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Why Am I Like This?

Why Do We Get Allergies? (And Are They Really Necessary?)

Season 1 Episode 5 | 10m 55s

Have you ever felt like your immune system is a bully who doesn't keep your best interests at heart? It really gets you thinking— Why DO we have allergies in the first place? In this episode, Dr. Tina Lasisi walks us through how our immune system evolved, what affects our allergies, and things we can do to improve our our immune responses.

Aired: 11/09/22
Funding for WHY AM I LIKE THIS is provided by the National Science Foundation.
Extras
Watch • 7:48
Why Am I Like This?
Why Does My Voice Sound Like This?
We explore how the structure of our vocal tract produces sound and why humans speak.
Episode: S1 E8 | 7:48
Watch • 12:13
Why Am I Like This?
Can We Change Our Body Type?
We walk through the types of muscles and hormones that transform the body.
Episode: S1 E7 | 12:13
Watch • 8:03
Why Am I Like This?
Can Humans Change Their Sleep Cycle?
Dr. Tina Lasisi walks us through the peaks and valleys of our circadian rhythm.
Episode: S1 E6 | 8:03
Watch • 9:31
Why Am I Like This?
Where Does Our Stress Come From?
We explore the evolutionary function of stress.
Episode: S1 E4 | 9:31
Watch • 9:46
Why Am I Like This?
Why Do We Have Different Hair Types?
We walk through why hair varies so much across all humans.
Episode: S1 E3 | 9:46
Watch • 9:20
Why Am I Like This?
Where Does My Skin Color Come From?
In this episode, Dr. Tina Lasisi walks us through how we genetically inherit skin color.
Episode: S1 E2 | 9:20
Watch • 10:38
Why Am I Like This?
How Did We Evolve a Sense of Smell?
In this episode, we walk through how our brain develop and process smell.
Episode: S1 E1 | 10:38
Latest Episodes
Watch • 7:48
Why Am I Like This?
Why Does My Voice Sound Like This?
We explore how the structure of our vocal tract produces sound and why humans speak.
Episode: S1 E8 | 7:48
Watch • 12:13
Why Am I Like This?
Can We Change Our Body Type?
We walk through the types of muscles and hormones that transform the body.
Episode: S1 E7 | 12:13
Watch • 8:03
Why Am I Like This?
Can Humans Change Their Sleep Cycle?
Dr. Tina Lasisi walks us through the peaks and valleys of our circadian rhythm.
Episode: S1 E6 | 8:03
Watch • 9:31
Why Am I Like This?
Where Does Our Stress Come From?
We explore the evolutionary function of stress.
Episode: S1 E4 | 9:31
Watch • 9:46
Why Am I Like This?
Why Do We Have Different Hair Types?
We walk through why hair varies so much across all humans.
Episode: S1 E3 | 9:46
Watch • 9:20
Why Am I Like This?
Where Does My Skin Color Come From?
In this episode, Dr. Tina Lasisi walks us through how we genetically inherit skin color.
Episode: S1 E2 | 9:20
Watch • 10:38
Why Am I Like This?
How Did We Evolve a Sense of Smell?
In this episode, we walk through how our brain develop and process smell.
Episode: S1 E1 | 10:38