Random Most Surprising Things We Learned In 2022 (17 items)

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  (#15) Cranberry juice

  • Food

  It's a common home remedy for people dealing with urinary tract infections: down some glasses of cranberry juice for a few days, and the infection will clear up. 

  There is some logic behind the idea that cranberry juice would be useful for UTIs. As biomedical scientist Katie McCallum noted for Houston Methodist Hospital's blog:

  One prominent theory is that a substance in cranberries, called proanthocyanidins, might help prevent UTI-causing bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder and other urinary tract linings. If bacteria can't stick, they're likely to get flushed away the next time you use the bathroom instead. Infection averted.

  Blueberries are also good sources of proanthocyanidins. The problem is that the juices of either berry typically don't have enough of the chemicals to make much of a difference. Plus, helping to prevent an infection isn't the same thing as curing an existing one.

  The science surrounding the medical uses of cranberries isn't settled one way or the other yet. As Dr. Pamela J. Levin explained on Penn Medicine's Women's Health Blog: 

  The data on cranberry juice and cranberry supplements with regard to urinary tract infections is inconsistent. Though studies have demonstrated potential ability to decrease symptomatic UTIs, there isn't sufficient data to determine the duration of therapy or the dose of cranberry necessary to achieve effect.

  In the absence of conclusive proof that cranberry (or blueberry) juice is truly medically useful, the best thing to do for a UTI is to visit a doctor, who can prescribe something that has been proven to work: antibiotics.
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  (#3) Surgical Gloves Were Invented For Love, Not Hygiene

  When renowned surgeon William Stewart Halsted first asked the Goodyear Rubber Company to make a thin pair of rubber gloves in the winter of 1889-1890, he had no intention of using them to protect his patients against infection. Instead, he only wanted to protect his love interest's gentle hands from the harsh chemicals she was exposed to as his assistant in the operating room. 

  Despite being one of America's most prominent advocates for Joseph Lister's antiseptic surgical protocols, the John Hopkins doctor saw little advantage to wearing rubber gloves beyond protecting his nurse Caroline Hampton's skin from mercuric chloride. She evidently appreciated the gesture, because the two were quickly engaged and married shortly after Halsted presented her with his invention. 

  While the gloves grew in popularity among surgeons for their ability to protect their own skin, it wasn't until much later that they were recognized for their hygienic properties during operations. 
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  (#11) In The 18th Century, Powdered Wigs Were A Popular Way For The Elite To Hide Their Syphilis

  In the second half of the 18th century, powdered wigs became a major status symbol for the ruling class. Syphilis was the main cause of these wigs coming into fashion, as the disease was rampant in Europe during the period and affected more Europeans than the plague.

  With the hairline being an important symbol of status for men at the time, the syphilitic side effect that caused patchy hair loss and the graying of one’s hair obviously was a large concern. Wigs became the easy (yet expensive) fix for hiding the hairline.

  Once King Louis XIV of France and his cousin King Charles II began wearing them, the fashion quickly caught on with other members of the ruling class, courtiers, and eventually merchants. The white powdered wigs eventually fell out of favor, replaced by individuals simply powdering their own natural hair instead.
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  (#9) Total Eclipse of the Heart

  • Musical Album

  American composer, lyricist, and record producer Jim Steinman originally penned "Total Eclipse of the Heart" - which hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts in 1983 - for a musical adaptation of the classic vampire movie Nosferatu. 

  Despite being inspired by the total darkness of a full moon eclipse, the song's original title was "Vampires in Love," and Steinman once mentioned that anyone who listened to the lyrics could quickly realize that the song was referring to romance found in vampiric darkness. 

  Steinman was also surprised that he was asked to work with singer Bonnie Tyler on the project, as he usually worked with Meat Loaf and other artists who were more hard rock or heavy metal than pop. Still, Steinman loved Tyler's voice and was excited to take on the challenge of moving into a different genre. Although the song never appeared in the musical version of Nosferatu, it did make an appearance on stage and in the playbill of another musical, Dance of the Vampires.
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  (#17) Lightning Can Absolutely Strike The Same Place Twice

  It's highly likely that lightning will strike in the same place more than once, especially if it hits an exceptionally tall and protruding object. The Empire State Building, for example, is struck approximately 25 times a year. 

  Also, just because the sky is clear doesn't mean that outdoor enthusiasts should ignore warning signs of an impending storm. If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to become a physical danger - even if there isn't a cloud in sight. 
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  (#4) Dragonflies

  • Book

  Dragonflies have a 95% success rate in killing their prey, making them the most successful predatory hunters on the planet. In comparison, cheetahs have a 58% success rate, and lions are successful only 25% of the time. 

  Dragonflies' slender bodies, long, transparent wings, and multifaceted eyes make the insects ideal hunters. They can fly at speeds up to 30 miles per hour, and their wingspan and design offer the predatory insects agility and mobility their prey lack. Dragonflies are also equipped with multiple lenses and a vast field of vision, with brainpower that is evolved enough to course-correct as soon as they lose sight of their prey.

  This is excellent news for humans because dragonflies' most probable targets are pesky summer insects people try to avoid, such as mosquitoes and flies.

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