This year marked the 10th anniversary of the I Spy Physiology blog! In a year of great challenge to science funding, talking about the value of science has never been more important, and our contributors understood the assignment. They’ve shared their stories about becoming a science advocate and transitioning from mentee to a mentor as a woman in science and gave us a peek into the crucial role of animal research.

The most-read posts of 2025 showed how curious we are about the everyday physiology behind our health. Readers wanted to know how simple habits—breathing slowly, brushing our teeth, or even adding black pepper to a meal—might affect our stress levels, muscle power and brain health. The big-picture ideas shaping the future of physiology, such as gene regulation and the rise of artificial intelligence in research, were also popular topics. See what else rounded out the top 10:

1. Understanding the Link Between Oral Health and Dementia

2. From Cortisol to Calm: The Physiology of Calm Breathing

3. Bile Acids and Gut Microbiota Work Together to Regulate Blood Pressure

4. What You Need to Know About the Gut Microbiota and High Blood Pressure

5. Overtraining: Pushing the Boundaries of Physical Activity

6. How Black Pepper Spices Up Your Muscle Power

7. History of Adrenergic Receptors

8. The Epigenetic Code: What Controls Our Genes Without Changing Them?

9. Artificial Intelligence and Physiology: The Future is Now

10. Spotlight On: Statins

The year may be coming to an end, but the fight for physiology is just starting. The American Physiological Society’s Physiology: The Science Life Depends On campaign highlights how physiology research delivers real-world solutions to improve health. Together, let’s raise awareness of physiology’s crucial role in science. If there are specific topics you want to see in this space in 2026, let us know.

Happy holidays!