Credit: iStock/PIKSEL Becoming a parent changes how you see everything, including science. As a physiology PhD trainee and former Navy hospital corpsman who practiced medicine in a mid-level role, I’ve spent years learning how the body works under pressure. I didn’t expect my most meaningful physiology lesson to happen in a delivery room. My son … Continue reading Seeing Parenthood Through a Physiology Lens
Respiratory Physiology
The Quiet Art of Protecting Your Lungs Against COPD
Credit: Amin Mohajeri Take a slow, deep breath. Feel the pleasant airflow entering your lungs, nourishing your blood and fueling your cells. This effortless, automatic rhythm is a priceless gift. With each breath, oxygen flows into the body and carbon dioxide leaves. Yet this delicate exchange can be disrupted over time by long-term exposure to … Continue reading The Quiet Art of Protecting Your Lungs Against COPD
The Top 10 Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts of 2025
Credit: iStock 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 … Continue reading The Top 10 Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts of 2025
From Cortisol to Calm: The Physiology of Calm Breathing
Credit: Amin Mohajeri “Take a deep breath.” You’ve probably heard that advice—before a big exam, a tough conversation or when you’re feeling overwhelmed. And if you’ve ever noticed that it actually helps, you’re not imagining it. Your body has a built-in system for finding calm, and breathing is the key that unlocks it. When stress … Continue reading From Cortisol to Calm: The Physiology of Calm Breathing
Why Do We Gasp for Air in the Extreme Heat?
Credit: iStock If you live in a hot and humid climate, you may know what it’s like to feel as if you’re gasping for air on an especially hot day. For people with asthma or other chronic lung conditions, heat waves—which often coincide with dangerous ozone levels and humidity—may cause asthma flare-ups and breathing difficulties. … Continue reading Why Do We Gasp for Air in the Extreme Heat?
High Hopes for Marijuana Research
Credit: iStock Marijuana legalization has been a controversial topic among the public, health care professionals and policymakers for decades due to the federal government’s classification of marijuana as a Schedule I drug. The categorization—defined by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as “drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse”—places marijuana … Continue reading High Hopes for Marijuana Research
2023’s Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts
Credit: iStock This year, as science celebrated the discoveries that gave us mRNA vaccines to fight COVID-19 and gene editing treatments for sickle cell disease, our contributors also brought you fascinating, fun and insightful physiology stories on the I Spy Physiology blog. From the always-popular topic of spaceflight to the always-important matter of mental health, … Continue reading 2023’s Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts
Want to Improve Your Health? Try Pedaling with One Leg Instead of Two
Credit: iStock More than half of all people in the U.S. are living with at least one chronic disease. Fortunately, physical activity and exercise can help manage symptoms and improve overall health. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults living with chronic conditions engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity … Continue reading Want to Improve Your Health? Try Pedaling with One Leg Instead of Two
How the Kidneys and Lungs Help Each Other Restore Your Body’s Balance
Credit: iStock Many organs talk to each other to perform specific roles to achieve a balance called homeostasis, which is crucial for survival. Acid-base homeostasis is a type of homeostasis that’s important for proper functioning of many biological processes. Sometimes when organs aren’t working the way they should, they can interrupt normal acid-base homeostasis. But … Continue reading How the Kidneys and Lungs Help Each Other Restore Your Body’s Balance
Climate Change Affects Our Health by Changing Air Quality
Credit: iStock Earth is a special planet for having an atmosphere that enables life to thrive. Our atmosphere surrounds our planet, which keeps us warm and contains oxygen for us to breathe. The atmosphere has different layers with different qualities and is where our weather happens. Weather refers to the state of the air and … Continue reading Climate Change Affects Our Health by Changing Air Quality