We, here at STS, are inquisitive people, and we often ask questions about the world around us. This list has ten explanations of common, every-day things that you probably did not understand. And if you did understand them you’re far cooler than us. Using this knowledge you can impress your friends, family, or romantic interests, because nothing is more attractive to the other sex than knowing how random things work. 1.) Falling Sensation:
人类充满了好奇心，并且经常对身边的世界发问。本文列举了你可能无法解释的十大日常现象的原因。如果你已经明白，那你确实比我们酷多了。你可以用这些知识给你的朋友、家人和浪漫对象留下非常深刻的印象，因为没有比了解这些随机事件更能吸引异性的了。
1. 为什么睡觉时会有坠落感？
Have you ever woken up to a falling sensation and a strong muscle twitch as you are simply lying in bed? This phenomenon is known as hypnagogic myoclonic twitch or “Hypnic Jerk,” and studies have shown that roughly 70% of people have experienced it. There is no definitive answer on why this happens, but most scientists have agreed on the following explanation. When you are falling asleep your muscles become very relaxed and enter what is essentially a state of temporary paralysis. While your body is making this transition the brain can misinterpret the sudden relaxation of the muscles and instead think that you are falling. Instincts kick in and send signals to your muscles to jerk you upright which leads to a rude awakening. Studies have found that “Hypnic Jerks” occur more frequently with people who suffer from sleep anxiety, fatigue and discomfort because the brain is more easily confused. Either way, it is a normal part of the sleep process and poses no real danger.
你是否曾因坠落感或强烈的肌肉抽搐从睡梦中惊醒？这种现象被称为睡前肌阵挛性抽搐，或“入睡抽动”。研究发现，约70%的人有过这样的经历。这种现象为何发生尚无定论，但大多数科学家同意以下这种解释。入睡的时候，人的肌肉会非常放松，进入暂时的无力状态。当身体向大脑传递这一信息时，会对这种突然的肌肉放松产生误解，认为你正在坠落。本能反应生效，向肌肉发送信号猛然把人拉起来，导致忽然惊醒。研究发现，入睡抽动在睡眠焦虑、疲劳和不适时更容易出现，因为此时大脑更容易迷惑。不过不管怎样，这是睡眠过程中正常的一部分，没有危险。来源：failedsuccess
Source: failedsuccess 2.) Cracking Joints:
2. 为什么指关节能啪啪作响？
You may not be a knuckle cracker yourself, but chances are you have heard someone doing it. This noise is caused by pockets of gas that are escaping from the joints in the hand. There is something called synovial fluid that lubricates joints and contains nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide gas. When the joint is put in an abnormal position, bubbles of these gasses are rapidly released which causes the cracking noise. The reason a knuckle can rarely be cracked twice is because it takes time for the gases to build up again. Some claim that cracking knuckles leads to arthritis, but the studies claim that it only causes minor damage to soft joint tissue. A similar cracking noise can be produced with the knee or the ankle but it is not due to escaping gas. Tendons can be pushed out of place as joints move, and when they return to their original position they can create cracking noises. Because gas does not have to build up like it does in the knuckles, this noise can often be made repeatedly.
你可能不会使自己的指关节响动，但一定看到过别人这样做。手指关节间的气囊或气体被挤出时会发出这种声响。有一种叫作滑液的物质在润滑着关节，它含有氮、氧和二氧化碳气体。当关节错位时，这些气体会迅速释放出来，发出啦啦的声响。指关节很少能响动两次，因为恢复这些气体需要一定时间。据说指关节响动会导致关节炎，但研究表明这只对关节软组织有轻微的损伤。类似的声响在膝盖和脚踝也会出现，但并不是因为气体被挤出。关节运动时肌腱会发生异位，当它回复原位的时候会发出啦啦的声响。它不需要像指关节一样恢复其中的气体，所以这种声音可以重复出现。来源：everydaymysteries
Source: everydaymysteries 3.) Goose Bumps
3. 鸡皮疙瘩是怎么产生的？
Goose bumps are the dots that form on the skin when a person is cold, afraid, or experiencing strong emotions. The reflex that causes goose bumps is known as horripilation and it occurs in other mammals as well. The goose bumps are caused when individual muscles at the base of each hair contract which make the hair stand straight up. This reflex is linked to the sympathetic nervous system which is responsible for most fight-or-flight responses. Goose bumps provide no known benefits for humans, but the reflex makes sense for animals. When humans are cold, horripilation causes their hair stand up, but humans in general do not have much body hair. For animals with fur, air pockets are trapped between the hairs which create an extra layer of insulation. In response to fear or anger, raised hair would make an animal seem larger and more intimidating. The best example of this is the porcupine whose spikes stand up when threatened. It seems that horripilation is simply a reflex left over from the evolutionary process, a constant reminder that humans were not always as they are now.
