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A caffeine detox destroyed me || Test Dummy Ep. 3 || Popular Science (#stayhome and #learn #withme)

Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive drug on the planet. Like all good things in this world, it should be consumed in moderation—but PopSci editors Jess Boddy and Claire Maldarelli were definitely not following that unwritten rule, guzzling between six and ten cups of coffee per day. That put them at risk for disrupted…

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Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive drug on the planet. Like all good things in this world, it should be consumed in moderation—but PopSci editors Jess Boddy and Claire Maldarelli were definitely not following that unwritten rule, guzzling between six and ten cups of coffee per day. That put them at risk for disrupted sleep, heart palpitations, unusual nervousness, and more. So they decided to detox. Will their torturous 14-day cut regulate their sleep patterns and teach them to respect caffeine for the powerful drug that it is? Find out on this week’s episode of Test Dummy.

SUBSCRIBE! for more Popular Science on YouTube ►► …

For exclusive episode sneak peeks and live Test Dummy updates, follow Popular Science on Instagram ►►

Video by : Jess Boddy
Senior Producer : Tom McNamara
Online Director : Amy Schellenbaum

Editor-in-Chief : Corinne Iozzio

#Popular Science (Magazine) #PopSci #popularscience #magazine #science #caffeine #coffee #blacktea #endorphins #detox #14daydetox #cleanse #sleep #insomnia #addiction #brainfog #memory #productivity #seltzer #anxiety #depression #neurotransmitters #beverages #wellness #blakelively #naomicampbell #tombrady #psychology #exercise #blackcoffee #yerbamate #kombucha #neuroscience #thebrain #fatigue #theflu #muscleaches #headache #migraine #withdrawal #caffeinewithdrawal #caffeinewithdrawalsymptoms

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102 Comments

102 Comments

  1. theylied1776

    April 14, 2020 at 2:42 pm

    I have never seen the point in overalls?

  2. @theylied1776

    April 14, 2020 at 10:42 am

    I have never seen the point in overalls?

  3. Steven H

    April 14, 2020 at 2:46 pm

    There is much, much more to the mechanism behind what caffeine does to the brain, adrenals, and the cascade of hormones behind it all…. Cortisol, aldosterone, insulin, and a mariad of others.

  4. Benjamin Jerew

    April 14, 2020 at 2:56 pm

    every few years or so i have to detox. stopping cold turkey is a horrible experience, but then i can go back to a single cup of espresso after 3 weeks. “i don’t feel dead inside” hahaha! but it has to be done!

    • Scarlett Morrocco

      September 7, 2020 at 2:29 pm

      Lo e natural medicine, this week is ladys nite @ telegram vallartopia.org
      Cya

    • vale y vicki las mejores amigas

      September 7, 2020 at 2:29 pm

      Lo e natural medicine, this week is ladys nite @ telegram vallartopia.org
      Cya

    • scarlett,luna y eli las mejores amigas

      September 7, 2020 at 2:29 pm

      Lo e natural medicine, this week is ladys nite @ telegram vallartopia.org
      Cya

    • vale UwU

      September 7, 2020 at 2:29 pm

      Lo e natural medicine, this week is ladys nite @ telegram vallartopia.org
      Cya

    • fans de luza

      September 7, 2020 at 2:29 pm

      Lo e natural medicine, this week is ladys nite @ telegram vallartopia.org
      Cya

  5. @JerewB

    April 14, 2020 at 10:56 am

    every few years or so i have to detox. stopping cold turkey is a horrible experience, but then i can go back to a single cup of espresso after 3 weeks. “i don’t feel dead inside” hahaha! but it has to be done!

