upworthy

science

Health

Make your bed as soon as you wake up? Here's the gross reason why you might want to hold off.

And for those that procrastinate…now you have the science to back up your laziness.

Photo credit: Canva

A person deciding whether or not they should be making the bed

We’ve all been told that one of the foundations of becoming a mature, responsible, well-adjusted adult is making your bed as soon as you wake up. We’re told of the feeling of accomplishment we’ll get each day, the better sleep, the better focus, yadda, yadda, yadda…

Well, procrastinators rejoice. Because now, anytime someone (likely your more organized better half) tries to remind you of these supposed benefits, kindly guide them to this article.

Contrary to common wisdom, science suggests that this lauded morning routine actually helps moisture-loving dust mites (you know, the little critters that feast on our flesh and give us the sneezes…with their POOP!) thrive, especially if we’ve sweat through the night.

making your bed, hygiene, sleep, sleep expert, real simple, good housekeeping, life, cleaning Worst. Roommates. Ever. Photo credit: Canva

“Given that the average person sweats 500 milliliters per night, naturally, your bed environment is the perfect breeding ground for dust mites in the morning," Martin Seeley, renowned sleep expert and CEO behind MattressNextDay, told Real Simple. "That’s why it’s important to leave your bed for at least 30 minutes allowing for better ventilation, which helps disperse moisture and reduces the overall humidity in your bed."

Seeley’s not the only expert in the field to suggest this. Back in 2023, London-based GP and social media personality Dr. Sermed Mezher posted a viral TikTok video where he also touted the benefits of not making your bed right away.

@drsermedmezher They Feast on Us 🤢 #makeyourbed Dust mites, microscopic organisms that thrive in household dust, are highly sensitive to dry conditions. These minuscule creatures, known for triggering allergies in some individuals, require a certain level of humidity to survive and reproduce. Controlling the moisture levels in your home can play a pivotal role in minimizing dust mite populations and creating a healthier indoor environment. Dust mites absorb water vapor from the air to stay hydrated, making them particularly sensitive to dryness. By maintaining a dry environment, typically with a relative humidity below 50%, it becomes challenging for dust mites to thrive. This is especially crucial in areas where dust mites are prevalent, such as bedding, carpets, and upholstered furniture. Dehumidifiers prove to be effective tools in reducing humidity levels and creating an inhospitable environment for dust mites. Proper ventilation and adequate airflow in living spaces contribute to the overall control of moisture, inhibiting the conditions favorable for dust mite proliferation. Dryness not only hinders dust mite survival but also disrupts their reproductive cycle. By minimizing the availability of water, individuals can mitigate the risk of allergic reactions associated with dust mite infestations. #DustMites #IndoorAllergens #DryEnvironment #HumidityControl #HealthyHome #AllergyPrevention #IndoorAirQuality #DehumidifierBenefits #RespiratoryHealth #HomeMaintenance #CleanLiving #AllergyControl #DustMiteSensitivity #HouseholdHygiene #HealthyLivingTips #EnvironmentalWellness #IndoorEnvironmentalQuality #AllergyAwareness #HomeCareSolutions #AsthmaPrevention #fyp #fypシ #medicine ♬ Storytelling - Adriel

“Even if you don’t have a partner, you’re not sleeping alone, “ Mezher quipped, referring to the literal millions of dust mites that we share a bed with each night.

“They survive because of the moisture, so when we make our beds in the morning it actually helps them to live and reproduce so that they can go on and multiply. You may not even know that you’re allergic to them, but they can cause things like nasal congestion or annoying skin rashes that you didn't even realize were because of them.”

Mezher went on to say that this is why it’s “ideal” to change the sheets at least once per week, and agreed that leaving the bed unmade for about half an hour (even up to one hour) since dust mites are “surprisingly vulnerable to the air” and will get “starved” out, is a best practice. In addition, incorporating a dehumidifier and mattress topper wouldn’t be a bad choice either. Of course, nothing can truly make all dust mites go away, but this certainly brings their numbers down.

