For thirty-five years, Dr. William B. Bean kept a detailed account of his left thumbnail's growth. His self-study unveiled striking patterns related to aging and health, including a consistent reduction in nail growth rate and the complete cessation during illness. This unique research approach brought Dr. Bean the 2025 Ig Nobel Prize in Literature, highlighting the intersection of personal observation and scientific inquiry in a most unusual way.
Every few weeks, most people clip their fingernails without giving them a second thought.
Dr.
William B.
Bean did the opposite.
At the beginning of every month, the American physician carefully carved a tiny groove near the base of his left thumbnail, noted the date, and waited.
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