Brrr, turn up the heat! Women tend to be more sensitive to temperature than men.
Asked by: Alan Healy, France
Partly this is because, for a given bodyweight, women tend to have less muscle tissue to generate heat.
But the hormone oestrogen also has a big impact because it has the side effect of thickening the blood slightly. This reduces blood flow to the tiny capillaries supplying the extremities.
A 1998 study at the University of Utah found that this can mean women have hands, feet and ears that are 3°C colder than a man’s.
Read more:
Subscribe to BBC Focus magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun science facts.
Luis trained as a zoologist, but now works as a science and technology educator. In his spare time he builds 3D-printed robots, in the hope that he will be spared when the revolution inevitably comes.
Subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine and try 3 issues for just $9.95
Discover our latest special editions covering a range of fascinating topics from the latest scientific discoveries to the big ideas explained.
Listen to some of the brightest names in science and technology talk about the ideas and breakthroughs shaping our world.
By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.