The Heat

[iskorpit]

So here's a science question for everyone out there... I honestly don't know the answer. If our body temperature is 37C (98.6F) why are we so uncomfortable with temperatures over about 25C? You would think we'd be most comfortable with a temperature that is the same as our body temperature. So what gives? Help from anyone that knows their science

Comments

[tjsun]

As far as I know

[iskorpit]

Never really thought of it this way before. It does make sense, although I still don't completely understand why our comfort zone isn't 37C instead of, say, 21C. Is it random? One of the cosmic jokes of whoever created us?

comfort zone

[public_ear]

Nope no joke. T was right on teh money AND the comfort zone -is- our body temp.. at least it is just under the skin and our body actively keeps our body at the correct temperature. Since we didn't evolve with clothes though it makes more sense .. as a warm blooded creature no run the process a little hot and disperse the excess than a little cold and hope for warm clothes, a handy fire and shelter.
When we started adding these items a few minutes... err hours . err thousand years ago, we screwed up a system that took tens of thousands of years to get right ( go figure).
Once we developed the technology of wearing clothes, we expanded the range of the species and the typical comfort levels of the individuals.
That help at all?
-P

Re: comfort zone

[iskorpit]

We screwed it all up... that I definitely understand. ;-)

Actually, the whole thing makes sense. I hadn't factored in the concept of clothing.

Thanks!

J.