{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/69be1b0c3bbfcfe8dba05019/6a34f94a86368bae087584bd?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Why Does Looking at the Sun Make Some People Sneeze?","description":"<p>Have you ever walked outside on a bright sunny day and suddenly sneezed... with no dust, no pepper, no cat fluff anywhere? Just sunshine and a sneeze? There's a real science reason behind it.</p><p><br></p><p>Dr Matt Agnew investigates the sun sneeze mystery. What even is a sneeze? Why does bright light trigger one for some people? And why does it run in families?</p><p><br></p><p><strong>What you'll learn:</strong></p><ul><li>Sneezing is your body's nose cleaning button... a blast of air that clears anything annoying from your mucous membrane</li><li>When bright sunlight hits your eyes, your brain urgently signals blink and squint</li><li>For about 1 in 4 people, the blink button and the sneeze button sit really close together in the brain... so pressing one accidentally bumps the other</li><li>Scientists call this ACHOO Syndrome... short for Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst</li><li>Sun sneezing is linked to your genes, which means it can run in families</li><li>Sun sneezes won't hurt you... but stop before the sneeze hits if you're on a bike or crossing the road</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Key Science Ideas:</strong></p><ul><li>Mucous membrane: The sticky lining inside your nose that catches dust, germs and anything annoying</li><li>Optic nerve: The nerve that carries signals from your eyes to your brain</li><li>ACHOO Syndrome: The scientific name for sun sneezing... and yes, the acronym was absolutely intentional</li><li>Genes: The instructions inside your body that decide things like eye colour, height, and apparently whether sunshine makes you sneeze</li><li>Reflex: An automatic body response your brain triggers without you choosing it</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Fun Experiment: The Family Sun Sneeze Survey Ask everyone in your family whether they sneeze when they look at bright light. Try a torch in a dark room if the sun isn't cooperating. Keep track of who does and who doesn't. If sun sneezing runs in your family, you'll start to see a pattern... and you'll have just conducted your first genetics experiment at the kitchen table.</p><p><br></p><p>Why Though? The show for little scientists who love asking big questions. Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode.</p><p><br></p><p>Follow Dr Matt Agnew:&nbsp;</p><p>Instagram: <a href=\"https://open.acast.com/networks/68901a7af3a75290d478c53b/shows/69be1b0c3bbfcfe8dba05019/episodes/instagram.com/drmattagnew%C2%A0\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">instagram.com/drmattagnew&nbsp;</a></p><p>TikTok: <a href=\"https://open.acast.com/networks/68901a7af3a75290d478c53b/shows/69be1b0c3bbfcfe8dba05019/episodes/tiktok.com/@drmattagnew%C2%A0\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tiktok.com/@drmattagnew&nbsp;</a></p><p>YouTube: <a href=\"https://open.acast.com/networks/68901a7af3a75290d478c53b/shows/69be1b0c3bbfcfe8dba05019/episodes/youtube.com/@whythoughpod%C2%A0\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">youtube.com/@whythoughpod&nbsp;</a></p><p>Website: <a href=\"https://open.acast.com/networks/68901a7af3a75290d478c53b/shows/69be1b0c3bbfcfe8dba05019/episodes/www.drmattagnew.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">drmattagnew.com</a></p><p><br></p><p>Find Why Though? podcast across the internet and share with your friends!</p><p>Instagram: <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/whythoughpod\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">instagram.com/whythoughpod</a></p><p>TikTok: <a href=\"http://www.tiktok.com/@whythoughpod\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tiktok.com/@whythoughpod</a></p><p>Facebook: <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/whythoughpod\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">facebook.com/whythoughpod</a></p><p><br></p>","author_name":"MIK and Dr Matt Agnew"}