Why do we blush? Turning red may have surprising social benefits

By Amanda Meyer, Senior Lecturer, Anatomy and Pathology in the College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University
Monika Zimanyi, Associate Professor in Anatomy, James Cook University

We’ve all had the feeling. You’re embarrassed and then there it is: a warm flush creeping up your neck and across your cheeks. The more you think about it, the hotter and redder you get. If someone asks “are you blushing?” it only makes you blush more.

So, why do we do it? When we’re already self-conscious, this involuntary response can feel like an added punishment. But evolutionary science suggests blushing may actually have social advantages. Let’s take a look.

What is blushing?

Blushing is our body’s visible reaction when we feel…

Read complete article

~	What was the ‘Christmas Star’? Astronomy might hold the answer

~	What’s the difference between Christmas cake and Christmas pudding? One has more sugar and fat

~	What’s on your summer reading list? We asked 6 dedicated readers

~	Can you ‘live long and prosper’ by learning economics from Star Trek? Or is that ‘highly illogical’?

~	It’s hard to describe what it feels like to become a mum, but it has a name: matrescence

~	Tattoos, toxins and the immune system – what you need to know before you get inked

~	What if we taxed what people spend, not what they earn?

~	Treasure the emotional connections to the clothes you have and style could be a whole lot more sustainable

~	Do marathons damage your heart? Decade-long study finally settles the debate

~	Whether it’s a ‘productivity puzzle’ or the ‘British disease’, the UK economy has been underperforming for decades