Dozens of noteworthy scientific studies are released each day, originating from a diverse spectrum of disciplines. While most people are probably not interested in the materials or methods involved in these studies, almost everyone wants one question answered: How will this affect me?



Unfortunately, the answer to this query is not always clear, as studies often report conflicting results. Depending on where you look, you will receive different answers on a host of issues including, but not limited to: cell phones and cancer, salt intake, the five-second rule, climate change, anti-bacterial soap, and cholesterol intake.



Those in the media who report on science are supposed to help bring clarity to the confusion, but this is not always the case because personal beliefs affect how we perceive and relate information. This may cause us to focus on the data we like instead of the data we don't.



So how are you supposed to make heads or tails of this scientific jumble? And how will you discern what's best for you? Dedicated and careful research is a viable option, but there is another, potentially more conclusive choice: self-experimentation. After all, the studies that have the most meaning for you are the ones that are carried out by you and with you as the subject.



Numerous influential figures have employed self-experimentation. Isaac Newton (pictured) stared into the sun to analyze its effects on the retina. Barry James Marshall consumed a Petri dish full of Helicobacter pylori to examine whether or not it causes ulcers. Morgan Spurlock gorged himself on McDonald's for a month. Bruce Banner accidentally turned himself into The Incredible Hulk after drinking a serum engineered to create a super soldier.



Your self-experimentation does not have to be this drastic, however. There are a plethora of subjects on which you can safely self-experiment that could have great meaning in your life - different exercise regimens, skin treatments, or energy conservation, for example.



If you're curious how to get started, Seth Roberts, a professor of psychology at Tsinghua University in Beijing and a well-known advocate of self-experimentation, maintains a website with a wealth of information on the topic. The blogosphere is also full of helpful and reputable suggestions.



Once you feel that you have a grasp on self-experimentation, all you have to do is put on your metaphorical lab coat and get to studying!





