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Science/nature/environment

Science and art of tears

(8 Posts)
janerowena Sat 17-May-14 14:43:08

It's one of those things I have wondered about in the past, so it's wonderful to see that someone has actually researched it, and the photos are amazing.

jinglbellsfrocks Sat 17-May-14 13:30:09

From PubMed: One of the endogenous pentapeptides with morphine-like activity.

jinglbellsfrocks Sat 17-May-14 13:28:13

"Emotional tears, for instance, have been found to contain protein-based hormones including the neurotransmitter leucine enkephalin, a natural painkiller that is released when the body is under stress."

I wonder if that's why crying can make you feel better. Because a natural painkiller is being produced somewhere?

Agus Sat 17-May-14 11:10:45

Fascinating. Never crossed my mind there could be a different substance or pattern to a simple tear.

Thanks for the post Jess

POGS Sat 17-May-14 10:54:28

Who knew crying could be so amazing.

thatbags Sat 17-May-14 07:53:32

I enjoyed this too, via Twitter originally smile [the twitterverse has its uses]

Grannyknot Sat 17-May-14 07:40:30

I like that, Jess. When she says "It’s as though each one of our tears carries a microcosm of the collective human experience, like one drop of an ocean" - that fits with many of the posts on the "what makes you emotional" thread.

JessM Sat 17-May-14 07:24:32

Interesting science/art crossover project in which photographer studied different types of tears through a microscope. It's not just salty water.

www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-microscopic-structures-of-dried-human-tears-180947766/?no-ist