1) Your achy joints can predict the weather
Stories of people’s creaky joints before rainfall aren’t old wives’ tales, says orthopedic surgeon Robert Tait, MD. “When a storm front moves in, the atmospheric pressure drops. Major joints’ sensory nerve endings register a relative increase in joint fluid pressure, resulting in increased pain.” Frequent aches sound unpleasant, but at least those with psychic joints know when to bring an umbrella!
2) Your eyes can warn you when your body’s too cold
Everyone shivers when they’re chilly, but how can we tell if temperatures are verging on dangerous? According to Rupe Hansra, OD, senior director of eye care at LensCrafters, the eyes are the windows to signs of extreme cold. “When hypothermia becomes severe, blood vessels in the eyes constrict to conserve energy,” says Dr. Hansra. And that can result in temporary blindness, which model Kate Upton experienced firsthand during her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover shoot in Antarctica. Temperatures reportedly dipped as low as -20°F while she was there.
3) Your heart rate can foretell the future.
Your heart doesn’t know when you’ll get married or how much you’ll receive in tax returns, but findings from a recent study show that people’s tickers can anticipate certain events without any cues. Researchers from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, the University of California, Irvine, and the Università di Padova in Italy showed subjects a series of images in an unpredictable order and studied their reactions. Some images were neutral; others were meant to illicit an excited response. The scientists discovered a quickened heart rate as much as 10 seconds before the presentation of a stimulating image, suggesting that hearts can sense when something thrilling or disturbing is about to happen. So listen to your heart!
4) A woman’s vagina can get turned on before her brain can.
You’d think you’d know when you’re aroused, but a study from the Netherlands disagrees. Researchers showed women erotic videos, and, thanks to well-placed gadgets, learned that vaginas self-lubricate well before women are aware they’re turned on, says Astroglide’s sexual health and relationship ambassador, Yvonne K. Fulbright, PhD. These findings “counter the idea that men are more visual than women,” adds Dr. Fulbright.
5) Your pupils can reveal when you’re in love.
If you want to keep your affection for someone secret, stay in dim light when he’s nearby. “When you’re attracted to someone, your pupils tend to dilate,” Dr. Hansra divulges. You can thank the sympathetic nervous system, which controls pupil dilation, for giving you away. This doesn’t occur only when you’re attracted to someone—you can also go wide-eyed when looking at anything aesthetically pleasing, from a tempting dessert to a stunning sunrise.
6) Your sense of smell can take you back in time.
Has a fragrance ever immediately transported you to a bygone memory? Maria Larsson, associate professor of psychology at Stockholm University in Sweden, describes our sense of smell as a “magical time machine.” The brain’s olfactory cortex, responsible for one’s sense of smell, is located within the limbic system, the birthplace of emotions and storage locker for memories. Scents, memories and feelings are so deeply entwined that a whiff of your departed grandma’s perfume can bring you to tears. While your nose may not feature futuristic buttons or levers, it’s undoubtedly a time-defying device.
7) Your eyes can predict that spring is coming.
The weather outside might be frightful, but early allergies may suggest that warmer days are around the corner. “Pollen and spore count increase before the weather turns, and your eyes pick up on this first, causing them to itch and water,” Dr. Hansra says. Who needs Groundhog Day when your own two eyes can tip you off about spring’s arrival?
8) Your digestive system can give you super strength.
Yes, a mom really may be able to lift up a car if her child is trapped under it. When your brain is alerted to danger via the sympathetic nervous system, adrenaline is released, which accelerates your heart rate, increases respiration, dilates the pupils and most importantly, shuts down your digestive system to allow muscles to contract with incredible force. Your digestive system can’t lend its energy to these other bodily processes permanently, but in desperate times, its ability to cease fire is there to save the day Women’s Daily reports.
9) Migraines can indicate extreme temperature changes.
Many migraine sufferers appear to be especially sensitive to weather-related triggers, such as very hot and cold temperatures. “Weather changes may cause imbalances in brain chemicals, including serotonin, which can prompt a migraine,” says Jerry W. Swanson, MD, a neurologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. One evolutionary explanation: Head pain could prompt someone to seek shelter as adverse weather approaches. Dr. Swanson recommends staying indoors when it’s particularly cold or windy to keep migraines at bay.