Health
Why dehydration can give you a headache
A water deficit can trigger head pain through several pathways, but the exact mechanism is still debated.
Health
Evidence-led explanations of bodies, minds and wellbeing.
Health
Why do muscles ache a day or two after unfamiliar exercise?
The ache that arrives after a new workout is called delayed-onset muscle soreness. It is linked to the stress of unfamiliar movement and the tissue response that follows, not to lactic acid left behind.
Health
Why does a fever make you feel cold?
When a fever begins, the brain can temporarily set a higher target temperature. Your body then acts as if it is too cold, even while the thermometer is climbing.
Health
Why Our Joints Crack and Pop
Some pops come from rapidly forming gas cavities; other clicks involve tendons and moving tissues.
Health
Why Do Humans Get Hiccups?
A brief breathing reflex makes a familiar sound, but its deeper purpose remains uncertain.
Health
Why Does a Scar Look and Feel Different from Skin?
Healing closes a wound, but it does not always rebuild the original fabric.
Health
Why Does a Bad Night’s Sleep Make Emotions Harder to Handle?
Sleep loss changes how we react and how much mental room we have to respond.
Health
Why Some People Faint at the Sight of Blood
A blood or injury trigger can set off a reflex that lowers blood pressure and briefly reduces blood flow to the brain.
Health
Why does a blocked nose change the taste of food?
When your nose is congested, your tongue can still detect basic tastes. What often disappears is much of the food's aroma, which normally travels from your mouth to your nose.
Health
Why Motion Sickness Happens
When the brain’s signals about movement disagree with its expectations, an ordinary journey can become nauseating.
Health
Why illness can feel worse at night
An ordinary cold may seem to take over the room after bedtime. The body's daily rhythms, the change in posture and the struggle to sleep can all contribute — but not every symptom peaks at night.