Dan Peterson's Sports Science column delves into the psychology and physiology of sports, from new studies in sports medicine to news about professional athletes and information for weekend warriors. Sports Science is published Thursdays.
Explore Sports Science
-

- Music Benefits Exercise, Studies Show
- Exercising to some tunes may make for a better workout.
-

- Exercisers Drink More Alcohol
- A study suggests that combining alcohol and exercise is not such a bad idea.
-

- Top Tennis Players Simply See Better
- Expert tennis players, like Roger Federer, have an advantage in certain visual perception skills.
More Sports Science News and Information
-
Study Dispels Myth of Post-Workout Fat Burn
A recent study found this to be a myth for moderate exercisers.
-
Youth Baseball Injuries: Good and Bad News
Acute baseball injuries are on the decline. But overuse injuries are rising.
-
Does First Goal in Hockey Raise Odds of Winning?
Statistics suggest maybe, but other findings are even more compelling.
-
Scientists Reveal the Secret to Hockey’s Wrist Shot
How professional hockey players get off that perfect wrist shot.
-
Race Fans Are Riskier Drivers
Being a race fan makes you more likely to speed.
-
For Health, Recess as Good as Gym Class
Natural short bursts of play energy contribute just as much to a healthy lifestyle as longer bouts of organized exercise.
-
Pre-Exercise Heart Rate Spike Predicts Heart Attack Risk
Heart rate just before and during exercise and your chances of a future heart attack.
-
Kentucky Derby Horses More Fragile, But Not Faster
Imagine trying to walk on all fours using just your big toes and your middle fingers.
-
Why NFL Draft Picks Often Fail
Teams seek the right matrix of information that will reveal those players with true NFL potential.
-
Diversity Has No Bearing on NBA Wins
NBA team's level of racial or ethnic diversity does not have any significant impact on its winning percentage.
-
Great Golfers' Brains Have More Gray Matter
Expert golfers have more gray matter in their brains.
-
How Baseball Players Catch Fly Balls
How do our eyes, brains, arms and legs combine to track and catch a fly ball?
-
Perfect Running Pace Revealed
Each person has an optimal running pace that uses the least amount of oxygen to cover a given distance.
-
Scientists Create March Madness Formula
Researchers devised a computerized, mathematical system to predict the final four.
-
Interactive Technology to Connect Sports Fans
Researchers want all fans to feel more a part of the game.
-
Exercise: The Best Medicine
Four new studies tout the benefits of exercise.
-
Group Predicts Robots Will Win Soccer's World Cup in 2050
Scientists teaching robots to play soccer.
-
NASCAR Technology Makes Passenger Cars Safer
Today's production passenger cars have borrowed several innovations from both stock car and Indy-style racing.
-
Heat Stroke Deaths in Football 'All Preventable'
Case could signal a landmark shift in the expectation for how coaches deal with struggling players on a hot day.
-
Do Huge NFL Players Help Teams Win?
When the Cardinals meet the Steelers in the Super Bowl, each offensive lineman will weigh 300 pounds or more.
-
Winter X Games Tricks: Are There Physical Limits?
Is there a physics-based limit to the spins and flips?
Sports Science Features
Other LiveScience Topics
-
Human Evolution
Many mysteries remain about the origin and...
-
Doomsday
Prophets of doom can have religious or sec...
-
Science Lives
ScienceLives is an occasional series that ...
-
Halloween
The history of Halloween and the science a...
-
Prey
Find out everything there is to know about...
-
Barack Obama
Find out about politics and stay updated o...
-
Healthy Geezer
Fred Cicetti takes your questions on senio...
-
Powerful Ideas
This occasional series looks at powerful i...
-
Innovation
Information About Innovation From LiveScie...
-
Water Cooler
What people are talking about in the world...

