#health

Why Mosquitoes Bite Some People More Than Others

The Science of Allergies: Why Your Immune System Attacks Peanuts and Pollen

Your body detects a harmless peanut protein and launches a full-scale military invasion complete with chemical weapons. Why? It's one of the strangest glitches in human biology — and it's getting more common by the year.

The Science of Hibernation: Nature's Metabolic Miracle

Hibernation is one of the most extreme physiological feats in the animal kingdom — a controlled metabolic shutdown that would be fatal for humans. And scientists are desperate to unlock its secrets for stroke treatment, space travel, and more.

The Science of the Gut Microbiome: Your Second Brain

There are more bacterial cells in your body than human cells. The gut microbiome influences everything from your mood to your immune system to your risk for Parkinson's disease. Here's how your trillions of tiny passengers may be running the show.

The Science of Fear: Why Your Heart Pounds and Why You Love It

Fear is one of our oldest and most powerful emotions — a finely-tuned survival machine. But what's actually happening in your brain and body when you're terrified? And why do so many of us seek it out for fun?

The Science of Itching: Why Scratching Feels So Good (And Why You Can't Stop)

From the mysterious TRPV4 'stop scratching' signal in your spinal cord to the contagious itch that spreads through a room, the neuroscience of itching reveals a surprisingly sophisticated defense system.

The Science of Kissing: Why We Lock Lips

A simple kiss sets off a hurricane of brain chemistry, hormone exchange, and subconscious assessment. Here's what's really happening when you lock lips.

The Myth of the Tongue Map: How Your Taste Buds Actually Work

You were probably taught in school that different parts of your tongue detect different tastes. That tongue map? It's completely wrong. Here's what your taste system actually looks like.

The Science of Laughter: Why Do We Do It and What's the Point?

Laughter is one of the most universal human behaviors, yet science is still unraveling why we do it, what happens in our brains, and why it's so good for us.

The Architecture of Silence: Why the Loudest Places on Earth Are Deafeningly Quiet

There's a room in Minneapolis where you can hear your own blood flow. Here's what total silence does to the human brain — and why your ears are running a deficit.