Credit: iStock This year, as the pandemic continued, the lights of labs and classrooms switched back on as scientists and students returned to studying, working and researching in person. Our I Spy blog contributors wrote about a wide range of topics this year, including aging, the physiological effects of grieving, achieving optimal physical performance and … Continue reading 2021’s Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts
Exercise Physiology
Addressing the Gender Gap in Sports Science
Credit: iStock Whether your favorite sport is swimming, track and field, fencing, field hockey or another of the 33 sports with competitions in Tokyo this summer, watching elite athletes perform is often an awe-inspiring event. You may ask yourself “how do they do that?” as you watch the incredible feats. However, more and more scientists … Continue reading Addressing the Gender Gap in Sports Science
How Low Can You Go? New Insights into Time-efficient Exercise
Credit: iStock Many people want to get healthier or perform sports better, but not everyone has the free time to train like an Olympian. “Lack of time” is often cited as a major barrier for not meeting the recommended physical activity guidelines of 150 minutes per week—a goal only 40% of Americans achieve. As a … Continue reading How Low Can You Go? New Insights into Time-efficient Exercise
Moms Who Exercise Have Healthier Kids
Credit: iStock When you exercise, your muscles get stronger, you may lose body fat, you can run farther and faster than before and your chance of getting type 2 diabetes and heart disease go way down. But have you thought about how your exercising can affect your kids’ health, too? At this year’s Experimental Biology … Continue reading Moms Who Exercise Have Healthier Kids
New Science on Deep Heat Creams, Herbicides and Daytime Sleepiness Presented at Experimental Biology 2021
Credit: iStock Scientists who study physiology and other biomedical research fields—including anatomy, biochemistry, pathology and pharmacology—network, collaborate and communicate about the latest research at the APS annual meeting at Experimental Biology (EB). This year’s virtual EB featured studies ranging from mitochondrial function and tissue repair to the effects of capsaicin on exercise performance. Read on to learn more … Continue reading New Science on Deep Heat Creams, Herbicides and Daytime Sleepiness Presented at Experimental Biology 2021
Sip a Sports Drink to Keep the Electrolytes Flowing
Credit: iStock Most people know it’s important to stay hydrated (but not too much!) during an intense workout. A sports drink can be an ideal beverage choice, but do you know why? After working out for an hour or so on a hot summer day, you may begin to sweat, get muscle cramps and/or become … Continue reading Sip a Sports Drink to Keep the Electrolytes Flowing
Can Chili Peppers Improve Exercise Performance?
Credit: iStock Are you a fan of spicy foods? You might be in luck. Research presented at Experimental Biology 2021 suggests a specific compound found in fiery foods such as chili peppers may have the ability to help you improve your exercise performance. Capsaicin, the bioactive ingredient in chili peppers, stimulates our pain receptors. This … Continue reading Can Chili Peppers Improve Exercise Performance?
Spotlight On: The Muscular System
Many of us only think about our muscles when they are sore from being a “weekend warrior” or shoveling out after a snowstorm. However, without skeletal muscles we would not be able to breathe, stand upright, walk or run. The fact that our muscles make up between 40 and 50 percent of our body mass … Continue reading Spotlight On: The Muscular System
Maybe She’s Born with It: Genetics Give Competitive Swimmers Their Edge
Competitive swimming is a demanding sport that requires maintaining a high level of activity—while partially submerged in the water—without being able to breathe naturally. It’s a sport—like any form of exercise—that may not be suited to everyone. Years of research have shown that competitive swimmers have larger lungs and better lung function than non-swimmers. In … Continue reading Maybe She’s Born with It: Genetics Give Competitive Swimmers Their Edge
Halloween Musings on Mutations
The word “mutation” may conjure up images of fictional monsters, Marvel X-Men and creatures with non-human characteristics. It’s true that mutations are often associated with disease: something that has gone wrong in the body to produce an oddly shaped body part or sometimes cancer. However, mutations can’t be categorized as “good” or “bad” so easily. … Continue reading Halloween Musings on Mutations