[pmezard]

From Wikipedia Paracetamol article (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracetamol#Mechanism_of_actio...):

"To date, the mechanism of action of paracetamol is not completely understood."

and:

"It is the most commonly used medication for pain and fever in both the United States and Europe."

"Not completely understood" is not the same as "we have no idea why it works", but still I find it telling for such a popular product.

[tunap]

9 years ago I heard a NPR interview with the scientist(s) who cracked the code on exactly how chlorine bleach kills bacteria. Something I assumed was known longer than I've been around using bleach to disinfect.

edit: link

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9700789...