Systemic Biology

The Gut-Brain Axis: The Two-Way Conversation

The brain and the gut talk to each other continuously, in both directions. Explore the gut-brain axis with appropriate scientific care.

Why We Shiver: The Body's Emergency Heater

Shivering is an involuntary, rapid muscle contraction that generates heat. Explore why we shiver and how the body warms itself from within.

The Science of Sweat: The Body's Cooling System

Sweating is a sophisticated cooling system that helped make humans extraordinary endurance travelers. Explore the science of sweat.

The Science of Tears: Three Kinds of Crying

Not all tears are the same. Explore the three distinct types of tears and the curious science of emotional crying.

The Science of Fingerprints: Why No Two Are Alike

Fingerprints form before birth and last a lifetime. Explore how the ridges on our fingertips develop and why every pattern is unique.

Why We Get Hiccups: A Glitch in the Breathing System

A hiccup is a sudden, involuntary glitch in the machinery of breathing. Explore what causes hiccups and why they remain partly mysterious.

How Wounds Heal: The Stages of Repair

Healing a wound is a coordinated, multi-stage project. Explore the overlapping stages through which the body repairs an injury.

The Science of Goosebumps: An Ancient Reflex

Goosebumps are a tiny muscular reflex inherited from furry ancestors. Explore the science of goosebumps and why we still have them.

Why We Yawn: The Unsolved Science of a Daily Act

Everyone yawns, yet science cannot fully say why. Explore the leading theories behind one of the body's most familiar mysteries.

The Architecture of the Lungs: A Surface Area Marvel

The lungs solve a hard problem: fitting an enormous surface into a small space. Explore the branching architecture that makes breathing possible.

The Liver: The Body's Chemical Factory

The liver performs hundreds of distinct chemical jobs. Explore why this remarkable organ deserves to be called the body's chemical factory.

Myelination: How the Brain Speeds Up Its Signals

The brain insulates its wiring to make signals faster. Explore myelin and how myelination shapes learning, skill, and brain development.