Something You Should Know Strange Secrets of the Human Body and Why Your Brain Requires Friends
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Nov 10, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, Adam Taor, author of Bodypedia, reveals quirky human anatomy facts like why goosebumps persist and how humans excel at throwing. He explores the left-side facial bias and its emotional implications. Meanwhile, neuroscientist Ben Rein, author of Why Brains Need Friends, emphasizes the crucial role of social connections for health and longevity. He explains how isolation triggers stress and how even casual interactions can boost well-being. Pets, it turns out, are social support heroes, enriching our mental health.
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Social Softness Illusion Explained
- People rate another person's skin as softer than their own due to a "social softness illusion."
- The brain favors gentle, intentional touch to encourage bonding and make touch feel rewarding.
Goosebumps Are Evolutionary Leftovers
- Goosebumps come from tiny erector pili muscles attached to hair follicles that raise hairs.
- In humans goosebumps are vestigial and no longer serve the insulation or defensive roles they did in furrier ancestors.
Left Face Shows More Emotion
- The left side of the face is more emotionally expressive because it's controlled by the brain's right hemisphere.
- This left-side bias influences selfies, portraits, and how caregivers present faces to infants.
