The skin is the outermost organ of the human body which is flexible and soft. For the sake of the healthy skin, every day people clean, moisturize and protect skin, especially women. What are the facts behind the human skin?

As quoted from HowStuffWorks, by understanding the skin, we can help place them in a perspective of how the skin fills all the space in the body.

1. The skin protects the internal organs from external elements such as extreme temperatures, ultraviolet rays from the sun and harmful chemicals.

2. The skin also helps retain water, prevent infection and produce essential proteins and vitamins. To perform all the tasks, a large amounts of skin is required.

3. Adults have an average of about 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms) or approximately 22 square feet (6.7 square meters) of skin.

4. Not all skin can be seen by the eye. Human skin consists of three layers: the epidermis, dermis and fat layer under the skin, or hypodermis. And each layer has a different purpose.

Epidermis is the outer layer of skin that gives pigment-cells and produce new skin cells to replace cells that have died.

Dermis is the middle layer, is a place to feel pain and has touch receptors like blood vessels, hair follicles, collagen and elastin.

While subcutaneous layer consists of collagen and fat, which helps absorb shocks and protect the body and internal organs.

5. The skin is an organ which keeps on developing and constantly changes throughout our lives. Even humans shed about 40,000 skin cells per minute.

6. Skin experienced renewal every 35 days. This means that when a person aged 20 years, he has experienced skin turnover of 200 times.

So far, it is known that the human tongue has the ability to taste five different tastes; bitter, sweet, salty, sour, and rich in protein (savory). Now scientists enters the sixth which is the taste of fat.

Researchers at Deakin University, working with colleagues from the University of Adelaide, discovered that the human tongue can detect the taste of fat. The people who are sensitive to the taste of fat tend to eat less, so they are not overweight.

Savory taste like ingredients for flavoring and high protein foods was found in August 2006 and was published in the Nature journal.

Meanwhile, in August 2008, genetic scientists Michael Tordoff also have discovered a sense of calcium that can be detected by tongue. This calcium taste like the taste of fresh water. But the taste of calcium is still a debate because people regard it is tasteless.

Deakin University researcher, Russell Keast, said that previous findings in the United States have used animal models to find the taste of fat.

“Interestingly, we also found that those with a high sensitivity to the taste of fat will be eating less so they have BMI (body-mass indices) lower than those who are less sensitive,” Keast said to Reuters, Thursday (11/3/2010).

The research team developed a screening procedure to test the ability of people to taste a variety of common fatty acids found in foods.

Researchers found that people who have a taste for fat varies. There are people with high sensitivity while others do not have at all.

According to Keast, fat which is easily obtained and commonly consumed for daily foods shows that the human taste system may be more sensitive from time to time.

Keast is interested in understanding why some people are more sensitive and others are not. He believes this will lead to ways that can help people reduce fat consumption and development on low-fat foods and diets.

Researchers say the discovery of fat taste could be the key to reducing obesity. The results of this study have been published in the last edition of the British Journal of Nutrition.

Lots of parents still think that vaccines which is given to their children can cause autism. In fact, it’s simply not true. Immunization seems to have become a necessity in today.

The emergence of various diseases force us to maintain the body’s immune from a particular disease, the simplest thing that we can do is taking immunization. But unfortunately, there are some people think that the vaccine which is given can cause children suffer from autism.

A study revealed that one in four parents believe that some vaccines cause autism in healthy children. From a survey of 1552 parents, most of them still follow the advice of doctors to vaccinate children to keep the baby’s health. Because the latest research about it does not find a direct relationship between autism and vaccines.

“Nine out of 10 parents believe that vaccination is the best way to ward off the disease to their children,” said lead researcher Dr. Gary Freed of the University of Michigan.

“Fortunately, their fears of the possibility of children affected by autism no greater than the decision to inject the vaccine, so that their children can be protected from life-threatening disease later on,” he added.

In 2008, children of school age who are not vaccinated suffered outbreaks of measles in California, Illinois, Washington, Arizona, and New York. This was revealed Dr. Melinda Wharton of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately 13 percent of the 140 children who fell ill that year to get treatment in hospital.

“Luckily all the children recovered,” said Wharton said, mentioning that measles can also be deadly.

“If we are not their vaccination, this disease will come back,” he continued.