鸡皮疙瘩是当一个人寒冷、恐惧或情绪激动时在皮肤上出现的小点。鸡皮疙瘩出现的反射条件是毛发竖立，这在其他哺乳动物身上也会出现。毛发底部的肌肉使毛发竖立起来，鸡皮疙瘩就会出现。这种反射与负责很多应激反应的神经系统相联系。鸡皮疙瘩对人类是否有益尚不清楚，但这种反射对其他动物是有意义的。当人感到寒冷时，毛发竖立会使他们的毛发直立，但人通常并没有什么体毛。而对于有皮毛的动物来说，毛发之间会产成气囊，成为额外的隔绝层。作为恐惧或愤怒的反应，竖起毛发可以使动物看起来更大，更有威胁力。最典型的例子就是豪猪，当受到威胁时，它的刺会竖立起来。看起来，毛发竖立只是进化过程中留下的一种反应，不断提醒人们人类并非一直都是现在的样子。来源：wikipedia
Source: wikipedia 4.) Wrinkled Fingertips
4. 指尖为什么会皱皮？
If you have ever spent time in a hot tub for too long then you most likely emerged with wrinkly fingertips. They go away soon after you dry off, but what causes them to get that way? The body has three layers of skin, the subcutaneous tissue (fats, nerves, large blood vessels), the dermis (small blood vessels, nerves, hair roots, sweat glands), and the epidermis (protects the skin beneath and keeps water inside the body from evaporating). These layers are tightly connected, and biologists have found that when the skin is submerged for a long time the epidermis begins absorbing water. Because it is so tightly connected to the dermis underneath, the skin warps which leads to the wrinkles. The reason this mostly occurs on the fingers and toes is because the epidermis in those areas has calluses which take in more water.
如果长时间呆在温暖的浴缸，你很可能出现指尖的皱皮。它会在皮肤变干之后很快消失，然而是什么导致出现的呢？人体拥有三层皮肤，皮下组织（脂肪，神经，主血管），真皮层（毛细血管，神经，发根，汗腺），以及表皮层（保护皮肤，保持水分），这些皮层紧密相连。生物学家发现，当皮肤长时间浸泡时，表皮层就开始吸收水分。因为它与真皮层的连接非常紧密，皮肤的扭曲导致皱皮出现。这种现象常见于手指尖和脚趾尖，因为这些部位的老茧更容易吸水。来源：everydaymysteries
Source: everydaymysteries 5.) Eyebrows
5. 人为什么长眉毛？
Many people see eyebrows as just another facial feature to be self conscious about. Some spend a great deal of time plucking, waxing, trimming, preening, shaving (frat parties), penciling, or essentially worrying about their appearance, but have they ever thought why humans have them in the first place? Evolution has removed hair from most of our bodies so why would two little strips above our eyes remain? Eyelashes and eyelids work to keep dust and other debris out of the eye, but they can not do all of the work. The eyebrows divert sweat and rain around the eyes which makes it much easier to see. If you have ever had saltwater in your eyes you know how irritating it is, and it was just annoying enough for natural selection to create eyebrows.
