Science writer Mary Roach is fascinated by the human body, especially, she says, the "gooey bits and pieces of us that are performing miracles on a daily basis." Take the human heart, for instance. If ...

In many cells of the human body, hair-like protrusions known as cilia act as antennae, allowing cells to receive signals from ...

Scientists are mapping how the body senses internal organs. This “sixth sense” study could reveal new ways to treat chronic ...

Scientists found that embryonic skin cells “whisper” through faint mechanical tugs, using the same force-sensing proteins that make our ears ultrasensitive. By syncing these micro-movements, the cells ...

Spaceflight rewires the human body. Muscles shrink, bones thin and fluids shift towards the brain – but these changes may ...

Hunger exists on a spectrum. On the one end is food insecurity, where people are forced to adjust to fewer meals. As food becomes scarce, the body consumes its own reserves. The journey from hunger to ...

Holly has a degree in Medical Biochemistry from the University of Leicester. Her scientific interests include genomics, personalized medicine, and bioethics.View full profile Holly has a degree in ...

As a kid of the 1970s, Mary Roach sat in front of the TV watching “The Six Million Dollar Man” promise a techno-rebirth. “We can rebuild him,” the narrator intoned. “Better than he was before. Better.

Nick Blackmer is a librarian, fact-checker, and researcher with more than 20 years of experience in consumer-facing health and wellness content. New research shows that people experience two major ...

Aging has long been seen as a natural, unstoppable part of life. From the moment we're born, our bodies transform — first through growth, then through gradual decline. Over time, stamina wanes, ...

Editor's Note: This story was included as an excerpt in WBUR's weekly health newsletter, CommonHealth. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here. There are some questions ...