Why Cilantro Tastes Like Soap to Some People
Put a plate of guacamole in front of a group of friends and you’ll usually get one of two reactions. Most people dig in without a second thought. But at …
The Genetic Reason Some People Get Shin Splints and Others Never Do
You ease back into running after a break, following all the standard advice: new shoes, gradual mileage increases, proper warmups. And yet a dull ache creeps up your shin bone …
Why Some People Are Naturally Better at Balance-Based Sports
Put ten beginners on a balance board, a surfboard, or a slackline, and you’ll usually see the same thing: a couple of people find their footing almost immediately, while everyone …
Sprinter or Marathoner? What Your Genes Say About Your Muscle Type
Some people take up running and immediately fall in love with the mile repeats and the burn of an all-out 100-meter sprint. Others find their groove somewhere around mile 10 …
Why Some People’s Bodies Respond Better to Strength Training Than Cardio
You start a new fitness routine that mixes lifting and cardio, and after a few months, something interesting happens. Your strength numbers climb steadily, but your mile time barely budges. …
The Genetics of VO2 Max and Natural Endurance
You’ve probably met someone who took up running or cycling and, within weeks, was keeping pace with people who’d been training for years. It’s not always about grit or discipline. …
The Genetic Link to Being “Naturally Skinny” No Matter What You Eat
There’s always one person in the friend group who eats an enormous plate of food, skips the gym for weeks, and somehow stays exactly the same size. It’s easy to …
The Genetic Reason Mosquitoes Prefer Some People Over Others
Every outdoor gathering seems to have one. The person who’s covered in bites by the end of the night while everyone else walks away completely untouched, despite sitting at the …
The Genetic Basis of Perfect Pitch
Perfect pitch has a reputation as this almost mythical musical gift, the ability to hear a random note and instantly name it, no reference tone required. It shows up in …
The Genetic Link to Being Highly Sensitive to Criticism
Some people can hear a piece of critical feedback, nod, adjust course, and move on within minutes. Others replay the same comment for the rest of the day, or even …