Infographic: Pain Free
View full size JPG | PDFLOGAN PARSONS
Among the naked mole-rat’s amazing qualities is the reduced ability to feel certain kinds of pain, such as that caused by acids—including the acid produced by high concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2)—and capsaicin (the spicy compound found in chili peppers). This insensitivity to irritants may have implications for pain management in humans.