It Turns Out That Coffee Addiction Can Be Blamed On Genes

If you can't function without that morning cup of java, you are not alone. Hundreds of thousands of us drink it every day. In fact, aside from water and tea, coffee is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. But how much do you need before the caffeine kicks in and starts your engine? One cup? Two? Nine? According to a recent study, if you need a dump truck of coffee just to get your daily caffeine jolt, you can blame it on your DNA.

How many cups of coffee do you need throughout your day?COMMENTand let us know!

For some of us, coffee = life.

And if you really love it, you can even bathe in it. There's a spa in Japan that fills your bath with coffee, so you can reap all supposed skin-detoxing benefits. 

Are we really programmed to like it?

According to research from Nicola Pirastu, the scientist who led the study, some of us are carrying a gene variation that limits our coffee consumption. 

Science to the rescue!

The study tested over 1200 people. They all filled out surveys about coffee consumption and had their genetic makeup analysed. Then they tested 1700 more people just to confirm their results.

Do you have this crazy gene variation?

But they all revealed the same thing: if you had the gene variant, you drank less coffee. Those of us who have this weird variation actually need less coffee because the caffeine hangs around in our systems longer.

Wait — is it good to have this or not?

That all depends on how much you like to drink.

This special variant actually slows down our metabolism, and since our body takes longer to break it down, we're not reaching for that extra cup to get our fix. “The results of our study add to existing research suggesting that our drive to drink coffee may be embedded in our genes," says Pirastu.

Extra benefits!

Many of the same genes that process caffeine are also used for certain medicines. So figuring out how these genes work might actually have an impact on how different patients respond differently to the same medications.

Coffee has superhero-like qualities.

“Coffee is protective against some types of cancers, cardiovascular diseases and Parkinson’s,” says Pirastu. “Understanding what is driving its consumption may help us understand what the effects on these diseases are, and so open new lines of research.”

Break time!

Four extra-large dark roasts? Seven espressos? How do you get your required caffeine boost each day? COMMENTand let us know!

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Science Nerds Claim Dad Bods Are Sexier And Lead To Longer Lives

The dad bod has gotten some attention lately for being super sexy. When I heard this fact, I had a newfound confidence in my physique that surely has never existed. Interestingly, a good amount of science has gone into what makes this body type attractive to women and, more recently, if having a dad bod is unhealthy.

A scientist is making the case that dad bods may actually make you live longer. Hard to believe? Let's figure out what the deal is. 

Let us know in a COMMENT on Facebook what you think about the dad bod. Do you believe the science?

Some of the most popular dad bods out there are Vince Vaughn's...

Vin Diesel's....

... and surely Leo's.

When New York Daily News asked what about the dad bod women like, the responses were quite interesting. One woman said, “(It shows) you love life but also have the good sense to not let yourself completely go.” Another person said “Looking too fit can come across as self-centered.” Well, I agree and so does my dad bod. 

So we know that women like men who are a little chubby, but how is it possible that they could live longer than men who look much more physically fit?

Let's see what researcher Richard Bribiescas from Yale University found...

Richard Bribiesca found that middle-aged men who carry "a bit" of extra weight are more likely to have a longer life. 

As a result of becoming pudgy, these fathers may spend more time investing in their children rather than looking for other women. This, Bribiesca thinks, can make these men more attractive to women. 

The reason why men with a dad bod are better able to fight off illness may relate to less muscle mass and lower testosterone. 

Apparently, when men age and lose muscle mass over time (and add fat), they also become better at fighting off illness and passing on their genes. Bribiesca calls the idea that chubbier men live longer "the Pudgy Dad Hypothesis."

In fact, high levels of testosterone have been linked to a weaker immune system before. 

Some believe that this may explain why women, on average, have a superior immune system to men. 

Bribiesca told The Telegraph, "While men are on average larger and physically stronger than women, men have a considerable weakness. We have a harder time fighting off infections and illness compared with women, and... men simply do not take care of themselves."

As a result, men tend to age more rapidly as well. 

Some health experts urge that there are limits to the dad body... unfortunately...

Dr. Helen Webberley makes it clear that while there may be benefits that come from having a dad bod, people need to be careful. 

She said, “It is however important to be aware of this burgeoning bulge which may be exacerbated by poor diet and lack of exercise, neither of which is good for general health.”

Oh, I know it's sad that, yes, diet is incredibly important even though a small amount of extra fat is beneficial. 

At least you don't have to pound weights at the gym!

So how much dad bod is good?

The Washington Post states that if your body mass index is between 25 and 29, you likely have a dad bod. 

Do you believe the science?

