knowledge -WSS

knowledge

author：leisure time 2025-09-29 07:28:12 - browse：6361

Fingernails sometimes fall off when they’re damaged — like if they get stuck in a car door.

That has to do with what’s known as the matrix, the spot at the bottom of your nail that’s responsible for growing your nail. Nails themselves are actually little plates of proteins called keratin. All of those proteins are connected, which is what makes one continuous nail.

When your finger experiences a shock, like getting stuck in a car door, the matrix temporarily pauses the growth of the fingernail. That pause means the proteins are no longer connected. So the new part of the nail that starts growing isn’t connected to the old part that you could already see — which is why your fingernail falls off.

We investigate the strange science of fingernails in the latest episode of our video series “Boddities.”

Newsletters

Sign up for Morning Rounds

Your daily dose of news in health and medicine.

Please enter a valid email address. Privacy Policy

Related: Watch: Episode 12: What would happen to your eyes if you looked at the solar eclipse?

Related: Watch: Episode 11: Why do bug bites cause bumps on the skin?

Related: Watch: Episode 10: What happens when skin gets sunburned?

Related: Watch: Episode 9: Why can’t teeth heal themselves?

Related: Episode 8: What makes metabolism fast?

Previous article： Duchenne breakthrough therapy leaves behind pioneering families
Next article： 6 phony surgeries that take placebo to the extreme

focus

entertainment

WSS

NIH study of ME/CFS points to clear biological hallmarks

STAT readers on older presidents, polypills, Medicare, and more

Neurocrine Biosciences, biotech based in San Diego, joins PhRMA

Mexico finds 491 migrants being held at vacant lot, almost all are from Guatemala

Cyberattack on UnitedHealth subsidiary cripples pharmacies, hospitals

Annovis Bio delivers candor, but not confidence, on Parkinson’s study

leisure time

knowledge

Sign up for Morning Rounds

Related: Watch: Episode 12: What would happen to your eyes if you looked at the solar eclipse?

Related: Watch: Episode 11: Why do bug bites cause bumps on the skin?

Related: Watch: Episode 10: What happens when skin gets sunburned?

Related: Watch: Episode 9: Why can’t teeth heal themselves?

Related: Episode 8: What makes metabolism fast?

knowledge

FDA approval of Sarepta Duchenne genetic therapy gives me hope

Russia promises retaliation after Ukrainian drones hit a Russian tanker in 2nd sea attack in a day

How one medical school became remarkably diverse

Failure, not just success, should guide future doctors

Medical records are filled with copy

Pennsylvania man bitten on the head by bear during attack in his garage

23andMe had bad news about my health. I wish a person had delivered it

In utero gene editing: an explainer

Cancer drug shortages should be causing more outrage

Kansas bar where gunfire wounded 9 last month closes permanently

explore

With competition flaring, obesity drug hits goal in liver disease study

Restaurant meals are packed with calories, and we still keep eating them

R1 RCM gets $5.8 billion buyout offer from private equity firm

Readout Newsletter: Wegovy, dialysis, Humira, Vir, and more

Paxlovid rebound happens. Why and to whom are still a mystery

Sage considers ways to reduce costs following FDA rejection

focus

entertainment

focus

hotspot