    • @fansdeluza2066

      September 7, 2020 at 10:29 am

      Lo e natural medicine, this week is ladys nite @ telegram vallartopia.org
      Cya

  6. Arnav Shukla

    April 14, 2020 at 3:18 pm

    I just hope the “science” part of this show would be more articulate and organised in the future. Have been a reader of popular science since my school days and would very much like to see the channel grow. I know the production team is trying to cater to a broad viewership and it’s hard to balance empirical analysis with entertainment. Still step up your game girls😊

  7. @576arnav

    April 14, 2020 at 11:18 am

    I just hope the “science” part of this show would be more articulate and organised in the future. Have been a reader of popular science since my school days and would very much like to see the channel grow. I know the production team is trying to cater to a broad viewership and it’s hard to balance empirical analysis with entertainment. Still step up your game girls😊

  8. BnORailFan

    April 14, 2020 at 3:34 pm

    I’m in trouble. I just drank some tea and had a caffeine pill before I saw this video was available. Though I only have about 120 mg per day not 400!

    • Scott Concertman

      December 26, 2020 at 12:01 pm

      Do they still make speed? _Black caddies were my favorite Bing Bing Bing pill._ 🤪

    • Jell O

      January 26, 2021 at 10:04 am

      caffeine pills completely wrecked my adrenals after a year of continuous use @ 100-200mg. I say stop while you’re ahead. Once you start feeling massive fatigue no matter how much caffeine you take is when you know your adrenals are stressed the hell out. If you must I’d just stick to coffee or tea because it takes longer to drink.

    • JellO

      January 26, 2021 at 10:04 am

      caffeine pills completely wrecked my adrenals after a year of continuous use @ 100-200mg. I say stop while you’re ahead. Once you start feeling massive fatigue no matter how much caffeine you take is when you know your adrenals are stressed the hell out. If you must I’d just stick to coffee or tea because it takes longer to drink.

  9. @BnORailFan

    April 14, 2020 at 11:34 am

    I’m in trouble. I just drank some tea and had a caffeine pill before I saw this video was available. Though I only have about 120 mg per day not 400!

    • @scottconcertman3423

      December 26, 2020 at 7:01 am

      Do they still make speed? _Black caddies were my favorite Bing Bing Bing pill._ 🤪

    • @GetUnwoke

      January 26, 2021 at 5:04 am

      caffeine pills completely wrecked my adrenals after a year of continuous use @ 100-200mg. I say stop while you’re ahead. Once you start feeling massive fatigue no matter how much caffeine you take is when you know your adrenals are stressed the hell out. If you must I’d just stick to coffee or tea because it takes longer to drink.

  10. gregory burczyk

    April 14, 2020 at 3:40 pm

    when i quit i cant get out of bed for a few days.

    • Scott Concertman

      December 26, 2020 at 11:55 am

      _Well you better keep away from morphine then because you’ll be addicted to bed._

    • gregory burczyk

      December 27, 2020 at 2:46 am

      @Scott Concertman tried that as a teen. not a good experience.

    • Jell O

      January 26, 2021 at 9:53 am

      @Scott Concertman I was fed liquid morphine at the hospital and it didn’t work that well compared to benzos.

    • JellO

      January 26, 2021 at 9:53 am

      @Scott Concertman I was fed liquid morphine at the hospital and it didn’t work that well compared to benzos.

    • Jell O

      January 26, 2021 at 9:55 am

      I’m 17 days caffeine free and it’s still very hard to get out of bed. It takes me 5 hours for the grogginess to go away. I heard it take 6 months – 1yr for your hormones to get back to normal once you quit caffeine but some people experience moderate improvement in 2-5 months.

    • JellO

      January 26, 2021 at 9:55 am

      I’m 17 days caffeine free and it’s still very hard to get out of bed. It takes me 5 hours for the grogginess to go away. I heard it take 6 months – 1yr for your hormones to get back to normal once you quit caffeine but some people experience moderate improvement in 2-5 months.

