physiology

Latest in physiology

A person walking barefoot across a fallen tree trunk in a forest.
DIY

How to start hiking barefoot, if you’re into that kind of thing

By Alisha McDarris

A sweating young man with a yellow towel.
Health

How does your body stay balanced inside? Thank homeostasis.

By Eva Botkin-Kowacki

A person wearing barefoot shoes that form around their toes, sitting on a rock overlooking a body of water.
DIY

For a better hike, try swapping clunky boots for barefoot shoes

By Alisha McDarris

x-ray of impacted wisdom tooth
Science

We finally know why we grow wisdom teeth as adults

By Sara Chodosh

art illustration of person reaching for their toes
Science

Why can’t we all touch our toes?

By Claire Maldarelli

A person wearing running shorts holding their thigh on a beach, potentially wondering what happens when you pull a muscle, because they probably just did.
Science

Here’s what really happens when you pull a muscle

By Nicole Wetsman

11 people are pictured running in a group on a rain-slicked road from the waist down. Most are wearing black shorts, the leader is wearing black, full length leggings. Their legs are muscular and their shoes are all bright colors like neon greens, blues, cherry red, and purple.
Gear

4 high-tech running shoes that could help Tokyo Olympians hit record-breaking times

By Lauren Leffer

What actually works for muscle recovery—and what doesn’t
Health

What actually works for muscle recovery—and what doesn’t

By Claire Maldarelli

Surfing
Environment

Surfers are riding a wave of new technologies to their Olympic debut

By Bonnie Tsui

Eliud Kipchoge just ran a marathon in less than two hours—how much faster does science say humans can get?
Health

Eliud Kipchoge just ran a marathon in less than two hours—how much faster does science say humans can get?

By Claire Maldarelli

American and British scientists split the Nobel Prize for work on how cells handle hypoxia
Health

American and British scientists split the Nobel Prize for work on how cells handle hypoxia

By Grace Wade

Women soccer players usually peak in their 20s—here’s why some excel into their 40s
Health

Women soccer players usually peak in their 20s—here’s why some excel into their 40s

By Nicole Wetsman

What running ultramarathons and giving birth tell us about the limits of human endurance
Health

What running ultramarathons and giving birth tell us about the limits of human endurance

By Kat Eschner

Space changes your brain in bigger ways than we thought
Science

Space changes your brain in bigger ways than we thought

By Neel V. Patel

The biomechanics behind Michael Jackson’s impossible dance moves
Science

The biomechanics behind Michael Jackson’s impossible dance moves

By Sara Chodosh

The world’s best freedivers seem to have evolved super-sized spleens
Health

The world’s best freedivers seem to have evolved super-sized spleens

By Claire Maldarelli

Scientists still don’t understand how freedivers can survive such crushing depths
Science

Scientists still don’t understand how freedivers can survive such crushing depths

By Kevin Fong/The Conversation

A six pack won’t make you a better runner, but these deep core exercises might
Health

A six pack won’t make you a better runner, but these deep core exercises might

By Claire Maldarelli

Can you really die from a broken heart?
Health

Can you really die from a broken heart?

By Claire Maldarelli

Does a fever always mean you have an infection?
Science

Does a fever always mean you have an infection?

By Cassidy Mayeda