Here are some illuminating scientific discoveries from the week to help you live better and maybe even get rid of your stomach ache.

New moms more likely to see Elvis on toast.That phenomenon of seeing a smile in an inanimate object is called face pareidolia, and researchers have found that it is more common among women who just gave birth. When shown images of random objects, postpartum women tended to identify illusionary faces unseen by other women. Researchers think this is because new mothers have higher levels of oxytocin, the “love” and “trust” hormone involved in social bonding, which previous studies have connected to the brain’s ability to recognize facial expressions.

Having indigestion? Try turmeric.In the first clinical trial to directly compare turmeric to conventional indigestion drugs, the yellow spice proved its medicinal worth. Hospital patients in Thailand who received turmeric capsules recovered just as well from their stomach pain as those placed on omeprazole, a generic form of Prilosec OTC (which is linked to health risks with long-term use). Turmeric has long been used in Eastern medicine as a natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial treatment, and these findings could justify clinical use, the researchers said.

The mystery of saltwater taffy was revealed.The hungriest brains in physics have answered the greatest theoretical question facing beach towns: What makes saltwater taffy so soft and chewy? The sugary treat—described by one researcher as being “between a viscous liquid and an elastic solid”—is stretchy and long-lasting because of the air bubbles and oil droplets that form when the candy is pulled. The study found that aerating and adding emulsifiers like lecithin resulted in smaller oil droplets and even chewier taffy, a finding that could also apply to foods like cheese, bread dough, and chewing gum.

Is lab-grown meat kosher and halal?

Lab-grown meat has begun getting the green light from regulators and is making its way onto restaurant menus. Still, not everybody is ready to dig in for reasons ranging from “It tastes funny” to general uneasiness, cost, and faith-based objections.

That last concern was recently addressed (at least in part) by two groups of religious leaders who weighed in on cultivated chicken.

• Orthodox Union Kosher, the biggest of the Big Five agencies that certify foods as compliant with Jewish dietary laws, approved lab-grown chicken made by the Israeli startup SuperMeat.

• A trio of high-profile Shariah scholars from Saudi Arabia said this week that chicken produced by California-based Good Meat (one of the first lab-grown meats to win FDA approval) could be made in a halal-compliant way

Featured Story

• Mom Started Cookie Nonprofit to Fund Kids’ Cancer Research — And It’s Raised Over $20M

  

  Courtesy of Cookies for Kids’ CancerCookies for Kids’ Cancer is a powerhouse of a nonprofit: With volunteers and supporters in 50 states and 24 countries, it has funneled over $20 million into lifesaving pediatric oncology research, helping make 25 new treatments available. And it all started with a bake sale.

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