Foundations of Science

A holdover from our prehistoric days, goosebumps are the end result of an adrenaline rush meant to ward off a big chill — or predators.

Now a growing area of research, aided by advances in human genome sequencing technology, shows that genetics plays an important role in the immune system’s ability to fight off foreign invaders.

Meant to remove invaders, either infectious or simply irritating, a scratch is human skin’s first line of defense.

Camillo Golgi and Santiago Ramón y Cajal stain cells and uncover the intricate secrets of the nervous system.

American scientist Florence Seibert developed a reliable test for TB, which has helped saved millions of lives.

The length of our telomeres, the caps on the ends of chromosomes, can predict how well we’re aging.

Taking a design cue from the animal world, mimicking a porcupine quill might help make a more effective—and less painful—needle.