很多人把眉毛看作面部识别的特征。人们花了很多时间再眉毛上：拔眉、蜜蜡脱毛、修眉、美化、刮眉（兄弟会）、描眉，根本上是担心它的样子，但是你有没有想过为什么它们会出现在人体这么重要的部位？人体的很多毛发已经随着进化消失了，为什么在眼睛上还留有这两条呢？眼睫毛和眼皮可以阻挡灰尘和其他碎屑，但它们并非总是有效。眉毛可以分流眼周的汗水和雨水，使人更容易看清楚。如果你有过盐水弄进眼睛的经历，就会知道这有多令人恼火，于是自然选择创造了眉毛。来源：howstuffworks
Source: howstuffworks 6.) Chopping Onions
6. 切洋葱为什么会流泪？
No matter how manly you think you are, cutting onions will make you tear up. Onions release an enzyme known as Lachrymatory-factor synthase into the air when they are cut open. The enzyme converts the sulfoxides (amino acids) in the onion into the unstable compound sulfenic acid which rearranges itself into something called syn-ropanethial-S-oxide. Syn-ropanethial-S-oxide is a chemical irritant which causes the lachrymal glands to release tears when it comes in contact. If you have never cut onions yourself than you may not be so convinced, but shortly after the knife cuts the onion you are sure to notice. Three ways to help prevent this is to run water near to where you are cutting the onion, to put the onion in the fridge half an hour before cutting it, or to avoid cutting the root. If you still tear up while cutting onions, and have nothing better to spend your money on, you can always purchase the incredibly useful Onion Goggles for $19.95 (available in black, white, or pink!).
无论你看起来多爷们儿，切洋葱的时候都会泪流满面。洋葱被切开时，会向空气中释放出催泪因子合成酶，这种酶将洋葱内的亚砜氨基酸会转化成一种不稳定的化合物次磺酸，次磺酸重新排列后成为一种硫代丙醛-S-氧化物的物质。这种物质是一种化学刺激物，接触时会导致泪腺分泌眼泪。没有亲自切过洋葱可能不会相信，一刀切下去你就信了。有三种办法可以防止这种现象：在流动的水边切洋葱、把洋葱放在冰箱里半个小时以后再切，或者不要切到根部。如果你还是流泪，又有钱没处花的话，可以买一个无比有用的洋葱眼镜，19.95美元，有黑色、白色还有粉色！来源：everydaymysteries
Source: everydaymysteries
7.) Freckles
7. 为什么会长雀斑？
Freckles are flat tan, brown, or black spots that can appear on skin that has been exposed to the sun. These spots are abnormal collections of melanin, a pigment that is produced by cells in the skin called melanocytes. The melanocytes create freckles to protect the skin from sunlight, and therefore they occur more often on those with lighter skin that burns more easily. Freckles are more common on the face, arms, and shoulders because those areas get the most sun. For many people freckles fade during the winter only to return during the spring and summer months. In some cases too much sun exposure can cause certain cells to become cancerous, so any suspicious looking freckles should be checked out by a dermatologist. The best way to prevent skin cancer from developing is wearing clothing or sunscreen when exposed to the sun.
雀斑是浅褐色、棕色或者黑色的小斑点，在皮肤暴露于太阳光后出现。这些斑点是黑色素细胞产生的黑色素非正常堆积产生的。黑色素细胞生成雀斑来保护皮肤抵御阳光，因此在皮肤较薄容易晒伤的人身上更容易出现。雀斑常见于面部、手臂和肩膀，因为这些部位更容易晒到。对很多人来说，雀斑会在冬天褪掉，而春夏季节出现。一些情况下，过度的曝晒会导致部分细胞产生癌变，因此任何看起来可疑的雀斑都需要到皮肤科医生那里进行检查。预防皮肤癌最好的方式是日晒时要穿衣物或涂防晒霜。来源：health-cares.net
Source: health-cares.net 8.) Sunscreen
8. 防晒霜真的有用吗？
Sunscreen is something many people trust to keep them from getting sunburnt but how exactly does it keep the skin safe from harmful UV rays? The reason sunscreen works so well is because it uses multiple active ingredients that each do their part in protecting your skin. Most sunscreens use inorganic ingredients such as titanium oxide or zinc oxide to reflect UV radiation away from the body while organic ingredients such as octyl methoxycinnamate or oxybenzone convert the remaining UV rays into heat. The end results are creams with varying SPFs (Sun Protection Factors) that keep the body protected from UV radiation.
