The science of sports

Latest about science of sports

A vintage film photo of a man in red doing the hammer throw on a field

Will Olympic athletes ever stop breaking records?

By Kamal Nahas published

Physically, athletes might reach a point where they can no longer beat sports records — however, innovative techniques and sportswear breakthroughs could potentially help athletes perform better in the future.

Exercise
Five women sprint on a track with a large audience in the background

Which Olympic sport burns the most calories?

By Amy Arthur published

Olympic-level sporting takes a lot of energy. But which event is the most energetically costly?

Exercise
photo of a man running outside along a beach, holding his side as if in pain

What causes you to get a 'stitch in your side'?

By Clarissa Brincat published

Many people are familiar with the sharp pain that can strike beneath your rib cage during exercise. But what causes it?

Exercise
Photo of seven elite cyclists in uniforms biking down a road; most are in UAE uniforms

'We're proving that this is a new door to understand cancer better': Tour de France coach Iñigo San Millán on what elite cyclists could reveal about cancer biology

By James Witts published

Cancer researcher Iñigo San Millán is also a coach to Tadej Pogačar, a favorite to win this year's Tour de France. In this interview, San Millán discusses his work in both arenas.

Exercise
older man with greyin beard wears a swim cap and smiles as he's swimming at a public pool

Exercise may reverse sign of aging by 'flushing' fat from muscle

By Jennifer Zieba published

Researchers say they've identified a kind of fat that plays a major role in aging and can be controlled with short-term exercise.

Exercise
a male ballet dancer wearing black athletic pants, a blue adidas zip up jacket, and insulated boots lies on his back reading with his legs propped up in a straddle split against a wall. His head is resting on a foam roller as he reads

What determines how flexible you are?

By Racheal Ede published

A person's flexibility is determined by many factors, including the structure of their joints, length of their muscle fibers and suppleness of their connective tissues.

Exercise
in the foreground, we see a woman wearing atheletic clothing and smiling as she lifts a dumbell off the ground while holding a plank position. Two men are completing the same exercise in the background

Why is it harder for some people to build muscle than others?

By Kamal Nahas published

How do muscle cells grow after a workout? And how do your genetics affect your experience as a gymgoer?

Exercise
close up of a hand hovering over piano keys, as if to play them

'Muscle memories' get 'zipped and unzipped' in the brain, like computer files

By Nicoletta Lanese published

A new study revealed what happens in the brain when people plan and execute learned movement patterns.

Memory
Microscopic image shows muscle cell nuclei converging on a tear in a muscle fiber

Stunning images show how muscles heal themselves after a workout

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Scientists discovered a previously unknown step in the muscle repair process.

Exercise
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