The Mystery of Goosebumps

Why do we actually get goosebumps? Goosebumps are something everyone knows but hardly anyone truly

understands why they happen. When you’re cold or suddenly scared, tiny muscles right

under your skin contract. These muscles sit at the root of every single

hair. As they tighten, the hairs lift slightly, and your skin

starts to look like that of a plucked goose which is where the name ‘ goosebumps’

comes from. The fascinating part is: this is a leftover from our

ancient past. Long ago, when humans had much more body hair,

the rising hairs created a thin insulating layer of air to keep us