    • gregory burczyk

      January 27, 2021 at 2:10 am

      @Jell O maybe reading about will spark me to try again. i didnt know that it messed with hormones

    • gregory burczyk

      January 27, 2021 at 2:10 am

      @JellO maybe reading about will spark me to try again. i didnt know that it messed with hormones

    • Jell O

      January 27, 2021 at 3:29 am

      @gregory burczyk caffeine stresses out your adrenals and it messes with cortisol production over time. it can also inhibit nutrient absorption from food. you should definitely read about it and its links to adrenal fatigue. I only started reading about it once I was experiencing the worst symptoms which unsurprisingly has gone away since I quit caffeine.

    • JellO

      January 27, 2021 at 3:29 am

      @gregory burczyk caffeine stresses out your adrenals and it messes with cortisol production over time. it can also inhibit nutrient absorption from food. you should definitely read about it and its links to adrenal fatigue. I only started reading about it once I was experiencing the worst symptoms which unsurprisingly has gone away since I quit caffeine.

  11. @merrick926

    April 14, 2020 at 11:40 am

    when i quit i cant get out of bed for a few days.

    • @scottconcertman3423

      December 26, 2020 at 6:55 am

      _Well you better keep away from morphine then because you’ll be addicted to bed._

    • @merrick926

      December 26, 2020 at 9:46 pm

      @@scottconcertman3423 tried that as a teen. not a good experience.

    • @merrick926

      December 26, 2020 at 9:46 pm

      @Scott Concertman tried that as a teen. not a good experience.

    • @GetUnwoke

      January 26, 2021 at 4:53 am

      @@scottconcertman3423 I was fed liquid morphine at the hospital and it didn’t work that well compared to benzos.

    • @GetUnwoke

      January 26, 2021 at 4:53 am

      @Scott Concertman I was fed liquid morphine at the hospital and it didn’t work that well compared to benzos.

    • @GetUnwoke

      January 26, 2021 at 4:55 am

      I’m 17 days caffeine free and it’s still very hard to get out of bed. It takes me 5 hours for the grogginess to go away. I heard it take 6 months – 1yr for your hormones to get back to normal once you quit caffeine but some people experience moderate improvement in 2-5 months.

    • @merrick926

      January 26, 2021 at 9:10 pm

      @@GetUnwoke maybe reading about will spark me to try again. i didnt know that it messed with hormones

    • @merrick926

      January 26, 2021 at 9:10 pm

      @Jell O maybe reading about will spark me to try again. i didnt know that it messed with hormones

  12. becomepostal

    April 14, 2020 at 4:24 pm

    That’s not how you stop coffee. You must do it gradually.

  13. @becomepostal

    April 14, 2020 at 12:24 pm

    That’s not how you stop coffee. You must do it gradually.

  14. kd1s

    April 14, 2020 at 8:17 pm

    There’s also caffeine in black tea, coca-cola, etc. So a lot more people are addicted to caffeine, including me. That said here in the U.S. we’ve been drugging ourselves with both illicit and non-illicit drugs for nearly 100 years now.

  15. @kd1s

    April 14, 2020 at 4:17 pm

    There’s also caffeine in black tea, coca-cola, etc. So a lot more people are addicted to caffeine, including me. That said here in the U.S. we’ve been drugging ourselves with both illicit and non-illicit drugs for nearly 100 years now.

  16. Musikaravaa

    April 14, 2020 at 9:02 pm

    Would you guys post transcripts? I don’t like to watch videos. I know this is an inane place to say that, but I frequently just don’t consume content because it’s in video format when I could read it in 1/3rd the time.

    • Jamie White

      April 14, 2020 at 10:40 pm

      You can change the video speed.

  17. @musikaravaa

    April 14, 2020 at 5:02 pm

    Would you guys post transcripts? I don’t like to watch videos. I know this is an inane place to say that, but I frequently just don’t consume content because it’s in video format when I could read it in 1/3rd the time.

    • @Kinnijup

      April 14, 2020 at 6:40 pm

      You can change the video speed.

