Thermoregulation News and Research

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New sweating discovery reveals hidden limits of body cooling

The purpose of perspiration was a mystery in 1775, when English physician Charles Brian Blagden and a few inquisitive friends experimented on themselves by spending time in rooms heated to over 230° Fahrenheit.

20 Aug 2026

Heatwave exposure associated with accelerated biological aging in middle-aged and older adults

As global climate change intensifies, heatwaves are becoming more frequent, longer, and more severe, emerging as an important environmental stressor for human health.

28 Jul 2026

Older adults face greater risk of mental health hospitalizations during extreme heatwaves

As the US recovers from its 4 July heatwave, a new study in Nature Health warns of an impending uptick in people attending hospitals for mental health and behavioral disorders, according to the first multi-country study of heatwave-related mental health hospitalization, led by Monash University in Australia.

10 Jul 2026

Men's fertility-friendly underwear may be briefs without benefits

A narrative review found that tight-fitting underwear may modestly raise scrotal temperature and is inconsistently linked to lower sperm production measures. However, current evidence does not show that switching to looser underwear improves real-world fertility outcomes.

17 Jun 2026

Type 1 diabetes preserves fitness but alters oxygen use in teens

The study highlights early microvascular impairment in adolescents with type 1 diabetes, emphasizing the importance of monitoring vascular health in this group.

24 Apr 2026

Breasts as an active thermoregulatory tool for newborns

Breasts are necessary for breastfeeding, but their size is not decisive in terms of milk production. A large part of the breast consists of adipose tissue, and earlier theories have suggested that they function, for example, as a body fat reserve. Another theory proposes that breasts evolved through sexual selection as a signal of individual fitness, similar to facial symmetry.

26 Feb 2026

Hotter days and nights are already stealing sleep across the U.S.

Rising nighttime and daytime temperatures are associated with reduced sleep duration, poorer sleep continuity, delayed sleep onset, and altered sleep stages in a large U.S. cohort tracked with wearable devices. Vulnerability is greatest among adults aged 40–50 years, females, people with lower socioeconomic status, chronic conditions, and those living in marine climate zones, with climate change projected to further magnify sleep loss.

8 Dec 2025

Settling the creatine safety debate

Research confirms creatine's safety, highlighting misinformation and low-quality supplements as primary concerns over cancer and kidney health risks.

3 Dec 2025

Rising temperatures put older hearts in danger

Research reveals aging hearts struggle with extreme heat, increasing cardiovascular risks for older adults as climate change intensifies global temperatures.

7 Oct 2025

New SCAI statement provides guidance for transcatheter PDA closure in premature infants

The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) has published a new position statement that provides best-practice guidance for the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) using transcatheter occlusion (tcPDA) in premature infants.

18 Aug 2025

New noninvasive device tracks hydration levels using bioimpedance

With another hot Texas summer underway, the threat of dehydration always looms. Though this condition can range from inconvenient to life-threatening, it's tough to track.

14 Jul 2025

New study reveals how bedding insulation impacts sleep quality

The temperature of our sleeping environment has a major impact on the quality of our sleep, and good sleep is essential for our overall health and well-being.

20 Jun 2025

Expert review reveals how to fuel triathletes for optimal results

This systematic review synthesizes evidence from 35 studies to guide optimal nutrition, supplementation, and recovery for triathletes. The findings highlight the critical importance of glycogen balance, hydration, targeted supplementation, and ongoing education—especially for female athletes at risk of energy deficiency.

2 Jun 2025

Mild winter temperatures offer surprising mental health benefits

Higher ambient temperatures during the cold season were linked to reduced stress, improved life satisfaction, better self-reported health, and less loneliness in a large Swiss population study. While effects were modest at the individual level, they highlight the broader mental health impacts of seasonal temperature changes.

22 May 2025

Endurance training leads to significant drops in vascular resistance and diastolic blood pressure

Eight months of supervised marathon training in Finnish adults led to moderate reductions in peripheral diastolic blood pressure, systemic vascular resistance, and extracellular water volume. Central (aortic) blood pressure showed a non-significant decline, highlighting the specific impact of exercise on vascular health.

22 May 2025

Study links neurotensin deficiency to ovulatory dysfunction in PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) represents a significant health concern for women of reproductive age, manifesting as a complex endocrine disorder with diverse clinical presentations.

3 Apr 2025

Unveiling leptin signaling in the DMH for metabolic effects

Scientists at Pennington Biomedical Research Center have gained greater clarity in the brain regions and neurons that control metabolism, body temperature and energy use.

27 Mar 2025

New brain circuit involved in motion sickness could help improve metabolic health

Motion sickness is a very common condition that affects about 1 in 3 people, but the brain circuits involved are largely unknown. In the current study published in Nature Metabolism, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital describe a new brain circuit involved in motion sickness that also contributes to regulating body temperature and metabolic balance.

24 Mar 2025

Climate change is fueling a neurological health crisis, experts warn

Research explores the profound impact of climate change on neurological health, focusing on how rising temperatures, extreme weather, and air pollution exacerbate conditions like epilepsy, stroke, and sleep disorders, while calling for urgent research and mitigation strategies to address these vulnerabilities.

21 Jan 2025

Bloodletting therapy offers promising treatment for heat stroke

Heat stroke is primarily classified into exertional and non-exertional forms. Exertional heat stroke results from strenuous physical activity in high heat, while non-exertional heat stroke typically affects those exposed to extreme heat without engaging in significant physical exertion.

11 Nov 2024