As the days grow shorter, many animals, such as bats, bears and bees, begin getting ready to hibernate. It’s a process that allows animals to spend the winter months conserving energy by reducing metabolism, oxygen consumption and body temperature. So why don’t humans do it, too? Well, a new study suggests that some humans—specifically those … Continue reading Shhh … I’m Hibernating!
Fall
Is It Cold in this Haunted House or Is It Me? Why You’ll Get Goosebumps This Halloween
Maybe it’s the chilly fall air. Or maybe it’s the macabre Halloween lawn decorations in your neighborhood. Both cool temperature and emotions can give you goosebumps. What causes goosebumps, and why can two different sources give you the same physiological reaction? Goosebumps happen when tiny muscles at the base of each hair on your skin … Continue reading Is It Cold in this Haunted House or Is It Me? Why You’ll Get Goosebumps This Halloween
Tasting Food Literally: What Makes the Pumpkin Spice Latte Feel So Warming?
Fall is around the corner, and coffee shops everywhere are rolling out their pumpkin spice-flavored warm drinks. The drink feels warm to the touch because of the temperature, but somehow the pumpkin spice flavor also tastes warm. Why do we associate warm or cold temperature with certain foods? The body senses temperature through proteins on … Continue reading Tasting Food Literally: What Makes the Pumpkin Spice Latte Feel So Warming?