STUDY: BIG BUSHY BEARDS PROTECT FACES IN FIGHT

Some scientists claim that having a big beard might have evolved to help humans better absorb blows to the head. A new study published in the journal Integrative Organismal Biology collected data from several research projects, including experiments on the ability of the human face to take a punch. A team of biologists created an epoxy skull covered in sheep skin with various levels of wool – plucked, trimmed, and unshorn. To replicate a punch, they then dropped a weight on the skull’s chin, and measured the force. The scientists found that there was less damage to the furry face compared to the bare skin blows. The hair acted as a shock absorber that dispersed the energy generated by a punch just enough to prevent the fragile jaw from fracturing. Ergo, that’s why men can grow beards.
* It might be time to go back and redefine the word “scientist”.
* This doesn’t explain how Popeye could always knock Bluto out cold.
* What if you have a lot of food particles in your beard – does that protect you better, too?
* Sometimes a beard can scare off your attacker and prevent the punch entirely – like with David Letterman.