Let us know in a COMMENT on Facebook what you think about the dad bod.

h/t Huffington Post

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Here Are The 16 Most Trusted Celebs In Hollywood, And We're Obsessed With Them All

Let's face it: it's been a really rough year for Hollywood news. While we are thrilled to see so many horrible people being ousted for their behavior, hearing about it daily can really take a toll.

So let's revisit some of the celebrities that have proved they are not complete garbage! These are the top celebs that we totally trust... 

1. Tom Hanks 

Let's get this one out of the way because you knew Tom Hanks was going to be on this list. 

He is literally America's dad, and we trust him with our whole hearts. 

2. Meryl Streep 

Oh, and of course we trust Meryl Streep! 

Just like Tom Hanks, we can't help but trust Meryl Streep because she's just so charming. She is literally an angel walking among us, and we are not worthy. 

3. Maggie Smith 

In my opinion, Maggie Smith can do no wrong. She just seems like such a sweetheart. How could you not trust Minerva McGonagall?

She's also been in the public eye for almost 60 years, so she's earned our trust by now. 

4. Sean Astin 

#JusticeforBob

We've loved Sean Astin ever since we first saw him in The Goonies, and he's continued to charm us time and time again over the years. This story about him sending a book to a fan is everything. 

5. Hugh Jackman 

Hugh Jackman just seems like a great dude. 

Not only is he an incredibly talented actor and singer but he does a ton of charity work and uses his Twitter account to raise awareness about causes he supports.  

6. Morgan Freeman

Um, he's literally God! Of course we trust him! 

Morgan Freeman could say almost anything to us with that iconic voice of his, and we'd believe it without hesitation. 

7. Stephen Colbert

He's charming, hilarious, and tells it like it is. 

We loved him on The Colbert Report, and we love him even more on The Late Show.Never change, Stephen. 

8. Emma Watson 

Emma Watson is one of the youngest celebrities on this list, but she has definitely earned her spot. 

We love her for carrying herself with such grace and standing up for social issues. Plus, she's Hermione!

9. Mark Ruffalo 

Mark Ruffalo must be protected at all costs.

He's an adorable goofball and is actually so relatable. I've got to trust a guy who almost spoiled his own moviebecause he didn't know how to turn of his Instagram livestream. You're great, Mark. 

10. Idris Elba

Last year, Timenamed Idris Elba one of the top 100 most influential people in the world, so he's definitely doing something right!

He is the leading man that we all deserve, and we love him. 

11. Chris Evans 

Chris Evans is slowly becoming one of my favorite celebrities. In fact, he is becoming more and more like Steve Rogers aka Captain America every day. 

He's constantly fighting for what's right on Twitter, and we have to trust a guy who loves his dog so much! 

12. Jennifer Aniston 

Jennifer Aniston is literally America's sweetheart, and we are pretty sure she can do no wrong! We would trust this woman with our lives because there's definitely not a single malicious bone in her body. 

We will stan forever. 

13. Colin Firth 

Just look at that face! Colin Firth has probably never told a lie (well, aside from pretending to be someone he's not for a living).  

When he's not crushing it on the screen, Firth is also a human rights and environmental activist. He's the man!

14. Denzel Washington 

Denzel Washington is one of those actors that manages to seem incredibly cool as well as super nice. 

Before he became a household name, he literally considered becoming a preacher! Yeah, we trust him. 

15. Betty White

This woman is 95 years old, and she still brings so much joy to the world. 

According to Forbes Magazine, she was the fifth most trusted celebrity of 2014, and she's just as trustworthy today. 

16. And finally, Gina Rodriguez 

She is an actual angel and her charity work is so, so incredible. We love you, Gina. 

Did we miss anyone? Which celebrities do you shamelessly trust? COMMENTand let us know! 

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These Guys Use A Vacuum Cannon To Destroy A Soda Can With A Ping Pong Ball

You may be wondering how it's possible that something as weak and flimsy as a ping pong ball could actually cut right through a metal soda can, but I assure you, it is totally possible.

Zeke Kossover demonstrates how easy it is to make a vacuum cannon, a device that can surely make a ping pong ball destroy an aluminum can. 

Check it out for yourself!

Leave a COMMENT on Facebook letting us know what you think about the science behind the vacuum cannon. 

A representative (Zeke Kossover) from the Exploratorium, an interactive science museum in San Francisco, appeared on an episode of Tested to show off a nifty vacuum cannon.

But, still, how is a ping pong ball able to break through anything? No matter how hard you throw it at someone, it's just not going to do much damage. 

A ping pong ball might be able to break through something like a soft cucumber, but a can?

I don't believe it, let's see.

Zeke explains that one factor that makes it so hard to make ping pong balls fly quickly for long distances is wind resistance.

Ping pong balls almost immediately slow down the second you hit them because they are instantly met with tons of drag. 

One way to get around this is to make a PVC vacuum cannon. 

