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This Halloween, we’re telling scary (health) stories. [Wellness Wire]( Presented by [Brightside]( IN a nutshell Happy Halloween, everyone! The day has finally come, and we’re celebrating with a creepy themed newsletter. From new data about the centuries-old black plague to a skin care product made with pumpkin and yam purée, there’s something for anybody and everybody in here. Gather round the virtual campfire, friends. Here’s what we’re sending your way today: • new research on the long-term effects of the bubonic plague • a festive fall pumpkin and yam skin care peel • real sci-fi inventions that we never thought were possible • more health stories you need • a spooky ghost story, courtesy of one of our readers! Be well, Morgan Mandriota Newsletter Editor, Healthline Written by Morgan Mandriota October 31, 2022 • 6 min read [The double-edged sword for descendents of Black Death survivors]( what’s got us buzzing [The double-edged sword for descendents of Black Death survivors]( What’s scarier than the [bubonic plague or Black Death]( that killed 30-50% of people in parts of Europe and the UK in the 1300s? Maybe digging up dead bodies in hopes of discovering DNA changes between pre-, during, and post-plague times. Welp, a [new study]( did exactly that and found that descendents of survivors have an altered genetic makeup which comes with a health bonus… but not without a catch. First off, what’s this advantage? Descendents have increased immunity during pandemics, as well as natural immunity to viruses like [HIV]( and COVID-19. “Infectious events can impact our genomes in many ways that modern techniques can now detect, providing the source of eventual evolutionary changes,” explains [Dr. Bill Miller](, evolutionary biologist, infectious disease expert, and author of [Bioverse: How the Cellular World Contains the Secrets to Life's Biggest Questions](. Dr. Miller adds that it’s not *just* our immune system that reacts –– our [metabolism]( and physiology shift, too. Enter: The evolutionary disadvantage. Descendents also have an increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases, like [Crohn’s disease]( and [rheumatoid arthritis](. Maybe similar research will be conducted in a post-COVID world 700 years from now. And maybe researchers will reveal similar findings that folks who survived this pandemic will give a similar advantage to their descendents. Who knows? Only time will tell. What we do know? “Culling a species' population by [epidemic infections]( is one significant facet of that evolutionary adaptation,” says Dr. Miller. “Our responses to infectious insults are evolution in action.” Tl;dr - Descendents of Black Death survivors have the evolutionary advantage of increased immunity from future pandemics and some viruses. The catch? These same people have a higher risk of developing Crohn’s disease, RA, and other [autoimmune diseases](. According to evolutionary biologist and infectious disease expert Dr. Miller, this is classic evolutionary adaptation at work. Isn’t science cool? great finds Products we love [Eminence Yam and Pumpkin Enzyme Peel]( [Eminence Yam and Pumpkin Enzyme Peel]( Now for some lighthearted content: Let’s talk about this at-home [yam]( and [pumpkin]( enzyme peel! A little goes a long way with this gentle-yet-powerful exfoliator which has natural, organic ingredients and no harsh chemicals. it’s a cult favorite amongst skin care enthusiasts because it’s that good. Not only does it smell yummy, but it also leaves skin radiant and [glowing](. It might feel hot and tingly on your skin and leave your face red post-application. Don’t worry, that’s just the peel doing its job! (Unless you develop a more severe [allergic reaction](… then stop using this product and consider seeing a doctor ASAP). If you’re looking to reap the [benefits of exfoliation](, we definitely recommend trying this peel. [Shop now]( Advertisement [Psychiatry appointments in under 48 hours]( Brightside offers custom psychiatry and therapy treatment online. Cigna, Aetna, and United insurance accepted. [LEARN MORE [→]]( [Psychiatry appointments in under 48 hours]( [Sci-fi made real]( Weird Science [Sci-fi made real]( Science fiction pushes the boundaries of ethics and reality as we know it. We all love a little bit of fantasizing, but some (wealthy geniuses) are willing to take their fantasies to the next level. Let's take a look at the once fictional ideas that are on their way to