Tattoos. Getting something inked permanently on your body is a major commitment. Body art can be incredible to behold. It can be poignant, and it can be funny. Sometimes, it’s the embarrassing, often-regretted reminder of a wild drunken night.

But sometimes, tattoos have fascinating scientific and historical meanings. Tattoos found on ancient Egyptian mummies or in Medieval graveyards shed light on the rituals of long-gone cultures. Scientists have proposed them as a way to track glucose levels, highlight tumors, and even keep vaccine records. Here are ten of the most interesting tattoo stories from recent years and the beguiling backstories behind the body art.

Related: Top 10 Fascinating Examples Of Cultural Body Modification

10 Unlocking the Secrets of Ötzi the Iceman

In 1991, researchers unearthed the mummified remains of a 5,300-year-old man in the Alps, preserved in a glacier. They called him Ötzi the Iceman and were stunned to discover 61 carbon markings covering his body.

But how were these primitive tattoos made? Scientists have various theories, from rubbing soot into cuts to setting plant matter on fire under the skin. But in 2022, a team of scientists and tattoo artists decided to put these ideas to the test. They used four different techniques to inscribe the same image onto the leg of Danny Riday, a tattoo artist from New Zealand.

The group was keen to recreate the motif using tools that would have been available at the time. Their experiment involved animal bone, obsidian, and boar tusk—along with techniques like hand-tapping and hand-poking.

After creating a database of markings on Riday’s leg, the team decided that Otzi’s tattoos seemed to come from hand-poking with a single-pointed tool. “We ultimately proposed that Ötzi’s tattoos were made by puncture, likely using either a bone or copper awl,” explained archaeologist Aaron Deter-Wolf.^[1]

9 Why Doctors Might Choose to Mark your Colon

When you think of getting a tattoo, the colon isn’t the first place that comes to mind. But there is a good reason why a doctor might decide to ink your innards. If a patient has lesions and small cuts inside the body, tattoos can help mark the areas for surgeons. These tattoos are typically carbon black. But they often leak and cause unwanted side effects.

But in 2022, scientists in the American Chemical Society announced a new type of colon tattoo ink based on biomaterial. The colorant is made from nanoparticles and polymers, which help with visibility and precision. Tests on pig innards and live mice showed improved results.

The team hopes to use their ink on humans to help with the safer removal of polyps and tumors. And why stop at the colon? If the precision is high enough, they say that tattoos could mark tumors across the gut or even the pancreas.^[2]

8 Color Changing Inks That Track Glucose Levels

For people who suffer from chronic conditions like diabetes or kidney disease, it’s vital to keep track of the body’s internal biomarkers. Whether it’s glucose, albumin, or pH levels, you have to monitor them vigilantly. In 2019, scientists in Germany unveiled a new way to track those levels: color-changing tattoos.

So far, the novel inks have been tested on pig skin, not humans, but they’ve displayed impressive results. The tattoos danced across the color spectrum as researchers altered the biomarker levels. Unfortunately, only the pH sensor is reversible, meaning the glucose and albumin are only single use. But it’s a promising start for a new form of technology that could revolutionize the future of medical diagnostics.^[3]

7 Medieval Christian Body Art Found in Africa

Archaeologists unearthed a rare find in Sudan: a medieval man with Christian body art. The tattoo on his right foot shows four Greek letters. Chi and rho are combined to form a Christogram, a shortened monogram of Christ’s name. The other two are alpha and omega, which signify that God is the creator and destroyer.

Researchers found the religious remains while exploring the site of Ghazali, a 7th-century monastery in the Bayuda Desert. There are hundreds of graves across four cemeteries, including the one containing the inked worshiper. Northeast Africa has a rich history of Christianity. Roman trade routes brought the religion to the region. It later became a commanding belief under the Kingdom of Makuria.^[4]

6 Tattooing Mouse Embryo Cells with Gold Dots

In 2023, scientists revealed a new method to tattoo gold onto living tissue. The extraordinary procedure is known as nanoimprint lithography. Engineers in the U.S. “poked” gold nanodots and nanowires into fibroblast cells from a mouse embryo.