So basically, this is your permission slip to roll out of bed, and not even think about making it up again until you’re at least finished with your cup of coffee. For your health!

Of course, this might not be doable for all folks, and it's certainly not necessary if you don’t notice any allergy symptoms. But if you are noticing some morning allergies, this could be a potential solution—or just a way to justify laziness. Whichever works.

From Your Site Articles
science
HealthWellness
Science

Carl Sagan tried to warn us that a 'charlatan' leader could easily take over the U.S.

Was he predicting the future?

assets.rebelmouse.io

While astronomer Carl Sagan would likely be the first to scoff at the idea of him being a fortune teller, the man certainly had a prescient way of looking ahead during his lifetime. Sagan was the original host of "Cosmos" back in 1980 and it became the most watched show in public television history. Few science communicators have been able to match his talent for stoking wonder about the universe and our place in it.

Shortly before his death in 1996, Sagan appeared on "Charlie Rose" and made a dire warning about how the average Americans' lack of skeptical, scientific thinking could lead to disastrous consequences.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

Today, we can see the problems that are happening due to America's anti-science streak whether it's anti-vaxxers, conspiracy theories or climate change deniers. Sagan was right, America will suffer due to a lack a lack of scientific skepticism.

"We've arranged a society on science and technology in which nobody understands anything about science and technology, and this combustible mixture of ignorance and power sooner or later is going to blow up in our faces," he told Rose. "I mean, who is running the science and technology in a democracy if the people don't know anything about it?"

science, bill nye, science education, skepticism, carl sagain We need science education for a functioning democracy. Giphy

He then warned that our lack of critical thinking leaves us vulnerable to those who wish to exploit our ignorance.

"Science is more than a body of knowledge, it's a way of thinking," he says. "A way of skeptically interrogating the universe with a fine understanding of human fallibility. If we are not able to ask skeptical questions to interrogate those who tell us that something is true, to be skeptical of those in authority, then we're up for grabs for the next charlatan—political or religious—who comes ambling along."

Sagan believes that a democracy cannot function without an educated populace.

education, critical thinking, learning, science, technology Education is key to critical thinking. Giphy

"It's a thing that Jefferson lay great stress on. It wasn't enough, he said, to enshrine some rights in the Constitution and the Bill or Rights, the people had to be educated and they have to practice their skepticism and their education," he says. "Otherwise, we don't run the government, the government runs us."

Part the problem we face in the present is that what constitutes education, including science and technology education, is being debated at the highest levels. Institutions of higher learning are undergoing attacks by the government, traditional education is being devalued by powerful parts of the political world, and positions that were traditionally filled by public servants with credentialed expertise are now being filled by political loyalists instead.

Critical thinking has also taken a beating. People believe themselves to be "critical thinkers" simply because they go against scientific consensus, but that's not how critical thinking and skepticism really work. When political ideologies take precedence over genuine scientific inquiry and investigation, we all lose out.

carl sagan, science, education, brain, critical thinking Carl Sagan was ahead of his time. Giphy

Some might even say we've already reached the place Sagan tried to warn us about. Of course, that's up for debate as well, but regardless, Sagan certainly seemed to have his finger on the pulse of humanity's tendencies. Hopefully people will heed his words and put science education in its rightful place as part of a thriving democracy..

This article originally appeared five years ago.

From Your Site Articles
science
ScienceTechnology
Health

Science shows the brain literally rewires after a friend breakup. But there's a way to move forward.

“Friendship breakups are often a private kind of pain.”

Photo credit: Canva

Breaking up with a friend hurts.