  18. DaytimeSpecial

    April 15, 2020 at 1:51 am

    This channel should be called anecdotal science

  19. @gankt

    April 14, 2020 at 9:51 pm

    This channel should be called anecdotal science

  20. Daniel Vance

    April 15, 2020 at 5:24 pm

    I cut out caffeine nearly 25-years ago now because of a rare kidney disease diagnosis. When at a restaurant, I often order root beer, expecting it to be caffeine free. There are those rare times however that I’ll get my drink and it’ll be Barq’s (which has caffeine). Feeling what it does to me, I have no clue how people drink caffeine every day, multiple times per day. And Barq’s has very low caffeine compared to most drinks on the market. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must go take a nap. All this typing tired me out.

    • Jell O

      January 26, 2021 at 10:06 am

      I read Muggs rootbeer is caffeine free but Barqs has about as much as a cup of green tea.

    • JellO

      January 26, 2021 at 10:06 am

      I read Muggs rootbeer is caffeine free but Barqs has about as much as a cup of green tea.

    • Ryan Doyle

      October 24, 2022 at 9:32 pm

      Some of it is lost tolerance, but some of it is yes I think after you quit and then drink caffeine you notice how it makes you feel so much more. When you drink it regularly you think it’s just life, not the caffeine.

  21. @DanielVance

    April 15, 2020 at 1:24 pm

    I cut out caffeine nearly 25-years ago now because of a rare kidney disease diagnosis. When at a restaurant, I often order root beer, expecting it to be caffeine free. There are those rare times however that I’ll get my drink and it’ll be Barq’s (which has caffeine). Feeling what it does to me, I have no clue how people drink caffeine every day, multiple times per day. And Barq’s has very low caffeine compared to most drinks on the market. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must go take a nap. All this typing tired me out.

    • @GetUnwoke

      January 26, 2021 at 5:06 am

      I read Muggs rootbeer is caffeine free but Barqs has about as much as a cup of green tea.

    • @ryan06105

      October 24, 2022 at 5:32 pm

      Some of it is lost tolerance, but some of it is yes I think after you quit and then drink caffeine you notice how it makes you feel so much more. When you drink it regularly you think it’s just life, not the caffeine.

  22. Kent Hambrock

    April 15, 2020 at 6:08 pm

    I was consuming around 400~mg of caffeine a day for months. Gave it up in February when I discovered the effects high cortisol (caused by excessive caffeine consumption) has on the immune system. During a pandemic, the last thing I want is a controllable habit to make things worse on me. Took me at least two weeks to get over the worst of it. xD Been doing fine, since, though.

    100mg is roughly 10oz of fresh brewed coffee or 20oz of instant coffee. I however take my caffeine in the form of gum. 100mg per piece.

  23. @KentHambrock

    April 15, 2020 at 2:08 pm

    I was consuming around 400~mg of caffeine a day for months. Gave it up in February when I discovered the effects high cortisol (caused by excessive caffeine consumption) has on the immune system. During a pandemic, the last thing I want is a controllable habit to make things worse on me. Took me at least two weeks to get over the worst of it. xD Been doing fine, since, though.

    100mg is roughly 10oz of fresh brewed coffee or 20oz of instant coffee. I however take my caffeine in the form of gum. 100mg per piece.

  24. Chris Kenny

    April 15, 2020 at 6:44 pm

    I ain’t watching 16 minutes of this. What’s the TL;DR?

  25. Jeremy Marko

    April 15, 2020 at 6:48 pm

    Are you kidding. Talk about dumbing us all down. This is not informative. Please have some credible people discussing science…

  26. @jeremymarko7950

    April 15, 2020 at 2:48 pm

    Are you kidding. Talk about dumbing us all down. This is not informative. Please have some credible people discussing science…

