Humans are developing strange horn-like structures on their skulls, due to the use of smartphones, researchers have found.

According to a study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, the detected growths are identified as bone spurs located at the base of the skull.

These bony growths appear as result of an inflammation that damages the cartilage cushioning joints, and the body tries to repair the damage by growing more bone. They are often caused by repetitive motions, which include tilting the head forward, perhaps to look at a smartphone.

Findings reveal that constant “forward head flexion,” or bending the head down, and poor posture could be the reasons for these physiological changes.

Dr. David Shahar and Mark Sayers, the study's authors at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia, pointed out that bone spurs were of 10 to 31 millimeters in size, while some being big enough to be felt as a lump on the back of the head.

While they don’t cause pain and demand no medical treatment, they might cause problems on the long run if they reach a certain size.

“Although the ‘tablet revolution’ is fully and effectively entrenched in our daily activities, we must be reminded that these devices are only a decade old and it may be that related symptomatic disorders are only now emerging,” the authors wrote.