New documents have recently been released that detail big sugar’s (the Sugar Research Foundation, which is a group sponsored by the biggest players in the sugar industry) attempt to find a sugar vaccine which would prevent cavities, and other similar products. So let’s take it step by step and see how it all came […]
Milk Teeth
It turns out that humans have not been able to enjoy eggnog for as long as previously thought. A group of scientists have shown when we first developed lactose tolerance by testing plaque on ancient teeth. Tis the season for eggnog. That interesting mixture of eggs, milk, sugar, and nutmeg that is beaten into a […]
Old Timey ‘Grillz’
Cosmetic dentistry is becoming more popular as the technology and techniques improve and as more people view a healthy white smile as important. However, not everyone opts to have their teeth straightened and whitened. Many hip-hop artists have turned to ‘grills’ as a status symbol and to show off their wealth. If you are not […]
Curing Mental Illness by going to the Dentist?
With Halloween one week away people are dusting off their copies of Grimm’s Fairy Tales or the old R.L. Stein books. It is the time of the year to share stories about Ghouls, Goblins, and everything scary. Even Cinemax is getting into the spirit of Halloween. Recently on their show The Knick, one of the […]
History of Earth
This week saw the celebration of Earth Day on April 22. The day has come and passed. Festivities took place, fundraisers nabbed thousands of donors, hippies had drum circles. It’s a glorious day with a relatively short history, dating to just 1970. But you know whose history is incredible old, reaching back to the beginning […]
In Pursuit of the Tooth Fairy
The history of the tooth fairy is a vague one. Compared to other mythical entities we’ve come to know and love in our youths—Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny—the tooth fairy’s origins are little known. In response to this gross lack of information, a professor at the Northwestern University Dental School, Rosemary Wells undertook a massive, […]
Need to Wash Clothes? Use Urine
The history of hygiene and cleanliness is an odd one. Throughout history, different civilizations put varying levels of importance on cleanliness. Hindu texts from ancient times have some very elaborate codes of hygiene. The religion of Islam puts a serious emphasis on cleanliness for both religious services and in non-religious settings. Still the science of […]
The Amazing Story of Faith Sai So Long
Here’s a fascinating, inspiring, and uplifting profile in history. Her name was Faith Sai So Leong. In 1905 she graduated from the San Francisco College of Physicians and Surgeons. At the time she was the only woman in a class of 40 students. But not only was she the only woman in that graduating class. Upon […]
Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe
Why do we kiss under a mistletoe? How did a parasitic plant become the ultimate venue for kissing? How long has this curious plant been a part of our culture? The mistletoe is a plant that has for a long time has symbolized various things. Celtic Druids were probably the first people to assign mystical […]