The bedazzled mice cells look impressive, and this discovery could be a new frontier in healthcare. “If you imagine where this is all going in the future, we would like to have sensors to remotely monitor and control the state of individual cells and the environment surrounding those cells in real time,” explained David Gracias, who led the study. “If we had technologies to track the health of isolated cells, we could maybe diagnose and treat diseases much earlier and not wait until the entire organ is damaged.”^[5]

5 Dutch Actress Is First Person to Be Tattooed by a Robot

As well as being a star of stage and screen in Holland, Stijn Fransen has another, much stranger boast under her belt. In 2021, she received the first-ever tattoo from a robot. Artist Wes Thomas performed the tattoo remotely on a mannequin arm. His movements were linked via 5G to a robotic arm, which carried out the procedure on Fransen.

Luckily, they didn’t just rush in gung ho. Technologist Noel Drew spent six weeks devising the robotic arm. This involved trialing it on several mediums and materials, including vegetables. Sensors in the needle ensured it didn’t pierce the skin too deeply.

The artwork itself is fairly minimalist, but this world-first is an impressive feat of engineering nonetheless.^[6]

4 Quantum Dot Acts as Vaccine ID

In 2019, MIT researchers unveiled a novel idea to keep track of vaccinated children: quantum dot tattoos. The idea is to record a patient’s jabs in their skin rather than relying on paper or electronic documents. Vaccine cards often go missing, especially in poorer parts of the world, and digital records are not always an option. So tiny tattoos, only visible under certain filters, may hold the answer.

The MIT team came up with a special ink made from tiny quantum dots that reflect light. These dots are injected into the skin in patterns along with the vaccine. The patterns are usually invisible, but they glow under infrared light. This allows medical professionals to read the vaccine records using an app and filter.

The quantum dot ink is still in its early stages. But tests on rats yielded promising results. As researcher Robert Langer told reporters, “It’s possible someday that this ‘invisible’ approach could create new possibilities for data storage, biosensing, and vaccine applications that could improve how medical care is provided, particularly in the developing world.”^[7]

3 Are Ancient Egyptian Mummy Tattoos Linked to Pregnancy?

The Ancient Egyptians were no strangers to body art. Scientists have uncovered several tattooed mummies over the years. The site of Deir el-Medina on the bank of the Nile seems to be a hotspot for inked remains. Among the finds are two women with lower back tattoos, one unearthed around 100 years ago and the other in 2019. The first woman had a string of diamonds drawn just above her buttocks, while the second was adorned with images of water and plants.

Researchers believe this ancient symbolism is in some way linked to reproduction. The water and plants, they say, could depict the shore on the Nile, where pregnant or menstruating women would soothe themselves. Other female mummies have tattoos on their necks and hips, suggesting a further link to fertility. Another mummy was found to have what scientists believe is Bes, the god and protector of pregnant women, on her hip. Whatever the reason, these discoveries help us look closer at the cultures and customs of these fascinating ancient peoples.^[8]

2 Tattooing Mind-Reading Electrodes into the Human Skull

E-tattoos that can read your brainwaves might sound like something out of science fiction, but one tech startup wants to make that a reality. Brain Scientific is working on a highly specialized type of tattoo made from tiny electrodes that are implanted into the skull. This e-tattoo picks up neural signals using a postage stamp-sized processor that clips behind the ear.

Co-founder and executive chairman Baruch Goldstein hopes his digital tattoos could change the face of medical research. He says his devices would allow doctors to receive data about a patient’s brain activity in real-time. This would aid in the study of neurological conditions. The current major project of Brain Scientific is trying to find the brain patterns that lie behind epileptic seizures.

“We are trying to predict when a seizure can happen,” Goldstein explained. “It is too still premature to say what the results will be, but these are more or less our goals: Just to predict when the seizure will happen so you can get medicine that might prevent it.”^[9]

1 World’s Oldest Tattoo Tools Made from Bird Bones

Sharpened turkey bones found in an ancient Native American grave are, according to experts, the oldest tattoo tools ever discovered. The primitive inking gear dates back to 3500-1600 BC. The bones were found in 1985 in Fernvale, Tennessee, but until recently, scientists were unaware of their likely use in tattooing human skin.

