Scientists Picked Apart the Human Brain's Trash Disposal—and Found Something Incredible

The human brain is one of the most complex structures nature has ever devised, and that means there’s a lot we still don’t know about the three pounds of neurons and fat that rests between our ears. Case in point, scientists only discovered how the organ removes waste from the deep brain in 2013. Named the “glymphatic system,” this waste system uses cerebrospinal fluid to wash away waste products in the brain. It is especially good at clearing out protein aggregates called amyloids, which have been linked with neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s. Sounds simple, right? [View in Browser]( [Popular Mechanics]( [SHOP]( [EXCLUSIVE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [Scientists Picked Apart the Human Brain's Trash Disposal—and Found Something Incredible]( [Scientists Picked Apart the Human Brain's Trash Disposal—and Found Something Incredible]( [Scientists Picked Apart the Human Brain's Trash Disposal—and Found Something Incredible]( The human brain is one of the most complex structures nature has ever devised, and that means there’s a lot we still don’t know about the three pounds of neurons and fat that rests between our ears. Case in point, scientists only discovered how the organ removes waste from the deep brain in 2013. Named the “glymphatic system,” this waste system uses cerebrospinal fluid to wash away waste products in the brain. It is especially good at clearing out protein aggregates called amyloids, which have been linked with neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s. Sounds simple, right? The human brain is one of the most complex structures nature has ever devised, and that means there’s a lot we still don’t know about the three pounds of neurons and fat that rests between our ears. Case in point, scientists only discovered how the organ removes waste from the deep brain in 2013. Named the “glymphatic system,” this waste system uses cerebrospinal fluid to wash away waste products in the brain. It is especially good at clearing out protein aggregates called amyloids, which have been linked with neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s. Sounds simple, right? [Read More]( [Read More]( [Alternate text] [Alternate text] [Our Favorite Samsung TV Is $1,000 off at Walmart Right Now]( [Our Favorite Samsung TV Is $1,000 off at Walmart Right Now]( And yes, AirPods are still on sale for under $100. [Read More]( [The 8 Best CD Players for Home, Office, or On the Go]( [The 8 Best CD Players for Home, Office, or On the Go]( Want to give your old-school compact discs a spin? Here are the best portable and tabletop CD player/speaker systems. [Read More]( [Alternate text] [Alternate text] [That’s Fall, Folks! Get Ready for Chilly Nights With These Editor-Approved Patio Heaters]( That’s Fall, Folks! Get Ready for Chilly Nights With These Editor-Approved Patio Heaters]( We tried out a few popular models at our office’s outdoor space to see how they performed—and to determine if they’re worth the expense. [Read More]( [Scientists Uncovered the Amazon's Secret Dark Earth. What If It Saves the World?]( [Scientists Uncovered the Amazon's Secret Dark Earth. What If It Saves the World?]( This ancient soil buried deep in the forest might just be our greatest hope for the future. [Read More]( [Alternate text] [Alternate text] [Scientists Found a 12,000-Year-Old Monument—Turns Out It May Be Humanity’s Oldest Calendar]( [Scientists Found a 12,000-Year-Old Monument—Turns Out It May Be Humanity’s Oldest Calendar]( But just how, exactly, did it track time? [Read More]( [Alternate text] [POP Membership]( [LiveIntent Logo]( [AdChoices Logo]( [Need Assistance? Contact Us.](mailto:pmpmembership@popularmechanics.com) Follow Us [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Notice]( | [CA Notice at Collection]( Popular Mechanics is a publication of Hearst Magazines. ©2024 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This email was sent by Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019-3779