来源：《今日心理学》
原文刊登日期：2021年3月2日
A group of Stanford scientists recently explored the puzzling question of why average human body temperature has apparently decreased since the Industrial Revolution.
斯坦福大学的一群科学家最近研究了一个令人困惑的问题：为什么自工业革命以来，人类的平均体温明显下降。
The common standard of 98.6°F dates back to mid-19th-century research by German physician Carl Reinhold August Wunderlich, but current measurements suggest that mean human body temperature is actually 97.9°F. Some researchers believe Wunderlich’s data must have been flawed, but others wonder if mean human body temperature has truly decreased. Why does it matter? The Stanford team believes the decrease may hold secrets regarding the improvement of human health and longevity.
98.6华氏度的普遍体温标准可以追溯到19世纪中期德国医生卡尔·莱因霍尔德·奥古斯特·温德里奇的研究，但目前的测量显示，人类的平均体温实际上是97.9华氏度。一些研究人员认为Wunderlich的数据肯定是有缺陷的，但其他人想知道人类的平均体温是否真的下降了。斯坦福大学的研究小组认为，这一下降可能隐藏着改善人类健康和延长寿命的秘密。
Reviewing 677,423 body temperature measurements, the team was able to analyze 157 years of measurements spanning 197 birth years. The data showed that men born in the early 19th century had temperatures 1.06°F higher than men today. A similar effect was observed in women: a total decrease of 0.58°F. Overall, human body temperatures decreased about 0.05°F per decade.
通过回顾677423份体温测量数据，研究小组能够分析157年的测量数据，跨越197个出生年份。数据显示，19世纪初出生的男性的体温比今天的男性高1.06华氏度。在女性身上也观察到了类似的效果：总体下降0.58°F。总体而言，人体温度每十年下降约0.05°F。
The researchers maintain that these differences are unlikely due to changes in measurement methods: In Wunderlich’s time, temperatures were generally taken under the armpit, delivering results about one degree Celsius lower on average than oral measurements. And yet, today’s oral measurements are the lower ones. Therefore, they argue, actual physiological change is more likely.
研究人员坚持认为，这些差异不太可能是由测量方法的改变导致的：在Wunderlich的时代，体温通常是在腋下测量的，测量结果平均比口腔测量结果低约1摄氏度。然而，今天的口腔测量结果更低。因此，他们认为，更有可能是实际的生理变化造成的。
The researchers suggest this change is due to a decrease in our resting metabolic rate. Heat is a byproduct of basic metabolic processes. Humans have become larger in recent centuries, both in weight and height, which should have corresponded with an increase in temperature. Since it didn’t, the team argues, there must have been a decrease in our resting metabolic rate. Lower inflammation seems to be the best explanation, they believe: “Economic development, improved standards of living and sanitation, decreased chronic infections from war injuries, improved dental hygiene, the waning of tuberculosis infections, and the dawn of the antibiotic age together are likely to have decreased chronic inflammation since the 19th century,” with the effect of lowering average temperature.
研究人员认为，这种变化是由于我们的静息代谢率下降。热是基本代谢过程的副产品。近几个世纪以来，人类的体重和身高都变得更大了，这应该与体温的升高相对应。研究小组认为，既然事实并非如此，那么我们的静息代谢率一定是下降的。他们认为，炎症降低似乎是最好的解释：“19世纪以来，经济的发展、生活水平和卫生条件的改善、战争伤害导致的慢性感染的减少、口腔卫生的改善、结核病感染的减弱以及抗生素时代的到来，这些因素都可能减少了慢性炎症，”其影响是平均体温的降低。
The team also speculates that our temperature change may be evolutionary. More humans now live in temperate climates—88 percent of American households are equipped with air conditioning, and heating is almost universal—so there may be less need for a higher metabolic rate to ensure a stable body temperature with minimal energy expenditure. On the other hand, it may be a stretch to suggest that an actual evolutionary change has occurred in such a relatively short span of time.
研究小组还推测，我们的体温变化可能是进化的结果。现在越来越多的人生活在温带气候中——88%的美国家庭都配备了空调，供暖也几乎普及了——所以可能不太需要较高的代谢率来以最小的能量消耗来确保稳定的体温。另一方面，认为在如此短的时间内发生了真正的进化变化可能有些牵强。
Wunderlich’s classic finding, then, wasn't inaccurate. The new research shows that human body temperature can change, and has changed, with improvements in standard of living and access to health care. And so we have a new mean temperature: 97.9°F.
Wunderlich的经典发现并不是不准确的。这项新的研究表明，随着生活水平的提高和医疗服务的普及，人体温度可以改变，而且已经改变。所以我们有了一个新的平均体温：97.9华氏度。