Sweating is one way our body is helping us in the battle of surviving an ever-changing climate. Living beings—Animalia and Homo Sapiens have their unique approaches to beating the heat, especially in warmer countries close to the equator or in the African continent—the cradle of humanity.
In the scorching hot sun, every living thing is accustomed to searching for a way to beat the heat. Lions laid themselves in the shade, termites constructed giant mounds with chimneys or vent holes, and elephants evolved giant ears that are able to flap like fans for cooling down.
In the span of 2 million years, the most uncanny technique of all was perfected by beings who were our early ancestors, which was the method of pushing water absorbed internally in the body to the outside, a gift for braving oppressive temperatures; a crucial asset in our efforts to live through and thrive in an increasingly changing world, from diverse climates like the scorching heat of the savannah to the sandy deserts.
Is sweating a human superpower?
Do you think sweat is gross?
“It could have been so much worse,” says Sarah Everts, the author of a new book called The Joy of Sweat, which dives into the science of sweating.
“As it happens, human sweat is our body’s air conditioning system, and compared to that of animals and their cooling methods, our way is much less disgusting, I suppose. Dogs drool to remain cool, vultures poop on their legs and seals urinate on their feet”, she states. “When you ponder on what evolution could have entrusted to us”, Evert highlights, “sweat is arguably better.”
Evert tells NPR’s Short Wave, rather than looking at sweat as something that is gross, think of it as a human superpower—an “evolutionary marvel” that turns out to be a highly competent one. “We effectively dispatch water to our skin and, as it evaporates, it whisks heat away from our bodies,” she says.
In her book, Evert describes sweat as a superpower that enables humans to thrive and exert command across the world. Evert writes that “Sweating allowed us to forage out in the sun without overheating, while our natural predators were relegated to the shade for survival,” and for us to adapt to many new environments. “Like the (city) pigeon and desert dove, we’re capable of surviving almost anywhere.”
We learn that there exists an incredible science behind sweat, including facts that many aren’t familiar with. Did you know that how much you sweat is affected by nature and nurture? Did you know that you can even sweat in different colors and that people actually do it for fun? Yes, both are in fact true.
The cooling power of sweat
The most immediate and obvious function of sweat is its ability to cool us down. As sweat evaporates from our skin, it dissipates heat, thus helping to lower our body temperatures. This cooling effect is something similar to having our very own inbuilt air conditioning system, and is critical, especially in hot and humid climates. The moment our internal thermostat senses an increase in heat, that could be triggered by warm temperature or heat, our biological sprinklers— sweat glands—spring into action, releasing a mixture of water and salt to the surface of our skin. By preventing the overheating of our bodies, sweat minimizes the risk of heat-related illnesses such as heat strokes.
Sweat doesn’t just give us relief from overheating, it also plays a critical role in maintaining our overall body temperature balance. Due to climate change, the weather is getting warmer and to combat the higher heat, this ability kicks in as often as needed and relieves excessive heat and allows sweat to assist our bodies in avoiding dangerously high core temperatures.
Weather forecasts report that the normal temperature is called the “dry bulb” temperature. However, once that increases to above 35°C, the body is prone to rely on evaporating water, mainly through sweating, in order to dissipate heat.
Sweat and its protective power against climate change
Preventing dehydration
We are prone to lose more fluids in our bodies through sweat, as temperatures rise. Staying properly hydrated becomes essential to offset this loss. Adequate hydration is useful for immediate well-being but also for our long-term resilience in coping with challenges posed by climate change. The more water we drink, the more sweat we can release healthily, to stay cool without becoming dehydrated in the process.
Enhancing physical performance
Sweat is more than just a passive response to heat. Sweat consists of electrolytes like sodium and potassium, which are essential for regulating optimal muscle and nerve functions. Renewing these minerals through hydration and proper nutrition is vital to sustaining optimal physical and cognitive functions. In a world that is gradually heating up, the role of sweat becomes significant, as our bodies work harder to keep our temperatures in check in the heat.
Sweat as a survival tool and its evolutionary significance
Throughout human evolution, our ability to release sweat out of our bodies has been an important and critical adaptation. It permitted our ancestors to have a competitive edge over their competitors or natural predators. This adaptability remains more relevant as we face the challenging heat posed by climate change, our ability to sweat is an inherent advantage in adapting to rising temperatures and the increased physical demands that climate change may accompany.
ANDI the robot who sweats
Konrad Rykaczewski, a professor of engineering at Arizona State University and his colleagues, have created a sweating robot, in technical terms referred to as a “thermal mannequin” that stimulates human-like responses to hot temperatures. The robot was named ANDI—meaning “Advanced Newton Dynamic Instrument”. The robot is sent on trips in Arizona’s sizzling heat, equipped with sensors and internal cooling systems, and built-in pores for sweating.
The creators can modify the program to understand how an individual might weather the heat, addressing how factors like body size, age or drug use may affect the temperature of the body and its response to different situations. Posting a cost of $650,000. Rykaczewski joked saying- “We basically are developing the most expensive way to measure heat impacts on humans”
Sweat emerges as our unsung hero, the unassuming champion of our adaptability to our future environments. As the mercury rises with challenges abound, the droplets of our skin act as a testament to nature’s ingenious design. Through the cooling embrace of our sweat, we are reminded that in the face of a warming world, our own biology is a source of resilience.
(Tashia Bernardus)