• Question: why do we get goosebumps?

    Asked by jlsfan2 to Callum, Gina, Katie, Michelle, Sam on 19 Nov 2012.
    • Photo: Katie Howe

      Katie Howe answered on 19 Nov 2012:

      Hi – thats a really interesting question!

      Goosebumps happen when the tiny muscles attached to the hairs on your skin contract or shorten. Firstly, this causes the hairs to stick up which acts as insulation against the cold. And secondly it causes a little depression on your skin where that muscle is and so the area surounding it appears to stick out. So we end up with all these little bumps on our skin!

      The weird thing is that we get goosebumps not only when we are cold but also if we are scared or in an emotional situation. This is because in all these stressful situations the body releases a chemical called adrenaline and that is what tells the muscles at the base of the hairs to contract.

    • Photo: Callum Johnston

      Callum Johnston answered on 19 Nov 2012:

      Hey JLS fan,

      Like Michelle said when we get cold goosebumps make our hair stand up. In animals with more hair this stops the hot air next to the skin escaping so easily and therefore keeps them warm. The problem with humans is we don’t have much hair so although we still get the goosebumps they don’t actually help keep us warm very much. Luckily out body has other ways of keeping us warm like making all our blood vessels narrower to keep them away from the cold.

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