How It Actually Works

Senses & Taste

The human body, its quirks, and the claims made about it.

A chili pepper beside a flushed glass of milk, illustrating how capsaicin tricks the body's noxious-heat receptor into reporting a burn that isn't there
Why Does Spicy Food Burn If It Isn't Actually Burning You? Daniel S. I. · 11 min read
The doorway of a home, illustrating why a house has a recognizable smell to visitors while the person who lives there stops noticing it
Why Can't You Smell Your Own House? Your Brain Is Quietly Ignoring It Daniel S. I. · 10 min read
Illustration of a person pinching their nose while tasting a jellybean, showing how blocking your nose removes the smell information that creates flavor
Why Does Food Taste Different When Your Nose Is Blocked? Daniel S. I. · 8 min read