Bodyology: The Curious Science of Our Bodies

Ever wondered what it’s like to be hit by lightning or to lose your sense of smell? Heard about the woman saved by bee stings — or the window cleaner who survived a 400ft fall?

Originally written for the Wellcome charity, these 16 stories by leading science writers explore the mysteries of the human body. Learn about everything from diets to allergies, hair colour to rare blood, and from allergies to remote surgery.

Contents

• What’s it like to be struck by lightning?

• Why do we colour hair?

• The man with the golden blood

• Why dieters can’t rely on calories

• 3D printers can now make body parts

• How to fall from a skyscraper and live to tell the tale

• The quest to explain miscarriages

• Seeking a ‘cure’ for male baldness

• How bee stings saved a woman’s life

• The global trend for ‘kangaroo’ babies

• What it means to lose your sense of smell

• The doctor aiming to end eye pain

• Could allergies be a defence against noxious chemicals?

• Why business is going slow on the male pill

• How virtual reality headsets aid remote surgery

• Shhh! What exactly is the menopause?

Table of Contents

Contents

• What’s it like to be struck by lightning? - Charlotte Huff

• Why do we colour hair? - Rebecca Guenard

• The man with the golden blood - Penny Bailey

• Why dieters can’t rely on calories - Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley

• 3D printers can now make body parts - Ian Birrell

• How to fall from a skyscraper and live to tell the tale - Neil Steinberg

• The quest to explain miscarriages - Holly Cave

• Can the power of thought outwit ageing? - Jo Marchant

• Seeking a ‘cure’ for male baldness - Rhodri Marsden

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• How bee stings saved a woman’s life - Christie Wilcox

• The global trend for ‘kangaroo’ babies - Lena Corner

• What it means to lose your sense of smell - Emma Young

• The doctor aiming to end eye pain - Bryn Nelson

• Could allergies be a defence against noxious chemicals? - Carl Zimmer

• Why pharma may be going slow on the male pill - Andy Extance

• How virtual reality headsets aid remote surgery - Jo Marchant

• Shhh! What exactly is the menopause? - Rose George