  27. Michael Ireton

    April 15, 2020 at 7:14 pm

    Well this was profoundly disappointing and even in these socially isolated times with a lot of free time on my hands, a complete waste of 10 minutes (I skipped over a lot). A lot of giggly anecdotes and precious little substance or actual “science”. Caffeine is indeed a psychoactive drug. There’s still debate about whether it is truly “addictive”–substantive discussion of which might have made this at least somewhat more interesting. At least SOME exploration of the (psycho)pharmacology of caffeine would have been interesting. (Is it possible to overdose on caffeine?) Maybe some discussion of the history of coffee and coffee culture might have added some heft as well. (Who figured out that you could take (toxic) berries, then remove the flesh, then roast the seeds, then grind the seeds, then pour water over the ground seeds to produce a beverage? It seems quite bizarre!) Or perhaps a contemplation of how glibly so many people (including these ones) talk about “needing” coffee, while simultaneously condemning other psychoactive substances might have been interesting. It’s not just hypocritical–it also reveals something about social attitudes toward psychoactive substances in general. Again, some exploration of that might have made this more worthwhile to watch. WHY is coffee so widely socially accepted, while other substances aren’t? WHY do so many people feel like they “need” coffee to get through their day?

    Of course, coffee allows workers to be more “productive”–to work harder, faster, and longer. This, of course, is beneficial to business. It allows businesses to extract more (surplus) “value” from their workers. In other words, coffee makes people better worker bees. It has also become big business in and of itself. Some exploration of the economics and labor practices of the coffee industry–including the move toward “fair trade” coffee might have been welcome.

    On the purely anecdotal level, I quit all sources of caffeine about 25 years ago, after being a very heavy user. Yes, I went through some “withdrawal”, but I’m glad I did it. Don’t miss it a bit.

    • David Hays

      April 16, 2020 at 12:48 am

      (I skipped over a lot) of this wall of text.

  28. @MichaelIretonEsq

    April 15, 2020 at 3:14 pm

    Well this was profoundly disappointing and even in these socially isolated times with a lot of free time on my hands, a complete waste of 10 minutes (I skipped over a lot). A lot of giggly anecdotes and precious little substance or actual “science”. Caffeine is indeed a psychoactive drug. There’s still debate about whether it is truly “addictive”–substantive discussion of which might have made this at least somewhat more interesting. At least SOME exploration of the (psycho)pharmacology of caffeine would have been interesting. (Is it possible to overdose on caffeine?) Maybe some discussion of the history of coffee and coffee culture might have added some heft as well. (Who figured out that you could take (toxic) berries, then remove the flesh, then roast the seeds, then grind the seeds, then pour water over the ground seeds to produce a beverage? It seems quite bizarre!) Or perhaps a contemplation of how glibly so many people (including these ones) talk about “needing” coffee, while simultaneously condemning other psychoactive substances might have been interesting. It’s not just hypocritical–it also reveals something about social attitudes toward psychoactive substances in general. Again, some exploration of that might have made this more worthwhile to watch. WHY is coffee so widely socially accepted, while other substances aren’t? WHY do so many people feel like they “need” coffee to get through their day?

    Of course, coffee allows workers to be more “productive”–to work harder, faster, and longer. This, of course, is beneficial to business. It allows businesses to extract more (surplus) “value” from their workers. In other words, coffee makes people better worker bees. It has also become big business in and of itself. Some exploration of the economics and labor practices of the coffee industry–including the move toward “fair trade” coffee might have been welcome.

    On the purely anecdotal level, I quit all sources of caffeine about 25 years ago, after being a very heavy user. Yes, I went through some “withdrawal”, but I’m glad I did it. Don’t miss it a bit.

  29. Pople BackyardFarm

    April 16, 2020 at 2:09 pm

    I only drink 2 cups a day

  30. @PopleBackyardFarm

    April 16, 2020 at 10:09 am

    I only drink 2 cups a day

  31. Kevin Anderson

    April 16, 2020 at 5:51 pm

    It is like so helpful to like be able to have like this like science based information like available like on YouTube! You like wouldn’t believe like how many other like science YouTubers leave out the totally like relevant celebrity take on these like important like issues. I mean, I was like OMG! Like J’lo doesn’t even like drink caffeine because she like says that it like destroys her skin! I was like, OMG is that true?!?!