becoming factual science, shall we? For starters, [Jeff Bezos has funded a company]( that’s working on teaching cells not to age. Elon Musk is digging into research about [implanting chips in the human brain]( which could, in theory, link with technology, the internet, AI, or be used to upload your consciousness to the cloud. (WTF?) Maybe the most benign initiative on this list: Scientists have even played around with the ability to [look inside people’s dreams](, leading them to create a brain-activity based dream decoder that can ultimately recreate subconscious visuals IRL. Sure, these innovative projects could lead to future developments that might save humanity and heal the world… orrrr they could just be ego-driven attempts at dominating humankind. I don’t have the answer here. I just think these efforts are fascinating, scary, and worth keeping an eye on. Tell us: Do you think these inventions are going too far or are you a fan? Would you sign up for any of them if they went to clinical trials? Share your thoughts at wellnesswire@healthline.com. Health Hype True or False: A secret to relaxation? Fear. (Find the answer at the end of this email) health stories you need What we’re reading next [] [8 natural ways to fall asleep faster tonight.]( Once you’re done trick-or-treating or hiding from trick-or-treaters today, try these helpful sleep hygiene hacks to catch zzz’s quicker than ever. [An insect-eating mushroom could produce new antiviral and cancer drugs.]( Fascinating new data on cordyceps and cordycepin can eventually lead to cancer treatment clinical trials. [Let’s talk about sex ed.]( Talking about sex can feel scary, but it doesn’t have to be! We teamed up with Planned Parenthood for Let’s Talk Month to give you everything you need to chat about it with confidence. Health Hype Answer True or False: A secret to relaxation? Fear. True! Let me start off by saying that people (like me!) who are easily scared or living with conditions like PTSD or anxiety may not find scary things relaxing. But being scared in a safe environment with no actual threat, like riding a wild roller coaster or touring a haunted house, *can* actually chill you out. Why? How? “When you have a surge of adrenaline followed by the realization that it’s all in good fun, it relaxes you,” says psychologist [Ben Michaelis, Ph.D.]( I support anyone who loves a harmless jump scare, but it’s still a hard pass for me, thank you very much. Want to learn more about the science of fear? Check out our articles on [why we like being scared]( and [why being scared can be good for us](. Story Time Last week, we asked for your ghost stories… and wow, did you deliver. All of the responses were truly fascinating, but Barbara M.’s experience blew us all away. Read it for yourself below. *This submission has been edited for length and clarity. My first husband and I were married for five years. We had three year-old twins when I divorced him. He was abusive to me and had just lost his job. Fortunately, I fell in love with and married a wonderful man whom I am still in love with after nearly 48 years of marriage. I had no communication with my first husband. One night as I was lying in bed, wide awake, I literally saw [him] standing vividly, brilliantly, and radiantly at the foot of my bed! He was looking at me and said “I’m sorry.” I turned to my husband, told him what I was seeing, and said that I wondered if Denny had died. This was in November. Three months later, I got a phone call from Denny’s brother, whom I had not spoken to in decades. He told me that Denny had died three months earlier. Equally astounding was that Denny’s second wife had the exact same experience I had with him, appearing to her and saying the exact same words “I’m sorry.” This experience was a great blessing for me, as it truly allowed me to forgive him. Thanks for reading and joining us on this holiday! We’ll be back in your inbox with more great stories on Wednesday. Don’t worry, they’ll be less scary. See you then! Until next time, [healthline]( Take care of yourself, and we’ll see you again soon! [Telegram] This edition was powered by memories of the 64-page college thesis I wrote about Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. [fb]( [tiktok]( [insta]( [View in browser]( Did a friend send you this email? [Subscribe here.]( To see all newsletters, [click here.]( [Privacy]( | [Unsubscribe]( © 2022 Healthline Media 1423 Red Ventures Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29707