5 Times Scientists Shocked Us With New Discoveries

Many experts from different areas of the world are creating discoveries that can stun us to the core at how astonishing our planet and our bodies can be. According to research, there are about 2.5 million new scientific discoveries published every year. They never cease to open our eyes and help us look at the bigger picture, from discovering new planets to learning the latest news about our own anatomy.

Here at Bright Side, we made a list of scientific discoveries that left us in awe of ourselves and our surroundings, and we would like to share them with you.

1. We wake up more than 100 times throughout the night.

If you thought that sleeping through the night was ordinary and habitual, you may be in for a surprise. A study has shown that we wake up more than 100 times during the night.

This is because a neurotransmitter in our body is related to adrenaline, which is what causes us to wake up so many times. This is a good thing, however, because it means that we get better quality sleep. The short awakenings reset our brains, resulting in better memory as we plunge back to sleep.

2. Scientists can now produce snowfall from the clouds.

Scientists figured out how to use certain methods to produce snowfall coming from the clouds. This is called cloud seeding, which means they put many different types of substances into the clouds to make rain, snow, and even ice. They confirmed that it was a success, and in some places, snowfall really did increase. Not only that, but these experts were able to make new snowfall in places where there was no snow at all — for about 67 minutes.

3. Dogs are self-aware.

You have probably heard of the saying “I think, therefore I am” by the famous philosopher René Descartes — but his quote referred to humans only. Dogs also have the ability to organize their owners’ (or anyone’s) actions by knowing that their own body exists.

They have a similar way of thinking, equal to that of a toddler, which means they know their bodies are there and moving. Since this is true, dogs may even have way more complex mental thinking, like understanding that every action has a consequence.

4. Yawning doesn’t mean we are bored or tired.

For a long time, yawning has been associated with feeling tired or bored — but new research has shown that this may not be the case. When we yawn, we are socially communicating how we’re feeling with others, and we’re connecting more with them. We also show empathy when we yawn. Experts say that if you see someone yawn, and you do it right after them, it means you are more empathetic.

5. Sneezing occurs due to a variety of things.

Sneezing helps keep our body safe, and it is an important factor in keeping our immune systems healthy. Generally speaking, when we sneeze, it might be because we’re allergic to something or because we caught a cold.

But there are many other factors that cause sneezing, like after a workout. When we exercise, we hyperventilate, and this causes our nose and mouth to feel dry — making us sneeze. Also, plucking your eyebrows can make you sneeze because we set one of the nerves on our face in action.

Were you shocked by some of these discoveries? Which one was the most surprising?