很多人相信防晒霜可以保护人们不被晒伤，但它到底是怎样保护皮肤免受紫外线伤害的呢？防晒霜有效的原因，是它使用了多种有效成分共同作用来保护皮肤。大部分防晒霜使用无机成分来反射紫外线辐射，比如氧化钛和氧化锌，使用有机成分将残余的紫外线转化成热能，比如甲氧肉桂酸辛酯和羟苯甲酮。最终结果都可以使含有多种防晒因子的乳液保护身体免受紫外线辐射的伤害。来源：everydaymysteries
Source: everydaymysteries 9.) Songs Stuck in our Heads
9. 为什么有萦绕在心头的旋律？
Almost everyone has at one point or another had a song stuck in their head, and it can last hours until that annoying tune goes away. Whether it is a backstreet boys song, a simple beat, or “It’s a Small World,” the constant repetition can drive anyone crazy. So what exactly causes songs to get stuck in our heads? Scientists blame something they refer to as “earworms” which create a “cognitive itch” that makes the brain to fill in the gaps in a song’s rhythm. Songs trigger activity in the auditory cortex of the brain, and studies have found that the part of the auditory cortex that is active when you’re actually listening to a song is reactivated when you just imagine hearing the song. In other words, imagining a song will “scratch” the cognitive itch, but this just makes it worse. In any case, the song will eventually go away by itself but if you can’t wait that long you can try listening to other music or distracting yourself to get it out of your head.
几乎每个人都有过这样的经历，在某一时间，一首歌不断萦绕在脑海，恼人的旋律持续数小时才会消失。无论是后街男孩、一小段简单的鼓点，还是“小小世界”，没完没了的重复都会让人发狂。那么，是什么让这些歌曲在我们的脑海里萦绕呢？科学家认为罪魁祸首是一种“耳朵虫”，它会使人产生“非自主音乐想象”，使大脑充斥着某一首歌的旋律。这些歌曲会触动大脑的听觉皮层，研究发现，当你想象自己在听某一首歌时，在实际听这首歌时被触动的部分听觉皮层也会被激活。换言之，想象一首歌会引发非自主音乐想象，但这只会让事情变得更糟。一般情况下，歌曲都会渐渐地自行消失，但是如果等不了那么久，可以听一听别的歌，或分散注意力使音乐从你的心里消失。来源：howstuffworks
Source: howstuffworks 10.) Hiccups
10. 为什么会打嗝？
Hiccups are triggered by uncontrolled impulses of the phrenic nerve which lead the diaphragm to spasm. These contractions result in a quick intake of breath which is what we refer to as a hiccup. Hiccups can be caused many ways such as by eating or drinking too quickly, consuming spicy or cold food, drinking alcohol, or by quick breaths because of surprises, laughs, coughs, or sneezes. In some cases they occur for no real reason at all, which can be quite annoying. So how exactly does one cure the hiccups? I have heard of many remedies including drinking water upside down, holding your breath, eating peanut butter, distracting yourself one way or another, or getting someone to scare you. Some of these may seem ridiculous, but all of them either distract you or cause you to hold your breath which allows the diaphragm to relax and can help stop the spasms. If none of these remedies works, and the hiccups do not subside, it may be necessary to get medical attention. The longest case of hiccups ever recorded was with a man named Charles Osborne whose fit lasted 68 years. He hiccupped an estimated 430 million times and averaged from 20-40 hiccups a minute throughout his lifetime. Next time you find yourself complaining about hiccups, just be glad that they will be gone sooner than his were.
打嗝是由膈膜神经不自主的搏动引发的膈膜抽搐造成的。这种收缩导致空气被快速吸入，就成了打嗝。引起打嗝的原因有很多，比如吃得太快或喝得太快，吃了太辣或太冷的食物，或由意外、大笑、咳嗽、打喷嚏引起的呼吸急促。有时候打嗝并没有确切原因，这让人非常恼火。那么如何治疗打嗝呢？我听说过很多的治疗方法，包括倒立喝水、屏住呼吸、吃花生酱、分散注意力，或找什么东西吓到你。有些听起来非常不靠谱，但它们都可以分散你的注意力或使你屏住呼吸，膈膜放松继而停止抽搐。如果以上方式都不奏效，打嗝不止，那就有必要去看医生了。史上最长时间的打嗝记录保持者是一位叫做查尔斯奥斯本的男人，持续了68年。他一生大约打了4.3亿次嗝，平均一分钟20-40次。下次你再抱怨打嗝的时候，想一想这肯定会在打破他的记录之前停止就好了。
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