Long thought to be a vestigial organ b/c they couldn't figure it out, the appendix is being rehabilitated.  It appears likely to be a tiny safe harbor of beneficial bacteria waiting to spring into action to repopulate our guts should they be wiped out through infection.

80% of our immune system is the bacteria in our gut.  They can get out of balance by being wiped out by antibiotics or severe diarrhea, normally good ones (like e. coli) overpopulating b/c of a current weakness letting in an excess of them (e.g., via contaminated water or food), and certain other ways.  It's amazing to know that God working through nature has provided a way for us to replenish our guts in times of hardship. 

Sadly, the researchers have decided it's not worth it to study whether the hypothesis is true.  They claim it can "cure no disease" - really?  Our gut flora don't get unbalanced or wiped out anymore?


How wise are we really, when we assume that if we don't understand it, it must not be?