Imagine this: you’re scrolling through Instagram and suddenly come across photos of your former best friend living their best life—without you. Your stomach drops to the floor, every muscle in your chest tightens, and, without warning, you’re sniffling over someone who once knew your Jamba Juice order by heart (medium Strawberry Whirl with a caffeine boost) but now treats you like a stranger.


via GIPHY

If this resonates with you, know that you’re not alone. Friendship breakups are one of life’s most devastating experiences, yet society either chooses to ignore them altogether or expects us to “get over it,” as if it’s no big deal.

Spoiler alert: it is a big deal. And we have the science to back it up.


The science and psychology behind friendship breakups

Here’s something that might surprise you: when a friendship ends, your brain processes it in much the same way as it would a romantic breakup. The same neural pathways light up, the same stress chemicals flood into your system, and you feel like your heart is breaking into a million tiny pieces.

Ugly crying into a pint of ice cream would not be uncalled for in this situation.


via GIPHY

Research shows that up to 70% of close friendships don’t make it past the seven-year mark. This doesn’t mean that we’re bad at friendship; rather, it’s a reflection of the fact that people change, grow apart, and that life unfolds in unexpected ways. However, knowing the statistics doesn’t make a friendship breakup any less brutal when you’re experiencing it firsthand.

When you lose a close friend, your brain goes into emergency panic mode. Known as the mood stabilizer, serotonin levels drop after losing a friend, leading to mood instability, anxiety, and depression symptoms. The brain goes through dopamine withdrawal, creating feelings of emptiness and a loss of pleasure.

Your amygdala—the brain’s alarm system—freaks out, sending waves of stress signals through your body. Simultaneously, the same regions that process physical pain (the ones that would activate if you broke a bone) start working overtime to process that emotional pain.


woman, sad, brain, head, emotions Woman with her head in her hands.Photo credit: Canva

This is why we use physical terms to describe heartbreak, like "crushed,” “broken,” or “torn apart.” Because in these moments, your brain truly cannot distinguish between physical and emotional pain.

The grief no one talks about

Friendship breakups can be especially painful because our society isn’t built to acknowledge them. When a romantic relationship ends, friends and family typically gather around to offer emotional support and say things like, “You’re better off, sweetie," or “It’s their loss.”

But when a friendship falls apart? Crickets.

Unlike other forms of loss, friendship endings involve ambiguous grief: mourning someone who is still alive but is no longer present in your life.


via GIPHY

This phenomenon is also known as “disenfranchised grief," and refers to the type of pain that does not receive social recognition or support. A friend is someone who has left an indelible mark on your life, and yet, society tells you to get over it because, after all, it’s “just a friend.”

“Losing a close friendship can hurt just as deeply as a romantic breakup, if not more in some cases,” explains Charlotte Fox Weber, psychotherapist and author of What We Want, in an interview with Stylist.

“You’re not just mourning the present reality of the friendship; you’re grieving what it once was—the laughter, the shared experiences, the dreams you built together, and the promise of what life might become.”

Healing happens in stages

The good news is that you’re not broken. This pain will not last forever. Healing from a friendship breakup, much like any other form of grief, happens in waves. Some days you'll feel fine, while others you may want to hide under the covers and stare at old pictures of the two of you. The “good old days.”

First, allow yourself to feel everything. Seriously. Be sad, angry, confused, hurt. Hurl the dictionary and the thesaurus at your grief. Cry in the shower. Scream in the car. Your feelings are valid, even if no one else seems to recognize them.


via GIPHY

Next, practice self-compassion. Talk to yourself kindly and use words full of love. If a family member was going through something similar, would you tell them they were being dramatic? Hopefully not! You would wrap them in a tight hug and remind them that they are worthy of love and friendship.

Finally, get curious about the lessons this experience has taught you. What have you learned about yourself through this friendship? What do you want to do differently in future relationships? Pain can often be our greatest teacher, even if you prefer to learn your lessons more gently.

Plot twist: You’re stronger now

Here’s something no one tells you about surviving a friendship breakup: it makes you resilient. Look at you! You have navigated through one of life’s most under-recognized heartbreaks and emerged in one piece. You sat with difficult emotions, comforted yourself, and became your own best friend when you needed one the most.