    • Scott Concertman

      December 26, 2020 at 12:05 pm

      Thanks so subscribe, give me a thumbs up after a 5 minute yada yada yada intro.

  32. @sipsake

    April 16, 2020 at 1:51 pm

    It is like so helpful to like be able to have like this like science based information like available like on YouTube! You like wouldn’t believe like how many other like science YouTubers leave out the totally like relevant celebrity take on these like important like issues. I mean, I was like OMG! Like J’lo doesn’t even like drink caffeine because she like says that it like destroys her skin! I was like, OMG is that true?!?!

    • @scottconcertman3423

      December 26, 2020 at 7:05 am

      Thanks so subscribe, give me a thumbs up after a 5 minute yada yada yada intro.

  33. Keith Olson

    April 17, 2020 at 1:07 am

    Watching this drinking my afternoon coffee.

    • Scott Concertman

      December 26, 2020 at 12:06 pm

      Afternoon coffee enema?

  34. Keith Olson (vintonole)

    April 17, 2020 at 1:07 am

    Watching this drinking my afternoon coffee.

  35. @KeithOlson0326

    April 16, 2020 at 9:07 pm

    Watching this drinking my afternoon coffee.

    • @scottconcertman3423

      December 26, 2020 at 7:06 am

      Afternoon coffee enema?

  36. Popular Science

    May 7, 2020 at 3:58 pm

    Saturday! Join us when #LIVEMEDAID brings together the scientific community to share ideas about the fight against #COVID19 and raise funds for Doctors without Borders. 🔔 Set reminder: pops.ci/LIVEMEDAIDYT

  37. @popsci

    May 7, 2020 at 11:58 am

    Saturday! Join us when #LIVEMEDAID brings together the scientific community to share ideas about the fight against #COVID19 and raise funds for Doctors without Borders. 🔔 Set reminder: pops.ci/LIVEMEDAIDYT

  38. @popularscience

    May 7, 2020 at 11:58 am

    Saturday! Join us when #LIVEMEDAID brings together the scientific community to share ideas about the fight against #COVID19 and raise funds for Doctors without Borders. 🔔 Set reminder: pops.ci/LIVEMEDAIDYT

  39. John Ferguson

    May 13, 2020 at 9:09 pm

    I got derealization/ depressed when I quit for 2 month . It was horrible. I’m back drinking coffee

  40. David R

    June 3, 2020 at 7:12 am

    That’s good psychoactive ASMR

  41. David Resetar

    June 3, 2020 at 7:12 am

    That’s good psychoactive ASMR

  42. Spontaneous Snowflake

    July 24, 2020 at 2:31 pm

    This is possibly the most irritating video I have ever watched.

    • Scott Concertman

      December 26, 2020 at 11:57 am

      I second that seasick motion. Nails across a chalk board would have been more pleasurable 😳

  43. @spontaneoussnowflake5494

    July 24, 2020 at 10:31 am

    This is possibly the most irritating video I have ever watched.

    • @scottconcertman3423

      December 26, 2020 at 6:57 am

      I second that seasick motion. Nails across a chalk board would have been more pleasurable 😳

  44. Scott Concertman

    December 26, 2020 at 11:54 am

    Caffeine detox headache? Just take an Excedrin. Not to manage the headache, but because Excedrin contains caffeine.

  45. @scottconcertman3423

    December 26, 2020 at 6:54 am

    Caffeine detox headache? Just take an Excedrin. Not to manage the headache, but because Excedrin contains caffeine.

  46. MYL-CREATE

    March 21, 2021 at 1:26 pm

    Jess is so adorable. I can get lost in her eyes.

  47. Obsolete Tutorials

    March 21, 2021 at 1:26 pm

    Jess is so adorable. I can get lost in her eyes.

