Car sickness can be a nightmare for children and parents alike, turning fun journeys into hell on wheels. Some kids are prone to it, while others are completely immune. We might be used to it by now, but there's actually a reason why some of us turn a weird shade of green as soon as we put our seatbelts on. According to Science Alert, research shows that it's all down to the brain.

Essentially, our brain gets confused with conflicting messages. On the one hand, we're sitting down, but at the same time, we're moving. It's these mixed messages that make our nervous system think that we're being poisoned. The best way the body knows to deal with that is by throwing it all up, in an attempt to clear the system. Scientists believe that it happens because this kind of travel is still quite new to humans as a species.

Go back just a couple of hundred years and people were still rolling along in horse and carts. We simply haven't had enough time to evolve that particular part of our brains - although there could be hope for future generations. Some parents try to distract children by encouraging them to look at a book or a tablet, but this can actually exacerbate symptoms.

By looking at a stationary object, the brain can become even more convinced that it isn't moving, leading to more of those pesky conflicting signals. Looking out of the window at passing scenery is much more likely to convince your system that you are moving. If you also get motion sickness as a passenger and it's not just your kids that need a paper bag, consider driving.

Just like looking out of a window, driving helps convince the brain that you're in motion, despite what your body may be saying. Plus, you're in control and able to physically feel the movement, as if the car was an extension of yourself. Sadly, the one thing that researchers aren't clear on is why some people get sick and some people don't.

Look on the bright side, your great, great, great grandkids will probably be alright.

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