This all changed when researchers inspected small amounts of pigment found in the artifacts. The team used incredibly detailed analysis techniques, including a microscope with 140 times magnification. They identified the two types of pigment: red and black. The red was found to be iron oxide, while the black was based on carbon. Both pigments are known to be traditional tattooing materials.

This landmark study suggests that the custom of body art dates back further than previously thought. Before this, the earliest known tool was a 2,000-year-old cactus spine device found in Utah.^[10]

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Tattoos (whilst removable with extensive laser surgery) are permanent scars. They can occasionally be tasteful, but for the most part are not. Sometimes they are downright ridiculous. This is a list of the top 20 worst tattoos. (As usual, click each image for the full size view).

1. When getting an “In Memoriam” tattoo, it is best not to completely disrespect that person for the remainder of your life.

2. There has got to be an equally bad inside joke regarding this tattoo.

3. What? No Princess Leia!

4. The scariest sex you’ll ever have.

5. Ok, getting your hands done has pushed the limits of good taste.

6. “Yeah, I Am looking to get a buck-toothed naked Indian straddling a corndog….Yeah, a corndog.”

7. “Hi, I am here for the daycare assistant position.”

8. “My tattoo could beat up your tattoo!”

9. Ladies, see Number 4 above. Now multiply by 10.

10. I will not sleep until I know the story behind this tattoo.

11. “Me a stalker? I am highly offended you make such an accusation. Oh, the tattoo….its uhh my nephew.”

12. The mugshot was funny for 1 day. Now make it two.

13. This guy’s last name better be Maytag.

14. The Japanese symbol stands for “intense therapy needed”.

15. I think he wanted Elvis or Celine, not Elvis and Celine.

16. “Your honor, I’d like to admit the following as evidence. We rest our case.”

17. I am speechless.

18. I bet his momma’s proud!

19. Ok, this bellybutton, anus thing is officially out of hand.

20. You didn’t need the tattoo to let us know you were a nerd.

Contributor: teacherman

So you want a tattoo but you don’t know what tattoo to get. You’re in the same boat as many people who have thought about it for years, but never quite got one done. As you consider your myriad choices, start with the top ten and see if something here catches your eye.

What is it? Sailor tattoos call to mind a number of stereotypical images, but the bluebird isn’t usually among them. Yet, when a sailor had traveled 5,000 miles at sea, he got a bluebird on his chest. When he had gone 10,000 miles, he got a second on the other side. Done typically in blue and facing one another, variations on the theme include one blue and one red, or the two birds holding a scrolling banner between them.

Who gets it? Helped along by the popularity of the Nautical Star, this is a tattoo design that is increasingly popular among young and trendy body art enthusiasts who enjoy harkening back to the roots of tattooing.

Who has it? A. Jay Popoff (frontman for Lit); Shifty Shellshock (of Crazytown) on the left and right hip.

Where should you get it? The left and right chest placement is classic, with chest defined loosely and extending up to collar bone area near the shoulder. Even left and right forearm or left and right lower leg have carried out this twin design.

Why should you get it? You’ll be able to sing those seaboard shanties with authenticity.

What is it? Of all the skeletal parts, the skull is uniquely and immediately identifiable as human, and it is specifically representative of human death. Despite the grim grin, however, these tattoos are not always about death and destruction. They are also part of a suite of tattoo images that capitalize on the spirit of memento mori (Latin for “remember you must die”), and serve to remind us that life is to be cherished precisely because it is so fleeting.

Who gets it? Fans of the macabre gravitate to skull imagery, as well as people who have suffered loss, but also those who simply understand the message that life is short.

Who has it? Eminem has the face of skull on a mushroom on his left shoulder; Brian Setzer has the venerable skull with crossbones on his forearm.