  48. @ObsoleteTutorials

    March 21, 2021 at 9:26 am

    Jess is so adorable. I can get lost in her eyes.

  49. cookie

    May 4, 2021 at 2:08 pm

    its my 4th day now wish me luck!

  50. @cookie-gw5em

    May 4, 2021 at 10:08 am

    its my 4th day now wish me luck!

  51. Damitha Nadeesha Wanniarachchi

    December 13, 2021 at 12:06 pm

    who drinks coffee in a wine glass??

  52. @DamithaNadeeshaWanniarachchi

    December 13, 2021 at 7:06 am

    who drinks coffee in a wine glass??

  53. Julie jesse Carol

    August 16, 2022 at 9:48 pm

    Living with Body odour and Excessive sweating hasn’t been easy for me, with the everyday bullying and embarrassment. had it since adolescence.I was able to get rid of it long term with diet and herbal protocol of from #druwenboherbalhome on Youtube, know more fishy odour. Now am able to associate with friend and family, even at work without been embarrassed.. I have my life back👃👃

  54. Jo Hu (Joanna)

    September 5, 2022 at 1:24 am

    Wow, unwatchable

  55. Joanna

    September 4, 2022 at 9:24 pm

    Wow, unwatchable

  56. @joannaquanttumphysics

    September 4, 2022 at 9:24 pm

    Wow, unwatchable

  57. Ryan Doyle

    October 24, 2022 at 9:30 pm

    This is darker than Requiem For A Dream.

    Also you really need more than 2 weeks to assess life without caffeine.

  58. @ryan06105

    October 24, 2022 at 5:30 pm

    This is darker than Requiem For A Dream.

    Also you really need more than 2 weeks to assess life without caffeine.

  59. @Osgood-iz5rs

    February 19, 2024 at 4:13 pm

    ™™®®®®®™®©

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Scraping, grinding, or drilling a hole through the thick, hard skull that evolution developed to protect our most sensitive contents might be one of humanity’s worst ideas — and also one of our best.

We have no idea how it started, or why the first trepanner thought it would fix anything. We just know that nearly every civilization worldwide has been drilling holes in heads for at least 7,000 years. Sometimes it actually worked. Sometimes it… didn’t.

Unraveling the impossibly-complex story of trepanning exposes a deep conceptual understanding of the relationship between the brain and behavior. It reveals our desire to take drastic measures to preserve the lives of people who are important to us, whether their value is practical or emotional. And the development of trepanning from Neolithic peoples to the Greeks and Incas and modern trauma surgeons takes a winding road through horrors and genius.

Trepanning evolved alongside our understanding of biology, physics, and even consciousness, with both its tools and practices reflecting our increasing knowledge and our changing attitudes toward health and human life.

Skull jewelry. Headache cures. Experimental psychosurgery. A few people who just wanted to chill. It’s all trepanning.

And the most remarkable thing about this seemingly-crude phenomenon is how it not only persists, but that it might actually be an important part of our plan for tomorrow.

So sharpen an old rock, measure your brainbloodvolume, and grab a watermelon to practice on.

We’ll see you in the future.

** SOURCES / FURTHER INVESTIGATION **

“Bore Hole” by Joe Mellen:

“A Hole in the Head: More Tales in the History of Neuroscience” by Charles Gross:

“Holes in the Head: The Art and Archaeology of Trepanation in Ancient Peru” by John Verano:

“Hippocrates, Vol. III” translated by Dr. E. T. Withington:

“The Popular Science Monthly,” September 1875:

“The Popular Science Monthly,” February 1893:

“A History of Medicine: Primitive and Ancient Medicine” by Plinio Prioreschi:

“A History of Human Responses to Death: Mythologies, Rituals, and Ethics” by Plinio Prioreschi:

The Wellcome Collection:

** SPECIAL THANKS **

Advisor, History of Medicine: Dr. John Dickey, UMass Chan Medical School

The Wellcome Collection, The British Museum, and others who generously license their material with Creative Commons

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