Human body temperature, once considered an important indicator of health, has aroused the curiosity and concern of countless scientists. Once upon a time, the number 37 degrees was deeply ingrained in the hearts of everyone, whether doctors or ordinary people, as a symbol of health. However, the latest scientific research has revealed a shocking fact: the temperature of the human body is gradually decreasing, and this change is not accidental, but an ongoing trend.
In 1851, Germany physician Wunderlich defined the standard of normal human temperature for the first time by measuring the armpit temperature of 25,000 people, establishing the number 37 degrees. This standard has been used for nearly 200 years and has become the consensus of the global medical community. However, today's research suggests that this standard may be outdated. Incredibly, scientists have found that the modern human body temperature has dropped to around 36.6 degrees. Is this change an error in historical measurements, or is it the result of evolution?
Even more troubling, scientists note that the trend of declining body temperature is not going to stop anytime soon. Parsennett et al. have shown that changes in body temperature are a long-term process and that this trend is likely to continue. What exactly is causing this change? Why does the body temperature keep dropping? Let's dive into the scientific reasons behind this phenomenon.
The mystery of the mysterious drop in body temperature
Human body temperature, once considered an important indicator of health, has aroused the curiosity and concern of countless scientists. Once upon a time, the number 37 degrees was deeply ingrained in the hearts of everyone, whether doctors or ordinary people, as a symbol of health. However, the latest scientific research has revealed a shocking fact: the temperature of the human body is gradually decreasing, and this change is not accidental, but an ongoing trend.
In 1851, Germany physician Wunderlich defined the standard of normal human temperature for the first time by measuring the armpit temperature of 25,000 people, establishing the number 37 degrees. However, over time, scientists have discovered that this standard is no longer applicable. Research data in recent years show that the temperature of the human body is gradually decreasing, and the average body temperature of modern people has dropped to about 36.6 degrees. This phenomenon is proven not only in United Kingdom and United States, but even in isolated primitive tribes.
BMJ magazine's temperature tests of 35,488 United Kingdom adults showed an average oral temperature of 36.6 degrees in these individuals, all of whom were in a normal state and were not affected by the environment. Similarly, New Scientist magazine's study of United States found that since the 60s of the 19th century, the body temperature of United States has continued to drop, has dropped to 36.6 degrees. These data suggest that the drop in human body temperature is a common phenomenon and spans different regions and populations.
Scientists' warning: it won't stop anytime soon
Scientists' research points out that the downward trend in human body temperature will not stop anytime soon. Parsennett et al. have shown that changes in body temperature are a long-term process and that this trend is likely to continue. While this change is unlikely to cause the body temperature to drop to 0 degrees, it is still unknown to what extent. The researchers also found that men's body temperature drops faster than women's. This phenomenon suggests that the drop in human body temperature is not an isolated phenomenon, but a general trend.
Evolution and possible explanations for measurement errors
From an evolutionary point of view, organisms evolve to adapt to their living environment. The increase in the temperature of the earth should have caused the temperature of the human body to rise to adapt to the high temperature, but this is not the case. This suggests that the relationship between the drop in human body temperature and the external environment is unlikely. Another possible explanation is that there was an error in the initial measurement of the human body temperature standard, which led to the inaccuracy of the 37 degree standard. After all, the measurement techniques and methods of 1851 were far less precise than modern scientific means.
The immune system is influenced by biological factors
Another notable explanation is that the immune system of modern humans is less active, leading to a decrease in body temperature. With advances in medicine and improved living conditions, people's body tissues are less prone to inflammation and the immune system is no longer responding to infections as often as it used to. This leads to a gradual decrease in the temperature of the human body. In addition, the results of measuring body temperature are also influenced by factors such as different times of day, activity levels, etc. For example, the body temperature may rise slightly during emotional activity and exercise, while at rest, the body temperature is closer to normal.
Directions for future research
In the future, more research is needed by the scientific community to gain insight into the causes and effects of human body temperature drops. This will not only help us to assess human health more accurately, but may also bring new breakthroughs in the field of medicine. From the study of the immune system to the improvement of measurement technology, every link may provide important clues to uncover the truth about this phenomenon. The change in human body temperature has led to many new thoughts: How do advances in science and technology affect our health measurement standards? Is the evolution of the human body still continuing? These questions are not only relevant in the field of medicine, but also in everyone's daily life. We hope that this article can trigger readers' thoughts, let us pay attention to the latest research results on human health, and look forward to scientists bringing us more answers.