The Science of Sweat
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The Science of Sweat
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About this listen
Why do we sweat? And what secrets does it hold about our bodies? On this week’s podcast, Professor Luke O'Neill dives into the fascinating science of sweat. From keeping our body temperature in check to signalling stress and even potential mate selection, sweat is far more than just water and salt.
The podcast explores how sweat is made by specialized eccrine glands, originating from plasma in our blood, and why humans are among the sweatiest animals on the planet. Luke explains how the average adult can produce up to four litres a day, and why staying hydrated is crucial.
But there’s more: stress, exercise, and climate all change how and why we sweat. Sweat itself is odorless, but bacteria, lactic acid, and urea can create the smells we associate with adolescence, gyms, and armpits. And surprisingly, sweat contains proteins that fight bacteria, hinting at a role in our body’s natural defence.
Could sweat one day be a diagnostic tool for disease? Why do identical twins sweat the same amount? And could it even act as a pheromone signal? Professor O’Neill explains all this and more, in a conversation sparked by a listener question from Siún.
If you want to ask Luke your own science question, email him at:
📧 laoneill@tcd.ie