Tracing Human Adaptation to Survive Harsh Environments By Science Served Bitter winds. Heavy snow. Freezing temperatures. We’re no strangers to the biting cold of winter. From braving the winds to layering up for the occasional snowstorm, we’ve all learned to deal with the chill. But what if I told you that our bodies are biologically hardwired to do more than just survive in the cold? What if cold exposure could trigger processes that have been essential to human survival for millennia? Cold-induced thermogenesis (CIT) is a biological process where our bodies generate heat in response to cold temperatures. While it might seem like an automatic reaction–something that happens without us really thinking about it–it’s actually entrenched in evolutionary history. Our ancestors relied on this process to keep warm in the harshest climates. Now, in an age of central heating and thermal clothing, it’s easy to forget just how crucial this adaptation was, and still is, for survival....