Zeke demonstrates that first, after putting the ping pong ball into the tube, you have to seal the outer ends of the tube as well. 

Zeke reasons that if air resistance is the thing holding back the speed of a ping pong ball, then air needs to be removed from the tube.

He does this with a vacuum pump, of course. 

Zeke then explains that when the seal at the end of the tube opposite the can is punctured, an enormous amount of air will rush into it, propelling the ball.

He estimates that by the time the ping pong ball reaches the end of the tube, it may be going as fast as 500 mph. To put things into perspective, the speed of sound is roughly 768 mph. Are you ready for the moment of truth?

In this slow motion shot, you can see the ping pong ball fly right through the can. The can never even had a chance!

It's pretty remarkable how powerful air itself can be. No combustion needed. 

Here is the full video for you to watch!

SHARE this article with your Facebook friends. This is too cool.

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Answers To 7 Classic Magic Tricks

The best part about magic tricks is getting to wonder how they do it! However, not everyone loves the thrill of not knowing as much as others, so for those people, there are answers. 

Classic magic tricks from as far back as the early 1800s have been explained and the magic behind them revealed. You might be disappointed with how easily you were tricked once you find out how some of these illusions are done. But as lovely as childlike wonder can be, knowing the answers can be just as fun — especially when you learn how Michael Jackson defied gravity in his dance moves.

1. Levitation

The woman lays on a board which is held up by a metal rod. The magician stands to hide the rod, so where he is standing determines how well the trick is executed. 

2. Cutting A Body In Half

The person in this box has to tuck their body in to give the illusion that their body is being cut into pieces. Fake feet are attached at the end for when the model moves.

3. Zig Zag Girl

This trick is actually quite simple. When the assistant steps into the box, she turns her body sideways so that when the blades go in, they slide right past her body. When the mid section of the box is pushed out, only her hand goes with it, but the black lining of the box gives the illusion that her midsection has completely shifted.

4. Into The Air

This trick is very similar to the other levitation trick but the magician does not stand in front of the support. He then passes a hoop over the assistant only going as far as the support allows which gives the illusion that the body is floating in the air.

5. Floating Man Illusion

The street performer sits on a metal seat that is attached to a rod and that rod is attached to a platform that will be concealed by a carpet.

6. Cut In Half

This is one of the most classic tricks. One assistant is already in the box before the trick starts, her body concealed. When the other assistant gets in the box, the one already inside puts her legs out while the other hides hers, only her upper body showing. When the blades go in and the box separates, we are actually seeing one half of two people.

7. Michael Jackson Dance Trick

This dance move is much simpler than you thought! A groove in the shoes catches on a lift so when you lean beyond your center of gravity, you can return to an upright position without falling over!

8. David Copperfield Makes The Statue Of Liberty Disappear

David Copperfield is known for his incredible disappearing acts and one that has baffled many is when the magician made the Statue of Liberty vanish. How did he do it? The audience and pillars next to the statue were on a rotating platform. The audience was moved so that the statue was out of view but they didn't know they had been moved.

9. Buzz Saw

Similar to cutting a body in half this trick requires two people. The band that secures one person to the table also helps hide the other body. The blade comes down between the two giving the impression it is sawing the one in half.

10. Criss Angel Levitation

Very similar to the floating man trick, Criss Angel used a hidden leg to step onto for his levitation trick. He would step out of his shoe and onto the leg to make it appear he was floating with both feet in the air.

11. The Guillotine

The top of the guillotine is real, even the sharp blade. The lower half is actually a compartment so that when the blade drops, it hits little blocks that keep the person from actually being beheaded. There is a trap door that lets the person's head and shoulders drop and a shell in their coat makes it appear as if the body is still there — without a head.

12. Card Through The Window Trick

David Blaine's card trick has baffled many people. He gets a volunteer to pick a card from a deck, show the audience, then place the card back in the deck. He would then scatter the cards at a window and the selected card would stick — but on the opposite side of the window... 

To achieve this trick, another person stood on the other side of the window with a separate deck of cards and place the chosen card on it while the audience wasn't looking.

13. Walking On Water

Criss Angel can levitate and he can also walk on water...sorta. This trick is made possible with Plexiglas pillars coming up through the pool of water that he steps on. Not so impressive anymore...

14. Bullet Catch

While this trick has evolved over the years, the essence of it remains the same. A bullet is fired through a sheet of glass at a volunteer and they catch it in their teeth. 

The bullet actually drops upon firing and a fake marking is made on the glass. A stage hand duplicates the bullet which the volunteer places in their mouth to show after the gun has been fired.

We're sorry if this ruined some of the magic for you.

Not all tricks have good explanations for them. Some magicians just really are special and can perform illusions and acts that the only answer for how they were done is quite simply, magic.

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