Boing Boing

Boing Boing

Your immune system activates just by seeing sick faces, research shows

Ellsworth Toohey
Jul 29, 2025
∙ Paid

Mix and Match Studio/shutterstock.com

When you see someone who looks sick, your brain doesn't wait for them to get close before sounding the alarm. In fact, just seeing signs of illness from a distance triggers your immune system to gear up for battle, according to a new study from Swiss researchers.

Using virtual reality headsets, scientists showed volun…

User's avatar

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Boing Boing.

Or purchase a paid subscription.
© 2026 Happy Mutants LLC · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture