Quiet, please! If the sounds of chewing, crunching, slurping, yawning, pen clicking, tapping, water dripping, sniffling, whistling and breathing make you angry or even panicked, you may have misophonia. The term, coined in 2001, describes a chronic condition in which certain sounds trigger strong negative responses that can affect daily life and social interactions. If … Read more
Not to burst your bubble, but your gum might be packed with plastic. A new study found that chewing a single piece releases hundreds — if not thousands — of microplastics into your saliva, which you’re most likely swallowing. That’s a real blow, especially since a growing body of research suggests these tiny particles may … Read more
Pencils ready — now chew! Gum chewing has been shown to boost blood flow to the brain, enhancing alertness, focus and cognitive function. South Korean researchers discovered that another substance may be even more beneficial for the brain — wood. A new study found that chomping on wooden medical tongue depressors for five minutes can … Read more
Gum’s the word — and a new study links chewing the right kind to a decrease in preterm birth and delivery of low-birthweight babies in an impoverished African country. “It surprised us all that such a simple intervention could have such a dramatic effect,” said lead study author Dr. Greg Valentine, associate professor of pediatrics at … Read more
Dr. Kavita Mariwalla was gobsmacked when her 12-year-old son asked for mastic chewing gum to chisel his jawline. “My 12-year-old asked me for it and I was like, ‘What are you even talking about?’” the dermatologist told New York Magazine’s The Cut. According to Mariwalla, her son said it would yield the same results as … Read more
This canine was not happy with her seating assignment. Sputnik, a Shiba Inu, had more than enough legroom during her Alaskan Airlines flight last week as she chewed her way through the metal gate of her kennel. In a now-viral social media post, TikTok user John Krajewski shared a video of Sputnik standing at the … Read more
A critically endangered Cuban crocodile was found dead in its enclosure at the National Zoo on Dec. 17 after apparently chewing into electric equipment. The crocodile, a 10-year-old male who was hatched at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in 2012 as part of a breeding program, was “attracted to a replacement electrical outlet and … Read more
Here’s Linda! A TikTok user was surprised when a “weird noise” and a hole in the wall turned out to be a fluffy unwelcome guest — her neighbor’s pet hamster who gnawed its way through, as seen in a now-viral video. The clip — which has chewed up nearly 2 million views since it was … Read more