The Physics of Little Bumps on Your Body!
Many times, I’ve noticed these minute bumps on my skin, tend to pop out particularly when I’m feeling cold or amidst a scary movie. These bumps are known as goosebumps and they are caused by some interesting things. Let me explain to you the science of this phenomenon.
What Is A Goosebumps?
Goosebumps are small pimples that are noticeable on your skin mainly when you are feeling either cold, fear, or excitement. They happen as the tiny muscles at the root of each hair contract which then make the neighboring hair to stand and create the bumps around them.
What Is The Reason For Them Getting Appeared?
- Cold Weather Reaction: In this situation, our body is mostly in a cold atmosphere and this is a way that our system tries to keep us warm. In the past when human bodies had hair all over the body, the body was using the excessive body hair to keep itself warmer. Now, humans have less body hair but we still have these involuntary responses such as goosebumps as it is a kind of residual activity of the body.
- Fear or Surprise: This is nothing but a prime example of the fight-or-flight reaction encoded in our genes. So this is about a situation in which our ancestors would activate that response so that they could appear larger to the animals which might be able to see them as a nice meal.
- Emotional Reactions: Intense feelings like these two can lead to gooseflesh as well. Instead, it has to do with our body’s natural activities that are performed automatically.
Can Animals Get Goosebumps?
Yes, they can. Animals like cats and dogs also bear a similar reaction of which the fur stands up and makes them look as if they were the ones who could intimidate you.
Why Are They Called “Goosebumps”?
The name comes from the similarity of our skin to a plucked bird’s skin where small bumps are left behind.
Thus, goosebumps are interesting remains of the past that have been stored in the page of evolution which is our body. Whether due to cold, fear, or emotion, these little bumps are proof of the fact that the body has its own defense mechanism against environmental factors.
NOTE: – IT IS ALWAYS RECOMMENDED TO CONSULT YOUR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL. ALL DATA SHARED HERE ARE FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.