Where should you get it? If this tattoo symbol is your reminder that all things must end, then put it somewhere that you can see it (forearm, lower leg, even upper arm or chest). Really, people get this tattoo almost anywhere–anywhere except the head though. That might seem a little eerie.

Why should you get it? You’ll be perfectly dressed for Halloween, Goth parties and wakes.

What is it? The Oriental dragon, unlike it’s counterpart in the west, is a mythical creature of great good will, power and wisdom. Equally at home in the sky or the ocean, it has come to symbolize a union of opposites. This tattoo symbol can be one of the ultimate tattoo statements, especially when done on a grand scale.

Who gets it? Guys who get this tattoo symbol, particularly when it’s more than a small icon, are projecting some of the power and fierceness of the dragon. It is definitely a more “walk-on-the-wild-side” type of image. Plus, when people ask what tattoo symbol you’ve got and you say “a dragon”, there’s nothing more satisfying than to hear them say “wow!”

Who has it? Rocker Lenny Kravitz has one that begins with the head of the dragon on the upper left chest, the body continuing over to the shoulder, and the rest finishing down the arm.

Where should you get it? This a serious tattoo that needs a goodly amount of real estate to realize the intricacies of the design–an entire arm, leg, or even a back would be best.

Why should you get it? You’ll be able to tell people that if they rub it, it’ll bring good luck.

What is it? Oh, the name game! Tattoo artists will tell you that this tattoo, while very popular on Valentine’s Day, also tends to come at the beginning or end of a relationship. Nothing says more about permanence and commitment than a guy getting the name of his significant other tattooed on his body. However, while permanence in relationships might be relative, permanence in tattoos is not.

Who gets it? The name of your girlfriend or wife is one of the most popular tattoo choices for guys who have unabashedly shown the world that they are, in fact, and, more importantly, in deed, hopeless romantics.

Who has it? Johnny Depp had “Winona Forever” on his right arm, and had it changed to “Wino Forever”; Billy Bob Thornton recently had “Angelina” on his left forearm covered by an angel and the word “peace”; actor Jude Law is scheduled to have “Sadie” removed from his arm.

Where should you get it? The name game is almost always played somewhere on the arm, so that it can be seen.

Why should you get it? Once you’ve separated, you’ll have a great excuse for an even bigger and more elaborate tattoo to cover it up, the proverbial win-win.

What is it? The heart, from ancient Egyptian tomb paintings to the cards at the Hallmark store, is traditionally the seat of emotions, the very core of our being. It has become the preeminent symbol, in the west, of one emotion over all others–love–to the extent that a simple red heart is actually read for the word “love.” The heart combined with a flowing scroll in the foreground and “mom” in a graceful font expresses a timeless and gentle sentiment.

Who gets it? It’s a sweet tattoo for a sensitive guy but is it stereotypical and overdone? Maybe. Then again, who doesn’t like a guy who likes his mom. It’s not a a classic tattoo symbol for nothing.

Who has it? Johnny Depp has Betty Sue (his mom’s name) in a heart on his left arm.

Where should you get it? A sentimental tattoo is sometimes placed over the heart, especially a memorial tattoo.

Why should you get it? This is the one tattoo design that stands a chance of getting mom’s approval.

What is it? She is the woman who needs no introduction and only a little explanation. The hallmark of the pinup girl, who truly came into her own in World War II when GIs “pinned up” pictures in their lockers to remind them of home, is sex appeal. But it is a sex appeal that completely skips the tease or any sense of pretense, going instead for the kind of obvious and guiltless flirtation that makes her so attractive.

Who gets it? Today this tattoo symbol is having a renaissance, infused with an “Old School” and “Rockabilly” look that perhaps reminds us of dad (or especially granddad).

Who has it? Travis Barker (of Blink-182) has the trucker girls (from the mud flaps) on each side of his chest.

Where should you get it? If you’ve got the muscle flexing that can make Betty Boop, Betty Grable or Bettie Page dance, then place it on the upper arm, the forearm or chest.

