Mould as good as gold

THE first name for penicillin was ‘mould juice.’ Alexander Fleming accidentally discovered the antibiotic in 1928, and named it after the fungus-like substance that killed the bacteria in one of his cultures. He didn’t formally name it penicillin until March 7, 1929.

Why we itch

ITCHING, or pruritus, happens to us all. But why exactly it happens is a mystery. Specialised neurons called “pruriceptors” trigger scratching, but new research suggests the hormone Nppb, which helps regulate the heart, may actually transmit the itch message to the brain.

How hiccups happen

THE diaphragm is the big muscle between your chest and abdomen. When it’s upset, it contracts too quickly and causes hiccups. Your vocal cords close after each contraction, making the “hic” sound. Hiccups usually go away fast, but one record-setting case lasted 68 years!