Read the latest positive news, breakthroughs, and inspiring stories about anesthesia, curated daily by BrightWire.
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F3e%2Fbf%2F3ebf98af-8965-4b65-9f71-b6da84137f8f%2Furn_cambridgeorg_id_binary-alt_20260513195241-44146-optimisedimage-png-s0003598x26103470_fig1.jpeg)
Scientists discovered traces of anesthetic on 15th-century surgical tools from a Chinese doctor's tomb, proving ancient surgeons knew how to safely numb pain during operations. The finding rewrites what we know about medieval medicine.
Researchers discovered chemical traces of anesthetics on 15th-century Chinese surgical tools, proving doctors were managing pain during operations centuries before modern medicine. This finding rewrites our understanding of medical history and shows innovation in healing spans cultures and eras.
Even when unconscious, your brain keeps working in surprising ways. New research shows the hippocampus processes speech and anticipates what's coming next during general anesthesia.