Science
Archive
A new book by Heather Hansen explores the complicated world of wildland-urban interface firefighting as it unfolded in the Cold Springs Fire near Nederland, Colorado
The effort paradox explains everything from mountain climbing to buying IKEA furniture
The entrepreneur believes that biohacking can rocket your body and mind to peak performance. His Bulletproof diet zoomed into the mainstream, his Bullet-proof coffee has everyone quaffing butter, and his Bulletproof books fly off the shelves. Now Bulletproof Labs is out to hack, well, everything.
As artist Chuck Close said, “Inspiration is for amateurs; the rest of us just show up and get to work”
New research explores how ultraviolet light can trigger the production of health- and performance-boosting nitric oxide
Study finds that high-elevation areas in the Himalaya are seeing wetter, more frequent slides
It's the most reliable performance booster in the world—unless you have the wrong genes
Record low snowfalls have made national news, but it came as no surprise for the characters in the End of Snow, from Day’s Edge Productions.
A comprehensive research review finds that "neuromuscular" gains boost your speed and efficiency
A legal complaint says the three leaders are in violation of a 20-year-old law and casts doubt on whether they have any authority at all
A new report suggests that the answer is no, which could impact hunted species across the U.S. and Canada
While other kids were stuck taking standardized tests, I decided to take my daughter, Devon, to Africa to learn about conservation in the global classroom
A good general rule of thumb is to never drink unpurified water. Yet if you do, then use common sense first.
In an era of specialization, a new study argues for diversifying your interests.
With the arrival of a long-rumored drink, endurance athletes want to know
I’m also an avid sportsman and one of my firearms is an AR-15. So you might be surprised that I've never joined the NRA—nor ever will.
For long-term health in endurance athletes, when you eat is nearly as important as how much you eat
Scientists make the case for a new real-time measure of endurance effort
This performance enhancer can up your game if you use it correctly
Efforts to manage human waste in national parks have failed miserably. Now a creative scientist may have found an elegant remedy.
It may be the key to happiness and sustainable performance
Testing the idea that you can improve your ability to eat on the run
The future of the West depends on whether we can keep it in check
In an exclusive excerpt from his book 'Endure,' Outside's Sweat Science columnist explores the brain's role in setting our physical limits.
Evolution has made humans instinctually crave sugary, fatty, and salty foods. Here's how you can fight back.
Can a controversial new form of statistical profiling weed out cheaters?
Companies focused on resource extraction now have access to huge chunks of the former national monument
New research finds that performance varies drastically based on the time of day
The hype around a new breed of running tech is raising the ire of biomechanists. Here's why.
It isn't the answer to all your muscle-building woes, but it is a smart nutrition option for outdoor athletes. Fact is, you likely can't get enough protein without it.
Take 66-year-old UCI Track Masters World Championships rider Gary Hoffman, who is almost as fast as he was at age 20—when he competed to race in the Olympics
A new case study digs into the medical records of a lost diver's incredible survival story
As ultra-endurance athlete and self-improvement guru Rich Roll says, "Mood follows action." In other words: Don't think. Do.
Expensive stem-cell therapies are on the rise among recreational athletes, but don’t pull out your wallet just yet
The microbes in our digestive systems can affect everything from our mental health to our weight and vulnerability to disease. So why not athletic performance? New science is set to revolutionize the way we eat, train, and live.
Wondering how to ensure that your gut is healthy? We're here to answer your most pressing questions.
Forget training load and biomechanics. A surprising new study suggests that avoiding injury might come down to something far simpler.
The most important rules to grow your body and mind
We published a lot of them this year. Here are the ones we loved the most.
With a few adjustments, you can minimize the “interference effect” between high mileage and your ability to build muscle
After several years of conflicting results, new evidence shows that endurance is at least partly in your head
If you found yourself stuck at the bottom of a canyon with a broken leg, what do you do? Not long ago, our host faced this exact scenario.
In a world where our time and attention are fractured into smaller and smaller bits, legendary biologist and runner Bernd Heinrich is a throwback, a man who has carved a deep groove in his patch of Maine woods
From filmmaker and storm chaser Dustin Farrell, Transient is a collection of shots taken over the summer of 2017.
Follow the lead of elite athletes and use the science of motivation to perform at your best
You can tweak your workout to minimize the downsides of sucking on a tailpipe
To get a clear picture of where research is headed, you have to look beyond the easy headlines
Into the Deep Unknown from research institute Biographic follows deep-sea biologist Diva Amon as she showcases what the earth looks like at 3,280 feet below sea level.
A bee sting won't hurt you unless you're allergic—or so you thought until you disturbed a hive of African bees
A new generation of bio-inspired prototypes are poised to join search and rescue workers on the front lines
You can't be super-lean all the time, so pick your moments—and watch your health
When you picked some mushrooms off the forest floor, you planned to make a nice risotto. But now you're in the hospital, fighting for your life.
A team of scientists entered a glass bubble in the desert to live for two years cut off from society. Things didn't go as planned.
Whether you're trying to qualify for Boston or just see improvement, these principles will get you there
Filmmaker Jason van Bruggen and his team from DOT DOT DASH spent May in Greenland at Swiss Camp Polar Research station with Dr. Konrad Steffen from WSL exploring the Arctic science that foreshadows and explains the impacts of our changing climate.
It’s official: Nike’s Vaporfly shoes improve efficiency by 4 percent. What does that actually mean for racing?
You're alone in the open sea on a surfboard, blown far offshore by a strong wind. What does it feel like? What do you do?
Ignore the urge to post a heroic effort and focus instead on the daily grind of steady improvement
A remote car accident, a broken ski, a tumble in the snow, and a slow descent into hypothermia
It sounds hokey, but it works in the lab—and for the greatest marathoner in the world
You may soon be able to change your DNA to optimize performance in your favorite sport
Quit popping pills. These nutrient-dense eats have all you need for peak performance.
A cycling study finds that the lure of a reward throws off pacing instincts
It's tough to maintain performance and well-being all the time. When the going gets tough, following these tips can help.
Former Navy SEAL doctor Kirk Parsley insists getting enough rest is the single most effective performance-enhancing habit
Don't feel bad about your semineurotic prerace protocol. It might be one of the keys to your success.
You know you shouldn't be relying on them for every ache. Try these alternatives instead.
From filmmaker Trip Jennings, Eagle Creek Burn Fly follows Oregon State University Forest Specialists John Bailey and Lisa Ellsworth as they explore the intricacies of this fire.
If you like Sweat Science, you'll love these books
Scientists investigate hip straps—the benefits aren’t as obvious as you think
As endurance predators, we should be able to catch anything—even one of the world's fastest animals
Exploring the riddles of endurance and adventure, but only after peer review
The renowned expert in high-performance psychology offers up an incredibly simple approach to training your mind
Sometimes preparation is all about what you leave behind
And how we can use that data to possibly prevent accidents on the crag
Five exercises that will guarantee you have the strength to adventure all weekend, well into your eighties
The power couple shares lessons from their extreme approach to training, nutrition, and recovery
What you’ll take from the stories in this issue is that same bit of wisdom gleaned from all great adventure tales. We humans can endure far more than we ever imagined.
A slew of new products claim to be the Fitbit for your Zen