Unsolved Medical Mysteries: Explaining the Unexplainable

Overview

Course No. 10700
From historical oddities to modern autoimmune syndromes, trace the origins and paths to a cure for a dozen bizarre medical enigmas. In the 1630s, children in southern France described a chilling sensation: worms wriggling beneath their skin. Were these parasitic infestations or figments of their imagination? Centuries earlier, a 14th-century French king insisted his body was made of glass, fearing a single misstep could shatter him. Today, doctors encounter baffling conditions like stiff person syndrome, fibromyalgia, long Covid, and the common migraine.

What links these mysteries across time? Why do some ailments defy explanation, even in our advanced medical era? Unsolved Medical Mysteries: Explaining the Unexplainable is your chance to explore the strangest and most confounding cases in medical history. Over 12 gripping lectures, acclaimed author, historian, and medical humanities expert Dr. Brandy Schillace guides you on a fascinating journey into the unknown, from historical enigmas to modern medical conundrums. With her unique blend of storytelling and scientific insight, Dr. Schillace digs into a range of medical mysteries, from autoimmune malfunctions to neurological disorders.

This course is not just about what we don’t know—it’s about the hope of discovery. As Dr. Schillace emphasizes, every unanswered question is an opportunity. Whether it’s decoding the genetic causes of autoimmune disorders or unraveling the neuroscience of Alzheimer’s or autism, each discovery brings us closer to explaining the unexplainable. This course is a celebration of curiosity, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge—a must for anyone intrigued by the stranger side of science and the hope of solving medicine’s greatest puzzles.

Video Lectures

01: The Strangest Allergy on Earth

This course opens with one of the most frightening—but thankfully also one of the rarest—medical mysteries: aquagenic urticaria, a.k.a., a water allergy. After surveying the properties of solvents in general and water in particular, Dr. Schillace walks through what happens when the autoimmune system goes haywire.
Duration: 31 min

02: The People Made of Glass

Step back to the 14th century, when King Charles VI of France believed his body was made of glass and could shatter. Is it possible for the human body to turn to glass? What else could have plagued the king? Consider the biological phenomenon of brittle-bone disease and the psychological condition of hypochondria.
Duration: 29 min

03: Morgellons Disease: Infestation or Delusion?

Continue your study of mind over matter with a look at Morgellons disease, which has sparked debate for nearly 400 years. Marked by fibers under the skin, this mysterious condition has often been dismissed as a delusion, underscoring the rift between the patient experience and medical skepticism.
Duration: 29 min

04: The Mystery of the Double Brain

The connection between body and mind is fascinating, especially when you explore the relationship between the two hemispheres in the brain. Here, reflect on dissociative identity disorder, alien hand syndrome, and other illnesses that arise when the two halves of the brain are not operating in sync.
Duration: 29 min

05: The Curiously Unsolvable Migraine

Migraines affect millions of people every year. Despite how common this ailment is, scientists remain baffled by what causes it: Genetic anomalies? Cortical misfires? Dr. Schillace walks you through the science of these debilitating occurrences, with the unfortunate conclusion that, despite breakthroughs in neuroscience, migraines remain a mystery.
Duration: 29 min

06: The Marvels and Malfunctions of Memory

Human memory is a dynamic process entwined with the biology of the brain. Your way into this captivating subject is “prosopagnosia” (face blindness). The lecture then turns to memory issues ranging from Alzheimer’s to photographic recall as well as the relationship between memory and decision-making.
Duration: 30 min

07: The Dancing Plague

Shift your attention from the individual to the collective with a look at a mesmerizing incident in Strasbourg, France. In 1518, up to 400 citizens began to dance uncontrollably. Although “dancing plagues” have disappeared, mass hysteria remains, including the 2016 case of Havana syndrome.
Duration: 29 min

08: The Sleepers Who Wouldn’t Awaken

Delve into the world of sleep—or lack thereof. This lecture explores mysterious sleep disorders such as Kleine-Levin syndrome, in which sufferers may sleep up to 20 hours a day; narcolepsy, which involves sudden sleep attacks; and resignation syndrome, a condition of psychosomatic distress. See how the brain protects itself against trauma.
Duration: 29 min

09: Unlocking the Secrets of Chronic Fatigue

Too much sleep is one problem, but crushing fatigue and brain fog can be just as debilitating. Here, examine conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and long Covid. Consider the biological mechanisms at work, including viral infections and the immune system’s response.
Duration: 31 min

10: The Painful Enigma of Stiff-Person Syndrome

Stiff person syndrome is a rare autoimmune disorder causing muscle stiffness, spasms, and eventually immobility. Walk through several case studies of this perplexing—including singer Celine Dion—to explore possible causes and treatments. Although it remains a mystery, recent advocacy efforts have brought this condition out of the shadows.
Duration: 29 min

11: The Shadowy Realm between Life and Death

Ever fear premature burial or believe you are already dead? An active imagination may be common, but tachiphobia (fear of being buried alive) and Cotard’s syndrome (the delusion of death) are medical mysteries of the first order. Buckle up for a riveting tour of the brain in this eerie lecture.
Duration: 29 min

12: Tree Man Syndrome: A Mystery Solved

Your course concludes with a look at tree man syndrome, a rare but crippling condition that transforms skin into bark-like growths. Fortunately, scientists have connected this syndrome with the human papillomavirus (HPV), offering clues for prevention and treatment. But as you’ll see, plenty of medical mysteries still abound!
Duration: 31 min