Science Archives

Fast-Twitch and Slow-Twitch Muscle Fibers in Sports

What is the difference between fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscle fibers? Is it possible to change your ratio of fast-twitch to slow-twitch muscle fibers through training? Fast-twitch muscle fibers support explosive muscle activity (e.g., lifting heavy objects or sprinting short distances), while slow-twitch muscle fibers support activities requiring endurance (e.g., long-distance running). To some degree, we can train our fast-twitch muscles to have more endurance and our slow-twitch muscles to become stronger, but we cannot actually change the ratio of slow-twitch to fast-twitch fibers that we are born with. Here’s how fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscle fibers impact sports.

What Is the SRY Gene, and How Does It Impact Sports?

What is the SRY gene? What role does the SRY gene play in sports performance? According to David Epstein, the author of The Sports Gene, no single gene has as much of an impact on an athlete’s performance as the SRY gene found on the Y chromosome. The SRY gene also accounts for the predictable and significant differences in sports performance between men and women. Learn about the SRY gene’s function and its implications for atheltic ability.

Understanding Gender Differences in Sports

What are the reasons for the gender performance gap in athletics? Can men and women compete equally in sports? According to David Epstein, the author of The Sports Gene, gender differences in sports are a decisive testament to the power of genes in determining athletic ability. Because athletic ability is at the mercy of genetics, Epstein argues, women are unlikely to surpass men in most sports. Here’s why men and women can’t compete in sports at the same level.

Speed in Sports: Nature or Nurture?

Is speed ability a matter of genetics or training? Which is more important when it comes to speed in sports? While it’s not a physical characteristic, speed is a necessary trait shared by athletes in many sports. Sports and science have yet to determine the exact recipe that makes an athlete fast. Here’s what research has to say on the matter.

Baseball Vision: Do MLB Players Have 20/20 Eyesight?

What is the average vision of an MLB player? Is 20/20 vision a necessary prerequisite for a career in baseball? Testimony and measurements from optometrists and ophthalmologists reveals that professional baseball players have eyesight that far exceeds the average person’s. This makes sense, as keeping track of the ball is an integral part of the game. Keep reading to learn about elite baseball vision.

Orgasm Explained: Myth vs. Truth

What is an orgasm exactly? Does the experience of orgasm differ from person to person? Scientists define orgasm as the climactic release of built-up tension during a sexual experience. However, according to sex researcher Emily Nagoski, orgasms are much more complex than this definition allows for, and each individual experiences them in a unique way. Keep reading to learn about the most common misconceptions that frame our culture’s understanding of orgasms, explained and debunked.

Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski: Book Overview

What is Emily Nagoski’s book Come as You Are about? What misconceptions about sex does modern culture perpetuate? In her book Come as You Are, Emily Nagoski uses scientific research and her years of experience as a sex educator to change the negative way that women talk, think, and feel about their sexuality. Arguing that a scientific perspective on sexuality can free women from unrealistic standards and help them to appreciate their individual experiences, Nagoski considers sexuality from every biological angle while dispelling cultural misconceptions along the way. Below is a brief overview of the key themes explored in the

How People Learn: Insights Into Thinking and Memory

How do you learn? What are the actual brain mechanics of absorbing and recalling information? Understanding how people learn is helpful if you want to maximize your learning. You can alternate between your two modes of thinking in order to learn and solve problems more effectively. You also can store and recall more information when you have a handle on how memory works. Read on to better understand how people learn.

Arousal Non-Concordance: What It Is & Why It Happens

What is arousal non-concordance? Is arousal always accompanied by a genital response? Arousal non-concordance is the mismatch between what our brains identify as sex-related and what we actually find appealing. To demonstrate with an example, imagine you’re watching a sex scene in a movie. The scene doesn’t appeal to you because you don’t think the actors are attractive. Despite this, you find yourself becoming physically aroused at the sight of sex on the screen. Here is why non-concordance happens and what to do about it.

Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski: Review & Impact

Is Emily Nagoski’s book Come as You Are worth reading? How does modern culture repress female sexuality? Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski explores women’s sexuality using scientific research and the author’s years of experience as a sex educator. Nagoski decided to write the book to change the negative way that many women talk, think, and feel about themselves due to harmful cultural messaging that encourages self-criticism and perpetuates misinformation about what constitutes “normal” sexuality. Here is our review of Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski.