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What separates a champion from the rest of the pack? Science has some compelling answers
July 24, 2012 |
Features
An extraordinary insula helps elite athletes better anticipate their body's upcoming feelings, improving their physical reactions
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Broken arms, ruptured Achilles tendons and concussions are all part of the Games
A major botched call by referees during the World Cup has opened the door for computerized replacements
Scientists debate whether Pistorius's prosthetic legs should disqualify him from the 400-meter race
Can specific genes cause muscles to grow faster or stronger, and can genetic tampering give athletes an unnatural edge?
'Performance profiling' could help catch athletes who use banned performance-enhancing drugs
Unusual variations in an athlete's blood could determine guilt, even if no illegal substances are found
Mental trainers reach further to create the ideal environment for victory
Athletes are injured frequently—badminton players more so than ski jumpers
The most common chronic condition among all Olympic athletes is asthma. But many don't start suffering symptoms until their later years, suggesting that endurance training could be a trigger. Katherine Harmon reports
Rumors abound about the famous clock tower's imminent demise, blaming the 1999 construction of an underground train station. But those in the know say it ain't so
Professional 'free divers' have no trouble holding their breath for minutes at a time. What stops us from doing the same? In this episode, Scientific American's Katherine Harmon--and Katherine Harmon--explore the limits of human physiology.
Marlen Esparza, the flyweight pugilist, has spent all her life waiting for the chance to compete on the Olympic stage
[From Our Partner Smithsonian.com]
Usain Bolt might be the world's fastest man but animals big and small would handily beat him
After officials banned the swimsuit that caused records to fall at the 2008 Games, scientists are back with a new outfit that could break more
[From Our Partner Smithsonian.com]
Arguments over whether high-tech attire gives swimmers an unfair advantage have been waged for 80 years
Kicked out of Harvard, the pioneering athletes were ahead of their time
[From Our Partner Smithsonian.com]
In the modern Games’ early days, painters, sculptors, writers and musicians battled for gold, silver and bronze
[From Our Partner Smithsonian.com]
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