Why should you get it? For a tattoo the other guys are going to like, the pinup girl can’t be beat; and if it turns off the girls, then you won’t waste your time with them, since girls who like it are the ones you want anyway.

What is it? The ultimate symbol of Christianity is also one of the most prevalent symbols in tattooing. They come in all shapes and sizes, from simple crossed lines to intricate Celtic knotwork versions, but they all refer to the wooden cross on which Jesus was crucified by the Romans.

Who gets it? The cross is a tattoo symbol that is, obviously, for the Christian guy but equally obviously not for the typical one. Instead, men with cross tattoos are putting one foot in the rebellious world of tattooing and keeping the other in the religious world of spirituality. It’s also the type of tattoo symbol that stands a good chance of being relevant for the wearer’s lifetime.

Who has it? Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake (on the shoulder), Moby (on the back of the neck).

Where should you get it? The more straight lines there are in a tattoo, the better off you are on a relatively flat place on the body so that the lines have some chance of being straight–back of the shoulder and lower back are nice areas for this, although the upper arm is probably the most popular of placement for the cross.

Why should you get it? It simultaneously works to repel vampires and evangelize unbelievers (who may or may not be vampires).

What is it? Because the Japanese and Chinese writing systems are based on ideograms (small pictures that actually represent things), the modern characters still retain visual interest and the ability sometimes to express complex thoughts in a just a few symbols. Generally, people pick kanji characters (Japanese) that spell something desired, such as “strength”, “love”, or “luck.”

Who gets it? Men who are getting this tattoo are capturing something of the exotic in their skin and also something with hidden meaning and a bit of mystery. They’re also conversationalists since they are inevitably asked what their tattoos mean.

Who has it? David Boreanaz (star of Angel) has some on the inside of both wrists; Johnny Rzeznik (of the Goo Goo Dolls) has kanji for love, dreams, discipline, faith, truth, and greatness!

Where should you get it? These symbols are typically done on a smaller scale and can fit as easily on the back of the neck as they do on the lower back.

Why should you get it? You can change what your tattoo means from time to time since most people won’t be able to read it.

What is it? Everyone has seen the tribal style of tattooing, where they know it or not. Done in solid black with curves that end in points and sometimes interlock in complex patterns, the favorite placement is an armband. These tattoos are founded in Polynesian tattooing traditions where the different peoples of the region all ascribed various meanings to them (rank, achievement, high status, as a few examples).

Who gets it? Men today who are getting this style of tattooing are projecting not just cool, but also tough and a even a bit of intimidation, with their wickedly curving and boldly black abstract designs.

Who has it? WWF Wrestler, The Rock, has tribal tattoo work on his shoulder and arm; Rapper Eminem has a small wrist band design.

Where should you get it? The armband placement, while not traditional in Polynesia, looks particularly nice around a well-muscled arm.

Why should you get it? It keeps other guys from messing with you.

What is it? The five-pointed Nautical Star of mariner’s charts is found on the compass rose, straight up, at the North position. Somewhere back in the salty mists of time it represented the North Star, also known as Polaris, which was so crucial to navigation. Today it is a tattoo symbol that harkens back to finding one’s way home and the luck that it sometimes takes to get there. The Nautical Star tattoo can be big, small, two colors, one color–pretty versatile really.

Who gets it? This is a tattoo symbol that is absolutely raging in popularity right now, especially among young hipsters who dig the nautical/retro feel.

Who has it? Mark McGrath (lead singer of Sugar Ray) has a blue one on his left elbow.

Where should you get it? The elbow is a classic placement of the Nautical Star, like Mark McGrath, but they also tend to occur in pairs, on either side of the chest or the insides of the forearms. Because it’s a essentially a bunch of straight lines though, it lies and looks best on relatively flat areas.

Why should you get it? You’ll never have to pull over and ask for directions again.

Although you might not have found your perfect tattoo in the list above, you are no doubt starting to visualize one. As you continue on your journey to that final result, make your own top ten list of the greatest tattoos and keep revising it. In time, you may find that you’ll have a tattoo, one that’s just right for you, instead of just thinking about it for another decade.