Video by Emily Mackevicius. How do our bodies maintain a constant temperature?

First, why do we want a constant temperature? Proteins, the molecular machines that drive our bodies, are tuned to work best at a particular temperature. If they deviate too far from that temperature, they will stop working, and we will stop living. I may include a short visual model to explain this motivation.

But how are we able to stay at our equilibrium temperature of 37C? In my video, I’ll record my body’s response to heat (hot water bottle and/or going for a run) and cold (ice). How does my body maintain its temperature (I’ll use a thermometer to verify my temperature, and check the hot water and ice temperatures) in the face of such pressures? I’ll observe my own physical symptoms (sweating, redness, direction of hair follicles, discomfort/desire to move away from the extreme temperatures), and then use a model and/or the bamboo tablet to describe some of the mechanisms in more detail.

If I have time, I may also mention other aspects of homeostasis such as iron and sugar and blood pH regulation.