That’s not insignificant; that’s everything.

So, take your time. Feel your feelings. Be gentle with yourself. And remember, almost everyone has experienced a loss like this at some point. You’re not behind in life; you’re exactly where you need to be.

From Your Site Articles
friendship
HealthMental Health
Mental Health

Experts share why being guilt-prone is actually a top sign that someone is trustworthy

There are tools to manage guilt in healthy ways.

Photo credit: Canva

A man appears guilty.

Self-conscious emotions often get a bad rap. When we think of shame or embarrassment, guilt is not usually far behind. We often assume these types of feelings are negative, but the truth is—they can be excellent indicators that a person has a pretty decent moral compass.

In a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, researchers sought to determine indicators of trustworthiness. The 2018 paper "Who is trustworthy? Predicting Trustworthy intentions and behavior" makes a huge distinction about their intentions right off the bat: "Existing trust research has disproportionately focused on what makes people more or less trusting, and has largely ignored the question of what makes people more or less trustworthy."

Their findings are pretty clear cut: The number one indicator of trustworthiness? Being prone to guilt. "Guilt-proneness predicts trustworthiness better than a variety of other personality measures, and we identify sense of interpersonal responsibility as the underlying mechanism by both measuring it and manipulating it directly. People who are high in guilt-proneness are more likely to be trustworthy than are individuals who are low in guilt-proneness, but they are not universally more generous."


Writer Leah Fessler cites the study in her piece, "Who should you trust? Psychologists have a fascinating answer," for Quartz: "Guilt-proneness is not the same as feeling guilty, and this distinction is key to understanding why guilt-proneness is a positive trait, especially as it relates to trustworthiness."

It's all about the anticipation of guilt, and one's hope is: this trait might prevent someone from behaving in a negative manner. The line of thinking goes something like this: "If I steal money from Emily, that would really hurt her feelings, so I won't do it."

Fessler further explains, "We typically think about guilt as a signal that someone did do something wrong, which is why it’s seen as a character flaw." She references Emma Levine, an assistant psychology professor at University of Chicago. "But feeling guilty about wrongdoing is a good thing," Levine says, "whereas doing something wrong and not feeling guilty would be problematic, as it suggests a lack of remorse and no intention to repair your transgressions."

Explanation as to why guilt can be a good thing. www.youtube.com, Anna Akana

In the article "The Problem with Guilt" for Psychology Today, authors Tara Ceranic Salinas, Ph.D., and Ed Love, Ph.D., explain simply that "Guilt serves an important purpose in guiding our behavior by causing us to evaluate our moral worth and how we fit in the various communities to which we belong. Along with shame and embarrassment, it is part of the self-conscious emotion family, and these inward-facing emotions motivate ethical behavior. (Note: they don't distinguish between guilt or guilt-prone, but we get the idea.)

They acknowledge that "Guilt is tricky. Feeling guilty makes us realize we have messed up–even if we haven’t!" They provide a few tools for processing guilt, such as acknowledgement (owning what they've done), self-reflection (how does it make them feel?), and still having plenty of compassion for yourself after the mistake has been made. None of us are perfect, even those who are trustworthy.

guilt, feeling guilty, emotion, trust A woman looks guilty. Giphy

The Reddit post titled "Guilt-prone people are highly skilled at recognising other people’s emotions" has another spin on the matter. The guilt-prone aren't not just more trustworthy. They're more empathetic.

A commenter shares, "It's not surprising if you think about the neurobiology of it. Guilt, shame, and empathy come from the same areas in the brain. Psychopaths have less amount of grey matter in the parts of the brain that regulates these traits."

Probably safe to assume that "psychopaths" aren't the most trustworthy, so, yes—it totally tracks.

From Your Site Articles
guilt
Mental HealthHealth
Trending Stories