Meanwhile, fears of vaccine with autism has a connection comes from a speculative study in 1998, which recently the study is finally revoked by the British medical journal.

Withdrawal was taken immediately after a regulation governing board of the British doctors study authors point out that it applies no less honest and ethical.

Meanwhile, a new study based on surveys at the University of Michigan to parents is done about a year ago, long before the revocation of the study in 1998. Many other studies also failed to find a relationship between vaccines and autism.

Advocacy groups such as Autism Speaks, also continued to call for parents to routinely vaccinate their children.

“It’s been proven many people who commit fraud openly. Maybe it will convince many parents that this should not happen again, “Freed said as a written summary of his study in the April edition published for the journal Pediatrics, released Monday (1 / 3).

A statement from the expert group in Philadelphia, United States asserted that the government should support this vaccination program. They believe that vaccines do not cause autism or developmental disabilities in children.

If your child do not get vaccination precisely, you become selfish as to take advantage of the thousands of other children who run it. We feel that attitude is unwise and unacceptable. Mentioned also that for doctors who “totally rejected” the vaccine could see another doctor to get a lesson.

“We call it a manifesto,” said Dr. Bradley Dyer from All Star Pediatrics in Lionville, Pa., United States.

Dozens of doctors, Dyer said, has been asked to inform the statement and only a handful of parents who have taken their children elsewhere.

“The parents say thank you for saying it. We feel better about it, “he said.

A recent study of this vaccine is based on an online survey to parents who have children aged 17 years or below. The survey uses a sample of randomly selected participants from a nationally representative.

Each family was given internet access facility if they do not have an internet connection. This is to ensure that families from all background can be entered. The result, 25 percent of parents agree with the statement that “some vaccines cause autism in healthy children”.

Approximately 29 percent of mothers agreed with that statement.Meanwhile fathers, approximately 17 percent of nearly 12 percent of parents said they would refuse the vaccine for their children if the family doctor recommended. Approximately 56 percent of participants admitted will reject the relatively new vaccine as preventive vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) which can cause cervical cancer.

While others will refuse vaccines against meningococcal disease (32%), chickenpox (32%) and measles-mumps-rubella or MMR (18%). Parents who refuse HPV vaccine, which has been recommended to girls since 2006, presents a variety of reasons.

Meanwhile, parents who refuse the MMR vaccine, admitted that they had heard and read that the use of this vaccine will cause a lot of risks that are too large of whom suffer from autism in children.

According to Dr Gary S Marshall from the University of Louisville School of Medicine and author of a pocket book doctor about vaccinations, the result of this discovery will help a lot to help physicians communicate more intensively this issue to parents.

“For the sake of the children, we must think like a scientist,” he said.

“We (the doctors), need to do a better job of presenting more data is valid data for parents to understand if the scientists had reached the conclusion that the vaccine for children does not cause autism,” he stated.

Human longevity is not just affected by how well your genes are, but also how well you live your life. Researchers have found a way to eat, move and manage stress that determines how long people live.

A new study conducted on 20,000 people in the UK and has been published in the British Medical Journal, shows that one can reduce the risk of stroke by 50 percent. Just by doing four things, which is active for 30 minutes a day, eating fruits and vegetables, and avoiding excessive smoking and alcohol.

People can reach the age of 100 with a healthy lifestyle. However, Thomas Perls of Boston University School of Medicine, believes that with the assumption that puts genes aside, there’s nothing stopping you living up to the age of 90 years.

Here are 10 habits Perls used to calculate how long a person can survive, as reported by USNews, Tuesday (9/3/2010).

1. Do not retire.
Although already in the retirement age does not mean you can no longer work. “Evidence shows that in a society where people suddenly stopped working, the incidence of obesity and chronic disease increases after retirement,” says Luigi Ferrucci, director of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.

2. Floss Teeth Every day
This can keep the arteries (blood vessels) remain healthy. Studies from New York University in 2008 showed that flossing every day can reduce the number of bacteria that cause gum disease in the mouth. These bacteria can enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation in the arteries, and increases the risk of heart disease.

3. Always move
“Sports is the only way to stay young,” said Jay Olshansky, a professor of medicine and aging researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Study after study has recommended that the benefits of exercise to improve mood, mental acuity, balance, muscle mass, and bone. No need to exercise at the gym, just by simply walking around the neighborhood for 30 minutes a day.

