their cores. These elements included carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, iron, and sulfur, which together make up most of human beings.
So how did these elements reach Earth? When stars near the end of their life cycle explode, they eject their outer layers, scattering these elements across vast distances. Eventually, the remnants of these star explosions land on the Earth’s surface, where they mix into the soil. Plants absorb these elements, and when we consume those plants, we ingest the stardust as well.
Over time, the materials formed within stars have become part of our bodies, continuously replenished by such elements. Two years ago, scientists found that 97 percent of the atoms in the human body are of the same types as those found in stars. In fact, it is believed that 93 percent of the body’s mass consists of stardust.
