Photo: Feeling No Pain: New Form of Rare Gene Disorder Decoded

Email to a Friend << Back to Full Story


A street entertainer threads a blade through his tongue—seeming to feel no pain—on August 23, 2006, as part of the Edinburgh Festival held annually in Scotland.

A young performer in Pakistan who could put knives through his arms was found to have a new form of a rare disorder that actually makes him unable to feel pain.

Photograph by Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images

MOST VIEWED NEWS

PICTURES: 2012 Doomsday Myths Debunked

2012: Six End-of-the-World Myths Debunked

APOCALYPSE PICTURES: 10 Failed Doomsday Prophecies
NEWS FEEDS    After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed. After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed.

Get our news delivered directly to your desktop—free.
How to Use XML or RSS

ADVERTISEMENT

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S PHOTO OF THE DAY

Today's National Geographic Photo of the Day

• Today's Photo

• Download as Wallpaper

50 Drives of a Lifetime

National Geographic Traveler has scoured the globe for the world's most beautiful, interesting, and off-beat road trips. Dive in to get drive directions, quizzes, photos, and more.