4. Eat high-fiber cereal for breakfast
Whole wheat benefited especially in the morning can help maintain stable blood sugar levels throughout the day. According to a study conducted recently by Ferrucci and colleagues, people who do this can prevent  diabetes, which could accelerate aging.

5. Sleep at least 6 hours a day
“Sleeping is one of the most important functions for our bodies, our body regulates and heal cells when we are asleep,” Ferrucci said.

6. Consumption of whole foods, not supplements
Evidence strongly indicates that people who have blood that is rich in nutrients, like selenium, beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, has a longer life. But there is nothing to prove that taking supplements can provide anti-aging benefits.

“There are more than 200 different carotenoids and the 200 different flavonoids contained in a tomato,” Ferrucci said. This chemical is beneficial to the body other than known nutrients such as lycopene or vitamin C. Avoid white foods (nutrient-lacking white food) such as bread, flour and sugar. And switch to fruits, vegetables, and whole wheat bread.

7. Reduce the neurotic (nerve pressure)
A better way to cope with stress is yoga, exercise, meditation, tai chi (take a deep breath in for a while). While in the other hand daydreaming, eating chips in front of the TV, partying and drinking to much alcoholic is bad for the body.

8. Live like Seventh Day Adventist
Americans who define themselves as the Seventh Day Adventists, have a life expectancy average of 89 years, about a decade longer than the average American.

They appreciate the body by not smoking, consume alcohol or pamper your body with sweet foods. They are usually vegetarian and eat fruits, vegetables, nuts, and do many sports. They are also very focused on families and communities.

9. Being a creature that used to it
According to Olshansky, people tend to live the old days with a strict routine, eating the same food and doing the same types of activities throughout their lives. Sleep and wake at the same time each day is one good habit to keep the body in a stable equilibrium.

10. Stay socially connected
Have social relationships with friends or loved ones is key to avoiding depression, which can lead to early death, particularly common to a widow and an elderly widower.

Some psychologists even think that one of the greatest benefits to be obtained from the parents exercise a strong social interaction, a walk with friends or join a training class.

After thousands of years of various studies, the mysterious side of the human brain is starting to unfold . There are several facts that previously might not have thought of.

The brain is one of the most amazing organ in the human body, because it can control the central nervous system to work normally.

The human brain is complex and consists of about 100 billion nerve (neuron) and there are so many things going on in the brain with a variety of different areas. Therefore the brain is one of the vital organs in human life.

As quoted from HowStuffWorks, Friday (5/3/2010) Here are some facts about the human brain which are not yet widely known:

1. The brain remains active even though the head is not attached to the bodey.
Based on the observations of several stories, it is known that the human brain can remain active for a few seconds after the head is cut off. But doctors believe that this is a reflection of muscle twitching.

Dr Harold Hillman, a former director of the Unity Laboratory of Applied Neural Biology at the University of Surrey said that the death occurred because of the separation of the brain with the spinal cord, but it is painful so many countries do not enforce this method.

2. The brain can learn subconsciously message.
The brain can learn the message that comes from a person unconscious so that later will affect the behavior of the person. Many companies use this as a campaign event in order to influence someone to buy its products.

3. Drugs can cause holes in the brain.
One study says the use of drugs like marijuana can remove  some memory, while for drugs such as cocaine or ecstasy can cause holes in the brain. Actually the only thing that can cause holes in the brain is the result of trauma or physical impact.

In addition to a study from New Scientist that the use of drugs long term can cause abnormal growth of the brain that are permanent, it is difficult to change the behavior of an addict.

4. The colour of Human brain is gray.
Some parts of the body has its own color to blood, tissue, bone or other fluids. But if the human brain preserved in a jar while still beating mostly gra.

While the black component is called the substantia nigra, which is a black neuromelanin, which is a special pigment similar to skin and hair color and a border of the basal ganglia.

5. The human brain is the biggest brain.
Some animals can use his brain to do things done by humans. But in fact the human brain big size compared to the brains of any animal. The average weight of adult human brain of 1.361 pounds, the weight is almost the same as dolphins animals regarded as intelligent animals.

But the weight of the brain compared to body size, so that the human brain still the greatest. Also intelligence is also associated with various components in the brain, and mammals have the largest cerebral cortex responsible for memory function, communication and thinking.