Hi, we hear from curiosity.com to help you get smarter in just a few minutes.

I'm Cody Gough.

And I'm Ashley Hamer.

Today you learn about how the color of pills influences how well they'll work on you.

The weird things scientists are learning about a

substance that made up the early universe and the science behind why CEOs make

time for hobbies. Let's satisfy some curiosity. Here's something interesting if

you've ever taken medication for

something. The color of pills influences how well they'll work on you. It's true.

Imagine you have two identical anti-itch creams, but one is white and the other is red.

Which would you reach for, Ashley?

I mean, definitely, the white one.

White is so soothing.

Right, exactly.

And because you feel that way, that means everyone feels that way.

Exactly. Case closed, science over. Just kidding. Here is the actual science.

You already know about the placebo effect. That's when you feel like a drug or treatment

cured you when it really had no medical reason to do so. If you believe a drugless little sugar pill

will erase your throbbing headache, it really can.

Turns out the brain is a powerful organ.

And the placebo effect can influence how well real medication works too. In a 1996 study green and blue pills had more

sedative effects than other colors. Red and orange on the other hand gave more

...